Chapter 384 Mother and Daughter Reunion
Victoria stared intently at the figure in the wheelchair, a flicker of darkness flashing in her eyes, but she did not speak.
After a few seconds, Esme in the wheelchair must have pressed a button, and the wheelchair turned to face her.
When Victoria saw Esme's face clearly, her pupils contracted slightly, her breathing became uneven, her nose tingled, and her hands hanging by her sides unconsciously clenched.
Alexander, who was closest to Victoria, had already noticed her change.
Although Esme had seen many photos of her before, this was the first time she stood in front of her in person since she grew up.
Seeing the unfamiliarity and coldness in Victoria's eyes, Esme's heart instantly tightened.
The living room was filled with a strange tension.
The few people on the side also tacitly remained silent.
Esme and Victoria observed each other for a while.
Finally, it was Esme who broke the awkward silence.
"Vicky, don't you recognize me?" Esme looked at her, a motherly smile spreading across her face.
When Victoria heard the gentle and familiar "Vicky," it was as if she was transported back to before she was five years old, when her mother used to call her that.
When Esme wasn't busy, she would stay at home with her, and she loved to cling to her mom.
Back then, her mom would always say that she was the apple of her eye, which made her feel very warm inside.
So, since Esme left, no one had called her that nickname again.
Victoria slightly opened her mouth, but she couldn't say a word. She just felt her nose sting even more.
Alexander reached out and wrapped his arm around her, giving her a sense of security.
After a while, she finally spoke, "Why?"
A simple, ordinary question, yet it held all of Victoria's countless nights of longing and the weight of the mystery that had been troubling her, all released in that one word.
Esme didn't know where to start, so she simply said, "I'm sorry."
The two of them had similar eyes, and their brows and facial features were almost identical, as if they were carved from the same mold.
With a slightly choked voice, Esme said, "You were too young at that time, and there were some things I didn't want you to get involved in."
This was not the answer Victoria wanted.
But for Victoria, being with her mom was all she wanted. No matter where they were or what they faced, she wasn't afraid—she just wanted to be with her mom. But her mom chose to leave her behind.
Although Victoria knew she did it, as Esme said, to protect her from getting involved in complicated matters.
But this kind of protection led her down a different path, exposing her to the complexities of human nature.
No matter how powerful she was now, it wasn't what she wanted.
Victoria had already lost the most important part of her life.
A simple "I'm sorry" couldn't make up for it.
Victoria raised her eyes, with a hint of mist and resentment in them, and looked at her. "But did you ever ask what I wanted? You just made the decision for me? You were too selfish!"
As soon as she said this, Esme was speechless, and the pain in her heart deepened.
Victoria's words were like needles piercing her heart.
Esme couldn't refute because Victoria had a point.
Then Esme suddenly started coughing violently.
Nicholas immediately patted her back, helping her catch her breath.
Victoria watched her, and her heart suddenly tightened.
A flicker of worry flashed in her eyes, but she couldn't bring herself to voice her concern.
"Ms. Penrose, please stay calm. Your health has just started to improve, and if anything happens..." Nicholas said anxiously. Everyone in the living room could hear him, and he stopped halfway through his sentence.
It was obvious that his words were not only out of concern for Esme but also meant for Victoria to hear.
Esme raised her hand to indicate she was fine.
She looked up at Victoria again, her eyes filled with guilt. She admitted that she had indeed been selfish at that time.
"Vicky, I didn't mean to. There were many things back then that I didn't have time to tell you," she said. "I admit, leaving you alone was indeed a mistake on my part, I..."
She looked at Victoria, hesitating. "There are some things you're better off not knowing."
Victoria looked at her red eyes from coughing, and some words she wanted to say were left unsaid out of pity.
At this moment, Esme looked like a fragile tree in her eyes, as if a gust of wind could topple her.
Victoria averted her gaze, no longer watching the scene.
She took a deep breath and said, "Fine! If you don't want to talk about that, then let me ask another question. Who is my biological father?"
Esme wasn't surprised she would ask this; she would find out sooner or later.
But now was not the time to tell her.
"Simon is not your biological father," Esme answered her. "But I can only tell you that your biological father is still alive. You don't need to know who he is!"
When Esme said this, her tone was firm, with a hint of seriousness and coldness.
Victoria felt a trace of hatred from her, but it disappeared in an instant.
It wasn't just her who felt it.
Alexander, who had been holding her, also felt it.
Victoria didn't expect that her mother actually hated her biological father?
At that moment, Victoria's feelings were very complex; all she could do was force a bitter smile.
After a while, she asked, "Did you tamper with the DNA test report between Simon and me? Making me always think Simon was my biological father—was that also to protect me?"
Just a moment ago, she suspected it was someone from the Kennedy family who did it.
But just now, she figured it out.
Not just this, but every time she was in trouble, someone would save her, and whenever she needed a blood transfusion, blood would immediately be available.
The person behind all this was her mother.
Esme did not deny it; silence was the best answer.
Before Esme could speak, Victoria let out a self-deprecating laugh. "So, Ms. Penrose, are you also going to tell me that not telling me these things was for my own good, right? Being deceived and abandoned by my family, made to feel worthless, and enduring my father's coldness and insults—do you know what that's like?"
Her tone revealed a sense of detachment and coldness, more of self-mockery.
"But you don't know anything!" Victoria's emotions gradually became a bit out of control. "You only know that everything you did was for my good." She let out a cold laugh. "But I don't need it!"
When Esme heard Victoria's address for her, the light in her eyes instantly dimmed.
Listening to Victoria's nearly suppressed roar of questioning, her heart ached.
It seemed that Victoria's dissatisfaction with her was not just a little, but even carried hatred.
"I..." Esme had many things to say, but she didn't know where to start.
Victoria closed her eyes, and a crystal-clear tear silently slid down her cheek.
Because she was suppressing her emotions, her whole body was tense.
And Alexander could feel it most directly.
"Relax, I'm here." He gently and softly comforted her.
Victoria was good at everything, except for her stubbornness and hard mouth.
She obviously cared, but she had to say harsh words.
Alexander knew she needed an outlet to vent, so he didn't stop her.
Victoria's emotions gradually calmed down because of his words.
After the sudden outburst, Victoria became quiet, her eyes momentarily empty.
She originally thought that was it for today.
But after a while, she came to her senses.
"I want to talk to you alone," she suddenly said, staring at Esme.
There were some things she still wanted to ask Esme personally.
"Everyone, leave us," Esme ordered.
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