Chapter 221


    Chapter 221


    Last night, I went to bed early, mainly because my activities with Shawn tired me out immensely. So, I


    drifted off to sleep almost immediately after my head hit the pillow.


    Last night, I went to bed early, mainly because my activities with Shawn tired me out immensely. So, I


    drifted off to sleep almost immediately after my head hit the pillow.


    When I woke up in the morning, the sky outside was painted with shades of purple and orange. There


    was a faint morning glow at the border of the mountains in the distance; the sun would rise soon.


    As I lowered my gaze away from the windows, I saw that Shawn''s brows were slightly furrowed


    together as though he was worrying in his sleep. I instinctively reached out to smoothen it out. He


    rxed under my touch as if he knew that I was his safety.


    Normally, his eyes would have snapped open the instant my fingertips grazed his skin!


    I slowly shifted away to avoid jarring him from sleep as I got out of bed, dressed up, and left the cabin. I


    closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh air as the bed of daffodils fluttered with the breeze. I crouched


    down to feel the velvety petals brushing against my fingers while softly remarking, "It''s so pretty."


    The sounds of birds twittered in my ears, and I rose to my feet. I nced toward the direction of the


    birds singing, only to find a few sparrows weaving through the forest. A few secondster, I even


    caught sight of a rather hefty-looking crow.


    "The early bird indeed gets the worm," I said with a soft giggle.


    After I stretched the exhaustion from my sore muscles, I was about to return to the cabin when I


    identally caught sight of an old stone tablet on the patch of grass in the distance. I trotted over out


    of curiosity and saw many blocky words carved into the stone, and at the end were the names of two


    people—James and Sandra.


    James was the name of my biological father, and Sandra was probably my birth mother''s name.


    And Brimstone Mountain was the spot they pledged their love!


    The night James passed away, he kept telling me of his love for my mother, but how could a man with


    so many lovers be deemed faithful? He was merely trying to move himself!


    Of course, I couldn''t be sure of the things that happened between them, so I couldn''t criticize their love.


    I crouched on the ground as I carefully read the carvings, ''You were born before me and turned old


    when I was born. When I first met you, you were already a family man. Although my heart knows and


    it''s burning with sorrow, I decided to put an end to this. May your future be bright, but forget not our


    past. When we meet again, I hope you have passed on.''


    The phrase was straightforward, and while I could tell my mother loved him, I could also feel her


    determination to leave when she found out he already had a family. Considering thest line when she


    mentioned that she hoped he was already dead if theyid eyes on each other again, it vaguely reeked


    of viciousness.


    My mother probably hated him, or else she wouldn''t have sent me to the Xenos Family.


    Although the matriarch of the family sent me to the Felix Family, she turned me away due to


    resentment. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have married a man from France so quickly!


    Still, all these were pure spection on my part.


    I let out a sigh and murmured, "He''s dead now."


    James Xenos, the old master of the Xenos Family and my biological father, constantly enjoyed power


    and influence no one else could wield since he was a mere babe. Yet, he could never truly receive the


    love he desperately wanted in the end.


    One-sided love… How many in this world are with the one they love?


    Olivia, Christopher, Diego, Nichs, Quinn, Francesca, Leon, and so many others couldn''t be with the


    ones they loved!


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    I eventually sat on the ground as I stared at the stone tablet, utterly lost in my thoughts. When I finally


    left memoryne, I turned my head and saw that man staring at me intently as he leaned against the


    cabin door.


    "Why are you up so early?" I asked, smiling.


    "To enjoy the sunrise," he answered calmly.


    At the moment, the purple hues in the sky had been reced by a fiery orange, and the sun was slowly


    rising. It would appear above the mountains and shine upon them in just a few minutes.


    Shawn''s straight figure was shrouded by a tinge of gold, making him seem ethereal, like a man from a


    dream.


    I hurriedly ran to him and hugged his arm, afraid that he would disappear. Perhaps he could sense my


    unease, so he lowered his head, asking, "What are you looking at over there?"


    "My biological mother''s name is Sandra." I tilted my head as I gazed at him and added, "I finally have a


    name for the first time in my life."


