Chapter 398 Ken’s Life Was Just Too Hard
“I’m sorry. That was my mistake,” Gary said softly, eyes lowered.
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Zey clenched his fists and looked away. Don had already run off–there was no point in saying anything
now.
Gary glanced at Wade one last time, laid down the flowers, and turned to leave.
As he passed Ken, he paused.
He looked at Ken, but Ken didn’t meet his eyes.
Gary walked on. Oscar and Patrick didn’t linger either.
Oscar gave Zev a light pat on the shoulder but said nothing before walking off
Shawn had come alone.
Patrick hadn’t brought Shawn along earlier–only Oscar..
Shawn looked a little pale and drained; he probably didn’t get a good rest after the endoscopy.
He quietly placed the bouquet by the headstone and turned to Kelly. “My condolences.”
Kelly gave him a small nod.
Shawn didn’t pick a fight with Zev today. He stayed silent and walked away.
Wade was laid to rest at three in the afternoon. Not many people had come–Zev hadn’t invited too many.
He wanted Wade to leave this world peacefully.
“Darling, I want to be alone for a while,” Zev said, his voice hoarse.
Kelly nodded gently and took the kids away, giving him space.
Wade’s grave was next to Zev’s parents. That meant Zev had lost everyone he ever called family.
“Mommy, Daddy’s crying,” Jasper whispered, his eyes red as he looked up at Kelly.
She stroked his head softly and said, “Daddy only has us now.”
“We’re not leaving, Daddy,” Shane added in a quiet voice.
Kelly smiled and sat with them on a bench not too far away.
Everyone had gone. Ken was still standing in the distance, silently watching the grave.
He looked desolate, like a shell of a man.
Kelly walked over and stood beside him. “How did you make it this far?” she asked in a hushed voice.
Wade was gone. Zev’s misunderstanding of Ken ran deep–there was no chance he’d ever let him off easy.
Ken had never defended himself. And now the only person who knew the truth–Wade–was gone.
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Chapter 398 Ken’s Life Was Just Too Hard
* Pearle
Kelly couldn’t shake the feeling that Ken hadn’t left himself any way out. It was like he’d been punishing himself all along.
Ken froze for a moment, pulled from his thoughts. He turned to Kelly, surprised.
Surprised she trusted him? Or surprised she understood him?
She could tell he was trying so hard not to let the tears fall, that he was clinging to the last threads of control. And maybe, just maybe, something she said had sparked a faint flicker of light in the shattered pieces of his soul.
He could sense that Kelly understood him.
Everyone else who ever understood him was all gone.
He never thought there’d be anyone left who could still see him.
“I…” Ken opened his mouth, his voice raspy, but no word came out.
He couldn’t explain himself.
There were things he just couldn’t bring himself to say.
“You’ve got to take care of yourself. This will all pass. It has to,” Kelly said gently. He just looked so tired.
Maybe when it was all over, he could finally rest. Maybe he could finally breathe.
“It will …” Ken choked, barely getting the words out.
It would end one day.
“Zev …” he said nervously, watching Kelly, almost like he was hoping Zev would one day understand him
too.
But then he hesitated. He looked scared. Scared of too many people knowing.
Kelly shook her head apologetically. Zev couldn’t understand Ken. He probably never would–not with how deeply his resentment and suspicions ran.
Ken looked a little disappointed. But he also seemed relieved. He gave a bitter little smile. “Maybe that’s for the best.”
“Why put yourself through all this?” Kelly asked. She was genuinely curious. Why carry so much weight alone, like it was some kind of penance?
His throat bobbed, hands clenching in pain.
It felt like her words had touched something buried deep in his soul–something raw and broken.
She regretted asking. “Sorry. You don’t have to talk about it. Some memories don’t need to be dug back up.”
Ken looked at her for a long while before he finally spoke. “You believe me?”
Kelly nodded, serious and steady. “I do.”
“Thank you,” he smiled faintly, but there were tears in his eyes.
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Chapter 398 Ken’s Life Was Just Too Hard
“Kelly, let’s go.” Zev walked over. His attitude toward Ken was cold, probably indifferent.
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He picked up both kids and gave Ken a cold warning. “Grandpa’s gone. No need to keep up the act. Stay out of my life and away from my family–or I swear, you’ll regret it.”
To Zev, Wade’s death meant Ken had lost his last shield–his last protection.
Now, Zev could corner him any time, forcing him to spill the truth about the past.
For now, he was holding back–out of respect for Wade.
Kelly was anxious, but she couldn’t change Zev’s mind without proof. Not overnight.
As they walked off, she turned back and gave Ken a look–one filled with concern and comfort.
Ken shook his head lightly, telling her not to worry.
He was used to this. He always had been.
“Zev, when did you start hating Ken?” Kelly asked quietly once they were in the car.
“The day my dad died!” Zev shouted, slamming the steering wheel in rage.
Sylvester had died tragically, but Ken came back unharmed.
“But you were just a kid then,” Kelly took a deep breath, a chill running down her spine.
Wade had always been wary of the Wagners. And after Zev’s father died, they’d taken Zev in. His hatred for Ken had been planted in that place, drop by drop. Unless he was shown undeniable proof, there was no way he’d ever trust Ken.
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