S31 28. Fragile
“What’s the big deal? Grandma doesn’t want to know about her ex- husband anymore. Telling her about Rowan will only open up the old wounds,” Sophia said without any guilt.
Jeremy gritted his teeth. “By you telling her about that, she won’t feel threatened. She won’t close herself off from her own family. She
won’t be haunted by her dark past anymore.”
“Why don’t you just tell her, hmm? Why blame me instead?” Sophia’s tone rose.
“She never looked at me. How can I talk to her? She is cold to children as cute as the twins. She is even heartless to pregnant woman. She always thinks badly of us and you are making her condition worse.
Diana sighed in disbelief. The burden on her shoulders was now tens of times heavier. Unable to bear it, she moved away from the wall.
“She is pregnant? My granddaughter-in-law is pregnant?”
With unsteady steps, Diana went towards the dining room. She stopped near the door, peering through it.
Frank was sitting in the chair that Jeremy usually occupied. He took Kara on his lap, embracing her tenderly. Occasionally, he kissed her cheek. One of his hands moved, stroking her stomach.
“I tortured a pregnant woman even though she was innocent?”
The longer she stared at Kara, the thicker her tears became. Before it spilled, she shifted her gaze. Philips and Barbara were also affectionate. They sat next to each other, whispering and laughing.
“Their happiness is genuine. How stupid was I to believe it was fake?” Diana thought, clutching her chest. She felt like there was a big hole
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in it.
Suddenly, the sound of laughter came from behind. When Diana turned around, the twins widened their eyes. They automatically stopped running.
“Grandma?” Emily sighed with furrowed eyebrows. Slowly, she moved towards Louis, hiding behind him.
Diana quickly wiped away her tears. However, instead of saying hello, she just stood still. The two toddlers in front of her became even tenser.
“G-good morning, Grandma,” Louis said with round eyes. There was absolutely no smile on his face.
Diana tried to answer. However, her lips only trembled.
Louis couldn’t help but glance at Emily. “What should we do?” he whispered seriously.
“Just go slowly. There’s a gap over there. Walk around the edge.”
Louis swallowed hard. Then, he started walking. “Excuse me, Grandma.”
Emily trailed behind him. They walked so close to the wall, keeping as much distance as possible from Diana.
“These children are afraid of me,” Diana thought sadly.
When they made it through the door, the twins immediately ran towards Frank.
“Daddy, this is the phone you asked for.” Emily handed over the item.
“And this is your tablet.” Louis smiled sweetly. However, after one blink, he remembered Diana. “Daddy, we met Grandma earlier. She was standing at the door. Why didn’t she come in?”
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Before Louis pointed at her, Diana quickly returned to her room. She wasn’t ready to face them. Her mistake was too embarrassing.
“What have I done?” she sighed as she hid in the darkness. When she opened her eyes, moment of her first meeting with Sophia flashed.
That day, she was suspicious of her. However, Sophia’s warm and friendly attitude dispelled her doubts. Sophia came as a figure that was both tough and fragile. She grabbed Diana’s sympathy, making Diana reflect on herself.
“It turns out she approached me for a reason?”
Diana shook her head. She could not understand her stupidity. “Why did I trust her so easily? I should’ve been suspected why she knew so much about me, about the orphanage, even the farm.”
With dreamy eyes, Diana remembered the arrival of Frank and his family.
“I shouldn’t compare him to his grandfather. This is all Sophia’s fault. If only she didn’t bring up bad memories, I wouldn’t be this rude. And Philip…. How could I kick him out?”
Feeling her head throbbing again, Diana lay down. While staring at the light coming through the window, she pondered and pondered until finally, tears rolled down her temples.
“I am so gentle towards other people’s children but why am I so cruel towards my own grandchildren?” Diana swallowed bitterly. Her hands started hitting her own chest.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Diana quickly wiped her
tears. “Yes?”
“Grandma,” Abigail poked her head through the door, “today’s menu is sandwiches and chicken salad. Which would you like? Both?”
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Diana shook her head weakly. “I don’t want to eat. Just have it for you guys.”
Abigail’s brows suddenly furrowed. “How can you not eat? Wait a moment. I’ll take both of them.”
“I said I don’t want to eat! Please don’t force me.”
Abigail was stunned. She couldn’t remember the last time Diana had shouted at her like that.
“Okay. Sorry if I disturb you.” While muttering, Abigail returned to the dining room.
“Grandma said she doesn’t want to eat,” she reported to the others.
Sophia, who had just returned, suddenly put on a worried expression. Why?”
Abigail shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s not in the mood. Her eyes are red like she’s been crying.”
Sophia sighed in pity. Even though in her heart, she was happy to have the opportunity to get away from Jeremy.
“Let me persuade her to eat.”
Quick as lightning, she took two slices of bread onto a plate. After grabbing a glass of orange juice, she went to Diana’s room.
“Brother,” Barbara whispered after Sophia was out of sight, “you haven’t told us about the results of your digging.”
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