Chapter 473 Time for a Change
So, turns out the Pitt family came ready for anything. No wonder Daniel was so insistent on coming along with me—this was all part of the plan.
I gave Brad a little nudge with my leg, silently asking if he knew about this and kept it from me.
Brad fed me a shrimp and mouthed that he had no clue.
I asked him what we should do now, and he said to just go with the flow.
I couldn't help but smile to myself.
It was just a regular conversation, but it felt like we were in some kind of spy movie, having to read each other's lips.
After Hugh finished talking, he tilted his head back and downed his drink. Emma wasn't far behind, finishing hers too. She even turned her glass upside down to show it was empty.
Talking about the past still weighed heavy on me. Not thinking about it didn't mean I forgot; the scars were too deep, and the memories too painful. Forgetting was nearly impossible.
Back then, my parents and I were furious, vowing to never have anything to do with them again.
But with Brad around, I knew the deadlock would eventually break.
After all, Hugh and Emma were elders who had shown me love and care when I was young. Now, as time passed, my hatred seemed to have softened, not as intense as it once was.
Brad's careful attention gradually healed my wounds.
Besides, they were Brad's parents and family. I could ignore them, but I couldn't ignore Brad's feelings.
The two elders solemnly apologized at the dinner table, catching me off guard.
Brad squeezed my hand under the table and whispered in my ear, "This is what they owe you; don't feel awkward."
Could I really not feel awkward? Just accept it indifferently? It felt like something was missing.
As I was considering how to respond, Hugh poured another glass of wine for himself and Emma. He said, "Whether you forgive us or not, we will behave better in the future. We will love Jane more than before. You may not believe it, but that's our fault. Watch our actions, we will make you feel assured."
It struck me as a bit humorous, like students reading a self-criticism essay in front of the class after making a mistake.
My parents didn't expect this scene either and didn't know how to react.
My parents were reasonable people. Although they were indeed angry at the time, Hugh and Emma apologized in person, so they couldn't hold a grudge.
To break the awkward silence, Helen said, "I was really angry at the time, but it's in the past, and they are fine."
Helen said we were fine, but didn't say we forgave them.
Ronan responded, "Jane indeed suffered a lot. Thinking back to that time, I feel my heart ache. Jane is our treasure; we've never even raised a hand to her. So when Emma's slap struck Jane's face, my heart shattered. It hurt—it truly hurt."
I didn't know how others felt, but Ronan's words brought tears to my eyes.
He added, "Exactly, Jane has been sensible since she was a child. Despite the great grievance, she never spoke ill of you. Her sensibility makes my heart ache."
Hearing this, Hugh and Emma looked embarrassed and kept apologizing.Daniel kept apologizing too, saying it was his foolishness that strained the relationship between the two families.
"An apology is necessary. You should apologize, and we accept it," my dad said, putting down his fork and handing Helen a napkin.
Helen took it and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. "Those days were really dark, but Jane was strong and got through it. Fortunately, Brad is a sensible child, otherwise, I can't imagine the outcome."
Hearing this, I felt warmth in my heart.
When I was beaten, Ronan secretly cried with Helen several times. My dad was heartbroken to the point of tears, which was rare.
Hugh kept saying nice things, raised his glass to clink with my dad's, and downed it in one go.
Emma, sitting next to Helen, stopped drinking and simply held Helen's hand. She admitted she was out of her mind back then, realizing how foolish she had been, and urged us not to follow in her footsteps. Emma expressed her deep regret afterward and mentioned wanting to apologize several times but didn't dare to come forward, fearing my parents would kick her out.
Emma also said the twenty-plus years of friendship was deep, and breaking off contact over something trivial was her fault. She reminisced about how cute I was as a child and how much she and Hugh loved me.
Saying this, she got emotional and started crying, wiping her eyes repeatedly, her guilt evident.
I also remembered Brad back then, caught between Daniel, Emma, and my constant pressure, losing twenty pounds. Brad suffered the most.
Helen said, "Thank goodness for Brad. Emma, let me tell you, the only reason I welcomed you today and why we can sit here celebrating is because of Brad. His love for Jane is real. No matter how much pressure you put on him or how much trouble Daniel caused, Brad never let go of Jane's hand. He treats her wonderfully. Without him, I honestly wouldn't want to have anything to do with you."
She continued, "This is your family matter, and I have no right to interfere, but I genuinely feel for Brad. Brad is such a good kid, how could you be so heartless to him? You are really cruel. If I were Brad, I would never forgive you."
Hearing this, Emma instinctively looked at Brad, who was driven to tears by her pressure back then. She covered her mouth and started sobbing.
"Brad, it's my fault. I apologize to you too. Forgive me for my bias back then. You are all my children, and I love each of you. You were always so sensible, always giving in to Daniel. I got used to you stepping back for Daniel, without considering how much it hurt you. I'm sorry, Brad, I really am. I will make it up to you, prioritize you in everything, and let Daniel fend for himself. After twenty years, it's time for a change." Emma spoke sincerely, and Brad nodded without saying anything, but his eyes were red.
What could Brad say? Emma was his biological mother, the one who gave him life. Whether he forgave her or not, that bond of motherhood could not be broken.
Now it was my turn to hold Brad's hand, silently comforting him.
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