“All you have to do is answer my question.” Seeing that Helena was testing herself, Esmae went on without explanation.
What was Helena gonna say? She had never been a person who dared to be ungrateful. Faced with her mother’s question, she would never tell her that she had cut ties with Otis long ago, even though they really hadn’t kept in touch. But Helena knew that Otis was still thinking of her, and she was thinking of him too.
Seeing Helena’s dilemma, Esmae already knew the answer.
“Helena Brown!” Esmae stood up abruptly and glared at Helena. “You don’t listen to anything I say, do you?! Why don’t you just cut him loose!”
“Mom…” Helena was confused. What had triggered her mother’s anger?
“I’m telling you. You can’t have anything to do with the Davies. I won’t allow you to have anything to do with Otis, not even Lucia and Arthur!”
Esmae was furious. She didn’t care if her adopted daughter didn’t listen to her now, but even her own daughter disobeyed her. She scolded her, turned around, and went upstairs without giving Helena a chance to explain.
Watching her mother leave in anger, Helena could not help but wonder if she had bad luck. Why would she be scolded by her mother all of a sudden?
However, Helena’s heart was deeply hurt by her resolute words. She thought that time would slowly break down her mother’s prejudice, but it seemed impossible now…
Was their relationship out of the question?
Thinking of this, Helena burst into tears. And she was extremely uncomfortable.
That night, Esmae called Lucia, who was still talking to Sophie about decorating the garden. When she got Esmae’s call, she whispered an apology to Sophie, got up, and went out into the hallway to answer the phone.
“You’ll be back in the morning with the baby,” Esmae ordered, as soon as the call went through and without warning.
Lucia heard it and slightly frowned. She could not help but ask, “Didn’t you say the day after tomorrow? How…”
“You don’t have to ask why. You just have to do as I say. If you don’t come back tomorrow, don’t come back ever!” Esmae’s words were still absolute, and no one was allowed to question her.
“What happened? We had a deal, didn’t we?” Arthur insisted, in order to spend an extra day with Theodore.
“I’ve changed my mind. It was a mistake to let you take the baby with you to the Davies family. You two always refuse to listen to me. You show one thing behind another!” With these words, Esmae was completely shifting her anger toward Helena onto Lucia.
Lucia was caught off guard. She didn’t know what was going on, but when Esmae used the words “you two,” she knew it had to be Helena who was arguing with her about Otis. Lucia bit her lip without realizing it, feeling awkward.
She couldn’t bear to leave.
While Lucia was on the phone with Esmae, Arthur walked into the living room with Theodore in his arms. When he saw his mother looking down the hall, he looked at her and saw Lucia’s aggrieved look.
Setting Theodore down on the sofa, Arthur made a silent gesture and sneaked up behind Lucia.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but the baby and I only got here yesterday afternoon. And Teddy and I have only been together a dozen hours. I don’t want to leave tomorrow. Can you let me stay one more day as planned?” Lucia pleaded with Esmae.
Hearing Lucia’s words, and her tone of resignation, Arthur immediately understood what had happened, and his eyes turned cool for a moment.
“No! I’ve made up my mind. You make your own decision!” Esmae demanded, more forcefully than ever, without letting Lucia plead.
“I respect you and I respect Chris. I want to go home for Christmas. I want to be by your side on the most important day like before, so I must go home!” Lucia said firmly, holding back the tears in her eyes.
“However, I will stay here as planned. I will go home at noon the day after tomorrow. If you don’t let me in, I will stay at the door and wait for you to let me and the baby in!”
“Lucia!” Not expecting to be disobeyed by Lucia who was tough, Esmae grew angry and bellowed her name.
“I’m equally determined. I hope you can understand me. I’ll hang up now.” Before the tears fell down, Lucia said something quickly and hung up. She held her phone tightly, and her heart seemed to bleed quietly.
Helpless, Lucia wanted to stay with the Davies family, with her son and the man she loved, but… Brown Manor was already home to her, and she wanted to go back too.
“Lucia, don’t cry.” As Lucia lowered her head, Arthur gently took her from behind and pulled her into his arms.
With her back to his warm arms, Lucia realized that Arthur was right behind her. His gentle words filled her aching heart, and she turned to him and asked him, choking,
“You heard that?”
“Yes,” Arthur replied softly, rubbing his hand gently against the end of her eye, and dousing his fingers with her tears.
“If you’re in trouble, tomorrow you can…”
“I won’t go,” said Lucia. Her eyes were sparkling with tears, which were more determined than aggrieved.
“Finally… I can pretend that there are no more obstacles between us, only two days, not a day less!”
Arthur’s heart palpitated for Lucia. There was so much between them that they couldn’t tell each other. It wasn’t that they couldn’t tell each other the truth, but they both knew that once they did, they could no longer suppress their desire for each other.
Lucia needed to avenge. She can not be selfish. Arthur had always known that.
“Yes, not a day less. If Esmae won’t let you in when you get back, I’ll come and get you and the baby.” Arthur wanted Lucia to know that he would never turn his back on her, even if the whole world turned its back on her.
Arthur’s eyes were so gentle that once she looked into his eyes, it was hard to get out, but Lucia was willing to give up her life to indulge in them.
There was no response, but she was determined. Lucia let herself sink into Arthur’s arms which were covering her slightly cold heart with his warmth.
In the living room, watching his parents huddle in the hallway, Theodore sighed like a little adult,
“If only daddy and mommy could stay like this forever.”