They might have something they wished to say, but I did not prompt them and focused my attention on Summer instead.
When Cameron finally had enough of the inertness, she looked to me. “I heard from Nick that you are getting a divorce from Mr. Fuller.”
I nodded to that but merely grunted under my breath.
She was stunned and did not know how to respond.
It was Zachary who got a little agitated. “Good riddance to him. Having a scheming man like him around will sooner or later lead to our ruin.”
Cameron frowned slightly, momentarily at a loss. She looked at me and exhaled. “Where will you go from here?”
I pursed my lips. “If you have something to say to me, just get to it.”
They were dumbstruck. “Have you found out about the swapping of your DNA samples, Scarlett?”
“I have. I was brought up by Grandma and never needed my birth parents for so many years. When you abandoned me back then, you should have been mentally prepared that I’m not likely to acknowledge you.”
Cameron was taken aback. She paused briefly before she cried into her own hands. I took a moment before I continued, “After everything that happened in the last year, the most I could do is not to accord hate or blame. So from now on, we should all keep our distance and lead our own lives.”
Her eyes were reddened and moist when she looked at me. “My dear, I understand if you are upset. But you can’t possibly not acknowledge us as you are our flesh and blood. How would I have harmed you if I knew this right from the start?”
“So if I were Rebecca and not your own child, you would harm me without restraint? Where in the world are there people without enmity? But if enmity justifies murder, then what would become of humanity?”
“I made a mistake!” Cameron burst into tears. “I’ve been reflecting a lot about the path I’ve gone down recently and realized how wrong I was. In the end, I was punished for them!”
Zachary looked a little downcast as he pulled his wife into his arms and comforted her, “There, there. It’s all in the past.”
He turned to me. “My child, I understand your sentiments. It’s okay if you don’t want to return with us, but as parents, we can’t possibly let you endure hardship outside.”
The elderly man retrieved a black card from his suit pocket. “Hang on to this. You will always be the young lady of the Moore family, no matter where you are. There’s no spending limit on this card. I won’t try to dictate the future that you choose. I only ask that you take care of yourself.”
Cameron’s eyes widened. “What do you think you are doing? Now she can only depend on us as she’s divorced from Ashton. Where do you expect her to go? I can take care of her if she comes with us. What’s more, how is she to cope with a child on her own?”
Zachary exhaled. “It would be better if she doesn’t get embroiled in our troubles. I’m sure she has her own plans and the right to choose something better.”
Cameron lowered her head and finally relented and regarded me with eyes reddened. “Do take care of yourself outside, and come back to us anytime, whenever you are ready.”
I did not accept the black card. “I appreciate your concern. Though I may not be well off, I’ve enough savings over the years to raise my girl. Please bring that back with you.”
With that, I got to my feet. “It’s getting late and Summer is hungry, so I must excuse myself.”
When I carried Summer into the room, we bumped into Jackson at the door. He blinked before he eked out an awkward smile. “You go ahead. Let me make myself scarce.”
He stepped away from the bedroom before I closed the door behind him and tended to Summer.
It was not long before Jackson knocked upon the door. “Are you done, Scarlett? Can I come in?”
I laid down the sleeping child and went to the door. “Summer’s asleep. Let’s go outside.”
He nodded.
In the living room.
He extended a palm toward me. “Give me your hand!”
“What for?” I asked with a frown.
He looked at me and did not answer.
When I grudgingly did as asked, a black card was placed on my palm. He stopped me just as I was about to protest. “Keep it. It’ll make them feel better.”
I pursed my lips and remained silent.
“No one wanted this. Nothing could be undone, but we can all move forward. And this is what we can do in the here and now to facilitate that process.”
I understood his intentions. “Don’t get all righteous on me. I’m not as vindictive a person as you might think. The present isn’t too bad, all things considered. So let’s try to do better.”
