Regina’s tears streamed down her face.
But since Kaneeta hadn’t brought it up herself, she didn’t ask.
She didn’t want to poke at her granddaughter’s wounds.
“You’ve lost weight. I couldn’t tell from the video, but how did
you get so thin!” Regina looked her up and down, pinching her
face with concern. “Have you not been eating well out there?”
“No, Grandma, I’m really healthy now!”
“Nonsense, there’s not an ounce of flesh on you!”
Matthew stood to the side, the corners of his mouth
unconsciously lifting, but he quickly put on a stern face and
said, “Alright, what are we all doing standing in the doorway?
Let’s go inside and talk.”
The dining table was filled with all of Kaneeta’s favorite dishes,
\specially prepared by her grandmother and the family chef.
After years without a home–cooked meal, Kaneeta’s appetite
was enormous; she couldn’t stop eating.
Chapter 69
Regina kept piling food onto her plate, while Matthew quietly
refilled her soup.
“It’s so good to have you home.” Regina repeated this over and
over, but Kaneeta didn’t find it annoying at all; instead, her
heart felt warmer each time.
After dinner, Kaneeta felt drowsy.
She lay in her long–missed bedroom, staring blankly at the
family photo on her bedside table.
In the photo, she wore pigtails and had a radiant smile.
Her father was dressed in a crisp suit; back then, he was still
young, and his handsome face had yet to acquire its current
sternness.
Her grandmother held her in her arms, happiness etched into
every wrinkle on her face.
And then, her mother…
In the photo, her mother stood beside her father, her beautiful
eyes full of tenderness.
“Mom.”
Kaneeta whispered to the photo, “I’m home.”
Chapter 69
Suddenly, there was a gentle knock at the bedroom door.
Kaneeta got up to open the door and saw her father standing
there with a cup of hot milk, looking uncharacteristically
awkward. “Drink this before you sleep.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
Kaneeta took the milk, the warm cup pressed against her palm.
Looking at the white hairs at her father’s temples, she couldn’t
help but say, “Dad, I’m sorry… I’ve made you and Grandma
worry all these years.”
Matthew turned his head away, his voice a little hoarse: “We’re
family, there’s no need to say things like that. Alright, go get
some rest.”
“Okay, Dad, you should rest early too.”
Kaneeta turned back into her room, while Matthew’s gaze fell
on her right leg.
His daughter walked just like anyone else, but… he could still tell
something was wrong at a glance.
Matthew clenched his fists, a cold glint appearing in his eyes.
That brat Edmund!
Chapter 69
He would settle every score, one by one!
***
The next morning, Cora ran straight to the Drayton’s villa.
Kaneeta was still fast asleep under the covers when Cora leaned
over her ear and chanted, “Neeta, get up, the sun’s already up,
Neeta…”
Kaneeta raised her hand to swat her, but Cora dodged quickly.
“Hehe, want to hit me? You’ll have to practice more.”
“I haven’t slept enough…” Kaneeta pulled the blanket over her
head. “Go play by yourself for a while, okay?”
“Play by myself? Neeta, we haven’t seen each other in years.
Don’t you miss me?” Cora yanked the blanket off her.
“Nope.”
“Heartless!”
Though she said that, seeing her best friend again after so long
made Kaneeta truly happy. Her sleepiness quickly faded, and
after washing up, she sat with Cora on the balcony, chatting
over breakfast.
Chapter 69
She told Cora everything that had happened during this time.
