Chapter 6
After the divorce, Madison was decadent for two months.
She did nothing but sat in a daze and cut Greyson's things.
Paisley hid a photo secretly, but it was found by her mother. She was slapped and the photo was cut into pieces. Paisley looked at Madison. She thought that what was cut was not her father's photo but her mother's heart, which was cut into pieces and bleeding.
Two months later, Madison regained her sanity. She resigned and said she would start a business.
She had changed a lot. She would never have been so aggressive before. No matter how great Greyson's business was, she never thought about quitting. But now, she handed in her resignation letter without hesitating. Then she went to change her hairstyle, got a facial and learned to make up. She was a beauty. When she dressed up, she looked more gorgeous and Paisley could hardly recognize her.
Everyone was happy for her that she had come out of the shadow of divorce. Only Paisley knew that she didn't change at all. She was still the one who put all her attention on her husband and sacrificed herself as his shadow. Otherwise, why did she go to Oakwood but not other cities? She couldn't leave him.
Madison's love was like a huge mud pit. She sank deeper and deeper, and finally fell into the abyss.
Paisley couldn't do anything. She could only remind herself again and again not to believe in love.
Madison left her daughter to Justin and left.
Before Madison left, Paisley didn't want to see her. Her parents said they loved her, but both of them left without hesitation.
Madison knocked at the door for a long time. Paisley didn't open the door. Finally, she said, "Paise, mom is leaving."
Paise cried in the room. She looked through the window and saw mom leaving with her luggage. She didn't hate mom even mom beat her. But this time, she hated mom. She felt that she was abandoned again.
Grandpa came in. Paisley put her arms around his waist like when she was a child. She said quietly, "Grandpa, don't abandon me."
She didn't care about anyone but grandpa. She only loved grandpa.
Justin touched her hair and said, "Paise, don't blame your mom."
I didn't blame her. I hated her. I hated her for being selfish and leaving me alone.
Paisley held grandpa, but said nothing.
After Madison left, Paisley lived with grandpa, who loved her more than anyone else.
She didn't do well in study. When he signed the report card, he said with a smile that it must be teachers' fault. When others laughed at Paisley and said she was a wild child, he screamed abuse with a cane. Actually he was a kind and nice person, but he couldn't stand others judging on his granddaughter, even a word.
The only thing that worried Paisley was that grandpa was in poor health and had asthma. Every day, grandpa stood at the door waiting for her to come home from school. The sun was setting, which made the old man's shadow a little crooked. Paisley was upset. Where did the time go? Her grandpa was getting old, but he was still handsome.
Paise looked at the high nose and the resolute lips of grandpa, which looked like sculpture. She said seriously, "Grandpa, don't die."
She was afraid that if he left her one day, she would be really alone.
Grandpa smiled and looked at her lovingly, "Silly girl, you still have your mom and dad."
Mom and Dad? She did have mom and dad, but they were too far away from her.
After her parents divorced, her father called her, but she didn't answer. He thus never called her again. Paisley was sad, but she thought that it was not a big deal. When others were in their teenage years, they could acted like a spoiled child and asked for everything. But Paisley could only sigh and hide her emotions.
Only the summer vocation could remind her that she still had parents. Her mother would ask her to ask her dad for money. The court ruled that Greyson should give Paisley 100 dollars every month. Paisley was like a debt collector. She would go to her father and ask for money. It was the most painful days for Paisley every year. She was quite happy to go to Oakwood to see dad before. But now it was a suffering for her.
Until she became an adult, she still didn't understand that 100 dollars were not a big amount for dad, why was he unwilling to pay that?
Paisley would always remember the first time she went to her father to ask for money.
Her brother, Malcolm, was three years old that year. He was really cute and plump. He was in a navy uniform, and was held by Victoria.
When Victoria saw her, she was very happy, "Malky, see, this is your sister."
Malcolm was eating potato chips. He took a look at Paisley and said nothing.
Greyson held him in his arms and took away the potato chips. He smiled and said, "How many times have I told you? Don't eat too much junk food."
"Give it to me! Give it to me!" Malcolm wanted to get it back and scratched Greyson's face.
Greyson didn't get angry but play with his son happily. He didn't talk about the money at all. Paisley stood in the living room and felt that she was an outsider again, especially when she saw Victoria's proud smile. The air was full of invisible thorns, which made Paisley miserable.
This time, Victoria was just like the hostess, "How's your mother recently?"
Maybe Paisley would learn to be more tactful in a few more years. But her thorns just popped out, even if she didn't hurt others, the thorns were still standing defiantly. She was just like a hedgehog, and she said, "It's none of your business."
"Really?" The woman smiled without getting angry.
Instead, Greyson pulled a long face and said, "Paise, what did you say?"
