While the two kids were still at school, Renee called Mr. Q on the way home.
“What’s the matter?”
Mr. Q was surprised by Renee’s sudden call.
“I have a situation. Where are you now?”
“Me?” Mr. Q paused briefly before answering, “I’m dealing with something at Carmine Pawnshop.”
“Is that so? When are you free? Can you come over to my place?” Renee sounded a little anxious. It seemed she had something
important to discuss with him.
Mr. Q could hear Renee’s anxiousness and answered in a deep voice, “Give me a moment. I’ll come over now.”
“Sure. I’ll be waiting.”
Renee started packing the daily necessities for her and the children as soon as she went home. About an hour or so later, Mr. Q
arrived as promised.
“You’re finally here.”
Renee felt an indescribable calmness as soon as she saw him.
Mr. Q had not accompanied her and the children for long, but his presence gave them the warmth of home. Before she realized
it, she had considered this notorious man as one of her own.
Even if a woman was strong, someone still had to be the man in the family. A reliable man and a warm person could play this
role.
Mr. Q glanced around the room coldly. When he saw her packed suitcase, he raised his eyebrows slightly.”Are you... moving?”
“No, no. We’ll be away for a week...”
“Where are you going?”
“Well...” Renee scratched her head. She felt a little embarrassed, unsure how to explain her situation to him.
In the beginning, Renee and Mr. Q agreed that they were just playing around. However, they seemed to have developed some
kind of affection for each other during the time they spent together.
Renee wondered what would happen if she had told him where she was going. He would certainly be angry, right?
“Let me guess...”
Mr. Q curled his lips into a slight smile and said slowly, “You probably made up with your ex-husband, so you’re going to take the
kids and move in with him. While you have a happy family reunion with him, a standby lover like me has to return to where I
came from, right?”
Renee tightened her hands in silence. She said coldly, “Don’t sound so bitter. I’m staying with Stefan, but only for a week. It’s
only because of special circumstances! The kids and I aren’t going to reunite with him. At least not me. I can’t reconcile with
him!”
Certain cracks could never be healed. She knew this very well.
“And you,” Renee raised her eyes and met the man’s gaze. “You’re not a backup.”
In their intertwined relationship, the two knew they were more than just playing around. However, no one had taken a step
further. Such unspoken feelings were often the most deadly.
“Stefan already knows about the two children. With the way he is, he won’t let them go so easily. He told me to either remarry
him or give him the kids...”