"No, Mellisa, it's not like that!" Janice didn't have time to think, she just wanted to tell the two of them the truth of her heart.
She hurriedly replied, "It's not that I don't like you, it's just that it happened so suddenly and I couldn't accept it. I didn't mean to ignore you two!"
"But you have to believe in me… Because we are your family and we've always been waiting for your return..." Janice cried foul at the end of her reply.
She had already lost Mellisa once, she couldn't bear to lose her a second time. There was also Lilia who had just been found again. Since she didn't raise her, Janice hadn't heard her call her mother.
At that time, even though Mellisa's words were calm and indifferent, her hands gradually stiffened while holding Lilia. Her uncontrollable strength still revealed her fluctuating emotions.
Lilia noticed her sister's behavior, she understood how upset Mellisa was, she could only pat the back of her hand as a form of support.
Her eyes were filled with worry as she stared at Mellisa. Lilia could only caress her hands again and again with her palms to calm her anger.
Her sister's blood was really boiling!
Faced with everything their biological parents had done wrong, not many people could calmly accept it.
The back of Mellisa's cold hand was covered with the warmth of Lilia's hand. She started to calm down again, turned her head to look at Lilia, and answered with a slightly stiff smile. "I'm fine, don't worry."
Lilia saw that her sister's cold and cruel eyes were gradually returning to their usual tenderness, she felt relieved. Then she leaned on her, showing that she was with her throughout this hardship they faced together.
In front of Janice, Lilia did not intend to talk much.
Having not had many interactions before, only Mellisa had the passion to talk.
...
At this time, Janice's cries started to reach the ears of the other family members. They were utterly helpless, they could only sympathize with her.
Mellisa's voice sounded flat. While living alone with Leonard, she had to follow strict rules and a disciplined life. Therefore, she hadn't smoked for a long time.
Seeing Janice's unrelenting tears, Mellisa suddenly missed the smell of tobacco.
After a while, Janice finally raised her head again when she was done pouring out all her grief. Those many tears had made her face a little messy.
Seeing her two daughters stare at her with the same expression, Janice choked and her voice was hoarse. "Mellisa, Lilia, can you forgive me this time? I will definitely find a way to make up for everything, okay?"
There was a trace of pain spreading across Mellisa's heart.
She was not a hard-hearted person, but at this moment, she did not feel any compassion in her heart.
She also didn't want to see her mother who was over fifty years old crying like a baby in front of them. But either way, she couldn't pretend that nothing had happened between them.
In this way, Mellisa's heart became sore, and the corners of her lips wriggled for a long time before she said in a hoarse voice, "Mom, you don't need to talk about making up for your mistakes or whatever. We don't blame you. Later... if we have time, we'll come back to see you."
Janice didn't understand what Mellisa meant for a while.
She stopped crying and replied, "Then, are... you planning to return to the Irwan family's house?"
Mellisa slightly smiled with a light in her eyes, "We will not return to the Irwan family. Lilia and I have lived very well in Surabaya, we will come back if we have the time."
At this moment, Janice finally understood that she still had two daughters, as if she had lost nothing. But she felt that their hearts and souls would never return to her. And it would definitely leave a hollow in her heart...
Janice feared that the two wouldn't want to come back to the Irwan's house and live with her for the rest of her life.
She looked at Mellisa in a daze, her mouth was constantly trembling. "Mellisa ..."
Mellisa shook her head silently, her attitude was resolute.
Janice was lost for a long time, she turned her head in a daze until there was the sound of footsteps from outside the door.
Caleb's figure was seen standing In front of the door staring coldly.
Janice slowly got up and looked down. "Dad ..."
The old man snorted coldly. When he walked slowly on crutches, Lilia and Mellisa also got up to help him. "Grandpa."
"Alright, no need to stand up. I heard you two are here now, so I came to join the conversation. But it seemed like you guys were talking about something complicated?" After Caleb sat down, he held his walking stick in both hands, then looked at Janice with an angry gaze.
His sharp eyes showed a hint of dissatisfaction and disappointment. He wiped the corner of his eye again and patted the ground with his stick. "Janice, look at you now, are you not embarrassed?"
Janice lowered her head, pressed the corners of her lips, and said nothing.
This scene made Caleb shake his head and sigh. "Why do you have the heart to do such cruel things to this dignified descendant of the Mayer family? Janice, have you forgotten the superiority and the pride that flowed in your blood when you married the Irwan family?"
"Dad, I just..."
"You don't have to explain!" Caleb stubbornly interjected. "I may not know what the Irwan family is like, but I really understand my children. The Irwan family, who usually discuss virtue and morality, why can they do such despicable things?
"Such 'wise' people even let Mellisa, who has Mayer family blood, feel unwanted and let her suffer all this time. No wonder Mellisa dumped such a trashy and despicable family. The Mayer family will not remain silent to such treatment!"
Everyone had to admit that Grandpa Caleb's admonition was merciless.
Janice's face was pale, she didn't dare to argue a word.
She was full of bitterness and she didn't know how to answer.
She was the only daughter of the Mayer family and the eldest on top of that. The reason she married Richard was because she liked Irwan's elegant and educated family style.
She had a gentle personality, and had never liked anything related to the military since she was a child. She also disliked the Mayer family's harsh attitude and hardcore view towards life.
But now, she hated her indecisive character the most.
After her father's sharp words, Janice let out a heavy sigh. Seeing Janice's desperate gaze, Caleb couldn't help feeling depressed. "You don't deserve to be called a mother!"
"Father, I know that the Irwan family is guilty too, but I beg you to help me unite my family again… please help your two grandchildren to forgive us!"
Caleb narrowed his eyes at her, he then looked at Lilia and Mellisa beside him. The old man nodded and his stern brows were filled with kindness.
Their grandfather didn't force it, he just said, "I understand how you two feel. But I still hope that you can let go of this hatred and make peace with each other. After all, Janice is your mother. Even if something is wrong, give her a chance to make amends!"
Mellisa looked closely at her grandfather, the old man who had loved her from childhood, said it in a tone so sincere that it made it hard for her to say anything to resist.
She opened his mouth, and finally nodded with difficulty after hesitating.
However, Lilia hadn't spoken in a long time and finally said in a straightforward voice, "Grandpa, we never hated her from the start, but we just feel that this is unfair to Mellisa. Therefore, can we ask for something?"
Caleb nodded firmly. "Say it, as long as we can do it, we will give it to you!"
Lilia smiled, joking a little. "Actually, I don't need grandpa's help. I just hope, no matter what Leila will do or whatever happens to her, can the Irwan family.... stop interfering?"
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