Chapter 591 We Are Albert's Real Children
Sunlight slanted through the windows, casting a warm glow across the living room where Yvette sat reading with her children. The doorbell's sudden chime broke their peaceful afternoon.
Beatrice hurried to check the video intercom, then turned back to Yvette. "Mrs. Valdemar, there's two adults and a child at the door. They're carrying quite a lot of gifts. I'm not sure what they want."
Yvette's momentary confusion cleared as she recalled the incident at the kindergarten.
Could it be Eric's family?
"Ask if they've come to apologize," she instructed Beatrice. "If so, let them in. Otherwise, please ask them to leave."
"Of course," Beatrice nodded.
Yvette looked down to find BoBo and CiCi gazing up at her with questioning expressions.
"Who is it, Mommy?" BoBo asked, his brow furrowed.
"I believe it's Eric and his parents."
At the mention of Eric's name, both children's faces clouded over with reluctance.
"Why is Eric coming here?" CiCi asked, a flash of anger in her eyes. "Is he going to be mean to us again?"
"Of course not, sweetheart." Yvette gently stroked their heads. "You heard what I told Beatrice—if they're not here to apologize, I won't let them in."
The children relaxed slightly, but the room's cozy atmosphere had already evaporated, replaced by a tense undercurrent.
When the door unlocked, Yvette looked up to see Eric's parents leading him into the room. Eric's father, Juan Hernandez, was laden with expensive-looking gifts, his face a mask of anxiety and remorse.
Juan set down the presents and dragged Eric and his wife Willow toward Yvette and her children.
"I apologize, Mrs. Valdemar," Juan said, his fleshy face flushed as he exhaled heavily. "I've been too caught up with work to properly manage things at home. I just learned about the conflict between Eric and your children. I've already given my wife a piece of my mind. This situation is entirely their fault—and mine for not supervising them properly. We're here to make amends."
As he spoke, Juan roughly yanked Willow's arm, his movements brutish and controlling.
Willow, who had been hanging back reluctantly, stumbled forward, visibly frightened by her husband's aggression.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Valdemar," she said, her voice trembling. "I was wrong. I should have made Eric apologize immediately. Please reconsider your decision—allow Eric to continue at the kindergarten and let our family remain in Luken."
Yvette's anger, which had begun to subside, flared anew.
"What I need is a sincere apology," she said, her brow creasing, "not one forced out of fear of consequences. And it's Eric who needs to apologize to my children, not you adults apologizing on his behalf."
Willow and Juan's expressions darkened considerably.
Juan, determined to placate Yvette, roughly pulled Eric forward and hissed, "Apologize right now. Did you hear me?"
Eric maintained his defiant attitude, his lips pursed in a pout. "I won't! Why isn't it enough that Mom and Dad apologized? Why should I say sorry? I only told the truth!"
He stuck out his tongue at BoBo and CiCi, making a grotesque face.
Before Yvette could respond, Juan's hand shot out, delivering a resounding slap to Eric's cheek that stunned everyone in the room.
Eric froze momentarily before erupting into tears, his wails filling the living room. Yvette winced at the harsh sound.
Juan, ever attentive to Yvette's reactions, raised his hand again threateningly. "Shut up," he growled at his son. "One more sound and you'll get another. Apologize now!"
Eric, accustomed to being Willow's treasured darling who could do no wrong, was shocked to be struck because of BoBo and CiCi. Furious but terrified, he choked back his sobs, tears streaming down his face.
Willow looked as though she might faint from distress, but she knew better than to challenge Juan's temper—that would only make things worse for both her and Eric.
She quickly embraced her son, stroking his back and injured cheek. "Be a good boy, Eric," she coaxed. "Apologize and don't make Daddy angry. Understand?"
Seeing that even his mother wouldn't take his side, Eric finally mumbled through his tears, "I'm sorry."
Hearing the apology, Yvette felt her heart soften.
She had remained silent during Juan's outburst because she knew her children needed this apology. But Eric was still just a child, and his behavior stemmed from adult failings.
Being struck could inflict serious psychological and physical harm on a child his age.
Children's squabbles were normal; what mattered was how adults handled the situation.
She looked down at her children and asked gently, "BoBo, CiCi, he's apologized. Do you accept?"
Both children, clearly shaken by the scene, nodded uncertainly. "If he promises not to say mean things anymore, we'll forgive him."
Juan delivered another slap to Eric's back. "Answer them! Will you ever say such things again?"
Eric shook his head, sobbing, "No, never again."
Before Yvette could speak, CiCi frowned and addressed Eric directly.
"Eric, BoBo and I are sorry too. We shouldn't have pushed you," she said, concern evident in her expression. "Does your forehead still hurt? And your face?"
Eric stared at her in surprise, never expecting sympathy from CiCi. He nodded slowly. "It hurts."
CiCi turned to Juan. "Mr. Hernandez, children can learn without being hit. Could you please not hit him anymore?"
Relieved at the apparent forgiveness, Juan quickly agreed. "Of course, whatever you say! Mrs. Valdemar, I promise I'll be more attentive to Eric's behavior in the future."
Yvette nodded. "Good."
CiCi blinked, then suddenly smiled at Eric. "You know, Eric, you were wrong about something."
"What?" Eric asked.
"My brother and I aren't illegitimate at all," CiCi declared proudly. "We're Albert's real children."
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