On the first day of the New Year, an unexpected guest arrived. Callie received a text message from an unknown number. “Nearby park, I want to see you.”
Callie’s heart skipped a beat; she had a rough idea of what it was about. Nelson was busy with social engagements today and wasn’t around.
Lucia was waiting there.
She lit a cigarette, standing amidst the bleak winter scenery, looking very lonely and cold. Her eyes were sharp as she stared at Callie.
“Auntie, I’m Callie,” Callie forced a polite smile.
Lucia looked her up and down, stubbed out her cigarette, and said, “Let’s walk.”
Though difficult to get along with, Lucia wasn’t condescending. Her words and actions were quite egalitarian.
Lucia talked about her family. Callie didn’t hide anything. “I’m an orphan. My stepmother is now a sanitation worker. My father is sick and in a vegetative state, resting in the hospital. I have a younger brother who is working odd jobs.”
She didn’t hide her background. Maybe it was worlds apart from the Oconnor family, but so what? Different survival environments didn’t give anyone the right to look down on others.
Lucia smirked sarcastically, “Very well.”
“Do you think you’re worthy of Nelson?”
Her question was pretty straightforward.
“Of course not, but given the situation, I’ll work hard to make myself worthy of him.”
Lucia gave a smile that was hard to interpret. “Divorce is only a matter of time.”
Callie said nothing.
The park was part of the Paucaster Villa Complex, planted with fruit trees and tended by dedicated staff. The sky was darkening, and the grapes hanging on the branches were crystal clear.
With dedicated care, they must be very sweet.
Lucia picked two grapes, her finger’s ring brushing over the fruit without changing color.
Callie’s heart skipped a beat. She had seen such a ring on Nelson’s hand. He had told her that the ring was used to test for poison at any time-smoking, drinking, eating.
A self-preservation method passed down by the Oconnor family, immensely powerful.
Lucia was worried that the grapes might have been sprayed with pesticides by the caretakers.
Finding them non-toxic, she cleaned one and handed it to Callie: “Grapes should be very sweet this season.”
Callie took it, her chest trembling.
No matter how deep the past ran, she had some admiration for the person in front of her.
Lucia eventually brought up their relationship.
“Nelson was young and immature; he owes you and another person. But you can’t have it both ways. I hope when the time comes, you’ll be the one to end it.”
She meant that Callie should initiate the divorce.
Callie took a deep breath. “Auntie, I know you don’t like me. Most of the Oconnor family doesn’t like me either. But so what? Nelson likes me. Do you think you can control Nelson?”
At this, Lucia’s red lips curved into a smile. “Seems like you know me well. Grandpa Oconnor told you everything; he likes you quite a bit.”
Seeing through her, Callie remained composed and unyielding. She straightened her back. “It’s not that I’m unwilling to let go; I just want to ask you from Nelson’s perspective: You’ve never cared about his growth. What right do you have to point fingers at his marriage or the woman he chooses?”
Lucia’s expression changed.
“Auntie, people should have self-awareness, don’t you think? If I were you, having chosen to be hands-off, I wouldn’t come back to trouble my son.”
Callie spoke quickly without stuttering. She had no intention of respecting this woman, even if she was Nelson’s nominal mother.