Chapter 3 Her Parents Died

"I'll explain for Eric," Regina spoke up. Kelly's hands trembled as she signed her response, her gestures sharp with anger. "I don't need you—I want him to explain!" Regina couldn't understand sign language, but her eyes held pity as if she felt sorry for Kelly. Tears welled up in Kelly's eyes. She felt as if Regina's gaze was cutting right through her. The sympathy in both Eric's and Regina's eyes felt like sharp blades slicing into her heart. At that moment, regret washed over Kelly. Why haven't I died in Oasisvale? If I had died there, I wouldn't have to endure such a torment now. Her shaking hands fell to her sides, and she stopped resisting. The physical torture from being held captive by terrorists had never broken her, but the emotional wounds being inflicted now were unbearable. "When Dr. Cooper volunteered for the medical relief mission in Oasisvale, Eric was completely against you going. You had just gotten married back then. You were his whole world, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing you. But you—so caught up in your so-called dream, your desire for peace, your need to play the hero—insisted on going anyway," Regina's voice dripped with resentment. She blamed Kelly instead. "Regina." Eric covered his forehead, his voice low as he tried to stop her. "You left without a second thought. Did you ever consider how Eric felt? When news of your team's kidnapping reached Drakonia, he lost his mind. He drowned himself in alcohol, searching for any trace of you ... " Regina's eyes reddened with emotion. Kelly's fingers trembled as she looked at Eric. He had supported her decision when she joined Tyson Cooper's peacekeeping mission. He once said, "Kelly, I'll stand by whatever choice you make. I'll wait for you to come back." Those words had kept her going. She had endured, holding onto the belief that Eric would be waiting for her. "I admit I didn't play fair when it came to Eric, but I don't regret a thing. I love him. I gave him a child. Whether he loves me or not doesn't matter—I know he will someday." Regina lifted her chin, her expression victorious. "I insisted on having our daughter. When he was at his lowest, falling apart, I was the one who stayed by his side. He was moved by my devotion, so he agreed to be with me—to give Faye a real family." With a triumphant smile, Regina lifted her daughter, Faye Gray, as if showing off a prize. "How old are you?" Kelly wrote the question down for the child. "Five," Faye answered clearly, already capable of reading and forming thoughts of her own. Kelly stared at Faye numbly. Five years old? That meant Eric had already betrayed her before she even left for Solmaris. His so-called undying love turned out to mean nothing. "This is my home," Kelly gripped the pen tightly and wrote the words down. Regina didn't hesitate to make her stance clear. "I know you and Eric bought this house together, but that doesn't change the reality. Kelly, you need to accept the truth. I'll return the money you put into it, but I'm Eric's wife now. I hope you can understand and step aside." She was pushing Kelly to end the marriage herself. "Eric and I have already packed up your belongings. They're in the basement. If you want them, you'll have to get them from there," Regina added before heading back to her room with Faye. Kelly remained frozen in place, overwhelmed by a dull ache spreading through her chest. The living room had once been decorated with photos of her and Eric, capturing the moments of their younger days. Now, those images had been replaced. The frames displayed photos of Eric with Regina and Faye, accompanied by scattered toys. Eric had always been obsessed with cleanliness, ensuring every corner of the house remained spotless. Yet, now, children's toys and clothes lay strewn across the floor, and he didn't seem to mind. So, he was capable of tolerating the mess after all. Regina had spoken at length, yet Eric hadn't uttered a single word to contradict her. He let her speak on his behalf. "Come in first," Eric murmured, his voice soft, his gaze avoiding Kelly's. Kelly didn't move. Lowering her head, she scribbled on the paper, "No, Eric. I want to go home. If it's not too much trouble, please take me back to Silverglow Bay." That was where her parents lived. Losing her husband was bearable—at least she still had them. Eric's fingers tightened around the doorframe as he hesitated. His head lowered slightly, and his eyes turned red. "Kelly ... I'm sorry." She stood there, frozen, unable to grasp what he meant. The police had seemed reluctant to tell her anything, and Eric had avoided the topic altogether. Now, the truth finally came out. "Your parents ... passed away in the second year after your incident." Eric kept his head bowed, his tears silently falling to the floor. Kelly's world tilted, the room spinning around her. It felt as if something had detonated inside her, tearing her apart from the inside out. Her legs trembled, and she could barely keep herself upright as she hurriedly wrote, "How? What happened?" She couldn't comprehend it. Her parents had been healthy, and she was their only child. They had stable careers as officials and were only a few years away from retirement. How could they be gone?