Alexia was gentle in nature and had a petite, delicate appearance with the unique warmth and charm of the water town. Jedidiah was just like her – a gentle older brother since childhood.
However, unlike her memory of their mother, Alexia had aged significantly since she left the Bowman family ten years ago. Her once black hair now had white strands and wrinkles had appeared on her face.
“Ranita!” Upon hearing her call, Alexia quickened her pace to embrace Ranita. “It’s really you!”
“You naughty child! You haven’t come back to see me in so many years!” Alexia gritted her teeth as she spoke, clearly angered as she gave Ranita a light punch. “How dare you!?”
Suppressing tears, Ranita returned Alexia’s embrace. “Mom! I’m sorry!”
Ranita truly felt guilty inside; she knew that no amount of apologies would change anything but… if given a choice, she wished that she could stay with the Bowman family forever.
“A family shouldn’t say sorry to each other.” Pausing for a moment, Alexia sighed heavily with low spirits. “If anyone should apologize it should be me.”
“These past few years must have been tough for you.”
Ranita was actually very grateful. Although she wasn’t the biological child of the Bowman family, she was fortunate enough to have met the Bowman family parents and her loving brother from a young age.
This continued until she turned fifteen.
That year, she found out that she wasn’t the Bowman family’s child. That year, Chole was brought back.
Whether it was Benedict or Alexia, they both said that nothing would change, but Chole was their true blood, the real member of the Bowman family, and their guilt and indebtedness towards their own child.
Everything seemed unchanged, she was still the young miss of the Bowman family, but everything seemed different…
“Ranita, let’s go in and see your father! Although he didn’t say it, I know he really wants to see you,” Alexia’s words interrupted her thoughts. Ranita pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and nodded, “Okay.”
As the hospital room door opened, Ranita saw Benedict. Compared to his previously elegant middle-aged appearance, he looked much more exhausted, with a pale complexion due to illness.
“Ranita…” Benedict’s emotions were more restrained now, but he waved at her.
Ranita approached a little and realized that Benedict looked even older than she had imagined. She held Benedict’s hand with a heartache. “Dad!”
“It’s good that you’re back!” Benedict didn’t blame her or get angry, but smiled with relief. “And you can still call me Dad, I’m very happy about that.”
Ranita couldn’t hold back her tears and they started flowing down.
“Dad… You and Mom will always be my family, how could I…” Ranita couldn’t even finish her sentence, her heart felt heavy and uncomfortable.
“Dad, I’m sorry! It’s all my fault!”
Benedict patted her hand. “Stop crying. If you cry, your mom will cry too!” He paused, shaking his head at her. “My illness has nothing to do with you, don’t blame yourself!”
“Your brother told us about you and Ayaan. You didn’t even bother to inform us about such a big thing like marriage, divorce, and having a child!”
“When we found out, both your mom and I were not only angry but also hurt! We raised you for so many years, but you didn’t consider us as your family!”
As Benedict spoke, Alexia had already started crying.
Ranita hung her head, feeling an indescribable sense of guilt.
“Mom, Dad… I…” Ranita truly didn’t know how to explain. She had indeed made a mistake in this matter.