A Farewell After Being Reborn

lan approached Linda without so much as taking a look at Sage. "Aren't you busy at work? Why did you show up this early? Missing your wife?" Linda purposely directed the question at him.

Sage answered before lan had the chance to. "Grandma, stop making these embarrassing jokes. lan and I are soon to be divorced.” Linda's eyes remained fixed on lan. She waited for an answer.

Betraying no emotion, lan replied, "I'm done with work. I came over to see if there's anything I could help with."

Linda felt a surge of frustration at lan's obliviousness. She had set the stage for him, yet he seemed unwilling to play along. She couldn't help but wonder if business was his only forte.

Sage understood Linda's intentions and lan's reluctance to play along. Even if lan agreed with Linda, Sage wouldn't have believed him. Smiling, Sage changed the topic. "Grandma, let's look through the photos together.”

Linda barked at lan, "Why are you standing there then? Come take a seat.”

lan sat down by an antique table as Sage retrieved a crystal photo stand from a paper box. She said to Linda, "Grandma, you can display this by your bed or on your dresser."

The exquisite letter-sized photo stand held a personal portrait of Linda, who was beaming warmly at the camera.

Linda asked, "Sage, why didn't you choose a photo with the both of us?"

Sage replied, "Because you look stunning on your own! You deserve a solo feature. Besides, there are plenty of pictures of us together in the album. You can enjoy them anytime."Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Sage had thought of choosing a photo of her and Linda for the photo stand. But upon second thought, she realized that would be embarrassing given the impending divorce.

Furthermore, Linda might be put in a tough spot if she was asked about the photo. She couldn't possibly introduce Sage as her “former daughter-in-law". Hence, Sage settled on a portrait of Linda.

Linda, of course, figured out Sage's thought process. She felt sorry for Sage and grew annoyed at lan. "Sage, I'm feeling parched. Could you brew some tea for me?" Linda requested.

Sage readily agreed, knowing that Linda needed to have a private talk with lan. "Grandma, I'll light up the aromatic incense in your room for your nap later too."

“Thank you, Sage."

Sage put aside the album and exited the chapel with the incense. lan did not once look away from her as she left.

"What's the point of staring at her now? Why didn't you look at her when you entered?" Linda sounded angry. "And why did you refuse to admit that you missed her?"

He confessed, "Because I didn't miss her."

“You little brat!" Linda gently hit him with her walking stick. "How could you be so stubborn and arrogant at this point? Can't you see how determined she is to get a divorce?"

Wearing a stoic expression, lan retorted, "She's always been steadfast in her decisions, whether it's marriage or divorce."

“Listen to yourself. You sound like you're the victim." Linda's anger flared. "Sage loved you deeply in the past. Can't you set aside your pride for a moment and try to make her stay?"

lan remarked, "You too know that she once loved me. She does not have feelings for me now. If she insists on leaving, why should I force her to stay?"

Linda took another swipe at him with her walking stick. “Can't you acknowledge your feelings for Sage? It'll be difficult to reconcile with her after the divorce!"