Ruthâs hand was stopped in midair.
She turned and saw a fierce bodyguard stare at her before flinging her hand aside.
âMr. Winters, are you okay?â The bodyguard asked worriedly.
Harold shook his head and looked at Ruth with his misty eyes.
âFour years ago, when I dirtied Mommyâs clothes, she also looked at me with the same angry gazeâ¦â
The bodyguard did not understand what Harold was thinking, but he knew that Harold had deliberately dirtied Ruthâs gown.
He drew a check from his wallet , wrote an amount, and handed it to her. âIs this enough?â
Ruthâs eyes widened. âHalf a million dollars?!
Thatâs more than double the price of this gown!
âWhat a generous gesture for a child bumping into me.
âSea City is truly a city with people of unusual abilities.â âIs it not enough?â The bodyguardâs gaze was cold.
âItâs enough, itâs enough.â Ruth shoved the check into her purse. âIâll let this time slide. Look where youâre going the next time.â
She turned and headed toward the restroom to wash off the wine stain from her gown.
Harold was at a loss.
âThe evidence is clear. This lady must be Mommy.
âBut when I look at her, I donât feel any strong emotionsâ¦
âI remember four years ago when I first met Mommy, I would want to cling to her even though she was a stranger to me.
âDo I love her less because she changed her appearance?â
He returned to the corner of the banquet hall, feeling muddled.
There were tall plants on all sides. It was out of sight from everyone in the banquet hall, and about three bodyguards guarding the entrance of the hall.
Melody approached and joined the rest of the Winters familyâs children and sat on the couch in silence.
After a long silence, Harold finally spoke, âIâm not sure if thatâs Mommyâ¦â
âWhat are you saying?â Melody raised her gaze and said in disbelief, âHal, what did you do?â
âMel, we know what happened in Cloud City.â George said softly, âMs. Willis might have something to do with Mommyâs disappearance.â
Melody looked at her three brothers in a daze. âI should have guessed why they wanted to join this banquet. Turns out, theyâve already figured out whatâs going on.â âIâve taken a strand of her hair and the paternity test report has been released.â She smiled bitterly. âIndeed, sheâs our mommy.â
George was stunned.
âWhen I watched the confrontation between Harold and the woman earlier, her eyes lit up when she saw the amount on the check. Even if Mommy lost her memory, she will never be this materialisticâ¦
âIâve ruled out this possibility but now, Mel said that she did a paternity test with her!â
Alden found it hard to believe as well. âMel, do you know what youâre talking about?â
Melody nodded. âA week ago, I went to Cloud City to visit my teacher. Thatâs where I met Mommy. She might look different from before, but I knew it was here at first glance. To be sure, I secretly took a strand of Mommyâs hair and gave it to Daddy. An hour ago, Daddy told me that the paternity test has confirmed that sheâs indeed our mommy.â
Harold was in a daze as he said, âSo, itâs truly herâ¦â
âI initially was sure that the woman was Mommy, but after confronting her, I started to doubt it. âBut now that Mel has said this, Iâm sure itâs her!â