"Isn't it?" Paisley looked straight at him and said coldly, "Dad, I'm here to get the money. If it's convenient for you, give it to me. I'm going home."
Greyson was unhappy, "Money, money, money. How can you become like your mother and only know money?"
If it was not for the money, I wouldn't even come.
But Greyson looked a little terrible, Paisley dared not answer back. She bit her lip and said, "I haven't finished my homework yet."
"The homework can be done in a few days. Since you're here, stay for a few more days to play with your brother. You can get familiar with each other."
Victoria said. Paisley didn't understand it. They hated each other. Why Victoria was so excited when seeing her? Later Paisley got the answer on Victoria's social account. Human beings were lonely creatures. They would die without showing off. She was a successful mistress. If she didn't show off in front of his ex-wife, how could she know her success and happiness. And she needed witnesses too, who was supposed to tell his ex-wife that how happy she was now.
Greyson would always let Paisley know what pain was.
The pain was that your father told you that you have a half brother calmly. The pain was that your mother knelt down to the man with a disgusted look. The pain was that your father held your brother but ignored you. Not until then did Paisley realize the difference between heaven and earth. One was spoiled, and one was ignored.
Greyson loved his son very much, that unruly little fat boy. He never called Paise sister. Paisley ignored him. She hated his name, Malcolm Logan, which shared the same last name with hers. She thought it was the most ridiculous thing.
But for money, Paisley had to share a room with her younger brother. After all, Victoria asked them to "get familiar with each other".
Paisley lived quite a terrible life here. She had to sit in Malcolm's luxurious toy room and play with him.
Greyson decorated the room for Malcolm. It was full of all kinds of toys. The limited edition Transformers were thrown on the floor. Paisley checked the label. Her eyes even turned red. The price of some toys was higher than her annual living expenses. So her father was unwilling to spend the money for a toy on her.
A lump came into Paisley's throat. She almost cried. How could there be such a big gap between people?
Her brother's expensive toys could be thrown on the floor. But her 100 dollars was put off again and again.
She was upset. Malcolm looked up and grabbed the model car in her hand, "Villager, don't touch my car. You can't afford to break it!"
He said in a childish voice, but his words were quite harsh. Paisley was infuriated, "What did you say?"
"What?" Malcolm said directly, "Don't you come from the countryside to ask my father for money?"
So she was just someone came from the countryside and ask for money in her brother's eyes!
Paisley took the model car back, "I'll touch it! I'll touch it!"
Paisley put the car on the floor and slid it. Malcolm was unhappy. He want to take it back. While they snatched the car, Paisley loosed her grip. The car fell to the floor and the wheels fell down. Seeing this, Malcolm cried and rolled on the floor, "Pay for my car. My car..."
That night, as soon as Greyson went back, Malcolm held him and cried, "Dad, she beat me! And broke my car!"
In fact, the wheels had been installed. The car hadn't been broken. Paisley was about to explain. Greyson reprimanded her, "Paise, you're his sister. Malcolm is a kid. How can you bully him? How can you beat him..."
At that moment, all the anger and hatred accumulated in the past few days poured into her heart. She felt extremely upset. She opened her mouth, but she saw Malcolm who was in Greyson's arms and looking at her proudly. She didn't say anything finally. She clenched her fists and a terrible thought flashed by.
The next day, Greyson went to work. Victoria went out, leaving her and Malcolm alone. Malcolm was taking a nap.
Paisley walked quietly to Malcolm's bed. He slept soundly. His small chest rose and fell. How lovely! But why was he as bad as his mother?!
The hatred was rolling in Paisley's heart. She hated them! She hated Greyson! She hated him for being so partial! So unfair!
Greyson, didn't you love your son? Then I would take your son to die together! You would lose your son and daughter. You would have no children! You would suffer for a lifetime!
She held Malcolm and walked to the window. This was the 25th floor. If she jumped down, no one would live. Paisley looked down. The cars below was like matchboxes. It was so high. She felt a little dizzy. Her hands and feet were shaking, but her hatred increased.
Malcolm woke up as if he felt something. He asked, "What are you doing?"
When he saw Paisley standing on the chair and looking out in a daze,
he instinctively felt something. He cried, "Sister! Sister!"
He struggled while crying. He grabbed Paisley's hand. It hurt so much that she woke up in a moment.
Paisley didn't jump down at last. She and Malcolm fell to the floor. She looked at her red arm that was grabbed by Malcolm, who was crying. She ran out.
Paisley ran downstairs. She didn't know where to go. She just felt scared. She hated Greyson. She hated herself. She hated her cowardice. Otherwise, she and Malcolm would have died. He would lose everything. How painful he would be.
