Late that night, Kate's head was splitting because of her crying. Her eyes were swollen like those of a goldfish. Tristan put ice on her eyes to help soothe them.

When he went to take a shower, he took off his shirt and saw there were some bruises on his c.h.e.s.t. He pressed them and felt some pain. He smiled bitterly. She didn't have much strength, but she had beaten him for a long time.

Constant dripping wears a stone. That was it.

And as he looked closely in the mirror, at the familiar face, he saw there was something different in his eyes.

For so many years, he had made decisions with his own senses. However, after knowing Kate, his degenerated emotional functions seemed to have been revived. He started to have moments where his actions were influenced by his emotions.

After he left the bathroom, Kate was still sobbing in her sleep. She might still be accusing him of crimes in her dreams. He bent down to kiss her face and hair. And then he lay down beside her and hugged her.

He said, ignoring whether she could hear him or not, "I will take you to see someone in a couple of days."

Kate didn't expect the place Tristan took her to be a sanatorium. It was located at the other end of the city, close to the sea, with wonderful views. The warm and moist air by the seaside was very good for the sick and elderly.

She saw a plaque with Chasin near the door. She asked, "Was this built by your company?"

"Yes." He had been quiet all the way here. And after he got out of the car, he was grave. He held her hand in his palm tightly.

Kate was speechless at his action. It made her feel like she was a naughty kid and would get lost or be kidnapped at his oversight.

The facilities in the sanatorium were completed and orderly. There were green lawns between the buildings. Some elderly people were walking along the paths or sunbathing on the grass. Flowers bloomed in the gardens, and the trees flourished with lush leaves.

They walked past the office building and went to a small house in a relatively secluded area. It was quiet here, and few people would pass by.

Walking through the door of the fence, they saw an old woman sitting on a chair in the yard. She was sitting with her back to them. Her curly hair was half silver. She wore brightly colored clothes that nearly matched the flowers around her.

The nurse saw them and reminded her, "See who is coming?"

She turned back slowly. She had aged very well, and one could see what she looked like when she was young. Her eyes moved from Tristan to Kate, and then she grinned. It was the kind of smile that was as innocent as a child, but…something was missing.

"Alzheimer's disease," Tristan explained.

Kate's heart was shocked.

He let go of her hand and walked to the old woman. He knelt down in front of her and held her hand. "Hey, Mom. I came to see you."

His mother said, "oh!" pointing to the person behind him and said slowly, "The lady is pretty."

Tristan rose and turned back. His eyes had some kind of expectation.

Kate walked close and didn't know how to address her. She said, "Hi."

Tristan's mother turned to the small round table beside her, on which there was a plate of cupcakes. She picked one and gave it to Kate. "Try this."

Kate took it and said thanks. Seeing Tristan's mother looking at her with expectation, she put it to her mouth. It was soft and yummy but a little dry. Tristan asked the nurse, "Could you please give her a cup of water?"

The nurse went back to the house and brought a bottle of water. When Tristan twisted the cap open, Kate had finished the cupcake and was a little choked. Tristan's mother clapped her hands happily.

When she gulped the water, she felt relieved. Tristan looked at her with half disapproval and half pity, "Why did you eat in a rush?"

His mother's eyes, resting on Kate's face, shone with curiosity and joy.

Tristan asked her, "Do you like this lady?"

She nodded hard and said, "She has that…" She stretched her hand and pointed to her cheek.

Kate stiffened at the place she pointed.

It was the dimples again. Why was the whole family obsessed with this?

Tristan read her mind and explained, "My mom doesn't remember anything. She just likes dimples."

This explanation did not help much.

Tristan's mother didn't know what they were thinking. She turned aside and picked an azalea and gave it to Kate pleasingly, "This is for you."

Kate took it and thanked her again.

Tristan's mother seemed happy to see Kate, and she laughed. She took Kate's hand and led her to the house.

When they walked in, Kate was surprised. The vast room was decorated in bright colors like a child's room.

The nurse smiled and explained that she loved bright colors.

Kate turned back and found Tristan didn't follow her. He was sitting on the chair his mother had vacated just now and was observing the flowerbed while thinking.

Tristan's mother brought Kate to a big shelf that covered almost one entire side of the room. There were a variety of items there, all with the same characteristic of extremely high color saturation. Kate asked her cooperatively, "Are these all yours?"

