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What Melissa said struck a delicate nerve in Linda’s heart.
In the past, she would have charged at her, strangled her, and even slapped her. Or maybe she would have asked
Ian to do it, just like how he dealt with Mollie. She would have allowed him to be as brutal as possible.
But she couldn’t do that anymore.
She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself and stop the trembling. Then she looked at Melissa calmly.
“Don’t say that.” Linda’s voice was soft. “You’ve been her mother for 20 years. You have every right to be called
her mother.”
Melissa was shocked, and tears instantly streamed down her face. “But I stole those 20 years…”
As soon as she said that, it felt like a heavy rock crushed their hearts simultaneously.
Linda could hardly breathe, desperately trying not to cry.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFinally, Melissa let go. After 20 years, she could finally face the truth.
She asked herself, if she hadn’t been sick, if fate hadn’t led Lina to her real parents, would she have been able to
let go?
Definitely not.
She was just an ordinary person with both light and darkness within her.
But now she regretted it.
Her illness was probably karma. Even God couldn’t bear to see her take someone else’s daughter. That was why
she was afflicted with a terminal illness. After she died, she wouldn’t separate the mother and daughter anymore.
Melissa quietly sobbed, the taste of the coffee in her mouth terribly bitter.
“I’m sorry…” she said to Linda. “I’m truly sorry!”
Linda heard a ringing in her ears. She clenched her fists again, trembling.
Not all “sorrys” could bring forgiveness. Sorry couldn’t make up for the 20 years of separation between mother and
daughter. It couldn’t heal the pain Linda had endured for two decades.
But what else could Melissa say besides sorry?
Forcing a smile, Linda handed her a tissue. “Stop apologizing. I can’t blame you. If you and your husband hadn’t
taken Pammy away, she would have died in that sea accident.”
“But it’s still our fault…”
“Ms. Melissa…” Linda hesitated for a moment before extending her hand. In the end, she didn’t touch the back of
Melissa’s hand and withdrew her own. “Can you tell me about… my daughter’s childhood?”
Melissa was taken aback, sniffing to hold back her tears.
She then began recounting memories of Lina’s upbringing.
The first full sentences she wrote, the first time she fed herself with a spoon, when she started running and
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmjumping, her time in kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school…
The panic when she had her first period…
Giving Lina all the money Melissa had when she received her first scholarship…
Feeling shy and scared when she received her first love letter from a boy. Melissa had secretly thrown away the
pink envelope.
Melissa shared each detail as if telling a cherished story. She remembered everything vividly.
However, the more she remembered, the more Linda’s heart ached. She should have been the one to experience
all those moments with her daughter.
“It seems like you took great care of her.” Linda smiled and said. “You treated her as your own.”
Melissa suddenly stopped. She opened her mouth, stuttering as she asked, “W-Will you forgive me?”
Linda felt her heart tighten.
She fell silent for a moment, then honestly replied, “I’m sorry, but I can’t forgive you completely.”
Melissa was stunned, her eyes filled with sadness.
This time, Linda gently placed her hand on the back of Melissa’s hand. Looking into her eyes, she enunciated each
word. “But I want to thank you.”
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