Chapter 357: A small reunion
Chapter 357: A small reunion
“This is just fine, Mom…”
Serena was looking down at the pretty scarf. She could imagine what Huo Xiao Fan might be thinking while knitting this scarf because she seemed so unsure now that she would like the present or not.
Huo Xiao Fan’s eyes turned wet and blurry as she heard Serena call her Mom. It wasn’t the first time, but something felt so different to her today.
Such a beautiful ring to it…, she thought.
Serena was softly sniffling and gasping, clutching the scarf in her hand. Her teardrops shone on it.
Huo Xiao Fan tremblingly brought her hand forward and put it over her head.
“Zhilan…” She broke down, “I know I have hurt you a lot throughout all these years. I let your sister’s death wrap around me completely. I…am really sorry for leaving you alone. I am sorry for neglecting you. I am sorry for always pushing you away. I am sorry for not loving you enough. I am sorry I gave you so much pain. I am sorry…that I couldn’t become a good mother. I am so sorry…”
For a while, there was silence. Only the soft chirping of the birds singing by and the sound of the leaves gently rustling could be heard.
“…I know it’s late. Too late. So many years…I cannot bring them back. I really wish to turn back time so that I could correct my mistakes so that I get the chance to love you again, but that is just my wishful thinking.”
She paused. “Her last breath and her small body that stopped moving that night were so deeply etched in my mind that I just couldn’t forget about it. It was burning so vividly that I couldn’t see anything else but revenge.”
She smiled amongst her falling tears. “I know you don’t want to forgive me. And it’s okay. I just want to say that if you ever need my help, then I would always be there for you.”
It was difficult for their relationship to mend, but Huo Xiao Fan wanted to take the first step.
“Mom…” Serena said, but she stopped. She pursed her lips. She slowly came forward and hugged her.
Huo Xiao Fan froze. She rapidly blinked her eyes.
What? Is she hugging me? Is this real?
“Mom…Let’s start over, shall we?”
Serena herself wanted Nana and Jianyu’s forgiveness, so she knew exactly how Huo Xiao Fan was feeling. She sensed the desperation in her voice.
And personally, she had enough of hate and resentment. She was tired of thinking of sad things. She was tired of being gloomy and depressed. She wanted to let it all go and start afresh and anew.
The past couldn’t be changed, but the present was in our hands. She didn’t see any point in wasting another long years just to punish Huo Xiao Fan.
Huo Xiao Fan broke down in loud sobs. She couldn’t let go of revenge, but Serena chose to give it up to live a peaceful life.
Huo Xiao Fan slowly nodded.
She wiped her tears and held her hands. “I…I will talk to Nana and Jianyu. I will ask them to forgive you or even beg them if I have to. It’s because of me that you lost them. So I would make everything right again for my daughter.”
Serena softly smiled. She was touched with her mother’s resolve.
“No, mom. I am already trying my best to gain their trust back. I want to do it on my own.”
Huo Xiao Fan protested. “Zhilan, I must take responsibility. I ruined your life. I will do everything in my power to get your happiness back.”
“Mom, it was still my decision to follow you even if I knew that it was wrong to betray them. I don’t want to run away from my mistakes. But I promise, if I need your help, then I would definitely ask you for it.”
She didn’t seem convinced.
“Okay?”
Huo Xiao Fan wanted to support her, so she nodded. Then her gaze shifted at Serena’s belly, and it softened thinking of her grandchild.
“C-can I?” she hesitantly asked if she could touch it.
Serena nodded.
Huo Xiao Fan softly placed her hand on her tummy. Soon, she felt a soft kick. Both of them brightened.
“It k-kicked!”
Serena furiously nodded. She then asked, “Mom. There is somebody else too who has come to visit you.”
Huo Xiao Fan looked at her questioningly. Somehow, she didn’t have the courage to call Huo Shen to come here.
But when she saw his figure coming towards her, her heart stopped beating in her chest. Carrying his elegant aura and looking so handsome in that black suit, Huo Xiao Fan couldn’t take her eyes off him.
She realized how much she missed this man over these last months. His silent support to her over these years and then the fact that he loves her filled her heart with warmth.
But then she wryly smiled, knowing that she never reciprocated his feelings.
And not only him, she saw Liwei coming too, walking behind him.
Shen and Liwei are here?
She suddenly felt nervous and conscious.
She quickly got up. “Shen…Liwei…What are you…”
Although inwardly, she was happy to see them again.
Huo Shen warmly smiled at her like he always did. “It is Serena’s birthday today and…the birthday of my other daughter too, which isn’t with us anymore. As their father, shouldn’t I be here with my daughters and…with you?”
He hugged Serena and kissed her forehead. Serena tightly hugged him back.
Huo Xiao Fan froze. She started to tremble in place, and tears gushed out.
“B-but we are separated now…” she whispered.
“I don’t care about that, Xiao Fan. For me, the signatures on those papers don’t matter. You will always be my wife, and they will always be my precious daughters.”
She felt her cheeks turning warm with his declaration.
“Yes…” She covered her mouth with her hands.
Liwei muttered. “I also love my sisters. It’s just that you treating my Dad so harshly made me resent them.”
“Liwei…” Huo Shen warned him.
She quickly said, “No, let him say it. I was wrong. I…ask for your forgiveness Shen, Liwei. I have terribly disappointed you two. I have failed as a wife and a mother. But even then, you love my daughters and me so much. H-how will I ever be able to repay your kindness?”
Huo Shen stared at her. “…Then come back, Xiao Fan. Return to your home. Our home, Huo villa.”