BXBX NOVEL Chapter 357 Unmet Expectation
The weight of the question hung in the air like a heavy cloud. Carla\'s initial warmth seemed to dissipate, her smile fading into a tight line. Her lips pressed together, a subtle sign of her internal struggle.
The shift in the atmosphere was palpable – the once-relaxed living room now steeped in a more somber ambiance. Allen\'s eyes, keen and observant, caught every nuance of his mother\'s reaction.
Allen\'s gaze remained steady, his eyes narrowed with a mixture of curiosity and determination. "Is he related to my biological father?" he repeated the question, his voice a blend of hope and plea.
Carla\'s gaze met Allen\'s. With a heavy sigh, she nodded, her expression clouded with a mix of sadness and resignation. "Yes, Allen. He\'s related to your biological father."
A spark of realization lit up Allen\'s eyes as Carla\'s admission sank in. His heart raced with a mixture of emotions – curiosity, excitement, and a touch of trepidation.
"How did you know about this?" Carla\'s voice broke the silence, her eyes searching his face for answers.
Allen met her gaze directly, his honesty evident in his response. "Geralt told me."
Carla\'s voice broke the silence, the words carrying a sense of realization. "Oh, right… He was in the yard when it happened after all."
Evan\'s presence seemed to shift from the periphery of their attention. He stood up from his seat, his understanding evident in his expression. A brother\'s intuition told him that this conversation was more than just catching up – it was a moment of reckoning for Allen and Carla.
"You know," Evan\'s voice was warm and understanding, "I\'ll put this down in a minute and make you guys some tea." He referred to the gift.
Allen\'s gratitude was swift, his gaze meeting Evan\'s with a silent acknowledgment.
"Thank you," Allen\'s words were genuine and appreciative, his voice carrying a hint of relief.
With a nod, Evan left the living room.
An air of nervous tension seemed to envelop the room, settling around Carla as she fidgeted with her dress. Her hands, once resting on her knees, now crumpled the fabric in a gesture that betrayed her inner turmoil.
With a deep breath, Carla\'s voice broke through the stillness. "That man… He indeed has something to do with what happened in the past," she finally admitted, her gaze meeting Allen\'s with a mixture of trepidation and resolution.
"Who\'s he?" Allen\'s question hung in the air, a beacon of curiosity that signaled his yearning for answers.
Carla\'s gaze held a mixture of unease and determination, her lips parting to reveal the truth she had held close for so long. "He only introduced himself as Alex from Club 36," she began, her words carefully chosen.
"What did he say?" Allen\'s curiosity was palpable, his eagerness to uncover the truth evident in his tone.
Carla\'s gaze met his, and in her eyes, he could see the weight of the past that she carried. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before she began to speak, her words a gateway into a world that had long been hidden from him.
"Not many," Carla\'s voice carried a hint of resignation, a reflection of the complexities of the situation. "He only asked what happened twenty years ago when his friend was drunk."
"And?" Allen leaned forward slightly, his anticipation evident in his expression.
Carla\'s gaze held a mixture of regret and understanding, the emotions playing out in the lines of her face. "Your stepdad came and asked him to leave," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Did you say anything about me?" Allen\'s voice held a touch of eagerness, his gaze fixed on Carla as he awaited her response.
Carla\'s reaction was a subtle shake of her head, her expression reflecting the complexity of her emotions. As the weight of his question settled upon her, her lips formed a bittersweet smile. "I was about to say it. But I was too confused and shocked… And…" Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words lingering in the air like a gentle breeze.
Guilt tinged Carla\'s expression as she pressed her lips together, her admission carrying the weight of her vulnerability. She gestured around her. The room, perfectly arranged and seemingly peaceful, was a reflection of the life she and her husband had built together. "You know... Getting all of this is not easy," she confessed, her voice a mixture of regret and honesty. "You remember how hard my life was when you were little, right?" The question held a touch of nostalgia, a reminder of the struggles they had overcome as a family.
Once again, Carla\'s response was a shake of her head. Her gaze held Allen\'s, their eyes locking in a moment of shared understanding. "I don\'t want to lose my perfect life, Allen," she confessed, her voice carrying a note of regret.
That statement broke his heart even though he already knew his mother\'s priority from the start. But at least, if his mom didn\'t want it, he hoped she let him connect with his biological dad.
"So you didn\'t say anything about me? Or what happened twenty years ago?" Allen\'s voice was a mixture of curiosity and confirmation, his words a way of clarifying the details of their conversation.
Carla\'s response carried a sense of honesty. "I just said, I was there," she began, her words carefully chosen. "But I don\'t know who he\'s looking for."
A heavy pause settled between Allen and the weight of his emotions. His gaze shifted, his eyes momentarily finding solace in the world just beyond the window. Disappointment, like an unwelcome visitor, tightened its grip around his chest, its presence a reminder of the unmet expectations that lingered in his heart.
Allen let out a sigh, his exhalation carrying with it a mixture of resignation and quiet frustration. He could feel the tendrils of anger threatening to rise within him. But he swallowed it.
What was the use of anger, after all? The question echoed within his mind. The emotions he felt were his alone to bear. And no matter how he wanted to vent his anger, it didn\'t matter to his parents. He was just another stranger to them.