“Thank you, Mom.” I opened the box and looked inside absentmindedly. It was a pink-colored dress, and the design was beautiful. However, it was too girlish. I remembered that I liked pink the most when I was a child, but I was an adult now.
“Do you like it?” Isabelle asked.
“Yes.” I changed into the dress, then surveyed myself in front of the mirror. Nothing felt right to see myself in pink as cute was not my style. It was really not suitable.
Isabelle had probably noticed it. When I changed back into my clothes, she sighed and said, “I’ll exchange this for a new one tomorrow. I was absent from your childhood, so I keep forgetting that you are a grown-up now.”
“I like light blue now,” I said plainly.
At this moment, my phone on the table rang. I walked closer and saw that Christopher was calling me. Isabelle saw the caller’s name when I picked up my phone and her expression turned cold. I hesitated momentarily but did not answer the call in front of her. Instead, I walked out with my phone. When I went back in, Isabelle got me to sit beside her.
“Eve, do you think I’m cruel for not coming back to visit you for such a long time, and now that I’m back, I want to split up you lovebirds?”
I remained silent as what Isabelle said struck a chord with me. Even though I did not say it, that was what I thought. It was until I saw Sharon that this thought faded a little.
Isabelle understood my silence. She placed her hand on my shoulder and her gaze dimmed. “I’m not a responsible mother. I know I’m not considerate for not considering your feelings. But, I—” Suddenly, Isabelle sobbed, and her voice trembled. “Your Uncle Robert was my closest family member. Your grandparents were busy working when we were younger. He was the one who took care of me. They died in a car crash before I had the chance to spend more time with them. After they passed away, your Uncle Robert and I depended on each other and I grew up healthily under his protection. He was still thinking about me on his deathbed. Isabelle, I really can’t accept the fact that your husband is Julia’s son. Seeing her each time reminds me of your Uncle Robert’s tragic death. However, I’m alone and I couldn’t find any proof. Otherwise, things wouldn’t drag until now. Your Uncle Robert is someone I cherish more than my parents. Do you understand?”
“Mom… I’m sorry.” Besides saying sorry, I did not know what to say. It was supposed to be a happy mother and daughter reunion, and a wedding would be the cherry on the cake. However, everything seemed out of reach now.
Seeing Mom cry, I could tell what a struggle it was for her. How I wished there was a way to have the best of both worlds.
“You don’t have to be sorry. I’m the one at fault. If I stayed with you and allowed you to grow up by my side, things would be different. Promise me to forget about Christopher. You can take all the time to forget about him and I will promise you anything, okay?”
Gazing at Isabelle’s look of anticipation, I tried to open my mouth to answer. Saying the word was easy, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
“Mom, I would have died if it weren’t for Christopher. Mom, I owe him a lot. I…” I couldn’t bring myself to continue. Mom was already so upset. We were all in a dilemma and struggling. If I continued to talk about that, the atmosphere would only become heavier.
I was sleepless during the night at the Goldstein residence. My mind was occupied with my mom’s words, so much so that I dreamed about Uncle Robert. I could not see his face clearly, but his body was bloody as he questioned me for not avenging him and wanting to marry his enemy’s son. I jolted awake and wasn’t sleepy anymore.
In the morning, there were dark circles around my eyes that I couldn’t conceal with concealer. My face was pale. After breakfast, Isabelle talked to me again about me moving over. I told her to give me some time and left the Goldstein residence in a hurry, feeling suffocated to face her in that house.