Tristan's mother nodded with satisfaction.

Kate said softly, "You are so blessed." And she picked up a plush yellow duck and commented, "How cute!"

Tristan's mother asked immediately, "Do you want it?"

Kate smiled and put it back, shaking her head.

The nurse there smiled too. "You two really hit it off. Aunty never gives her things to anybody. She fought a guy for these things."

Being told this, Tristan's mother turned and punched the nurse on the hand. The nurse was used to her actions and laughed them off.

There was a bookshelf, too, with rows of storybooks. Tristan's mother took out one and asked Kate to read to her. Kate followed. They sat on the colorfully cushioned chair, and Tristan's mother listened attentively, though it was unclear if she understood or not.

As Kate read, she felt somebody was looking at her.

She raised her head and saw that Tristan had been watching them, sitting on the couch near the window. He averted his eyes and pressed his lips together. His eyebrows stretched out. It was difficult to determine his mood.

Still, water runs deep. Under the tranquil surface, the water was surging, Kate thought.

***

Soon a couple of hours had passed. Tristan had an event to attend in the evening, and he also worried about Kate getting fatigued. He held Kate's hand and said to his mother, "Mom, we need to go now. We will come to see you another day."

His mother seemed reluctant and was about to change her face. She opened her mouth but closed it after a glimpse of her son.

The way she closed her mouth resembled Tristan's mannerisms.

Then she bent down, took off a silver bracelet from her wrist, and shoved it onto Kate's hand.

Kate was startled. This bracelet might mean something to the old lady. But considering her mental state, she could not give it back. Kate took it and looked to Tristan for help.

The surprise came to his face too, but he shrugged and said, "Just take it."

Kate hesitated, so Tristan held up her hand and helped her put the bracelet on.

The old lady was upset about their departure, but now she said, "Have a kiss."

They were surprised.

Kate said, "Well, it is not a ring."

Tristan took up her hand and kissed the back of it cooperatively. His mother laughed and clapped her hands. The nurse smiled too.

Tristan acted naturally, but Kate bristled a little.

Before they left, Tristan said to his mother, "Mom, she is Kate. Kate, remember?"

And then he added in a low voice, "I am Tristan."

The old lady nodded, but they didn't know if she understood.

On the way back, the air inside the car was heavy.

Tristan broke the silence first, "I knew my mom would like you."

Kate looked at him with puzzlement. To be honest, she felt flattered by today.

He explained, "That is part of your personal charm. You see, elderly people, children, and small animals all like you." After a pause, "Do you know why?"

She shook her head. "Because you are not aggressive. You make them feel safe."

"You're saying I am weak."

Tristan laughed, and the peaceful disguise on his face faded away.

Then he seemed to have the d.e.s.i.r.e to talk. He sighed and said, "I don't often come here. It is not that I don't have time or I don't want to. I don't dare to come." His voice dried up.

"Why?"

His hand sought his forehead. "It is my problem."

A few seconds later, Tristan said with sadness, "I cannot accept the way she is. Though it has been many years, I still cannot get used to it… She is my closest blood relative, but we cannot communicate. I tell her anything I am exhilarated about, but she will remain in a haze. I tell her of my pain, and she laughs. She will stop talking to you halfway through a sentence and turn to seek something fun."

He smiled bitterly, "It makes me feel how feeble I am."

Imagining this in her mind, Kate admitted it was both funny and heartbreaking.

She bent down and touched the bracelet on her wrist. It was carved with some mysterious characters on it. She thought of one thing suddenly. "Your mother seemed a little scared of you."

Tristan gripped the steering wheel tighter and said, "You saw that too."

"It is probably because I don't look like her son anymore."

It was vague, but Kate understood.

Tristan sighed inside. This was the most frustrating part of his life.

Even if he was good at disguising it, he could not fool some eyes. A small animal might recognize the evilness in him. His change could not escape his mother's eyes, even after she had dementia.

Was it for this reason that she liked Kate, who was like clear water or clean white paper with no scratches on it?

Every time Tristan saw his mother, his evil self would surface. He needed to sabotage something in order to vent his feelings. It was under these circ.u.mstances that he had met Kate for the first time. He could not help pressing her head into that water.

In a moment, he felt the impulse to explain that to her, but it soon disappeared.

What had been done had been done.

Water under the bridge. The explanation was useless.