Husband With Benefits-Chapter 834: Sigh

Lily sighed deeply as she hauled the last of her belongings into the small room within the grand mansion. It felt daunting to think about how empty the space might feel, and, because Cai had been so worried about her, she’d decided to keep her concerns to herself. She hadn’t fought him on this; after all, what was the point? But the thought of living all alone in this humongous place was even scarier than facing any media people.

She plopped down on the edge of the bed, letting out another sigh that mingled with the dust motes floating in the afternoon light. At least Cai had confided in her about his worries, and that brought her some comfort. If he had taken his friend’s advice, they would have ended things or at least ’distanced’ themselves from each other for the time being, and the mere thought of that sent a pang through her heart.

Just then, her phone rang, jolting her out of her reverie. She glanced down at the screen and saw it was her father calling. A grimace tugged at her lips as memories of their last interaction flooded back. It had been tense. Should she answer it? But she had promised him she would give him a chance to make things right. "Hello," she finally answered, her voice steady despite the unease swirling inside her.

"Lily." His voice came through, weary and strained. There was something almost defeated in his tone, a hint of sadness that made her sit up a little straighter. Had something happened? The concern began to build in her chest like a knot tightening.

"Daddy? Is everything okay" she asked, t. He let out a bitter laugh at that, a sound that echoed with years of disappointment. "Now you call me daddy, when I would have given anything to have heard you say that... Thank you, Lily. You have a big heart."

In that moment, she realized two important truths. First, she had been avoiding addressing her parents altogether referring to them as ’her parents’ and not mom or dad, allowing the rift to widen without even noticing it.

And second, why did his words feel so much like a farewell? Was he preparing to leave already? A wave of bitterness rose in her throat, thick and sour. She should have expected that, even though they had claimed they would be around for a long time. But she held her tongue; if they wanted to say goodbye, then that was on them. She would not be the one to extend an olive branch.

"Lily, would you mind coming in for lunch today? If only for a little while," he continued, his voice softer now. "I’ll ask your mother to stay away, if that helps."

"Lily. Would you mind coming in for Lunch today? If only for a little while. I’ll ask your mother to not join us."

Lily hesitated but then immediately agreed. her father was trying and she would not punish him because of her mother. So, she told him that she’d be there to see him in an hour. As she drove there, she thought of telling Cai about this. About how her parents had reached out. She didn’t know why but she’d kept it to herself for some reason, which was just foolish.

Lily hesitated for a moment, wrestling with her feelings, but then she made her decision. Her father was trying, and she wouldn’t punish him because of her mother’s actions. So, she agreed, telling him she would be there to see him in an hour. As she drove there, the weight of the conversation lingered in her mind. She thought about telling Cai about this—about how her parents had reached out to her again after all this time. For some reason, she had kept it to herself, which now felt foolish and she wowed to tell himself soon enough.

***

"Your mother and I are going to divorce."

Lily felt her mouth drop open at his words, her breath catching in her throat. Anything she might have expected to hear in that moment—her father’s apology, even the usual small talk—this was not it. Her parents were actually getting a divorce, and the reality of it felt like a punch to her gut.

Her father offered her a small, bittersweet smile, an attempt at reassurance that fell short. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair in a gesture that spoke of exhaustion and resignation. "I know you’re shocked, and I completely understand that this is difficult for you. But, Lily, your mother and I—our relationship has been unraveling for a long time now. It started with Jasmine’s illness and the way it affected both of us. Your mother... she changed too much because of her grief. It was as if she was swallowed whole by it. All this time, I stood by her side, thinking we could endure together in our shared sorrow. But she has become unwilling to understand or change, and I’ve reached a point where I can’t bear it any longer."

He paused, and Lily could see the struggle in his eyes, the weight of unspoken emotions. "I want you to know, Lily, that I truly do want to be with my daughter. I want to be present in your life, to be a part of it in a way that feels right."

"Daddy, I... I don’t know what to say," she managed, her voice trembling slightly as she fought to process the information. "Can’t you and Mom work it out? I don’t want you to separate because of me."

"And we are not," he replied, shaking his head firmly. "The reason for our marriage’s failure is not you at all! It is your mother’s inability to move on from her grief and my helplessness in failing to help her through it. I’ve tried everything I can think of, but it’s like she’s closed off a part of herself, and I can’t reach her anymore. It’s as if we are living in two different worlds, and no matter how much I want to help her, I can’t do it alone."

Lily’s heart sank further.