I glanced at the both of them and replied, "I know, but you guys should know better than I do that I've lived with my grandmother since I was a child and for years, I never thought about meeting my biological parents. When you guys abandoned me, you should have known that this would happen. I will never reunite with you two."
After a pause, I saw Valerie lower her head and wipe her tears away. I took a short breath and added, "Besides, so many things have happened in this year. The only thing I can do is to not hate or blame you all. Thus, let's not meddle in each other's business anymore and live our own lives going forward."
Valerie's eyes were red and glossy with tears. She stared at me, teary-eyed and told me, "My child, it's all my fault. I understand that you resent us, but you shouldn't not reunite with us. After all, I did carry you for all ten months and gave birth to you. I was wrong. I don't blame myself for being impulsive, but I just didn't know that you were my daughter. If I knew it from the start, how could I bear to hurt you?"
"Thus, if Andrea and I swapped positions, would you be able to hurt her or anyone as long as they're not your biological child? This is life - who doesn't hold grudges against others?" I suppressed my emotions and continued, "If you resent someone but kill them because of it, what kind of person does that make you?"
"I was wrong!" Valerie's tears streamed down her face as she spoke, "I've been thinking about the path I've taken all these years. I've committed too many mistakes, and now karma has finally found its way to me!"
Pedro's face looked a little dark as he pulled Valerie into his arms and patted her back. He consoled her helplessly, "Enough. It's all in the past."
After a pause, he glimpsed at me with furrowed brows, "My child, I understand how you feel. You don't want to come back home. I won't force you, but as parents, we don't want our child suffering out there."
He took out a black card from his suit and offered it to me, "Keep this. You are the daughter of the Moore family. No matter where you are, you need to take good care of yourself. This card has no limit. I won't force you about how to live your life in the future. I only ask that you don't neglect yourself."
Valerie stared at him in confusion, "What are you doing? Where are you asking her to go? She divorced Hendrix, so we're the only ones she has left. If she lives with us, it'll be easier for me to take care of her. Moreover, she has a child, so how can she live alone?"
Pedro sighed, "She has her own plans. We've done so many people wrong in our lives. Let's not drag her into the Moore family against her will. She has the right to take charge of her own life."
Valerie was aghast and remained silent for a long time. Finally, she looked at me all red-eyed and said, "My child, try not to make things too hard for yourself when you're out there alone. Whenever you feel like coming home, just come back anytime."
I pursed my lips and didn't take Pedro's black card. After a moment of silence, I said, "I appreciate your kindness. Although I don't have much money, I have been actively saving for the past few years. I can raise my child on my own. I'm afraid I'd have to decline your offer."
After that, I got up, "It's getting late and Anne is hungry. I won't see you off then."
I carried Anne into the bedroom and happened to meet Ian standing at the door. Our eyes met and he smiled awkwardly, saying, "You can feed Anne, I'll leave you alone for a moment."
Then, he went out of the bedroom. I closed the door behind him and started breastfeeding Anne.
Soon after, Ian knocked on the door, "Arianna, are you done? Can I come back in?"
I placed Anne who had fallen asleep on the bed and got up to open the door. I lowered my voice and whispered, "Anne's asleep. Let's talk outside."
He nodded.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Pretty Sweetheart