Chapter 44: The Diary of That Year

Proofread by Peter Gong

Rodney supports Brian with his hand, “Mr. Si, what shall we do next?” “I’d like to see what appalling troubles he can make. Let’s go.” Rodney turns his head to look at his boss, and finally asks carefully, “Miss Li …” “Even if she dies, it is none of my business,” Brian says absolutely. Rodney sighs secretly in his heart. It could be said that Mr. Si paid no attention to Florence before, but now it is different. He takes into account her feelings many times, which gives a loophole to others to exploit. But he is reluctant to explain anything. One doesn’t ask while the other says nothing. The others look at them anxiously.

Florence holds Nelson and leaves the wedding. She is really worried about Austin so that she directly visits him. When she opens the door, a pleasant fragrance comes to her nose. Florence raises her eyes, seeing water trickling down his hair. The latter wears a bathrobe as if he has just taken a shower. Unexpectedly, she has come here, which makes Austin a little awkward. Florence tries her best to smile, and her tone is deliberately relaxed. She glances inside, “May I come in?” “Of course, please.” Nelson has been through a lot today and falls asleep on the sofa quickly. Finally, it is Austin who holds him into the room, covers him with a quilt carefully, and then closes the door and goes downstairs.

Florence sits quietly on the sofa, moves her fingers on her knees restlessly, and frowns tightly. He knows she is more guilty than anyone else now. As he goes down, he has a warm smile on his face without a trace of melancholy. He sits on the sofa opposite her, comforting her before she can speak, “You should know the temper of Bonnie. She has always been like that. If you really take her words to your heart, she will make you vomit blood.” Florence shakes her head, “Actually what she said makes sense. Austin, what are you going to do next?” What she asks about concerns his entire life, his career, and his reputation.

Florence is a clever person, so he doesn’t intend to lie to her. He smiles with a little bitterness. “The police appeared at the wedding today. No matter what the truth is, everyone must believe that I have committed a crime, so no one may hire me afterward.” Her heart trembles a bit. Noticing her expression, Austin smiles and comforts her instead. “In fact, it won’t affect my life too much. You can rest assured. I have followed the old gentleman Mr.Si for so many years, and I have saved some money. Even if I can’t find any work later, I still don’t worry about my daily life.” Florence is not naive. She knows that Austin is comforting her. Now all the guests at the wedding know that he has committed a crime. No one will hire him as a lawyer. He has worked so hard to get where he is today, but he is ruined so easily because of her now.

From now on, his career has been ruined. She lowers her head and can not control her emotions. “Sorry.” “Well, Florence, it has nothing to do with you, and you don’t need to feel guilty.” “And even if I want to continue working, it is not a big deal, either. I can go abroad to find a new way, can’t I?” But Florence knows that he lied to her. What happened at the wedding will soon get around, and Austin has already been ruined, and it is she who affects him. She feels so guilty, and she should have controlled her emotions. But in the end, she can not help feeling sad. She cries so much that Austin comforts her again and again, like a warm old brother.

“Austin…” Bonnie’s voice suddenly appears in the air, and she happens to see Austin comforting Florence. The anger in her heart has not disappeared, and now she is even angrier, “Florence, why do you still stay here? Aren’t you ashamed?” Bonnie throws her bag on the sofa and pushes Florence away from Austin’s side, “You have already been married to my brother, and why do you still come to bother Austin? Do you still think his situation is not tragic enough?” Seeing her old friend suddenly turns into an enemy, Florence considers that there must be some misunderstanding between them, so she intends to solve it.

Austin reads her mind and pats Bonnie’s shoulder slightly, “Bonnie, there must be some misunderstanding you should undo. Florence and you haven’t seen each other for a long time. You can have a chat here, and I will go to the kitchen to make some drinks.” In fact, he just wants to give them a chance to talk. Only two people are staying in the living room. “Bonnie, you have been studying abroad all the time, so maybe you are very clear about some things. Your brother Brian…he doesn’t like me. He even compelled me to kill the child in that year. There are a lot of troubles between your brother and me. ”

Bonnie interrupts her indifferently, her face looking cold, “Florence, my father always regarded you as a beloved daughter, and with his support, how could you lose to Antonia?” Florence did not expect that she would know these things. “How did you know?” “Not only do I know these things, but I also know all the grudges between you and Su family at that time. Since my father fell ill, he has recorded everything in his diary. When I came back to clear up his relics and then I found this diary. He reviewed his mistakes in the diary but refused to tell you. Florence, Do you think those who love and protect you have got something good from you?”

Florence does not refute, for she also feels that Bonnie is right. Everyone who is involved with her has no good end. “My father took great pains to protect you from my brother and help you at that year, but you were still defeated by Antonia. You are a real loser.” Florence is really surprised. She doesn’t know these things about the old Mr. Si. She feels a sense of shame in her heart and lowers her head without speaking. “If I were you, I would stay away from everyone, so as not to cause unexpected calamities to others who are inculpable.”

……

Austin has not been out in the kitchen all the time. “You’d better go out now, and Austin doesn’t need you to worry about, I will take good care of him,” Bonnie says impatiently, walking towards the kitchen with her bag. Florence goes upstairs silently, then carries Nelson away quietly. It turns out that so many people have silently done so much for her behind her. But how about her? What does she do? Who does she deserve? Nelson quickly notices that her mother’s mood is low and his small meaty hands hold her hand tightly. “Mom, don’t be sad, I will grow up quickly, and I won’t let anyone bully my mother!”