Throw away your past

Livy didn't need to hear the next sentence, in fact she had already guessed it herself. So it was the day his mother died, which may have left Arthur devastated. She didn't know how to comfort him, while patting his shoulder, her eyes reddened.

Realizing that his body was still shaking, she grabbed her husband's head and hugged him.

After calming down a bit, Arthur pulled his head from the hug to look at her. "Livy, my mother's death was not purely due to her illness. Someone killed her."

"Why do you say that?"

Arthur had mentioned this in passing before, now she wanted to know the details.

"After my mother's death, I returned home, but there were many strangers standing guard outside. That's when a helper in my house pulled me into hiding." Arthur looked down briefly. "Her name is Zhana, she was an old maid in my house. When she took me, she told me the truth. During my disappearance, that woman locked my mother in a warehouse without my father's knowledge. She didn't let my mother go out and didn't feed her for days. When she intended to feed my mother, she put poison in it and asked Zhana to send the food."

"What?!" Livy screamed in disbelief.

"Zhana was so regret and kept apologizing to me. She wanted to make amends by taking me away, she said that father and woman had already left town just as my mother entered the hospital. They had people wait for me and took me away too."

"Your father disowned you, so why did he want to take you away?" She asked confused.

"I don't know."

"After all, he can also leave after knowing the DNA test, why did he accept your mother's negotiation?"

"Because there is doubt in his heart," Arthur replied, his hands clenched as he continued, "He wanted to believe my mother. On the other hand he was constantly being instigated by that woman."

That makes sense. Especially if Luther used to love his old wife, this reason is acceptable. But then there was his young wife, who kept trying to persuade him to leave. And so his temperament changed over time.

"Then what happened after Zhana took you away?" She asked.

"I didn't follow her." Arthur shook his head. "I didn't want to get her in trouble, and went out alone. For several days, I was stranded on the streets, without money and food. I also didn't have an identity card, so it was so difficult to find a job back then. When I was about to give up because of hunger, I intend to steal steamed buns from a peddler, but an old man stops me."

Even Arthur still remembered that grumpy old man's appearance.

"He scolded me harshly. Then in exchange, he bought two of those steamed buns and shared them with me. We ate together on the roadside."

"Arthur ..."

Livy's nose became sore and her tears fell.

"I'm fine." Seeing Livy starting to cry, Arthur was confused.

But she couldn't hold back her tears flowing out. She imagined how Arthur would survive outside, alone and hungry. A single tear fell onto their linked hands. Arthur shocked.

"Don't cry. I'm fine now, ok?"

Livy shook her head. Her heart ached so much for Arthur, she couldn't bear it.

"I didn't mean to make you cry. I just wanted to explain to you my past." Arthur didn't know how to express himself. This was the first time he had told his past aside from Evander.

"Forgive me." Livy's body straightened, then hugged him tightly.

He felt relief sink into his chest after their tight hug, then continued his story.

He said that after meeting the old man, his days became easier. He collected used cardboard and bottles to earn money. The old man's name was Cody, he was a scavenger and soon to be a dealer of used goods for recycling. All the scavengers used to send the used bottles they were looking for to him and he would give them a fee.

Cody lives alone in an old house, so he offered Arthur to live with him. Arthur did not refuse because he had no other choice and for some time stayed there.

But apparently Arthur didn't stay in that place long, his father's people finally found his whereabouts and searched for him. Arthur heard it himself when the men broke into Cody's house and searched for him. Fortunately Cody did not confess. Not wanting to cause trouble for him, Arthur ran away right then and there.

"That's where I first met Evan," Arthur recalled.

***

After getting tired of chatting, the two of them lazed on the bed hugging each other until noon.

"You don't go to work?" Livy asked hoarsely.

"I lied to you, I haven't worked since yesterday." Arthur chuckled.

"I know." Livy sighed, snuggling more comfortably in his arms. "I know you don't tell me everything for fear I worry. But ... I'm glad you're willing to share your past today."

Her thoughts were too pure and innocent. Hearing his story, she continued to cry incessantly. Now her eyes are swollen and her voice is nasal. Arthur couldn't stand lying to her all the time, but he couldn't stand seeing her cry either.

"There's still something else I'm hiding from you." Arthur stroked her head.

"What's that?"

"He and the woman are divorced."

Livy was surprised.

There was a long sigh. Arthur pulled her deeper into his arms, as if afraid that

she would go and kiss the top of her head many times.

"Matthew and his mother's whereabouts are unknown at this time. Because I was afraid he would injure you again, I secretly sent a few bodyguards for you."

"Again?"

"When Gwen wanted to hurt you, it was Matthew's persuasion."

Livy gasped.

"Are you angry?"

"Why do you think Matthew will hurt me?" Livy asked back.

Arthur hated remembering this, but he said anyway, "You remember when someone drugged you on the bus months ago? That person was Matthew's errand."

Livy stared in disbelief.

"And the one who provoked you with the photos of Gwen and me is also him."

Livy remembered when the photos was sent to her, the sender was an unknown number, so it was Matthew's doing? It turned out that he actually took them? Why is that guy so cunning?

As soon as she remembered this, the guilt that she had tried so hard to forget, came back to her. She shook off the bad memory of how Arthur had been injured in her lap and all his blood was on her hands. She shivered.

"I'm sorry. At that time I accused you of nothing."

"Don't remember it. We've made up now. Don't remember something that hurt you." Arthur advised her.

Livy's head tilted up to see his face. "You too. Don't think about your past anymore. Throw them away, ok?"

"I will." Arthur smiled.

Although Livy already knew how Arthur had finally returned to his father in the past after he ran away, she didn't dare ask for details. Evander's story at the hospital was clear enough for her. She didn't want to open Arthur's old wounds and make him sad.

