Nobody noticed the unusual look on Sean's face, however, neither did anybody understand the kind of violent mood swings he was suffering from. Luckily, their time together at the table passed without any further incidents.
In the following days, Sean became more busy since he had to help Jacob regain his memories.
During that period, Emily didn't meet Jacob even once, as Sean said it would have an adverse effect on the treatment.
Time passed slowly and dreadfully for Beryl and Emily. It had been almost half a month since Jacob's treatment began.
Soon, the treatment reached its final stages, and Sean's workload seemed to have reduced in time. But even so, neither Emily nor Beryl were allowed to see Jacob.
"You have been waiting for half a month. Can't you wait for a few more days? Take it easy. This is the last stage. He will regain his memories of the past soon. The best thing you can do for him now is to wait patiently and let him complete the treatment."
Sean urged them to hold on for just a few more days.
As intolerable as it was for Emily and Beryl, they both kept faith with Sean. Why wouldn't they believe the man standing in front of them? After all, he was closer to them than their own families ever were. As far as they knew, they had every reason to believe what he was saying.
Having swayed both Emily and Beryl, Sean's lips stretched into a smile, almost reaching his dark eyes. "Sorry to keep you waiting for such a long time. You must be exhausted. Let me take you out to get some fresh air. A change of scenery would do us all some good."
Emily would have refused Sean, but she felt bad about the fact that lately he hadn't been able to do anything else because of Jacob's treatment. She felt like she owed him so she gave him a nod in response.
Since there wasn't much she could do to help, to show her gratitude, she compensated him by agreeing to go out with him.
Needless to say, Beryl was the happiest to hear his proposition. However, the thought of her father not being there with her to have a good time left a huge hole in her heart.
Beryl was still too young to hide her emotions, which was clearly visible on her face. When Sean noticed her disappointment, his eyes twitched involuntarily.
"Beryl, aren't you happy that I will be going with you?" asked Sean, seemingly disappointed.
"Yeah, I am happy!" She nodded seriously. "If only daddy could come with us!"
Sean gazed mildly at her small face and said, "Then you can consider me to be your daddy."
Emily thought that it was highly inappropriate of Sean to say that. But just as she was about to say something, Beryl shook her head firmly and said, "Daddy is daddy, while uncle is uncle. Neither of you can replace the other in my heart."
"I was just kidding. You are right, Beryl." Sean's smile died faster than wisps of smoke dissipating after a candle flame had been snuffed out.
He was the man who treated her and looked after her since she was still in her mother's womb. He was there to witness the very moment she came into his world.
He had watched her grow from a tiny little infant to the lovable, vibrant girl she was now. He may not have been her real father, but he was the closest thing she had to a father figure before she met Jacob.
Sean was a father to her when she needed him. There had been multiple times in the past when she even mistakenly called him "Daddy".
In the end, even though he had been there for her for more than four years, he still couldn't hold a candle to Jacob, whom she had known for only one year.
Perhaps, this was the extraordinary bond between a father and his daughter. Ridiculous!
Emily, however, looking at him from the side, couldn't figure out what he had meant and said, "Are we going out now, Sean?"
"Yes." Sean turned to look at her and said, "If you need to prepare something, just go ahead. I will wait for you."
"All right." Emily had given him her word, and she intended to keep it.
...
As it happened, Sean took them to the place where he and Emily used to go for walks when she was living in D Country. It may not have been what they had expected, but the place was special to him.
Revisiting the old place seemed to remind Sean of the past. Long forgotten memories awakened, echoed through his mind anew. "Years ago, when you were pregnant with Beryl, you often enjoyed coming here to see these statues. At that time, it was I who accompanied you here. It seems as though nothing here has changed, and yet our lives have changed so much."
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