Elsie quietly drove down the expressway, heading to Elysian Heights. She had left the flower garden far behind. The white sedan glimred under the dazzling rays, sending glitters in its wake.
Glancing at the dashboard touchscreen, Elsie raised her brows once she saw the ti pointed past noon already. She didn’t expect so much ti had passed from the mont she set foot in the garden.
The place was more beautiful than she rembered before. Sure enough. After all, five years had gone by since her last visit.
And...
Elsie slowed the sedan as the road ahead was packed with more vehicles, eventually stopping at the red light. She quietly recalled the first mont she saw Nathaniel this morning.
He was also more charming than before. She had to hold back from rushing into his arms to feel his warmth because... she didn’t deserve it anymore.
Elsie had resolved herself to navigate her first eting with Nathaniel properly. Unfortunately, her emotions took over her heart and weakened her determination.
’I cried like a fool.’
Exhaling a sigh, Elsie couldn’t help but feel bad as she rembered when she ended up crying in Nathaniel’s embrace. The front of his shirt was dampened by her tears as how his soaked her shoulder.
Nathaniel sounded very remorseful as he kept apologizing. Elsie couldn’t imagine how the past five years had been for him.
Even after knowing about Lorianne, Nathaniel’s feelings didn’t change. Elsie actually had braced herself to face his wrath.
’He’s more upset... with himself instead of with .’
Instead of feeling happy, more regrets laden Elsie’s heart. Nathaniel kept blaming himself as if she didn’t commit any deceit on her part.
’I should tell Ma and Da. They’ve been worried about .’
Elsie fondly rembered Mr. and Mrs. Winslow who remained in Norvonna. Both of them supported her decision to reveal Lorianne’s existence to Nathaniel yet, they were also concerned about her.
"Elsie, you’re doing the right thing. No matter what happens, it’ll be alright in the end."
"If you’re bored staying in Velondia, co ho to us. We’ll be happy to have you and Lorrie."
Mr. and Mrs. Winslow cared for Elsie as if she was their biological daughter. She felt the sa love that Chairman and Mrs. Faulkner had for Nathaniel.
Sharing the sa blood didn’t make one a family.
’I haven’t told him how I got adopted. Maybe... the next ti we et.’
Nathaniel’s curiosity about her life was so evident. Elsie also felt the need to share what happened during the past five years with him. Still, she wouldn’t do it rashly.
"Haa..." Elsie sighed, shaking her head slightly with traces of exhaustion on her face, "I should call Lorrie."
Elsie released one hand from the steering wheel, tapping a few tis on the dashboard screen. A ringing sound echoed inside the car as she made a call.
"Mommy! Are you coming ho now?"
Elsie’s face instantly bead once Lorianne’s cheery voice rang from the speakers. Chuckles slipped out of her lips, her mood evidently happier.
"Yes. I’m driving now. What are you doing, my dear?" asked Elsie, her eyes glancing at the screen before focusing on the road. Her foot slowly pressed the accelerator, speeding up once the light turned green.
Being the weekend during sumr break ant the traffic was more congested. Elsie was aware she had to be more careful when driving.
"Hehe~ I’m playing with Michelle. I made blueberry ice cream with her too. Mommy, co ho and eat it soon~"
Lorianne’s enthusiasm elicited more laughter from Elsie. She felt better knowing that her daughter was having fun.
Because the garden was quite far, Elsie had to leave the apartnt before Lorianne woke up. Fortunately, she could rely on Michelle. The latter was Lorianne’s nanny, and also their helper.
Michelle arrived in Velondia a few days after Elsie and Lorianne. They had been living in Elysian Heights Apartnt from the beginning. The latter was accustod to this city because she used to study here before.
Wanting to play along, Elsie said, her voice relaxed, "That sounds so delicious, Lorrie. Will you decorate Mommy’s ice cream with blueberry and rainbow sprinkles?"
Once again, Lorianne answered with fervor, "Of course! I will make a special one for Mommy!"
Elsie lightly shook her head, amused with Lorianne’s antics. This little one had been her source of light ever since she was born.
Taking Lorianne for granted? Never.
Elsie briefly looked at the tiny clock on the screen. She roughly calculated the ti, "Mommy will arrive in half an hour. Lorrie can tell Mommy how you made the ice cream later, okay?"
"Okay~ Be careful, Mommy. Drive safely. I love you~ Muah!"
"Mommy loves Lorrie too. Bye bye."
Lorianne ended the call by making a kissing sound. Elsie’s whole face was beaming. She felt a lot better after talking to her daughter.
Lorianne knew Elsie would introduce her to her father—Nathaniel—soon. She had been asking about it a few tis already thus, Elsie decided to directly contact Nathaniel two days ago.
’How will their first eting be? Lorrie... I know she’ll be excited, but... Never mind. Don’t overthink.’
Elsie was glad to receive more positive reactions from Nathaniel. Both her heart and mind were conflicted the closer the ti for them to et.
Throughout the decades they spent together, first as friends before being lovers, Nathaniel never mistreated Elsie.
Except for the ti when his revenge was close to being fulfilled.
’It’s all in the past. I want to move forward.’
Tapping one finger on the steering wheel, Elsie reminded herself of her current goal. She didn’t want to wallow in self-pity or bla anyone else.
For now, Lorianne’s well-being was Elsie’s topmost priority. She believed Nathaniel would cultivate a good parent-child relationship with her.
As for their relationship...
Despite still having feelings for Nathaniel, Elsie decided not to pursue anything. She returned while assuming he might already have soone new in his life.
Whether they would be lovers again or not, only the reality and ti could tell.
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