"About the bodyguard, I don't mind. If you think it's a good thing to do, then do it. I hope you can find Matthew and solve your problem." Livy said sincerely.

Arthur thought it won't be easy.

His problems with Matthew and his mother are related to past and present grudges. At first he wanted to put everything behind him, this was because he also recalled what his mother had said in the past.

'Arthur, don't hold a grudge against your father. He was kept away from the truth and lost his way. One day help me to make your father understand. I know your father is not a bad person.'

After confronting his father at the hospital, Arthur finally understood these words.

But seeing Matthew even dare to hurt Livy, his patience ran out. He didn't know whether he would continue that grudge or not.

Back in the day, when Matthew came to his house and called him 'brother', Arthur honestly didn't hold a grudge against him. It was as if he saw himself in Matthew, who did not expect to be born to an abusive father, who double-crossed others and hid an affair for more than ten years.

At that time he thought; which part of his father was 'not a bad person' as his mother said?

Even when confronting his father at the hospital yesterday, Arthur still couldn't forgive him. Even though he started to understand, but forgiving is a very difficult thing.

Before actually leaving, Arthur said to his father at the time,

"Don't repeat what you did to me back then to Matthew. I might be able to accept it, but Matthew can't."

Arthur barely caught the surprised expression from his father.

He hoped his father would understand what he meant; that by throwing Matthew out of his life, it's only repeating his mistakes. This means that his father still does not change one bit.

"Don't frown," Livy said suddenly.

"Hm?"

Livy straightened Arthur's eyebrows and pressed them together. "You promised not to think about your past anymore, but you did think about it just now, right?"

The corners of Arthur's lips lifted. "I just remember the little fat girl with the mushroom hair on my fence. She was so beautiful."

Livy pinched him, pouting. "You're mocking me, right?"

She remembered that she was very tomboyish in childhood. Despite wearing a pretty princess frock, she likes to climb trees and steal mangoes with a stone and doll. After meeting a handsome older brother, she was severely scolded by her mother and was no longer allowed to wear skirts. Little Livy could only cry.

Back then she had kept silently climbing over the fence and stealing the mangoes. One day the mangoes ran out, even though the mango season was in progress. Then, Little Livy saw a basket full of mangoes under the tree, so she jumped and took it.

When thinking about this, Livy remembered.

She remembered that before bringing the mangoes home, she intended to ask permission. Then found older brother sitting with bloodshot eyes on a park bench. She refused to ask permission and left again quietly, feeling that the older brother was crying.

"I'm not making fun of you. You are so cute and adorable back then. Your presence cheers me up a bit." Arthur explained.

Livy was very depressed hearing this answer.

Then she felt sorry why she didn't come to Arthur at that time, when he was crying alone.

"My mother scolded me right after I bullied you, she said; you shouldn't be harsh with a girl."

"Hmph! I also remember how arrogant you are!"

"You were a kid and you remember it?" Arthur was stunned. Livy didn't answer yet, but he continued, "After mother scolded me, she told me to get some mangoes and put them in the basket. That's so you don't have to climb again."

Livy smiled as she remembered. It turned out that Arthur had collected the mangoes.

"The girl who used to be small and adorable, so talkative and hyperactive. I really liked you before. Every day I waited for you to climb the fence, but you haven't been seen since that day."

Every day?

Livy was stunned and embarrassed.

"Then what now? Do you still like that girl?" Livy deliberately asked this.

"Are you curious?"

Seeing Arthur's seductive gaze, Livy became angry and looked away. "No. I knew my beauty as a child, everyone liked it. But my face has changed a lot now."

Realizing that Livy was upset, Arthur gently cupped her chin so their eyes locked with each other. His cold fingertips caressed every inch of her smooth skin. Making her shudder.

"You are beautiful. Past or present. I have always been in love with you."

Livy felt this was too cliche. Like in romantic dramas, after they stared at each other and exchanged sweet words, the two immediately kissed.

This time it was the same. As soon as their lips kissed, her head went blank. Her hands and body just moved on instinct. The lips that were chewing together started to let out a smack in the empty air. Adding a warm atmosphere to heat. Soon after, the situation heavily favored the two, strips of clothes were stripped and the two bodies fused with each other on the creaking bed.

***

Arthur felt his phone vibrate and quickly grabbed it. He saw that the caller this time was Evander, so he slowly climbed down so as not to wake the sleeping Livy.

He headed for the balcony and answered the phone.

"What is it?"

"It takes a lot of money to help your father's company. I have detailed all the reports, because our funds are not possible, we can borrow bank funds as well as company shares."

"How much is needed?" Arthur tightened his nightrobe as the evening breeze whipped him.

"About fifty million."

That much?

"Is there any chance of this strategy working?" Arthur didn't want to take a big risk if he had already laid out the money and his move fell through. Not only was his father's company not saved, but his company could be affected.

"I'm certain."

"What percent are you sure this will work?"

Actually, if Evander was sure, Arthur didn't need to doubt him. Evander is a fast learner type. While in college, Evander did not major in business at all. Once he entered the business world armed only with the teachings of Arthur, in half a year he managed to complete a major project. Even though he is completely blind about profit, tenders, cooperation, marketing and others.

"90 percent," Evander answered without hesitation.

"Then do it."

Arthur did this not only because he felt sorry for his father. At the very least, he was doing this so he could ensure his father could still survive in this harsh world. He has broken off his relationship with his father, but he hopes his father will return with his young wife so that he will not be alone in his old age.

Arthur finally asked, "What about Matthew?"

"I remember something, the guards said that they saw his figure in a suburban village in the South. But they soon lost track. I had them trace the village."

This means that Matthew is still in this city. Arthur has to find him, before he does first.

Or everything will be too late.

... to be continued ...