Chapter 634: Chapter 635: Cousin
The reason was not that she wished to save money.
Rather... deep inside her heart, there had always been a tiny hidden hope.
A hope that one day she might finally have a family of her own.
Thinking this, Mira slowly lifted her gaze toward Aurora with visible anticipation hidden inside her eyes.
Fortunately, Aurora did not disappoint her.
She calmly took out a folder from her bag before pushing it toward Mira.
The moment Mira saw it, she hesitated awkwardly.
"I... I do not currently have twenty thousand dollars."
Hearing this, Aurora chuckled softly.
"Well," she replied casually, "you can simply borrow it from your distant relatives and pay me back later."
Then she added leisurely,
"The deadline is one year."
With that, Aurora slowly stood up and prepared to leave.
However, before walking away completely, she placed a business card on the table.
"If you ever need help," Aurora spoke calmly, "contact me directly."
After saying those words, she left gracefully.
Meanwhile, Mira remained seated there in complete shock.
She never imagined that one day she would meet someone as powerful as Miss Dawn, someone who not only treated her kindly but even helped her search for her family.
With trembling fingers filled with nervous anticipation, Mira slowly opened the folder.
Inside it was detailed information regarding her family background.
There were records explaining how her mother had once shared a close relationship with Mary.
There was even a residential address listed clearly alongside several private details.
Mira quickly memorized everything carefully.
That very evening, she nervously changed into the best outfit she owned.
Although the clothes were simple compared to wealthy families, she still spent a long time carefully ironing them.
She even bought a bouquet of flowers and several small gifts using nearly all the savings she currently had.
While staring at herself in the mirror, Mira repeatedly reminded herself internally,
’If they dislike me, I will leave immediately. I will not force myself upon them.’
Thinking this, she eventually headed out at night because the documents specifically mentioned that the family usually gathered together at night.
By the time Mira finally arrived outside the luxurious residence, her palms were already covered in sweat.
The building itself was breathtaking.
Mira initially thought the guards would stop her immediately.
Yet to her surprise, the guards merely looked at her briefly before respectfully allowing her inside, almost as if someone had already informed them about her arrival beforehand.
The moment she realized this, gratitude toward Miss Dawn filled her heart again.
’If all of this is truly real... then Miss Dawn will forever be my savior.’
With hesitant steps, Mira slowly walked toward the entrance before nervously ringing the bell.
A few moments later, the door opened. It was Olivia.
The instant Olivia saw Mira standing there holding flowers awkwardly, a faint trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.
This woman was incredibly beautiful.
Despite her simple appearance, there was a natural elegance and gentleness surrounding her.
Still maintaining a polite smile, Olivia softly asked,
"Yes? How may I help you?"
Mira paused nervously before speaking softly,
"I... I am here to visit Aunt Mary."
The moment Olivia heard those words and noticed the slight familiarity hidden within Mira’s features, she became stunned briefly.
However, she still stepped aside politely.
"Please come inside first."
Once inside, Mira immediately became overwhelmed.
The apartment was cozy and classy, with a touch of luxury.
Everything looked so grand that she subconsciously lowered her gaze.
She did not want to appear like some uncultured country girl.
Unfortunately, Olivia had already noticed her reaction.
Yet instead of feeling disdainful, Olivia strangely felt admiration toward Mira.
Because this was the first woman Olivia had seen who carefully controlled her greed after entering such a luxurious place.
Most people would have stared around with obvious desire in their eyes.
But Mira only tried her best not to inconvenience others.
Soon afterward, Mira nervously sat down on the sofa.
A few moments later, Mary finally walked out from upstairs.
The moment Olivia informed her that someone had arrived looking for her specifically, Mary became confused.
Slowly walking toward the living room, Mary softly asked,
"Yes? Were you searching for me?"
However, the instant Mira nervously lifted her head fully, Mary’s entire body froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. She stared directly at Mira’s face. Especially in her eyes.
That familiar resemblance instantly shook Mary’s heart violently.
With trembling lips, Mary slowly whispered, "M-May...?"
