Chapter 3

Before I could say anything more, Charlie jumped in: "Mom, please don't be like this. It breaks my heart to see you this way."

Charlie grabbed his mother's hand, his face full of concern.

I didn't say anything, just sat quietly watching the scene unfold before me.

After a while, Charlie finally convinced his mother to go to another room,

Leaving just the two of us in the spacious room.

Charlie looked at me, his lips quivering a few times, hesitating before finally seeming to make up his mind to speak,

"Opal, you know my family's situation. I'm married now, I've got a good wife. My brother has finally found a girlfriend who's willing to be with him. I can't just stand by and watch my brother's marriage fall apart... Opal, can you bear with it for a while?"

Charlie was almost pleading with me. I looked at the man before me, nearly six feet tall, now hunched over like a shrimp, bowing and scraping,

I couldn't help but recall how vibrant and energetic he was when we first met.