His heart sank abruptly, the joy-filled mood from earlier instantly cooled, and the happiness of "she's willing to talk to me" was scattered in bits and pieces.
Emily Parker not only had a son abroad, but perhaps she might have remarried long ago, the other dinner plate in the photo...
A surge of frustration welled up inside him, and he even felt that his expectations just now were somewhat laughable.
He had caused the death of her mother, really had no right to approach her life again. Now she had a new family, a stable life, why should he disturb them again, only to add to each other's embarrassment?
Carlos threw the phone aside irritably, its screen still glowing, paused on that photo full of homely dishes, but he no longer had the heart to look at it.
He thrust his hands into his hair, fingers fiercely gripping the strands, his head slightly bowed, the light in his eyes dimming little by little...