The moment she heard Mary’s trembling voice, Mira’s eyes immediately turned moist.
Still, she quickly lowered her gaze respectfully before speaking softly,
"I am Mira."
Her fingers tightened around the bouquet nervously.
"My mother..." Her voice trembled slightly. "My mother passed away many years ago."
The instant those words entered Mary’s ears, it felt as though someone had stabbed directly into her heart.
Tears instantly streamed down her cheeks as broken sobs escaped from her lips.
Adam, who had appeared nearby at some point, quickly stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"It’s alright," he whispered softly while patting her back carefully. "Calm down first."
Meanwhile, Mira remained completely stunned.
She had never expected someone to become this emotional simply after hearing about her mother’s death.
Thinking back carefully, she actually did have a few relatives in the past.
Yet not a single one of them had shown even the slightest concern when her mother died.
Nobody cried. Nobody mourned. Nobody even asked how she survived afterward.
This was the very first time someone had cried because of her mother.
For some reason, Mira genuinely felt touched.
Her own eyes unknowingly moistened as well, though she quickly blinked the tears away before anyone noticed.
After a long while, Mary finally managed to calm herself slightly.
She hurriedly wiped away her tears before forcing out an embarrassed smile.
"I am sorry," Mary spoke softly. "I became a little too immersed in my emotions."
Then she gently looked toward Mira again.
"Child, you must have traveled a lot to come here today." Her voice carried obvious concern. "Have you eaten anything yet?"
The moment Mira heard those words, she became stunned again.
’That is it...? She is simply accepting me just like this...?’
Feeling nervous, Mira quickly pulled out the DNA report she had prepared beforehand.
She also took out several old photographs.
"I truly am May’s daughter," Mira hurriedly explained. "I only wanted to make everything clear from the very beginning."
Olivia quietly appreciated Mira’s honesty from the side.
At the very least, this woman seemed genuinely sincere and straightforward.
Soon, after the credentials were carefully checked and everyone confirmed that Mira was indeed May’s daughter, the atmosphere inside the house warmed up completely.
At first, Mira still felt awkward and restrained.
However, with the siblings constantly chatting around her and their ages being relatively close to hers, everyone gradually began joking casually with one another.
If there was one person Mira became especially attached to quickly, then it was Mary.
More precisely... it was Mary’s motherly love.
It was a hope she never dared allow herself to imagine before.
Yet at the same time, it was exactly what she desperately needed.
After dinner ended, Mira originally intended to leave quietly.
However, before she could even stand up properly, Mary immediately stopped her and directly assigned her one of the guest rooms upstairs.
Mira instantly shook her head firmly.
"I do not wish to become a burden."
She genuinely meant those words.
Even if it meant returning to the orphanage again, she still had her own pride.
Having a family was more than enough.
Meanwhile, Mary had already learned about Mira’s current living situation beforehand.
The mere thought that her own sister’s daughter had been forced to live in an orphanage all this time made Mary’s heart ache painfully.
Thus, Mary calmly looked at Mira before suddenly speaking in a serious tone.
"If you refuse to stay here tonight," Mary declared stubbornly, "then I will skip tomorrow’s lunch entirely."
The moment that threat came out, Mira became speechless.
At the same time, however, she found it unexpectedly funny.
A genuine smile finally appeared on her face.
Seeing this, Mary’s expression softened even further.
"Child," she spoke gently, "you are someone very important to me."
Her eyes gradually reddened again.
"If you continue sleeping somewhere unsafe and unhygienic, I will feel terrible inside."
Mary reached out and lightly held Mira’s hand.
"Please listen to me just this once."
Faced with Mary’s almost dramatic pleading, Mira finally gave in helplessly.
Once she entered the guest room prepared for her, she immediately became stunned.
The room itself was larger than the entire orphanage room she used to share with several others.
Warm lights illuminated the beautifully decorated space while the soft bed looked unbelievably comfortable.
Mira unconsciously swallowed slightly.
After staring at the fluffy mattress for a long moment, she suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to roll across it like a child.
And once she confirmed nobody was around... that was exactly what she did.
