Chapter 163 I am happy
Chapter 163 I am happy
“Your father and I are thinking of throwing a party and arranging a press conference to reveal and announce your arrival to the world,” Hazel whispered and took a glance at Valencia. “You don’t have any issue with that, do you?”
As if to avoid making Valencia nervous or feeling as if they were rushing things, Hazel continued while staring at Valencia seriously, “Valencia, you don’t have to feel nervous; you can just tell us whatever you’re dissatisfied with. Your father and I do not want to take any step that will make you uncomfortable.” Immediately after Hazel finished her words, Quist nodded his head in agreement.
Upon hearing this, Valencia straightened her back and shook her head. She flashed Hazel and Quist a comforting smile, knowing what was going on in their minds.
The couple was clearly afraid that Valencia might be unsatisfied and wouldn’t accept their family after all that had happened.
Valencia extended her hand and took hold of Hazel's hand.
Although Valencia knew she was supposed to be cautious and tread carefully, somehow, she found herself unable to do that with the couple—her parents.
Even though Valencia had just met them, somehow, she had an unprecedented level of trust and familiarity toward them. It was as if she had known them all her life.
Somehow, Valencia felt that they would never hurt her.
Valencia stared at them seriously and articulated, “Mom, Dad, I believe you will always make the right decision.”
Although this was all Valencia said, they all knew that she was giving them permission to announce their relationship to the world.
Also, Valencia was willing to let go of everything and start a new beginning with them.
Tears pooled in Hazel's eyes. They had failed their baby, yet Valencia didn’t care about that and had easily accepted them as family.
As if to not let anyone discover her sadness, Hazel sprang up and muttered under her breath, “I'll check on the soup.” As soon as she said this, she fled from the living room to the kitchen.
Unfortunately for Hazel, even though she tried to hide it, how could Quist not notice?
Quist's eyes immediately flashed with worry, and he attempted to stand up.
Ever since the couple had learned the truth about Valencia's birth, Hazel had always been filled with guilt and worry, and she kept crying.
Before Quist could stand up, Valencia shook her head as if to tell him that he should leave it to her and that she would handle the situation on her own.
Immediately, Valencia stood up and quietly followed Hazel to the kitchen, leaving Quist, Maverick, and Corbyn in the dining room.
Quist cupped his hands together and gave Corbyn Cirillo a nod of appreciation. “Thank you, young master Cirillo. Our Austeegard family can’t thank you enough for helping our daughter…”
Corbyn straightened his back and shook his head. He calmly responded, “Valencia is a good girl.”
Valencia had brought color to the Cirillo family; it was their luck to have someone like her in the family.
There was no need for Quist to thank him because Valencia would always be a member of the Cirillo family. Also, Valencia’s family was the Cirillo family.
Upon hearing this, a relieved smile appeared on Quist's face. He suddenly sighed heavily and stared at Maverick and Corbyn seriously. “How’s she doing?”
According to the information they had gotten, Valencia had gone through a lot, and it made Quist exceptionally worried. So he decided to ask the two who knew her best, compared to him and the media.
Upon hearing this question, the dining room fell silent.
“Valencia is happy now.” After a few seconds, Maverick broke the silence with this sentence.
Although Valencia might have gone through several painful events and wasn’t happy in the past, having the quadruplets by her side, the Cirillo family, reuniting with Maverick, and meeting her parents—it's right to say that Valencia's life was now complete, and she must have been filled with indescribable joy.
Maverick might have broken Valencia in the past, but from now on, Maverick would make sure he made the woman happy and never gave her a reason to cry.
“Mom.” Immediately after Valencia stepped into the huge kitchen, she was greeted with the backframe of Hazel sniffing softly. “Mom,” Valencia called softly again and carefully approached Hazel.
On hearing Valencia call for her, Hazel quickly wiped her eyes and turned to Valencia with a comforting smile, as if not to let Valencia see that she had been crying.
