June Hawthorne knew she had misspoken, so she closed her mouth imdiately.
Silas Hawthorne continued selecting pastries.
"Even without that initial eting," Silas continued, "I would still like her."
June smiled too, picking so pastries for herself.
"Understood," June said.
In no ti, Silas finished choosing the pastries.
Although there is a chef at ho, both Seraphina and Serena love this shop’s pastries.
Silas noticed this from the first ti they visited.
Thinking of her laughs when she sees the pastries, his lips curled into a smile.
Upon leaving, Silas found even the clouds in the sky delightful.
"Co over for dinner this weekend," Silas said to June. "She enjoys a lively atmosphere."
"Got it, brother," June said, making a playful face while carrying the pastries.
They each went their separate ways.
But, when Silas sat in the back seat of the car, he glanced through the rearview mirror.
In the mirror, a Maybach quietly parked at the street corner.
"Mr. Hawthorne, is sothing wrong?" the driver asked.
Silas withdrew his gaze and shook his head, saying, "Let’s head back."
"Right away," the driver responded, starting the car to leave.
As the Bentley rounded the corner, the window of the Maybach lowered, revealing Julian Lawson’s face.
Julian watched as Silas’s car drove away, then turned his attention to the dessert shop nearby.
His expression was slightly dim.
Suddenly, he rembered.
In all these years, he had never brought Serena anything tasty.
The only thing he’d carefully chosen for her was that bottle of perfu left in their forr marital ho.
Jude Chaucer observed Julian’s expression in the rearview mirror, likely knowing what Julian was pondering.
For people like Julian, material wealth wasn’t lacking.
If he wanted sothing, he could simply buy it.
If Julian desired, he could have top luxury brands deliver their entire new season collections to his ho.
What was missing was rembering the other person’s subtle preferences and being attentive to them.
Thinking this, Jude silently sighed.
He gestured to have soone buy each dessert from the store and send them back.
Lowering the partition, leaving Julian alone in the back seat.
In fact, he dislikes sweets.
Suddenly, he recalled how she used to wait for him at ho, personally cooking his favorite homade dishes.
A sour feeling crept up in his heart.
Julian tasted every dessert, the icing lting in his mouth.
Yet he felt the taste was bitter.
...
On the other side.
Serena and Clara Huxley returned with their loads.
Clara only stayed briefly before leaving, having achieved her goal. Today, she brought Serena out shopping, ensuring she’d seen what she needed to see.
Clara Huxley was determined to accept Serena as her daughter-in-law!
Serena, at ho, watched as the staff put away the items, feeling sowhat dazed.
Her impression of Clara Huxley was that of an elegant, noble lady.
But now, it seed different.
Just earlier in the car ride back, she ntioned this to Clara.
Clara had responded, "No need to pretend in daily life."
"After Silas’s father passed away, and he got shipped out to sea, life or death uncertain, I was left alone in Aeston with June and Orion, two kids. No matter how gentle one’s nature is, you have to toughen up."
"I know about your encounter with Silas at sea, rest assured, I absolutely support the two of you."
Serena watched the bustling staff and thought of Sheila Jenkins.
She pondered a bit, then picked up so jewelry and bags and headed to Sheila Jenkins’s residence.
Slight hesitation.
Serena still pressed the doorbell.
The one who opened the door was Sheila Jenkins.
Sheila was a bit surprised to see it was Serena.
"Why are you here?" Sheila asked.
Serena didn’t know what to say; she opened her mouth but said nothing.
Sheila continued to look at her, eventually Serena handed over the items she was holding.
"I bought so things at the mall," Serena said, "I rembered you like these and brought so over for you."
Sheila glanced at the bags and jewelry in Serena’s hands, realizing they were bought specifically for her and were all styles she liked.
Thinking of this, Sheila reached out to take them but didn’t say anything.
The wind rustled the treetops beside them, producing a rustling sound.
Serena and Sheila stood there for a while, neither speaking.
Silent.
Serena’s hand clenched and then relaxed.
Finally, she softly called, "Mom."
The voice was so small; it was almost drowned out by the sound of the wind.
But both parties present heard it.
Sheila glanced at Serena.
Serena lowered her head, nervous, fearing Sheila would once again disapprove of her calling her "Mom," not daring to look at Sheila.
Therefore, Serena didn’t see the complex look in Sheila’s eyes.
The wind kept blowing gently.
After about half a minute, Sheila spoke, "I heard Silas’s mother ca to see you?"
Serena paused, then nodded, responding, "Yes."
Not being told not to call her that was a relief; Serena’s heart eased slightly.
"Did she give you any trouble?" Sheila continued to ask.
Serena shook her head, "No."
Serena recounted the events that had happened.
"That’s good," Sheila nodded.
Another silence fell between them.
"You should go back," Sheila eventually said.
Serena nodded randomly, lifted her head to look at Sheila, and softly said, "Goodbye."
"Okay," Sheila replied.
Serena opened her mouth, wanting to call her again, but in the end, swallowed the words because she saw Sheila’s expression.
Sheila clearly knew what she wanted to say and began to show avoidance.
Serena just smiled.
"Take care of yourself," Serena advised.
"I have a family doctor; I’m very healthy," Sheila replied.
Serena responded randomly again, watching as Sheila closed the door, only then relaxing her lips.
Feeling a bit wronged.
Her nose tingled slightly.
Sheila was Serena’s biological mother, yet there was such a distance between them.
In this lifeti, the only blood-relative she might have left was Sheila.
This realization saddened Serena.
But she held back.
Serena turned away, glanced at the drifting clouds in the sky, took a deep breath, and walked away.
After Serena left, Sheila looked at the bags and jewelry in her hands and sighed softly.
...
When Serena returned to the house, she found Seraphina had already co back.
Recently, Seraphina had been attending interest classes and early education courses.
Although they could have soone co to Hawthorne Manor to tutor Seraphina, Serena and Silas discussed it and decided it’s better for Seraphina to interact with peers of her age, especially since Seraphina had spent a lot of ti at the welfare ho, exposure to ordinary peers is still needed.
At the mont, Seraphina was sitting by Serena’s piano, her tiny fingers pressing keys one by one, while Silas, already ho, sat beside Seraphina, guiding her hand, helping her press the keys.
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