---- consolingly. She then gently said, "Since we are married, we are of one mind. I'll support you no matter what you choose to do. "'So what if you resign? It's not a big deal. I have faith that someone as brilliant as you will always find a chance to shine. I'll always be by your side." Alas, the woman who claimed she would always be by my side was now allowing another man to humiliate me. She'd forgotten the things she once said to me. She also seemed to have forgotten her once ardent love for me. Even Fred and Cora were shaking their heads disapprovingly, as if I were a huge disappointment to them. "Twas such a blind fool back then. I can't believe I trusted you to take care of my daughter for the rest of her life!" "Thank goodness the two of us are still around. If 'we weren't, we would never have known just how badly you'd mistreat her!" The more they spoke, the more exaggerated their ---- claims became. Even the passersby began eyeing us curiously. My hands balled into fists. Just as I was about to speak, Toby abruptly approached me and said, " We were just about to take a family portrait. Why don't you join us, Abe? After all, I still have to trouble you to look after Ivy and my son on my behalf in the future." Ivy immediately chimed in with a derisive snort, saying, "Look at him! He's dressed like a beggar. He'll only be making the rest of us look bad if he joins us." She turned around and headed off toward the photography studio, not forgetting to urge Toby to keep up. "Well, in that case, we'll get going now. We won't keep you from your job search any longer," Toby said as he gave mea sarcastic pat on the back. As I watched him leave, I didn't feel any stir of emotion at all. In everyone else's eyes, they looked like a loving, ---- happy family. Since this was what Ivy wanted, what was the harm in letting go and giving them my blessing?