Chapter 95
I walked into the manor with Camilla, passing by many servants.
None of them showed any surprise in their eyes. They just bowed to me respectfully, exactly the same as when I was with Kane.
After all, they worked in the manor and couldn't be as opportunistic as those people outside.
Besides, Camilla was brought here by me, so she was my guest. No matter how cheap her clothes were, she was still my guest.
I turned my head to Athena who was beside me and said, "Could you please make us a pot of black tea and prepare some pastries? I'd like to have a good chat with this lady."
Athena nodded. She was a very smart maid who never asked unnecessary questions.
Even though I didn't explain Camilla's identity to her, Athena quickly brought up the brewed tea and various delicate pastries.
I raised my hand and pointed at a brownie, saying to Camilla, "I really like eating brownies. You should try one too."
A hint of confusion flashed in Camilla's eyes. "How should I eat this?"
Looking at Camilla, I felt a bit of sourness in my heart.
I used to be like this too, always looking lost when facing new food, worried about embarrassing myself.
I immediately reached out, picked up a brownie, and without even using a fork, took a bite directly.
The smooth chocolate with a slight bitterness melted in my mouth, silky smooth.
I smiled at Camilla and said, "No matter how you eat outside, here you can eat however you want."
Seeing my action, Camilla also showed a relaxed smile. She followed my example and took a bite of the brownie, her eyes lighting up.
"Oh my, I've never eaten anything this delicious in my life."
Looking at Camilla's hair that was already half white, and her overly plain outfit, I knew her life must be hard too.
I thought of the box from earlier, which still had money in it, so I asked, "Auntie, it looks like your life is also difficult. Why didn't you use the money in the box?"
Camilla put down the brownie in her hand, wiped her hands with a napkin, and shook her head repeatedly at me. "That was your father's compensation money. Of course, I couldn't use it. But under those circumstances back then, I didn't dare give the compensation to your mother or you either, because Luca would definitely take that money to gamble."
After speaking, Camilla showed a regretful expression. "If only I could have given the money to your mother back then, maybe her condition could have been treated and controlled."
I knew my mother's illness all too well. Even if Camilla had brought the money, it wouldn't have helped.
I looked at her with comfort in my expression and said, "This isn't your fault. If anyone's to blame, it's Luca and me - for not being capable enough back then."
At this point, my tone became somewhat dejected.
It was indeed my fault for not being capable enough to let my mother experience the beauty of this world before she passed away.
Camilla also noticed the change in my emotions. She comforted me instead, "You were just a child. Adult matters shouldn't have been your burden to bear."
I looked up and smiled at Camilla, finally deciding to say what was on my mind. "Could I trouble you to pull out a strand of your hair? I still hope we can do a blood relation test."
Camilla hastily pulled out a bunch of hair from her head, making even my scalp hurt watching her.
I quickly stopped her. "Just one strand is enough, you don't need to pull out so many."
But Camilla showed a simple, honest smile. "I'm afraid one strand might not have the root attached, and then it won't work for DNA testing."
This was something I didn't know. My understanding of these things only came from what I'd seen on TV shows.
On TV, they always did it with just one strand of hair. I didn't know it needed to be hair with the root attached.
I also pulled out a few strands from my own head, then called Athena over. "Please help me send both our hair samples for testing to see if we're actually blood relatives."
Athena didn't ask questions either. She took the hair and left.
The testing process would take a few days.
I asked Camilla, "Where are you living now?"
Camilla thought for a moment and said a name I was very familiar with - Lopua Street.
That was the most notorious slum. Camilla was actually living there.
I looked at her with some heartache and said, "Why don't you stay here for now? There are many rooms here, and they're dry and comfortable enough. Besides, I have a lot of questions I want to ask you. I want to learn about that father I never met from you."
Camilla looked at me with complicated emotions in her eyes.
Finally, she shook her head and said, "I can't just move in. After all, this is where you and your husband live. Even if you agree, I'm afraid Mr. Moretti wouldn't be happy about it. With my status, if it weren't for you, I would never have any connection with Mr. Moretti in my entire life."
I discovered that many of my aunt's thoughts actually aligned with mine from my early days.
We were both actually quite insecure.
That insecurity came from the hardships of life and our lack of confidence.
Looking at Camilla before me, it was like seeing myself not long ago. The little bit of wariness I had in my heart was long gone.
I kept inviting her to try the desserts in front of her.
Camilla went from being too embarrassed to refuse at first, to slowly tasting everything on the table after my repeated invitations.
Every time she ate a pastry she liked, she would show a happy expression.
Seeing such an expression on the face of a woman nearly forty years old made me feel inexplicably sad.
I thought, if she really was my aunt, then I would take good care of her from now on.
After all, she had done so much for my mother and me.
Just as we were enjoying ourselves, my phone rang.
Only then did I suddenly remember that I was supposed to bring Kane lunch today.
I gave Camilla an apologetic look, then quickly answered the call.
Kane's voice came through the phone. "My dear cupcake, did you forget something?"
My face turned a bit red, and I stammered, "I met a relative from my father's side, so I got delayed."
Kane was silent for a moment, his tone somewhat serious. "Are you sure she's a relative from your father's side? Could she be trying to trick you?"
Clearly, he had also thought of Luca's character, and without saying much, suspected whether Luca was behind this.
I lowered my voice, covering my mouth with my hand as I said to Kane, "I've already taken her hair and mine and had Athena send them to an agency for testing. I won't let my guard down easily until the results come out, don't worry."
Hearing me say this, Kane's laughter came through the phone. "Not bad, my dear little wife. You've really made progress."
A touch of pride colored my heart. "Of course, being with you, I've learned quite a lot."
Kane chatted with me for a while before hanging up.
Before hanging up, he told me not to go out at home, especially not to go out with Camilla, to prevent anything unexpected from happening.
I naturally agreed obediently.
Even if he hadn't said it, I wouldn't have left the manor today.
Returning to Camilla's side, she looked at me and asked tentatively, "Was that Mr. Moretti who just called you? How are things between you two?"
This was completely a complete concern from an elder. Her eyes showed genuine worry and care.
I nodded somewhat touched. "Mr. Moretti treats me very well."
Even without me saying much, seeing how comfortable and at ease I was in this manor, Camilla believed that I was indeed doing well.