Chapter 54 A Ray of Light
Chapter 54 A Ray of Light
Emily had meticulously planned everything for the anime convention. She spent hours online researching Cosplayers who could portray Felicity's favorite anime character. Her search was methodical—first reviewing the performer's portfolio from the past six months to confirm their costume accuracy, then requesting a voice sample to ensure they could capture the character's essence, and finally confirming every detail of the convention schedule.
When Saturday arrived. The moment the Cosplayer, dressed as Felicity's beloved anime character, spotted them and waved with a cheerful smile, Felicity's eyes lit up instantly.
It was the first time Emily had seen her smile so brilliantly, her eyes sparkling with genuine joy. The Cosplayer accompanied Felicity throughout the convention, helping her collect photos and participate in interactive games. Emily followed a few steps behind, carrying a small portable fan and wet wipes, occasionally offering sips of ice-cold juice, like a dedicated assistant ensuring everything went smoothly.
On the subway ride home, Felicity suddenly leaned against Emily's shoulder. Tears dampened Emily's blouse as Felicity whispered, "Emily, thank you. Did you know my parents never ask what I like? You're like a ray of light in my life, brightening up all the darkness."
Emily gently patted her back, feeling her own eyes growing moist. She thought about her previous life, when Sophia had urged her to leave her sexist family, but she had insisted, "My parents just don't know how to express love." When Sophia had advised her to quit her job where her boss exploited her, she had said, "I just need to endure a little longer." In the end, she had been like an insect trapped in a spider's web—the more she struggled, the tighter she became ensnared, until eventually, she jumped from that rooftop.
"Felicity," her voice quivered slightly, "you're the one who's been moving toward the light all along. You were willing to talk to me, willing to try going back to school, willing to trust me. All of this is because you never gave up on yourself. The person you should thank most is yourself."
In that moment, Emily was actually speaking to her past self. If only she had been like Felicity, willing to accept help from others, willing to believe in the possibility of change—would she have avoided that final desperate act?
When they arrived at the Miller home, angry shouts greeted them from the entryway. Brian's voice boomed. "All you ever do is play around! Have you done your homework? Your teacher called again saying you're daydreaming in class!"
Iris's voice followed, equally impatient. "How many times have I told you not to hang around with those questionable people? Why won't you ever listen?"
The smile vanished from Felicity's face as if doused with cold water. She instinctively ducked behind Emily for protection.
Emily guided Felicity to her room, gently closing the door behind her before turning to face the angry couple on the couch.
"Mr. and Mrs. Miller, I'd like to discuss a project with you," Emily began. "When you first took on the Felicity project, what was your objective?"
Brian looked confused. "What project? That's my daughter."
"Exactly, she's your daughter, not a project," Emily continued smoothly. "But have you considered that, just as projects need clear goals, so does raising children? Before Felicity was born, what were your expectations for her? Did you hope she would be healthy, or academically successful, or perhaps even physically strong?"
Iris's expression softened. "When she was still in my womb, I never thought about any of that. I just hoped she would be born safely and grow up happy, without suffering."
"Me too," Brian admitted, his voice unusually subdued. "When she was first born, she was so tiny I was afraid to hold her. I feared I might hurt her somehow. All I wanted was for her to grow up healthy—nothing else mattered."
Emily looked at them both, her tone growing serious. "But what you're doing now completely contradicts your original intentions. Felicity gets bullied, and you call her weak. She loves anime, and you say it's useless. She's suffering from depression, and you think she's just being dramatic. Felicity isn't your possession—she's a person who needs your careful nurturing, just like you nurture your clients and your careers."
Her words hit the couple like a sledgehammer. Iris broke down first, tears streaming down her face. "I know we've been wrong. But work is so demanding, and when I come home exhausted, not wanting to talk, seeing her like that just makes me snap."
"Me too," Brian confessed, his voice tinged with guilt. "When I heard she was being bullied, I was frustrated. As a grown man, I couldn't exactly confront a group of teenage girls. I started thinking maybe she was too weak, wondering why she was always the target."
Emily looked at them sympathetically. "It's not that you're incapable. You're transferring your work-related stress onto your child. That's why I suggest you consider speaking with a therapist."
Brian immediately bristled. "Are you saying we're mentally ill?"
Emily forced a smile. "I didn't mean it. I just think you need a place to express your work anxieties and discuss healthy parent-child relationships with a professional—what they should look like and how to build them."
Her suggestion contained no accusations, only clear solutions. After exchanging glances, the couple agreed to give it a try, much to Emily's relief.
A few days later, Felicity tugged anxiously at Emily's sleeve, her voice trembling. "Emily, my parents haven't been fighting lately. They're not yelling at me either—they're actually being really nice. Are they getting divorced?"
"Felicity, they're not divorcing. They're just adjusting. Your parents aren't arguing because they've realized their previous approach was wrong, and they're learning how to interact with you better. If you don't believe me, try asking your mom to make meatloaf tonight and see how she responds."
Felicity was skeptical but decided to test Emily's suggestion that evening. To her surprise, Iris actually went to the kitchen and prepared the dish.
During dinner, Brian even asked her, "Did anyone bother you at school today? If they did, tell me about it."
Following Emily's advice, the family later held a "No-Blame Communication Session." Emily had prepared ground rules for them.
1. No interrupting when someone else is speaking.
2. No saying "you always" or "you never"—only "I feel" and "I hope."
3. Each person must share at least one "area for improvement" and one "thing I appreciate" about others.
That night, there were no arguments in the Miller household—only tears and apologies.
Iris embraced Felicity, repeatedly saying "I'm sorry."
Brian, with reddened eyes, promised, "Dad will spend more time with you from now on."
Watching this family find happiness together warmed Emily's heart. The effort had been worthwhile.
That weekend, the Miller family went on a day trip, giving Emily some rare free time.
She texted Morris: [Are you free today? I'd like to see Yoyo.]
Morris replied quickly: [I'm home. Come over.]
Emily changed into a simple white sundress and took a taxi to Morris's villa. Before knocking, she smoothed down her dress, feeling oddly nervous.
But when the door opened, her smile froze. In the living room sat a young woman dressed in a stylish Victorian-inspired outfit, watching television. Morris sat beside her, holding some documents, apparently discussing something with her.
In that moment, Emily felt her heart clench painfully.
Morris noticed her and immediately stood up, walking toward her. "Emily, you're here."
The young woman turned to look at Emily, surprise evident on her face. "And who is this?"