(ir’s POV)
Three days have passed since Scarlett walked out of our house, since she looked at us like we were strangers. Three days of wandering around this empty mansion, seeing her ghost in
every corner.
Her favorite reading spot by the window. The kitchen table where she used to do her homework. The family photos on the mantle where she smiles so bright and genuine.
How could I have been so blind?
I pull my cardigan tighter as I walk through our neighborhood. The morning air is crisp, but it’s not the cold that makes me shiver. It’s the emptiness inside my chest where my heart
used to be.
Mrs. Anderson from two houses down is in her front yard,ughing as her granddaughter runs circles around her. The little girl has pigtails that bounce with each step, her giggles carrying on the breeze.
“Grandma, watch me!” she calls, doing a little spin that makes her dress twirl.
“Beautiful, sweetheart! You’ll be a stunning ballerine one day!”
I stop, my feet sticking to the ground as if held down by some force.
The little girl is about Lily’s age. Maybe a year older. The same bright eyes, the same infectiousughter that could light up a room.
My chest tightens until I can barely breathe. My granddaughter. She’s out there, beautiful, bright, and so much like her mother.
She should be living with us. I should be basking in the joy of being a grandmother like Mrs.
Anderson.
But because I was too busy trying <i>to </i>make up for lost time with Virginia. Too busy proving to my biological daughter I never stopped loving her, never stopped missing her…I forgot that Scarlett too had a right to my love.
From the second she entered my life, she had be my daughter.
The daughter I raised… The little girl who used to call me Mama with such trust and love…I failed her love. I failed her <b>trust</b>. How lonely and desperate must she have felt when everything she knew changed overnight?
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When no one was by her side to reassure her, to support her, to tell her everything will be
okay?
“Mrs. Stone? Are you alright?”
Mrs. Anderson’s voice breaks through my thoughts. She’s <i>looking </i>at me with concern, her granddaughter hiding behind her legs.
“I’m fine,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Just enjoying the morning.”
But I’m not fine. I’m drowning in regret, suffocating on the weight <i>of </i>my mistakes.
I turn around and walk back to my house, my steps getting faster with each passing second. By the time I reach our front door, I’m practically running.
James is in the living room, reading his newspaper like usual. Like our daughter is out there raising our granddaughter alone. Our family is falling apart, and this man seems to be oblivious to everything?
Rage burns through me, as I call out, “James.” <fn348f> Latest content published on Find_Novel(.</fn348f>
He looks up, eyebrows raised at my tone. “Yes, dear?”
“Our daughter is determined to cut all ties with us.”
He frowns, folding the paper. “ir-”
“She’s living alone with our granddaughter when she should be living here, with us. And you’re sitting here, reading the news without a care in the world?”
“ir, calm down-”
“Calm down?” The words explode out of me. “Our daughter wants nothing to do with us! Our four–year–old granddaughter barely knows us! And you want me to calm down?”
This time, James sets his newspaper asidepletely, staring at me like I’m a stranger. In thirty–two years of <i>our </i>marriage, I’ve never raised my voice at him. Ever.
But I can’t help it. The pain is <i>too </i>much.
My want my daughter. I want my granddaughter. I want them in front of my eyes, right here, in my house.
“Why aren’t you thinking of something to get Scarlett to forgive us? Why aren’t you worried about her and Lily living alone in that little apartment when they should be here, living with
us?”
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x Chapter 73
“Of course I’m worried-”
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“No, you’re not!” I’m shouting now, tears streaming down my face. “If you were worried, you’d be doing something about it instead of sitting around!”
“ir, what’s gotten into you?”
“If you’re not worried about Scarlett and Lily,” I continue,pletely ignoring his question as he stands, reaching for me. “If you really don’t care about the girl we raised for over twenty years, then fine.” I avoid his reach and grab my purse from the side table. “I’ll go and live with my daughter and granddaughter.”
“What? ir, you can’t be serious-”
But I’m already walking toward the door, resolve strengthening my voice as I say, “Watch me.” And walk out.
“ir, wait!”
His footsteps pound behind me, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop. Not when every second I waste
is another second I’m not with them.
I’ve wasted four precious years not being there for my daughter. Four years missing from my granddaughter’s life.
But not anymore.
I’m done taking care of everyone’s feelings. Always putting their needs, and what’s best for them instead of doing what my heart tells me.
I want to be there for Scarlett, to y with Lily, to watch her grow up safe and sound. To be part of their life before it’s <i>too </ite.
To hell with Jasper and everyone else.
The drive to Scarlett’s apartment leaves me trembling with nerves. My hands shake on the steering wheel, and I have <i>to </i>pull over twice to catch my breath.
What if she won’t let me in? What if she chases me away, refusing to acknowledge me?
She made it clear at ourst meeting that she wants nothing to do with the Stones and Jasper. But I have to try. I have to.
When I finally reach her building, I see James’s car pulling into the parking lot behind me. He followed me. Of course he did.
I don’t wait for him. I march straight to the elevator, my heart pounding with each step.
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When I finally reach Scarlett’s apartment, she opens the door, surprised. “ir? What are you doing here-”
“I came to apologize…and make amends.” The words tumble out. “I know you don’t want to see me, but I’m not leaving.”
She nces behind me and sees James approaching. Her jaw tightens.
“We’ve already talked about this-”
“No, you told me your stance. Now I’m here to tell you my stance.” I take a deep breath, and look her in the eyes. “Scarlett, I came to tell you whether you forgive me or not, you won’t stop being my daughter.”
Her eyes widen, and my heart softens at the shock in them. Clearly, she didn’t expect me to say that.
“You are my daughter, Scarlett. Blood or no blood, you will always be my precious baby. I held you when you cried, helped you understand what it meant to be a woman. I was there for every milestone of your life, and I’m not about to miss this one.’
James stops behind me, his eyes also fixing on Scarlett. He doesn’t say anything, but at that moment, I know. He also loves Scarlett in his own biased way.
“And as your mama, I won’t stop loving you. I won’t stop caring about you. I love you, habibti, and I’m determined to make up for my failures by starting with fulfilling my responsibility as a grandmother.”
Tears stream down her face. I reach out to my daughter, the precious daughter I abandoned four years <i>ago </i>when she needed me most, and wipe her tears as my own eyes fill up.
“Whether you like it or not, I will be a worthy grandmother to Lily. I will be in both your lives from now on, even if <i>you </i>hate me for it.”
“Mama-”
“I’m going to keep visiting. I’m going to keep trying. I’m going to keep showing up until myst breath because that’s what mothers do.” I reach out and touch her cheek. “They never stop loving, they never stop trying, even if it breaks them. And I’m sorry, ya rohi. I’m sorry realizing this toote.”
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