It was a quadrangle in City Q.
After Bernice returned, Emma kept staying in her room. Deon almost didn’t see her all day long. To be exact, he did not see either Emma or her mom.
Every day he would have someone send bird’s nests or supper to impress them. He wished they wouldn’t forget him. After all, he was Bernice’s husband and Emma’s father.
However, Bernice was too determined. Ever since she returned, she had locked herself in the room and seen no one except Emma. Deon and his men were at their wit’s end.
Since Deon was upset, his men had to pretend being in a bad mood. Otherwise, Deon would definitely punish them.
However, Bernice inside her room was not as melancholy as they had imagined.
Bernice was still child-like. After crying for a while with Emma in her arms, she lay on the bed beside Emma and chatted with her about what happened and who she encountered in the past few years. They laughed incessantly when they talked about something funny.
“After these years, I finally understood what you said back then.” Bernice sighed. “No wonder the poets all advocate freedom. I was silly to be infatuated with the life a confined bird.”
Emma only pursed her lips and smiled.
“I’ve decided. I’ll follow you wherever you go. I’ll rent an apartment near your place and hang out with my peers. That’ll be good.” Bernice said with a smile. “Aging is a terrible thing. Ever since you left, I’ve got a lot of gray hair.”
Emma tilted her head and saw that Bernice had many more gray hairs.
“Are you having a hard time these years?” Bernice caressed Emma’s palm and said, “Your hand callouses.”
“Not really.” Emma said.
“How did you get your money?” Bernice asked.
Emma said, “I brought quite a lot with me when I left. I didn’t spend much. I took good jobs along the way.”
“When I came back, I heard that you were in trouble. I never found a chance to take care of you. I’m so glad you weren’t injured. I was always afraid to see you on the news one day. I was worried that you weren’t running away from home but instead kidnapped by someone. But no one called for ransom. Your father couldn’t find you. I was so angry and worried that I couldn’t sleep well every day….”
“I was afraid that Dad would blame you, so I didn’t dare to tell you.”
“Thankfully, you wrote me a letter. That’s when I realize it’s time to let it go. What’s the point of making a fuss here? Why not go out and have fun?” Bernice turned around and gently hugged Emma. “I thought I would never see you again. You’re my only daughter. You’re so cruel to shut me out.”
“You look thin.”
“You get thinner.”
They said that together and then laughed at the same time.
“Are you still leaving?” Bernice asked.
“What about you?” Emma asked.
Bernice pinched Emma’s nose and said, “I just told you. I’ll go wherever you go.”
“Mom, actually I…” Emma hesitated and said, “I didn’t run away just to seek freedom.”
“Then why?” Bernice covered her mouth with surprise. “Did you elope with someone?”
Emma pursed her lips and said, “I was pregnant.”
“Oh, pregnant…” Bernice paused and suddenly sat up. She stared at Emma’s belly for a long time before looking at her face. “Where’s the child?”
Emma said, “How could the baby still in my belly?”
Bernice jumped up, “You have given birth, haven’t you?”
“Yes. It’s a boy.”
“Well, is he cute?” Bernice looked surprised. She paused and looked at her discontentedly, “You have given birth to a child before you’re married. Why didn’t you tell me? Being pregnant without a husband is not a good thing. Even I had a wedding as your father’s fourth wife.” She waved her hand, “Never mind. Is the baby cute? Does he look like you?”
“No. He looks like his dad.” Emma narrowed her eyes and smiled.
“So you love his father?”
Emma thought for a moment and nodded.
Bernice smiled and lay down with her again. “I was fascinated by your father back then. He came out for breakfast, and found a thief following me. He kicked the thief and saved me. I was really impressed. I asked him your name and he said…”
“‘You don’t know my name?'” Emma also smiled. Bernice had mentioned this for so many times that Emma knew every detail of it.
“That’s right. You know his eyebrows. He raised his eyebrows in a scary way and blamed me for not knowing his name. I said I really didn’t know, so he told me his name.” Bernice looked shy. “I had fallen in love with him since then. I told him to visit me if he really liked me.”
“Then he went to see you.” Emma said.
“That’s right. But how could I know he already had three wives? I didn’t think he had real feelings for those wives. I thought he must like me the most.” Bernice said, depressed, “I was too young and too naïve at that time.”
“Then you married him.” Emma touched Bernice’s long hair and held her by the shoulders. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here, would I?”
Bernice smiled. “Yeah. I married him. After I had you, I realized that the days weren’t as good as I thought….” She sighed. “But it was hard for me to leave. Years past and I’ve ended up like this crazy woman. I was really stupid.”
Emma hugged her, “Stupid, but cute.”
Bernice smiled and gently bumped against her. “Cute? I was scary back then.” She looked at Emma and asked, “When can I see your baby’s father?”
“Dad said he would invite them.” Emma said.
“Them? We can’t invite him alone?” Bernice was innocent but not stupid. She knew her daughter was hiding something.
Emma pondered for a moment before saying, “The child is mine. His father does not know his existence.”
Bernice sat up again and exclaimed in surprise, “Then … you are gonna take care of your boy alone?” She thought for a moment and shook her head. “No, I’ll help you take care of your child. I’ll live together with you.”
Emma sat up and hugged Bernice with a smile, “Mom, thank you.”
“You just treat me as a push-over. Tell your father about that. I dare you.” Bernice pursed her lips. She patted Emma on the back again. “You’re too headstrong. I don’t think I can raise up a baby on my own. When I was pregnant with you, I was capricious. I was still not satisfied even your father satisfied all my wishes….”
Being pregnant was indeed a tough thing. Emma did not want Bernice to feel sorry for her, so she deliberately changed the topic, “Dad really spoiled you.”
“Spoil? He didn’t spoil me.” Bernice pouted and turned around.
Emma pointed at the bird’s nest on the table. “He has sent you the bird’s nest for five times. If you still don’t agree to see him, he won’t fall asleep tonight.”
“He deserves it!” Bernice said so, but a smile appeared on her face. “I have to teach him a lesson, or else I won’t have any status in the family. Emma, let me tell you, playing hard to catch is the best way to attract a man.” She paused, then looked at Emma and said, “Never mind. You won’t marry a man with four or five wives, will you?”
“No.” Emma shook her head.
She didn’t want to get married at all.
“That’s good.” Bernice was relieved and lay down again. “Come on, tell me about that guy.”
Emma also lay down, “That man….”
She didn’t know how to describe him. She just smiled sweetly.
“He is quite handsome, right?” Bernice looked as shy as a young girl.
Emma couldn’t help but laugh, “Mom, no way. Are handsome men still attractive to you?”
“Of course. Tell me, what did he do to impress you? I know my daughter best. He must be your type….” Bernice kept asking.
Emma was distracted by Bernice’s words. Did he impress her?
She could only remember his beautiful eyes.. She was attracted to him instantly in the crowds.
