Chapter 3 Comeback

Emily chuckled with her chin raised haughtily. Her gaze at Carissa was like that of a master to a disgusting, lowly slave. "Do you think my brother married you out of love? Hah, how naive! Carissa, I suggest you beat your head against the wall to fly away from your dreams. This marriage happened because my brother needed the support of your father's company. But now we don't need it anymore. Your family has been destroyed and will never rise again. Meanwhile, my brother's company has grown very fast.

So, it's better to get rid of you early than for us to be dragged into your family's pit of misfortune later."

"Ah, never mind. What am I telling you all this for? Carissa, hurry up and leave because soon my brother will come with Jillian. You won't be able to bear seeing them being so intimate." After flashing her satisfied smile, Emily turned around and walked away with a swaying body.

As for Carissa, she slowly sat down on the floor with tears welling up like a broken dam.

So, everything Alex had done all this time was just an act?

He treated her well because she still needed the help of her father's company. Carissa's tears broke out even more, and she beat her chest, which felt full. How stupid she had been!

After a moment, she fell silent. No, she was not stupid, but they were cruel. From now on, she would no longer allow them to treat her the same. After all, she was already divorced.

With renewed vigor and hope, Carissa wiped away her tears and stood up, grabbed her suitcase, and pulled it out, leaving behind a room full of false memories.

Carissa vowed she would never look back again. Everything that happened in the past slowly flew away with the wind as she left the mansion that was a silent witness to her folly. However, a grudge is still a grudge.

**

Five years later.

At the airport, a woman in her formal attire was seen walking hurriedly towards the exit. Her curly hair flew up with each step she took. Her face looked flat, but the look in her eyes showed anxiety.

Just as her foot stepped into the outer courtyard of the airport, a large hand grabbed her smooth wrist. "Carissa!"

Carissa turned her head while pulling her hand from the man's grasp in a subtle way.

The tall man with a firm jaw realized his action and sighed softly. But even so, he still said firmly. "Let me drop you off."

"Thank you for your kindness. But I'll just get a taxi," Carissa replied politely but no less firmly. Then she turned her gaze to the street in front of her, hoping that something she desperately needed would appear soon.

"Instead of waiting, it's better to be with me. Your child is sick. You don't want to make her wait any longer, right? Come on, Carissa!" Geffrey Edmund Harrison, the only son of Charles Harrison, the CEO of his family's third largest company, looked impatient and grabbed Carissa's wrist again, about to pull her towards the nearby car.

Carissa's face instantly turned dark. This time, she jerked it roughly, not caring even if the man in front of her was her boss. "Please stop grabbing my hand without my permission!"

Geffrey was still with his stony face. But anyone could see that the look in his eyes was different. There was a touch of tenderness there.

"Carissa, we've wasted too much time. Your child is waiting for you," he said as he walked over to his car and opened the passenger side door next to the steering wheel. "Come on!"

Carissa was still frozen in place, with her face turned away. Geffrey patiently waited. And finally, Carissa exhaled a rough breath and stepped closer.

"Come in!" Geffrey opened his voice when he saw Carissa stop her steps right in front of the wide-open car door.

"If it weren't urgent, I wouldn't have accepted your offer," Carissa said, looking at Geffrey flatly.

Surprisingly, instead of feeling offended, Geffrey nodded slowly. "I know."

Carissa finally moved in, and Geffrey swiftly touched her head, avoiding any collision.

After ensuring Carissa was seated safely, Geffrey ran around the car and started running it at a moderate speed.

Their journey was filled with silence. Carissa turned her face to the side while Geffrey focused ahead with occasional glances at Carissa.

"Carissa," Geffrey called finally.

But Carissa did not respond. She remained still in her position as if no one had called her.

Seeing that, Geffrey sighed. His stony face softened, turning into an inexplicable helplessness. "Until when are you going to be like this? Is two years not enough time to open your heart to me?"

Unfortunately, that question was like a breeze to Carissa.

"Carissa, speak up!" Geffrey became frustrated himself. He wanted to grab Carissa's face to look at him, to show her how sincere these feelings were. But he was afraid that his actions would only further increase the distance between them. "Tell me, what should I do? I'm ready to do whatever it takes for you to accept me."

Carissa suddenly turned her head, but she said in an untouchable tone. "Focus on driving and speed up."

**

When she arrived at the house she had been living in for the past three days, Carissa hurriedly ran inside and was immediately greeted by a little girl sitting on the living room sofa with her face bent sadly while hugging her stuffed toy.

"Sweetheart." Carissa approached and embraced her affectionately. Then she cupped her little face and kissed her warm forehead. "Mommy's home. How are you doing?"

"Mommy," Vienna whined. Her big eyes filled with tears.

"Yes, it's mommy, baby. Tell mommy what Vienna wants?" Carissa asked in her soft, calm voice. It was very different from when she spoke to Geffrey.

At that moment, the sound of tapping shoes was heard approaching. Vienna turned her head, and instantly, her watery eyes sparkled brightly. She smiled widely, looked up at her mother, and cooed. "Mommy, yesterday Vienna saw Dahlia's birthday video. It was very festive. There was Mommy, Daddy, and friends. Vienna wants to be like that. Isn't today Vienna's birthday? Incidentally, Uncle Geffrey is here. What if we do it too, Mom?" Vienna then looked up, looking at Carissa expectantly.

Like being stabbed by a knife, Vienna's every word made Carissa choke with all her pain. She was silent for a long time, making Vienna shake her arm impatiently. "Mommy, Vienna wants to be celebrated by many people. Vienna wants a festive atmosphere. Is that okay?"

Carissa looked at Vienna with reddened eyes. She wanted so badly to make it happen, but... then her gaze fell on the big wall clock in front of her. "It's late afternoon, sweetheart. We can't do it," she said, looking back at Vienna with a coaxing smile.

But the little girl shook her head hard. Her tiny lips began to curve downward with tears ready to spill.

"Vienna, good girl, listen to mommy, okay? Her birthday is postponed first. The day after tomorrow, Mommy will celebrate it festively. It takes time to prepare everything, dear." Carissa continued to say coaxing sentences while gently rubbing the little one's head.

Seeing that, Geffrey could not stand it and spoke up. "Why don't we go for a walk? Vienna can buy anything and play as much as she wants."

"Geffrey!" snapped Carissa, turning her head sharply.

However, Vienna's cheerful voice chimed in. "Vienna wants to! Come on, Mom, let's go to the mall with Uncle Geffrey!"