    "Do you me her?" he inquired, taking me byplete surprise.


    Do I hate her?


    I''d thought about this question before. Maybe I did, once upon a time. I couldn''t say I never despised


    her for giving me away. Nevertheless, I hadn''t thought about what-ifs and could-haves ever since I


    inherited the Xenos Family.


    That was because Shawn''s mother gave me a hard time for a while, and I naturally became upset


    during that period, thinking that she was only worried about her son. Regardless, when I learned that


    she wasn''t my biological mother, I breathed a huge sigh of relief, and my mind instinctively banished


    her from my thoughts.


    It was as though I had finally unloaded the burden that came with knowing this person. After all, it didn''t


    matter who she was. The best revenge was living well.


    I shook my head and said, "Everyone is free to make their own choices. She decided to give me up


    back then, and I''ve never met her, so I can''t me her. Furthermore, she donated a kidney to me, and


    every living second I have now is all thanks to her."


    So, what right do I have to me her?


    In addition, I''m no longer a naive child, especially since I was with child once. Armed with that


    knowledge, I understood that some things couldn''t be helped. After I put myself in her shoes, I felt


    oddly at peace with the situation.


    Despite that, no matter how I could rationalize her behavior, I could still refuse to acknowledge her. I


    figured she had made her stance known since she hadn''t bothered with getting in touch with me until


    now.


    In her heart, I was never her daughter, and she probably donated her kidney to me out of guilt.


    Whatever it was, it didn''t matter anymore.


    "That''s wise of you," hemented.


    I smiled and said nothing in reply. The sun hadpletely risen, and I tugged him by his arm to the


    rocking chair to enjoy the sunlight of Bryxton.


    "Do you like this ce a lot?" I asked curiously.


    Every inch of this ce was meticulously decorated. It was clear that he had put in a lot of effort.


    "Yeah, it''s a peaceful ce."


    Was there any other special reason besides this? I didn''t think this was the only point!


    I leaned my head on his shoulder as I looked at the mountain scenery. I recalled thest night''s dream


    and recounted it to him, "I had a dreamst night. In my dream, my adorable kids were in it, and there


    was also Tammie. My parents were surrounded by their children and grandchildren in the Felix


    mansion, looking perfectly happy."


    Although it was a nice dream, it was bizarre. My kids, parents, Leon, Tamara, and even Quinn were in


    my dream, and we were all living in the Felix mansion; only Shawn and Francesca weren''t there.


    Only Leon''s lover and Shawn were notably absent.


    At the mention of my kids, Shawn became silent. Perhaps that was because he didn''t know how he


    couldfort me. A few minutester, he rose to his feet and said, "Let''s head down the mountain."


    It was another tiring ride on the way back, and at the end of it, I was slumped in the passenger seat


    and couldn''t muster any energy to speak. When we passed the vi, I saw Charles bending his back as


    he cleared the fallen leaves of the sycamore trees in the courtyard.


    When he saw that I was looking out the window, Shawn reminded me dispassionately, "This is a


    property of the Xenos Family. He''s not taking care of this vi for your father but for you. If you like this


    ce, you can always spend a few nights here any time you like, especially in winter."


    I tilted my head in his direction and asked, "Why winter, though?"


    "The winter in Brimstone Mountain is exceptionally beautiful."


    "I see," I hummed in agreement. When he noticed that I was in low spirits, he decided to be silent, but


    frustration was slowly building up in my chest.


    That dream was annoying because I couldn''t see my children''s faces clearly. Despite that, I knew in my


    heart that they were mine!


    Just when I was wallowing in depression, Olivia sent me a text. ''Renee, I''m getting married on New


    Year''s Day.''


    Her news struck me like a bolt of lightning, and I hastily texted her back, demanding, ''Why are you


    getting married so suddenly?''


    ''I just want to get married all of a sudden.''


    She didn''t sound like a consenting party to this marriage. Honestly, it seemed as though someone had


    forced her into one.


    Then, she texted again, ''Will you be my bridesmaid?''