The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

+ Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Perhaps it was because he first shared his family stories so openly that | found it easier to speak.

Hesitating, | said,

“My mom passed away, and my dad, like yours, cut ties with me.”

That year, at my mom's funeral, a sea of people came, all dressed in black.

The master of ceremonies gave a long eulogy, but | couldnt fully understand it. My mind wandered midway.

| remember looking at my mom'’s photo, where she seemed to smile at me, and | smiled back.

The next second, | was slapped to the ground by my father.

He roared, “Your mom's dead! How can you still smile?”

Everyone turned to look atas if | were skind of monster.

In that moment, | was terrified.

Tears welled in my eyes, but | bit my lips and didn’t dare make a sound.

In the first year after my mom’s passing, my dad often sat in the living room at night, flipping through her

letters and photos.

By the second year, he had packed her belongings into a few boxes and pushed them into a dusty

corner.

By the third year, he had remarried.

The new stepmom dumped the boxes into the yard, saying she wanted to burn them all.

| desperately rummaged through the pile and saved the camera, holding it tightly to my chest.

| burned myself in the process.

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Chapter 10

From then on, the camera becthe only thing left of my mom.

Later, my younger sister was born.

The love and attention of the whole family shifted to her.

| grew up as if invisible, turning eighteen without anyone noticing.

| went to college to study medicine.

On the day of enrollment, my dad handeda thick stack of money and said,

“You're an adult now. Don’t cback.”

| nodded and counted it-30,000 yuan.

30,000 yuan severed the blood ties between us.

At university, my teachers and classmates praisedfor being well-suited to be a doctor,

saying that | could stay calm no matter the situation.

When | started working, this becmy professional strength.

Everyone admired my composure, but only | knew-I was too scared to stop.

ooo

Sometimes | wondered if, on the day of the funeral, | hadn’t angered my dad,

would he still have abandoned me?

Over the years, I've grown used to suppressing my emotions,

believing that if | ever laughed freely again or shed tears recklessly,

| would lose something even more important.

At this point, | let out a small sigh.

These memories, buried in my heart for so long, had never been shared with anyone before.

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The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights

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Chapter 10

Joseph's brows furrowed deeply. The usual faint smile at the corners of his lips had disappeared.

His tone was unusually serious.

“Zoey, have you forgotten? You were only five years old at the time.”

| froze, a little puzzled. “What?”

He said, “Crying and laughing are a child's privilege.

You've been suppressing yourself because no one ever let you be a child.”

His voice was soft, but it strucklike a thunderbolt.

After the funeral, my dad stopped speaking tofor a long time.

Later, when my sister was born, my needs were always pushed aside.

At college, | had to juggle my studies and find ways to support myself.

Trying to recall, | realized there wasn’t a single moment when | had been cared for as a child.

I knew | had no one to rely on, so | understood that my tears and laughter didn’t matter to anyone.

It was better to bury them deep inside.

Lowering my head, | said bitterly,

“Yeah... but I'm an adult now. It's impossible to act like a child anymore.

To laugh when | want to laugh, or cry when | want to cry...”

Just as | finished speaking, a sudden jolt ran through my ribs, like a mild electric shock.

Startled, | let out a strange yelp and turned to look.

It was Joseph poking my side.

With a playful smile, he said, “Who says it’s impossible?”

| tried to dodge, but he grabbed me.

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The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights

Chapter 10

It was as if there was a switch on my waist-I couldn’t stop laughing, no matter how hard | tried to keep my

mouth shut.

| burst out like a deflating balloon.

“Stop! Don’t poke me! It's so ticklish! Hahaha... I'm begging you!”

| struggled to escape but was cornered by him.

| laughed so hard that tears were streaming down my face.

“Mercy, Dr. Joseph! Letgo!” | pleaded.

He bared his teeth in a grin and reached out again.

| curled into a ball, bracing myself, but the expected sensation didn’t come.

Peeking out cautiously, | saw him extend his hand with his palm open.

In it was a piece of candy.

Smiling, he said, “Here, a reward for the little one.”

| stared at him, stunned, and then collapsed weakly against the wall.

Unwrapping the candy, | popped it into my mouth.

It wasn’t good-cheap artificial fruit flavor, sickly sweet.

But it made my eyes sting, as if burning.

Joseph crouched down, pulledup, and heldin his arms.

“Cry,” he said softly. “It’s okay. | know it hurts.”

The warmth and strength of his embrace broke down the last of my defenses.

How long had it been since | felt understood, cherished?

So long that | had started to believe | didn’t deserve it.

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The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights.

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Chapter 10

And yet, here in a foreign land on the other side of the world,

he used a piece of candy to comfort me, just like a child.

In that moment, the tears | had held back since | was five years old finally cpouring out, all at once,

twenty years later.

He kept gently patting my back, letting his clothes soak up my tears.

At spoint, | didn’t even know when, | cried myself to sleep in his arms.

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