Chapter 9: Homecoming

"Charlotte!" Quentin quickly grabbed hold of Charlotte.

Charlotte slapped back with her hand, "Get lost! Just get lost!"

"Five years! Do you know how I spent these five years? And now you have the audacity to show up? Get out of my sight! I don't ever want to see you again!"

As tears welled up in her eyes, she couldn't help but sob softly... These past five years had been too tough on her!

She didn't even have someone she could rely on by her side.

Where was this man when she really needed him?

Now that he's back, he expects her forgiveness? Dream on!

After receiving the slap, Quentin didn't get angry, but felt even more remorseful. "If hitting me would make you feel somewhat relieved, go ahead and hit me! I'm sorry, these past five years... I failed you!"

Charlotte's hand was about to strike, but upon seeing his remorseful expression, she couldn't bear it anymore and said coldly, "If you didn't show up before me, I would've felt better. I feel disgusted just seeing you!"

"Charlotte, believe me, I will..."

"Quentin! Who do you think you are? Why do you think you can interfere with the lives of the three of us? We are living well without you!"

Charlotte had lost all her patience and turned to walk away directly.

"Mom, please don't be angry, don't cry, and don't scold Daddy... I won't misbehave anymore... Mom, please stop crying, okay?"

Janessa wiped away the tears from Charlotte's eyes. Seeing her daughter being so sensible, Charlotte gradually calmed down. "Alright, I won't cry."

A pang of pain struck Quentin's heart. He could feel that she had provided for their children alone for all these years. How much had she endured?

He had let her and their children down! He felt guilty!

Seeing the three of them leaving, he quickly followed after them.

Charlotte turned around, glaring at him with hatred. "If you dare to follow us, I will call the police! And don't even think about trying anything with them!"

"Theo and Janessa are everything to me. If you dare to harm them... I'll fight you to the death! Go away!"

Theo, who had been standing there all along, suddenly spoke, "Mom, is this man really our father?"

Being more mature than Janessa, he quickly got the whole picture.

"No! he doesn't deserve to be your father. We're going home!"

Charlotte could only pick up Janessa and hold Theo's hand. However, Quentin immediately picked up Theo and said, "Theo is hurt; let me carry him back!"

"If you dare..." Charlotte glared at Quentin.

"Mom, my hand hurts... I want Daddy to carry me." Theo pitifully spoke up while in Quentin's gentle arms. He felt an unprecedented sense of security and warmth...

"You—" Seeing Theo like this, Charlotte felt sorry too.

The four of them walked all the way to a run-down alley and finally halted in front of a shabby and cramped residential building.

Charlotte walked directly toward the second floor. Quentin's heart trembled. He hadn't expected that they would be living in this shabby house...

His guilt ran even deeper!

What kind of lives had Charlotte and the children been leading all these years?

Charlotte rang the doorbell, and a young man came out, revealing a look of surprise. "Sis, Theo, Janessa, you're back!"

His gaze shifted towards Quentin, feeling a sense of familiarity. "And this is...?"

"This is my dad!" Janessa eagerly interrupted, her face filled with pride and joy. "Uncle, Janessa finally has a dad too, yay!"

"Rashad, I'm Quentin." Quentin smiled. "I..."

He didn't even finish his sentence. Rashad Pittman exploded on the spot. "You bastard! You, the rapist, have the nerve to come to my house? I'll kill you!"

He charged forward, delivering a punch right at Quentin's face!

Quentin's face showed bruises.

But his body remained still, his eyes filled with determination. "The grave mistake I made five years ago, I will definitely make it up to all of you!"

"I promise you from this moment on, I will make your lives better..."

"Get lost!" Rashad threw another punch filled with rage, smashing towards Quentin again!

"It's because of you, the rapist, that we ended up in this state! If you don't leave, I'll kill you right now..."

Rashad forcefully pulled Charlotte and her children inside, slammed the door shut with a bang, leaving Quentin standing alone in bitterness...