But her father's sudden death and the misunderstandings that followed had changed her mind.
After witnessing the desperate efforts her three brothers made to change, as well as her mother's quiet struggle, she figured it might be best to follow her heart and let everything unfold naturally.
Emery said softly. "All Mom wants is for you to be genuinely happy."
She seemed deeply moved herself. Like every mother in the world, she wanted nothing more than for her daughter to live well.
Maybe once she opened the floodgates, she couldn't stop. She couldn't help but spill the regrets and hang-ups she had buried for so many years.
"Amelia, I was foolish back then. Blind, too. That's why I favored an adopted daughter and neglected my own.
"Your grandmother and aunt were right. Gianna was never kind-hearted. I was naïve and ridiculous, and that's how I ended up doing something so wrong, ignoring my biological daughter to dote on an adopted one.
"And your three brothers, too. They were simple-minded and blind, and that ended up hurting you badly.
"I don't dare ask you to forgive us, but your brothers have been trying to make up for it. They want things to return to how they were. My only hope is that in the future, you can all look out for one another."
Once Emery opened her mouth, she could not seem to stop. The more she spoke, the more urgent her words became, as if she had waited far too long to say them.
She was already past middle age. Even if her daughter never forgave her, she was willing to accept it.
She would never blame Amelia for being cold-hearted. If anything, she blamed herself for being far crueler in the past.
Still, she hoped her sons and daughter could mend their bond.
They were all young, close in age, with a long journey ahead.
She wanted them to support each other, to stand together, united.
More than anything, she wanted her daughter to have a strong backing. A powerful family behind her. That way, no matter what hardships she might face in the future, she would always have a home to return to.
The doors of the Nygard family would always be open to her.
Emery had not understood this before. She had always blamed her daughter for being rebellious, for thinking too much, for refusing to be controlled or follow arrangements.
That was why she had been misled by that damned Gianna, allowing the rift between herself and Amelia to grow wider and wider.
Of course, her own depression had played a role as well. She simply never mentioned it to the children, afraid they would worry too much.
Looking back now, if she had listened more to her daughter and respected her choices, perhaps things would not end up like this.
"Uh… yeah." Amelia did not know how to respond.
The topic had come up too abruptly. Even though she had prepared herself for how she might respond, it still felt awkward now.
She felt hesitant, unsure how to put her thoughts into words.

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