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Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Edwin felt totally misunderstood. He had specifically brought the Ellery parents hoping that after years apart, Sylvia could reconnect with her family.
Yes, he knew their relationship hadn’t been particularly close, but they were still family–and what parent and child couldn’t overcome their differences with honest conversation?
On the journey here, he had explicitly cautioned them not to be confrontational. He’d advised them countless time to sit down and talk things through calmly, and they had all agreed. How was he supposed to know they’d immediately cause this scene?
But honestly, Edwin knew this mishap was his fault. So he swallowed the lump in his throat and carefully chose his words.
“Sylvia, it’s been a long time.”
Edwin had missed her terribly. Throughout these five years, he had dreamed about their reunion constantly, but countless failed searches had nearly convinced him he’d never see her again.
Now that they were finally face to face, he had so many things he wanted to tell her, but didn’t know where to begin.
But while he wanted to rekindle what they once had, the Sylvia he had longed for showed zero interest.
“You brought them here to make trouble for me? Edwin, besides leaving you at the altar, how have I ever wronged you? You never actually loved me–only pretended to want to marry me so I wouldn’t stand in Tiffany’s way with Matt. I’ve already let go of how you manipulated my feelings. Why can’t we just call it even? Why do you have to show up in my life again?”
She paused before turning to her glaring family members, her voice filled with genuine confusion.
“You call me ungrateful, but have you ever fulfilled your parental duties to me for even a single day? Have you ever treated me like your real daughter? You even claim I stole from Tiffany. That’s ridiculous. Anything Tiffany wanted, I had to surrender–my room, my academic achievements, your love, my friends, the man I loved–I gave her everything. Isn’t that exactly what you wanted? You’re her parents, not mine. Matt, Edwin–whether it was the men she wanted or the things she desired, what haven’t I given up for her? What more do you want from me?”
By the end, Sylvia’s emotions had clearly intensified. These few sentences encapsulated over twenty years of heartache.
Her chest heaved with emotion as everyone present fell into silence.
Ronald had guessed Sylvia carried some history, but since she never brought it up, he never asked. Even though their futures were essentially tied together, he had never tried to uncover her secrets.
He never imagined that the past they all instinctively avoided contained such painful truths.
He stepped forward and gently took her hand. The warmth of his touch dispersed the cold from her palm. Ethel and Gary also moved protectively to her side.
Though they had been momentarily confused upon learning she had biological parents–after all, their relationship had begun as a financial arrangement–they had still loved her like their own daughter for five years. Now, learning about her experiences, their eyes reflected nothing but
concern.
Feeling their genuine care, Sylvia couldn’t hold back anymore. Her eyes reddened as she squeezed their hands tightly in return.
It was only at this moment that Edwin and the others fully saw this family unit for what it was.
The relationship between them clearly wasn’t that of an employer and employees. With Sylvia’s accusations still ringing in their ears, and now witnessing her reliance on these strangers, the Ellery parents felt a surge of unease.
“What do you exactly mean?” Mr. Ellery blurted out.
Hearing his voice, Sylvia’s attention returned to them. Looking at their disheveled state, she suddenly smiled.
She spread her hands and pointed to each person beside her, making introductions.
“This is my husband–legally recognized. These are my parents–also legally recognized. And you? You haven’t had any relationship with me years now.”
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