Paisley didn't know when did she become like this. She felt she was so terrible, and her heart was full of dark thoughts.
Paisley walked out of the community. She kept walking and walking. She was full of thoughts of death!
She couldn't find the meaning of life. What did she live for? Her parents abandoned her. Her dad was so rich, but he was unwilling to pay her 100 dollars. She felt like she was redundant. Paisley was sadder and sadder. Her chest began to ache. The past floated up one by one. There was no happy memory at all.
She came to a roller skating rink. The music was deafening. The players passed like light swallows. They looked free. One of the boys was the most attractive. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. His long bangs covered most of his eyes. He had a beautiful nose. His mouth was bent slightly. He was skating languidly. Everyone made way for him. His left ear wore an ear drill. The light flashed as he passed by.
The boy seemed to enjoy the sensation of being in the limelight. He constantly changed his tricks and skated around and around. Paisley grabbed the iron fence of the skating rink and stared at him blankly. He temporarily diverted her attention. Later, the boy left. She found that it was getting dark and she had calmed down.
Even death required courage, but she was a coward. Paisley went back. Greyson and Victoria had returned. She didn't what Malcolm said. She didn't want to explain either. At a certain moment, she did want to die with Malcolm together and let Greyson lose everything.
She said to Greyson, "I'm going back."
This time, Greyson gave her the money directly.
Malcolm, who was hiding behind Victoria, poked his head out and whispered, "Sister, are you leaving?"
Paisley looked back and saw his red eyes.
After all, he was just a child. Paisley went over and squatted down, "I'm sorry, Malky."
She didn't want to hurt him. Paisley left after saying this. She didn't say goodbye to Greyson, and Greyson didn't see her off.
On her way out of the community to take a bus, she passed a skating boy whose left ear was glowing. Paisley looked back at him. He would never know that he saved her life. He was dazzling like a light. He made her feel that she couldn't die now. It was so dark. She hadn't seen the light yet.
She did not expect that they would meet again. He said that he would end her lonely years.
As Dawson said, Paisley, he saved your life, and you were destined to move on with the light.
They all forgot that light could also burn people.
When Paisley came back from Oakwood, Paisley was sure for two things.
First, she should love grandpa more. Only grandpa loved her truly. Second, she should study hard.
She didn't want to be looked down upon and called a villager. She vowed that when she grew up, she would not take any money from her father.
When Paisley graduated from junior high school, she refused to continue to ask for money like a debts collector, "I'll go to work to earn money. Mom, I will spend little. We don't need his money."
Madison was silent for a long time and sighed, "Paise, we are divorced. But he is your dad after all. You should go to see him more. Even you're his daughter, you'll be strangers if you contact him."
That didn't matter. Paisley shook her head in her heart.
The pain on her body was given by her father. Even she contacted him more and more, they couldn't be closer.
In the same year, Madison came back and said she would take Paisley to Oakwood.
She said cheerfully that her business was going well in Oakwood. She told Paisley that she had bought a house and where the community was.
When Paisley heard the name, she felt desperate. Why couldn't mom forget Greyson? The community was opposite Greyson's community. Maybe she could meet him when going out.
Paisley refused to go with her. She couldn't roll in the mud pit with her mother. And she couldn't leave grandpa.
When everyone abandoned her, only the old man accepted her.
Paisley tried many ways. She ran away from home and escaped to a place where her mother couldn't find her. But finally, under her mother's tears, she resigned herself to packing. On the day of leaving, Paisley didn't say a word to grandpa. Justin tried to take her hand, but Paisley shook it off. She got on the car and looked aside.
But at the moment the car was started, she saw the old man tottering behind the car. She soon opened the door and jumped off the car though the car was speeding up. She fell down to the ground. Her hands were scratched. She held grandpa and asked angrily, "Why didn't you stop me? Why did no one stop me? Why did you all drive me away? Am I that annoying?"
"No, no." Justin panicked. He felt sorry for his granddaughter. He said to Madison, who got off the car, "Can Paise not go..."
"Dad, can you think about Paise's future? Can she enter a good university here?"
Paisley got on the bus again. And this time, she didn't go crazy.
She kept thinking about grandpa's words, "Can Paise not go..." Grandpa loved her...
Madison looked at her coldly and said angrily, "He's so worried about you. Are you happy to see that?" Her words were just like a basin of cold water, which splashed all her satisfaction away.
She looked away and sat in the corner. Madison sat on the other side.
They didn't interfere with each other, like two aggressive hedgehogs, who couldn't get close to each other, even if they were in the closest relationship.
Madison's words made Paisley understand that love was always accompanied by hurt.
She was spoiled by love. Otherwise, she shouldn't hurt grandpa who loved her the most before she left.
Paisley hated herself.