Chapter 9 Standing outside the civil affairs office , I was still in a daze .
Looking at the red book in my hand , the man in the photo from three months ago was Alan Simpson , but today , it was Simon Parker .
It felt like a dream .
That afternoon , I was lost in thought on the sofa when the clatter of dishes came from the kitchen .
Simon Parker , wearing the little bear apron I had bought , was cooking .
My phone rang .
It was the police station , saying Alan Simpson wanted to see me .
But I didnt want to see him .
After a lot of back and forth , I reluctantly 1/7 Chapter 9 + 5 Points agreed to take his call .
His voice was hoarse and weary , tinged with deep regret .
Clara , are you still angry with me ? Angry ? Seriously ? Youre asking if Im angry when I , your ex wife , am already remarried ? I didnt respond , quietly listening to him lament the hardships hed been through recently .
An hour later , Alan Simpson suddenly spoke .
Clara , do you remember the joint bank account we opened together ? You deposited fifty thousand dollars in it , right ? Could you send some to my mom ? 2/7 Chapter 9 + 5 Points I was suddenly intrigued .
Leaning back on the sofa , eating the pomelo that Simon Parker had peeled for me , I asked lazily , Whats up ? Is your mom short on money ? There was a brief silence on the other end , before Alan Simpsons voice came back , sounding pleading .
My moms getting older , and she keeps asking for birds nest soup .
You know how it is she had a tough childhood and never got to enjoy any luxuries .
Shes just trying to make up for it now .
I understood immediately no , it wasnt his mom who wanted the birds nest soup ; it was Alice Mitchell .
Alan Simpson , how much have you actually deposited into that account over the past ten years ? 3/7 Chapter 9 + 5 Points He hesitated .
His family knew we had a joint account , but they didnt know that out of the fifty thousand in it , forty nine thousand nine hundred and ninety was my contribution .

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The remaining ten dollars were the ones hed added when opening the account , just to cover the card fee .
Clara , were married .
Thats our shared property .
Dont be so stingy .
If you really cant spare it , just consider it as me borrowing it from you .
I almost burst out laughing .
Alan Simpson , didnt anyone tell you were divorced now ? What do you mean ? Alan Simpsons voice suddenly went up an 4/7 Chapter 9 + 5 Points octave , clearly shocked .
You should start calling me Mrs.
Parker now .
I casually tossed the words out , and on the other end , I could hear a mix of curses , coughing , and the sound of something being thrown .
Not my problem , I hung up the phone just as Simon Parker placed the last dish on the table .
You like cooking ? I leaned over to him , gazing at the table full of fragrant homemade dishes , my eyes practically glowing .
Not really .
5/7 Chapter 9 + 5 Points Simon Parker handed me the knife and fork .
His way of eating was graceful , slow , and elegant , a stark contrast to my own hurried , almost barbaric pace .
After the meal , Simon Parker diligently cleaned up the dishes , while I snuggled into the sofa to watch a movie .
If it had been before , Alan Simpson wouldve come home and started playing video games , never doing housework , while I wouldve been running around like a hamster on a wheel .
After washing the dishes , Simon Parker sat next to me with his laptop , handling business matters .
I glanced at his screen complex architectural blueprints , which I couldnt understand .
6/7 Chapter 9 + 5 Points We both got lost in our own tasks , but the atmosphere was quiet and harmonious .
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