"Do you remember how long it has been since we last sat quietly together and looked at the star-filled sky?"
"How long has it been since we last leaned against each other and shared our hearts?"
"Do you know how us women have lived through the days without you?"
"Do you know that besides being our husband, you should also be Andrei and the others' father? Now that Andrei and the others have grown up, do you know what their greatest wish is? To celebrate a birthday with you just once? To spend a New Year together, have one snowball fight, ride a sled together, or even have you coax them to sleep for one night? All these years, how many days have you truly fulfilled your responsibilities as a husband and father? Have you ever genuinely cared about us? Do you even still love us?"
Aurora spoke through tears. Each question was like a razor-sharp sword, like an accusation, stabbing straight into Zhang Tie. His face gradually paled, yet he had no defense to offer.
"Do you know what it feels like for me after coming to Great Xia? Olina, Shabalina, and I are like a group of widows locked inside an iron castle, lying on gold coins every day. The moment we leave that castle you built for us, wherever we go, all we see are unfamiliar black-haired, black-eyed faces looking at us with strange gazes. Here, we have no companions, no kin. We cannot feel at ease. And even you are not by our side. Do you remember how long it has been since you saw a happy smile on our faces? Do you remember how long it has been since Olina and Shabalina last poured out their hearts to you? Peter, you have changed. Ever since