Chapter 241 Playing Hard to Get
George slowly woke up in his hospital bed, struggling to open his eyes. Isabella was nowhere to be seen, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of loss.
"Isabella!" he called out, his voice filled with desperation.
He remembered the night he waited outside, the laughter and warmth she shared with Michael, and a sharp pain surged through his heart.
Outside the room, Michael glanced at Emma and asked, "You knew he was outside last night. Why didn't you let him in?"
"He needs to feel some of the pain I've been through," Emma replied, her tone indifferent.
"And now? Do you want to go in and see him?" Michael asked, despite his reluctance. He was willing to respect Emma's decision, whatever it might be.
"No. Michael, you should know the saying: 'playing hard to get.'" Emma smiled slightly. "Things that come too easily are often not cherished. This applies to people as well."
True to her word, Emma didn't visit George. Instead, she went home to prepare for a trip to the amusement park.
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains into Emma's room, warm and bright.
She carefully dressed in front of the mirror, choosing a lively yellow hoodie paired with white sneakers, exuding a youthful energy that made her feel like she was back in her carefree childhood. A radiant smile spread across her face, filled with anticipation.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Emma excitedly ran to open the door. Standing outside were Sophia and Henry, dressed in a way that was unusually playful for their age.
Emma grabbed their hands, eager to set off like a child.
The three of them walked to the car. Henry opened the door with a flourish and politely invited Emma to get in first. Emma sat in the back seat, while Sophia took the front passenger seat. The car slowly drove out of the neighborhood, heading towards the amusement park.
In the car, the three chatted animatedly, laughter filling the air. Sophia excitedly shared her recent adventures, and Henry occasionally chimed in with humorous comments, making Emma laugh heartily.
"Mom, you..." Emma started to say, then abruptly stopped.
She had gotten carried away and accidentally let her true feelings slip.
Sophia and Henry were stunned. Did Isabella just call Sophia "Mom"?
"Sorry, that was a slip of the tongue," Emma quickly apologized.
"Don't worry; it's okay," Sophia's heart raced. She didn't know why, but being called "Mom" by Isabella made her feel incredibly emotional.
She had been a mother to Molly and Anna for decades, hearing them call her "Mom" countlesstimes without ever feeling this way. But today, when Isabella mistakenly called her 'Mom' just once, her heart skipped a beat.
It must be because she hadn't heard Anna call her "Mom" in so long. That must be why she was so moved by the term now.
The atmosphere in the car grew awkward, far from the initial joy. It felt like a heavy weight was pressing on their hearts.
Soon, they arrived at the amusement park.
The entrance shimmered with colorful lights under the sun. They walked in excitedly, as if stepping into a dream world. The air was filled with the sweet scent of cotton candy and popcorn.
The cheerful sounds around her brought warmth to Emma's heart, but also stirred up long-buried sad memories.
As a child, Emma often watched other kids playing happily with their parents at the park, their faces beaming with joy.
Those kids would cheer on the carousel or scream on the roller coaster, and Emma's heart was filled with envy and longing. She often imagined how wonderful it would be to have a warm family and go to the amusement park with her parents.
But reality was harsh.
She grew up without her parents' companionship, living alone with Douglas. Whenever she saw other children's happiness, she felt an indescribable sense of loss.
But as she was lost in her sad memories, Douglas's image suddenly flashed in her mind.
Douglas always made her feel warm. Despite not being wealthy, he gave Emma endless love in his own way. Whenever she felt lonely, Douglas would be there, taking her for walks in the park, telling her interesting stories, and cooking her favorite meals at home.
A smile crept onto Emma's face. Though she didn't have her parents' company, Douglas's love made her feel less alone.
Emma's mood brightened as she thought of this.
She looked up at the amusement park's sky, the sunlight breaking through the clouds and shining on her face. Though past pains couldn't be erased, the present joy and warmth were real.
She decided to cherish this stolen happiness and enjoy this rare moment with Sophia and Henry.
Not only was this a way to fill the void left from her childhood, but it was also a means to punish them. If they didn't like her, she would make sure they stayed with her anyway!
"Let's go on the carousel first!" Emma pointed to the carousel ahead, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Sure, I love carousels!" Sophia responded immediately, her face lighting up with a bright smile.
"Then let's hurry before it spins away!" Henry joked, and the three of them headed towards the carousel.
Emma ran ahead, while Sophia and Henry followed closely behind. Both of them felt tears welling up in their eyes, reminiscing about the old days when they used to take Molly to the amusement park.
Molly would run ahead happily, and they would chase after her joyfully.
Molly's small figure had grown into the Isabella before them.
It felt as if Isabella were their own daughter, not the one who had caused Anna's imprisonment.
Emma sat on the carousel, her face beaming with a radiant smile. She tightly gripped the horse's handle, and as the music started, the carousel began to turn slowly, taking her back to a carefree childhood. Her laughter echoed in the air, like the sound of a clear bell, spreading joy to everyone around.
"Mrs. Stuart, come join us!" Emma called out excitedly to Sophia, her eyes shining with expectation.
"I'm too old for that," Sophia hesitated. At her age, riding a carousel seemed a bit embarrassing.
"Oh, come on! You're never too old for fun!" Emma insisted, her enthusiasm infectious.
Sophia glanced at Henry, who nodded encouragingly. "Alright, I'm coming right now," she finally agreed, climbing onto a nearby horse with a chuckle.
As the carousel spun, the three of them laughed together, the weight of their pasts momentarily lifted by the simple joy of the ride.
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