Chapter 2

I got up and went into the kitchen.

Ethan followed me in.

Our eyes met, and I felt incredibly awkward.

“Elara, how have you been these past three years?”

“Pretty good.”

“You weren’t dead. Why didn’t you ever come back? Was it because I didn’t save you?”

I forced myself to answer.

“Something like that!”

“Mainly, I had amnesia and completely forgot I even had relatives.”

Ethan’s face instantly froze.

He wanted to speak again.

Tiffany burst in.

Seeing us talking, she called out intimately,

“Honey, I want shrimp. Can you peel them for me?”

Ethan followed her out.

I glanced at the stove.

I remembered Liam’s mom saying that steamed egg custard shouldn’t be left on the stove too long, or it’ll get rubbery.

So, I took it out.

My mom saw what I was holding and looked anxious.

“Tiffany is pregnant; this bowl of sea cucumber and egg custard is specially for her.”

Tiffany’s eyes lowered, showing a hint of forbearance.

“Elara suffered a lot out there. I don’t need it.”

My dad reacted as if he had some kind of post-traumatic stress.

“She chose not to come back herself; what does that have to do with you? Don’t give it to her.”

He was so fierce.

I felt a little angry.

But Liam’s mom said that when you’re doing well, it’s easy to be generous and not dwell on trivial matters.

These past three years, they had given me so much care and love, making me gentle-tempered.

I smiled slightly.

“I wasn’t going to eat it. I just saw it was done steaming and helped take it out.”

Ethan looked at me and mumbled instinctively,

“Elara, you’ve changed so much.”

I blurted out,

“Have I?”

My dad took a small sip of wine, saying contentedly,

“Before, you always competed with your cousin for everything. Looks like suffering out there taught you some manners.”

I was speechless.

This neighborhood isn’t cheap! How can they act like a bowl of sea cucumber is such a big deal, making such a fuss about who gets to eat it?

I yearned for Liam’s mom’s cooking again.

Silverwood was near the ocean, and she often made big seafood feasts.

Steamed grouper, vermicelli scallops with garlic, salt-baked mantis shrimp, spicy blue crabs.

Seeing how much I loved them, the whole family would compete to put food on my plate.

Tiffany had a prenatal class appointment, so she grabbed Ethan and left in a hurry.

My mom praised him for being thoughtful, like a good father-to-be.

Ethan gave me a complicated look.

I pretended not to see it.

Looking at my dark, cramped room, I figured I wouldn't be back often, so I turned on the light and started clearing out things I didn’t want.

My mom looked surprised.

“Elara, isn’t this your favorite dress? Why is it on the floor?”

She seemed to be reminiscing.

“At first, I only bought one for Tiffany, and you were so mad you didn’t eat dinner for two days.”

Was I really that childish?

Liam’s younger brother, Caleb, would definitely tease me if he knew.

I casually picked it up and said indifferently,

“I don’t remember! That style is so outdated. If you don’t want to waste it, just use it as a rag!”

My mom looked hurt.

In her eyes, even if I never won against my cousin, I still showed an expectation for my parents, hoping they could be fair, at least buying each of us one.

Yet now, she saw no ripple of emotion in my eyes.

I packed a large bag of old things, ready to call someone to pick them up.

Passing Tiffany’s room, it was beautifully decorated.

Even though she had moved out, everything was neat and tidy, the duvet smelling of sunshine.

Unlike my room, which was small, cramped, and dusty enough to make you choke.

My mom’s expression was awkward, and she eagerly explained,

“Tiffany loves cleanliness, so I tidied her room whenever I had time.”

“Tomorrow I’ll find a cleaner. I’ll buy you the bedding you used to like, sweetie.”

“No need.”

I came back to Fairview to finalize my official records and change my registered address.

Liam’s family had initially hoped I would get married with my parents present, so I wouldn’t have any regrets.

But it seemed utterly unnecessary now.

My phone chimed.

The contact was labeled "My clingy puppy fiancé."

He sent several messages in a row:

“Babe, are you happy seeing your parents?”

“Why haven’t you given me my goodnight kiss yet? Has anyone bothered you?”

“I bought your mom a jade necklace, and I heard your dad likes off-road vehicles, so I ordered one around two hundred thousand.”

“Do you think the gifts are generous enough? My parents also want to send a carload of stuff.”

I thought for a moment, then rapidly typed.

I only replied with seven words.

Liam was so startled he immediately called.