He got emotional after hearing what Julian said last night. He felt like he was shaken by some power.
"Malcolm, what the hell are you thinking? Do you know anything about love? Why do you keep falling for that?"
"I tell you what, don't play with your feelings, okay? You'll lose if she doesn't love you back when you are in a relationship. And sometimes, you'll get hurt very badly if you pour too many feelings into it. You have to make her feel your love. You have to prove that she can rely on you by your actions." Julian had said.
Julian's words still resonated in his ears. He seemed to know what to do next.
"Mom, I had enough. Go and eat your dinner!" Dominic glanced at his mother. His mom always acted like this. She put her children first and then she'll pick up her meal.
She would never be too busy to take good care of her children.
"You had enough? I thought you could eat more!" said Marilyn, laughing.
Dominic replied, smiling, "Mom, we had breakfast this morning, remember?"
Marilyn nodded, "Oh, I remember. Just a sec, I'll finish mine."
Malcolm turned to her and told her not to eat in a hurry.
Marilyn replied with a slight nod.
Jacob took Tyrone to the hospital. The doctor examined him and it turned out to be a slight injury, nothing to be worried about.
He was told that he could recover soon if he got some rest.
Jacob drove him back home so that he could have a rest.
Tyrone sat in silence along the way, knitting his brows.
He had a sense that he saw his daughter today. He felt strongly about it this time.
He gazed at Jacob and didn't tell him about his thoughts because he knew Jacob wouldn't help him check on her.
He had been there many times. Numerous paternity tests had been done. His actions lead to his son's conviction that their dad might be a psychopath.
"Never mind. I'll go and check by myself another day," he thought.
He knew the restaurant's manager. He thought he could ask him for help.
Tyrone asked abruptly, "Jacob, how are you lately? Something has been bothering you? I saw you have been acting strange lately. You don't talk to your mom and you just drink all day. What happened to you? Be honest with me!"
Jacob wished they could talk about other things than his depressing life.
He answered in a gloomy tone, "Nothing is going on with me. I'm fine."
Jacob didn't find it useful to tell him what was going on.
His dad was afraid of his mom. He could do nothing if Debbie said no.
He knew about his mom. His mom could be so callous sometimes that she would rather give up on her grandchildren.
As for himself, his consciousness was full of guilt as a man for failing to protect his family.
Jacob smiled at his dad reluctantly, a pain tipping in his heart.
He sank into thoughts, "Denise must have given up on our unborn baby. I was so useless. I was not good to her when my mom acted that way.
Of course, she will give up on me too.
I have caused her so much pain."
She was his one and only one for almost two decades.
She was modest and kind. She had a kind heart and would always cheer him up. Whenever he came home from work, she was there for him with a happy smile on her face so that he never felt any stress or exhaustion of the day.
No one in the world would give him that kind of satisfaction except her.
Unfortunately, his mom stood against their marriage. What odds with his life to stumble upon such a preposterous thing!
Jacob felt like he was doomed.
He sighed with a sneer.
He made up his mind already. Without Denise, he was nobody. So He decided to stay unmarried for the rest of his life. No one would force him to get married, including his mom.
They finished eating lunch. Malcolm insisted on taking Dominic to the shopping mall. Marilyn didn't want to go but could come up with any excuses.
Malcolm was in charge today. She couldn't decide what to do, Malcolm arranged everything.
Besides, she didn't know how to say no to him.
She wanted to spare herself from this, but it would be an irresponsible act for her child.
And she didn't want to become an irresponsible adult in front of her child.
In the end, they decided to go to the shopping mall. When they were in it, they saw lots of toys and clothes displayed for kids.
On the third and fourth floors, there were fashionable outfits for women. It was a huge and lively shopping center.
Malcolm took Dominic to the toy store.
Marilyn looked at them with delight.
Malcolm and Dominic were getting along very well as if they were close friends.
She even didn't get a chance to join in their conversation.
So she began to observe Malcolm's good-looking face instead. He was tall. He had nice hair and a very handsome look. When he opened his teeth and smiled, he would become even more handsome.
Lots of women in the mall cast furtive glances at him. Few of them could resist not looking at him.
Marilyn pursed her lips and said, "Dominic, I'll go to the restroom, don't look for me!" These were the most said words of her today.
"Okay, Mom! We will wait here," Dominic responded without looking at her.
Marilyn glanced at Malcolm. And their eyes met, smiling at each other.
Marilyn didn't know what to say.
She turned away her eyes and left.
"Marilyn, what are you doing here?"
All of sudden, a familiar came voice behind her.
Marilyn noticed and found out it was Velma. She was with her mom.
Marilyn said to herself, "Why do I keep running into them?
Everywhere I go, they just appear out of nowhere!
Oh God help me out of this!"
Marilyn smiled at them out of politeness. And she went up to them reluctantly.
"I just came here for shopping. Is it not okay?" she replied coldly.
Velma seemed surprised to see her. She looked around, her eyes searching for Malcolm for she knew Malcolm wasn't at home. She wanted to know if Malcolm was hanging out with Marilyn.
"This shopping mall is unlike any other mall, you know. I thought only the super-rich could offer to come. I am surprised seeing you, Marilyn" Debbie said with a sarcastic tone, which made Marilyn uncomfortable.
Debbie's attitude reminded Marilyn of Denise. Denise even planned suicide because of her.
Recalling what happened made her furious. She was well aware of Debbie's hostility to her because of Malcolm.
But her hostility was inexplicable.
Marilyn was lost in bewildering thoughts, wondering how on earth Denise was not wanted by her grandmother.
She cast a cold glance at Debbie and put up a sneering smile.
She said, "Excuse me, Debbie, I don't like your tone and your attitude! If I am not mistaken, you consider yourself as the super-rich type who has a good education and good manners. Where are your high manners? What a shame!"
Marilyn continued with anger on her face, "Yes, I know there are a lot of wealthy people here for shopping. But I don't see any written rules saying that I can't! So tell me, Debbie, why shouldn't I be here?"