Once a Wife [English Version]

Chapter 10

Chapter X

"How did he know Gryffin was here, Ate?" She asked Maricris the next day.

"I have no idea, Icang. I was just as surprised. He showed up a few minutes after you arrived..."

"He came to the restaurant, My," Raven added. "He's been going to Wizards a lot. Gryffin had just left to fetch Huffle when he showed up asking for you again. Maybe they ran into each other, and that's how he found out..."

"Maybe. But, it's better if you just ask Gryffin directly," Maricris suggested.

"Mommy?" All eyes turned to Gryffin as she held his hand gently.

"Hey, I'm here... How are you?" she asked softly.

"You're really here?" he whispered, his voice raspy—likely from the medications. "You're home?"

"Yes, Gryffin. Mommy's here." She ran her fingers through his hair. "Do you want anything? Are you hungry?" But he wasn't really listening. He tried to sit up, so she helped him.

"W-What happened, Mom? Where's Argus? Is he okay?"

"Argus is fine," she assured him. "He's just in the next room with his family."

He let out a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry, Mommy. I know I was reckless—"

"What matters now is that you're okay. Just be more careful next time, alright?" She was thankful Argus had a driver's license—they avoided a more serious violation.

"Ma... Where's Dad?"

Her breath caught. "W-What?"

He smiled faintly. "Dad was here, My! I saw him..."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, confused. Gryffin had been unconscious when he was brought in—how could he have known?

"I was about to leave and pick up Huffle when I thought I saw him outside Wizards. I was going to take another look when Argus arrived." He rubbed his temples. "When we got to Huffle's school, Tito Eugene called and said they'd bring her home instead. So Argus and I went to eat, and a waiter gave me this letter..."

Maricris frowned. "W-What letter?"

"It's in my pocket..." he said.

She grabbed the ziplock bag containing his things. She hadn't looked closely—just assumed it was scrap paper.

"This one..." Gryffin handed it to her. "Now I understand why Dad's been gone so long. He got into an accident... he had amnesia. It took him years to remember us."

She was speechless. Could he really handle the truth?

"My... Dad wants to come home," he said with hope sparkling in his eyes, the kind that made her heart ache. "He wants to come home to us, Mommy."

"Gryffin... it's not that simple." His expression shifted—hurt, confused.

"You don't love him anymore... do you, Mommy?" He's 17, but he looked like that lost little boy again. "Aren't we going to be a family again?"

She gripped his hand tightly. She wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn't come.

"He left us, Gryffin," Raven said abruptly, catching her off guard. "Dominic left us."

"W-What?" Gryffin looked stunned. "What do you mean?"

"Raven—"

"I should've told you before, but Mom asked me not to." Raven looked his brother straight in the eyes. "But I won't let you hate her because of this. You deserve to know the truth."