Hazel faked a sweet smile and turned to Valencia. She asked with concern, her voice very composed, as if she weren’t the one sniffing sadly a few seconds ago, “Valencia, do you need anything?”
Valencia sighed and stepped forward. Instantly, she wrapped her hands around Hazel and hugged her tight, resting her head on Hazel's shoulder.
Tears pooled in Valencia's eyes, and she exhaled slowly. “It turns out this is what it feels like to have a mother. Mom, I haven't had this type of feeling for a long time. Nobody wants me,” she whispered, speaking words she had never told anyone to Hazel.
After Raquel's death, it was as if Valencia was looked down on by heaven. Everyone detested her, even her father ignored her, and all the friends she initially had dumped her.
As if that wasn't enough, Valencia was made a public joke, and she constantly faced public scrutiny.
Even the man of her dreams only saw her as a substitute for the woman he liked and nothing more.
Upon hearing this, Hazel's eyes widened, and she quickly wrapped her hands around Valencia. “What do you mean nobody wants you? You are so brilliant. It's anyone's loss if—”
Valencia sighed and shook her head. She took a step back and stared at Hazel seriously. Perhaps it was due to the events of those years; Valencia still found it hard to believe that things would sail so smoothly for her and her parents, and several what-ifs kept popping up in her mind. What if the Austeegards were currently wearing a façade and would kick her out later?
“I’m afraid that you might not want me also. Mrs. Hazel, you already had a perfect family before I showed up. Do you really not mind letting go of Sapphire for me? Is this real?
If you want me to, I can return to where I’m coming from and never return here.”
Although Valencia had been acting calm all this time, this time her feelings were honest, and her worries and panic were clear in her words.
Upon hearing Valencia's words, it was as if Hazel had been deeply pierced in the heart, making it very painful.
Hazel gently cupped Valencia's face and made Valencia stare into her eyes. She sincerely spoke, “Valencia, my baby. You are already outstanding without us, and you already built a perfect family for yourself. This made Mom worry that you would look down on our family and refuse to accept us.
How can our family choose someone else over our daughter? No, it can never be that way. If Mom could do it, Mom really would want to turn back time and return to the time I had just given birth to you.
I wouldn't have lost consciousness, and our family would have become what it should have been from the beginning.
Valencia, Mom and Dad feel so sorry because if not for Mom, our little baby wouldn’t have had to suffer all these years. Valencia, it’s our luck to find you and have you in our family. Please don’t speak like this. We’ll always want you and choose you over anything.
No matter what we do, we know it will never be enough to comfort those years…”
Upon hearing Hazel’s words, Valencia’s eyes lit up in joy, and she enthusiastically grabbed Hazel’s hand, her lips forming a smile. “You really mean you don’t care and you won’t pick Sapphire over me?” she uttered, interjecting Hazel’s words.
A warm and motherly smile appeared on Hazel’s face, and she stroked Valencia’s cheeks. “Of course. The only thing we care about is making you happy. Did Mom and Dad mistakenly give you the wrong impression? If we did, we're sorry. We'll do anything to—”
Valencia shook her head and hurriedly refuted, “No. No. I was the one thinking too much.” Valencia wrapped a hand around Hazel and said coquettishly, being free to her mom for the first time, “I feel so happy.”
“I feel so happy too.” Hazel hugged Valencia gently, the both of them basking in the mother-and-daughter feeling for the first time in their lives. It turned out that this was what the feeling of being with one’s biological daughter felt like! She had never had such an intense feeling with Sapphire.
Suddenly, Hazel separated from Valencia and held her hands while stroking her cheeks. “You look so pale. Are you eating well? It must not be easy carrying a pregnancy. How old is your pregnancy?”
Valencia's eyes widened, and she froze in disbelief. Her hand made its way to her stomach gently, and she caressed it with love in her eyes. Her stomach didn't have a bulge yet, and she hadn't told Hazel—so how did she know?
Valencia lifted her head and stared at Hazel in shock. “Mom, how did you know I was pregnant?”