Chapter 435
Once back at home, Margaret’s attentiveness toward her was unmistakable. She took Eva’s hands, hesitating as if struggling to express her thoughts.
Forget about Margaret for a second-Eva herself was at a loss for words.
She didn’t know how to begin, nor did she know what to call her.
Sure, the kids called them Grandpa and Grandma, but she just couldn’t bring herself to call her “Mom p>
After all… it had been five years.
Five years that number felt like an eternity.
Perhaps it was a look in her eyes or the expression on her face that gave her away, but Margaret seemed to understand what she was thinking. With a gentle touch, she tucked a strand of Eva’s hair behind her ear, her voice soothing. “My dear, you’ve had it tough out there these past years p>
That simple sentence made Eva’s eyes well up with tears.
She had imagined all sorts of things Margaret might say, but never expected something that would hit her right in the feels-words so painfully sweet.
A torrent of grievances lay buried in her heart, unspoken.
This closeness, resembling family affection, was something she’d never felt before.
The mother figure she’d always dreamt of since childhood.
Seeing Eva’s eyes glisten with tears, Margaret too felt a pang in her heart and tenderly pinched her cheek.
“Sweetheart, don’t be sad. Now that you’re back, everything will be okay. It was Adrian Blackwood who let you down, but from now on, I’ll take good care of you.” Mother?
Eva’s vision was a blur, unable to make out Margaret’s expression clearly, seeing only her compassionate gaze through her misty eyes.
Hearing her refer to herself as “mother” while addressing her, Eva was momentarily taken aback.
Was she calling herself “mother” to her?
Could she… continue to call her “mother” in the future?
Biting her lower lip, Eva murmured softly, “I thought… after five years, you might not be so willing to acknowledge me p>
“Silly girl, how could that be? I’ve always adored you, and you know it. When you left, I blamed myself for not realizing and mending the rift in your marriage sooner. That was my failing p>
“No,” Eva shook her head, tears ready to spill from her eyes. And as she moved, they fell like pearlescent beads, glittering on her fair skin.
“It’s not your fault. The problems were between Adrian and me. We had a misunderstanding. We just didn’t manage to sort it out in time p>
“It wasn’t the two of you it was him,” Margaret said with a bias toward Eva, “As a man, it was his duty to protect his wife. He failed to take care of you and safeguard the marriage, leaving his wife and children on their own for so long. He’s the one at fault p>
Eva was taken aback by how harshly Margaret spoke of him, pausing a moment before she could respond.
“Mother p>
“Hey,” she mumbled, more to herself than anyone else.
Her response left Eva momentarily stunned. She hadn’t anticipated blurting out such a word, nor had she expected Margaret’s reaction.
“From now on, that’s what you’ll call me. Now that you’re back, don’t think about leaving again. If that rascal Adrian Blackwood ever gives you trouble, you come straight to me, and I’ll set him straight. Or better yet, I’ll show you how to handle him p>
“Really?” Although tears had been streaming down Eva’s cheeks earlier, the conversation lightened her spirits considerably. “Would you really take my side p>
“Of course, it’s true. If you don’t believe me, just wait until he gets back from abroad. I’ll give him an earful p>
The thought of Adrian still being overseas and injured at that caused Eva’s smile to fade slightly.
“Alright, let’s not dwell on all that now. You must be starved after flying all day. Dinner’s almost ready in the kitchen. Let’s not waste time thinking about anything else. Eat well tonight, and we can talk about anything else tomorrow.” Dinner was a feast a spread full of familiar flavors, nothing like the food she had grown accustomed to abroad.
And the best part p>
The taste of the dishes bore an unmistakable familiarity p>
Raising her head to glance at Margaret Kim Blackwood, Eva, despite resolving some emotional issues, found herself uncertain and shy after the long time apart. She tentatively asked, “Mom, Dad, has our chef been with us all these years without change p>
Margaret gazed at her tenderly. “We’ve never changed chefs. After all these years with the Blackwood family, we’re used to the way he cooks. Can you tell it’s his cooking right away?” “Yes, it’s very familiar,” Eva replied.
Everything at home was as familiar as the cuisine the decor appeared unchanged, just as it had been five years prior.
The only real difference, perhaps, were the two little ones now seated at the table.
These youngsters were snugly placed between Kim and Margaret Blackwood, and after answering Eva’s question, the couple returned their attention to feeding the little ones. “Here you go, Ruby, isn’t this your favorite? Have a little more p>
“Dylan, try this p>
In essence, the entire dinner was managed without Eva needing to lift a finger for the children; she only needed to take care of herself.
After dinner, Margaret told Eva, “Your room, the one you used to share with Adrian Blackwood, is ready for you. The maids have kept it clean daily, and all the bedding has been freshly changed. You can head straight to bed.” “Okay p>
“Hey, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about,” Margaret said, a hint of hesitation in her eyes as she looked at Eva. She seemed unsure if she should even bring it up.
Sensing her mother’s discomfort, Eva decided to gently prompt her, “Mom, what’s on your mind p>
“Well, you’ve all had a long day, and I was thinking… maybe tonight, Ruby and Dylan could bunk in with us? Of course, that’s only if it’s okay with you. If it’s not p>
Margaret’s voice trembled apprehensively as she spoke, frequently glancing at Eva’s expressions. The calm and collected demeanor she usually carried was gone, replaced with caution ever since the kids came into the picture. It was as if she was walking on eggshells, fearful of Eva’s disagreement or anger.
Eva felt a wave of discomfort watching her mother like this. It pained her there was no wrongdoing, yet her presence evoked such carefulness.
Moved by these thoughts, Eva took a few steps closer and softly replied, “Mom, if you don’t mind the possible disturbance, feel free to have them over p>
“Oh, it wouldn’t be a disturbance at all! I would love that. In fact, if you’re okay with it, your father and I would be more than happy to spend more time with the kids. By the way, have they started school yet? Which school are they attending?” Eva briefly explained the situation in Chicago, anticipating that Margaret might find it convenient for the kids to transfer to a nearby school in New York.
To her surprise, the next second, Margaret declared without hesitation, “If the children are studying in Chicago, then we’ll just move to Chicago tomorrow p>