"Serena, it's me, Mom... It's your mother..."
Her voice was choked with sobs. "You're back... Mom has finally gotten you back. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry it took me so long to find you..."
Serena could clearly see the raw pain, profound guilt, and ecstatic joy of reunion overflowing in the woman's eyes. It was pure and intense.
She felt a little overwhelmed. A corner of her otherwise unbreakable heart seemed to be gently touched by something.
After a few seconds of silence, she reached out and took the woman's cold, trembling hand. Her voice was less chilly than usual. "It's okay, Mom."
The warmth and realness of the touch made Catherine Lancaster shudder. That single word, "Mom," caused the twenty years of longing she had stored up to burst forth like a broken dam.
She could no longer hold back and pulled Serena into a tight embrace, sobbing loudly. "My Serena... Mom missed you so much, my heart was broken..."
Hot tears soaked Serena's shoulder.
Somehow, they seemed to scorch her heart.
Serena's body was a bit stiff. In all her years of being neglected by the Wynn family, she had never experienced such an overwhelming display of love.
She wasn't used to it.
But feeling the woman's trembling body and torrential tears in her arms, she felt a warmth she had always secretly craved.
She let her mother hold her, her gaze shifting to the man standing beside them, his eyes also red as he watched her eagerly.
His face was one she often saw on the covers of business magazines the eternally stern and imposing magnate, Edward Lancaster.
The richest man in Vaelion City, the head of the Lancaster family, Edward!
Serena also called out, "Dad."
"Yes!" That single word made the formidable head of the Lancaster family, a man who struck fear into the hearts of his competitors, completely lose his usual composure. The tears he'd been holding back streamed down his face.
He nodded excitedly again and again, unable to form a complete sentence for a long moment. "My sweet daughter, you're so good. It's so good to have you back... From now on, this is your home..."
Serena stood stiffly, letting them both hug her from front and back.
She was sandwiched between them. It was a little hot, but mostly, it was warm.
"Dad, Mom, you shouldn't cry anymore. Shouldn't you be happy that my sister is back?" a clear,
gentle voice interjected. "Besides et
wasn't she living with the Wyn family all this time? They're a respectable family in Vaelion City, she must have had a very good life."
A young woman in her early twenties walked over, her perfectly made-up face beaming with a welcoming smile. She reached out, wanting to take Serena's hand
Welcome home, little sister.d've
been waiting for you for so long! Now I'm finally not the youngest in the family anymore!"
She smiled sweetly and gracefully.
However, the jealousy and resentment she tried so hard to conceal in her eyes did not escape Serena's notice.
Serena subtly moved away, avoiding her outstretched hand. She gave the girl a
cool, indifferent glance and simply nodded, offering no other response.
The young woman's hand froze awkwardly in mid-air, the smile on her face instantly stiffening.
A flash of humiliation and anger crossed her eyes.
Sensing the subtle tension, Catherine quickly wiped her tears and explained carefully and nervously, "Serena, this is Isabella. She's she's the daughter Mom and Dag adopted. Back then, we couldn't
find you, and the pain was
unbearable..."
"A psychic once told us that if we adopted a girl of your age, one whose destiny was
aligned with yours, it might help us find you, so..."
She watched Serena's expression nervously. "If you mind, Mom will arrange for Isabella to move out immediately."