She should be grateful that her sons were still alive. They were still alive. She was glad that they were still alive. This had to be a blessing from God. âAuntie Adina, whatâs wrong?â Adina held Harold so tightly that he felt that he could not breathe, though he did not dare to say anything. He was afraid that an embrace like this was fleeting.
But the next second, he felt warm tears fall on his cheeks.
He looked up and saw Adinaâs watery eyes. Her tears were falling down uncontrollably. He was so panicked that he did not know what to do. âAuntie Adina, whatâs wrong? Did I do something wrong again? Iâm sorry, Auntie Adina. I wonât be so impudent again.â He hurriedly withdrew from Adinaâs embrace. Adina felt a twinge of pain in her heart. Over the past few days, she chose not to come to the Winters familyâs residence and ignored Harold on purpose. This boy must have been very heartbroken.
He was her son, not Dewâs son! How could she punish her own precious son? She had already owed him so much! âHal, youâve done nothing wrong. Nothing wrong at all.â Adina pulled him over and continued to hold him in her arms. She rubbed Haroldâs hair with her chin. âIâm sorry, Hal. Itâs my fault. I shouldnât have ignored you for so many days. Starting today, I will come here and cook for you every day. I will make you whatever you like.â Haroldâs eyes widened in a daze. âReally? Auntie Adina, do you really mean that?â âDonât call me Auntie Adina. You should call meâ¦â Adina did not finish her sentence.
The words got stuck in her throat. âWhat should I call you?â Harold tilted his head and asked. âJust call me Auntie for now.â Adina felt a faint bitterness on the tip of her tongue. If she told him all the things that happened five years ago, she would not be able to cover up Alden and Melodyâs identities. Duke would definitely take away the custody of her two children.
It was such a big stake. She did not dare to risk it.
As long as her boys were still alive and well, as long as she could see them living happily, that was more than enough for her.
âAuntie Adina, are you sure you are okay?â
Harold asked as he gazed at her with a slight concern. . âIâm fine.â Adina wiped her tears. She said with a smile, âIâm just⦠Too happy that I donât know what I should say.â Harold did not understand what it meant to cry tears of joy. He raised his chubby little hands and helped Adina wipe away the tears on both cheeks. Adina tenderly said, âHal, can I see your photos of you growing up?â Harold nodded fiercely. âOkay, Iâll go get it.â He jumped off the couch and stomped upstairs. A moment later, he came downstairs carrying several thick photo albums. Adina flipped through the photos of the boysâ 100-day-
old celebration party. The little ones were lying in their cribs with sparkling, black eyes open. One was lying obediently like a grown-up. He had the facial features of his father. She could tell right away that that was George. The other one was not lying still as his hands and legs were moving. His eyes were looking around.
âHal, this must be you.â Adina smiled and said, âYou were already so naughty when you were little.â
She turned the album to the next page. Her fingers suddenly paused. It was a âfamily photoâ. Duke and Dew stood side by side. Each carried a baby in their arms. Four people in a photo. It was a standard family photo of a family of four. Adinaâs fingertips slightly trembled. She slowly asked, âIs Dew nice to you and George?â âI donât know if sheâs nice to us or not, but I donât like her,â Harold pouted as he said that.â Auntie Adina, Dew is my mother, but I like you more. And Iâd rather call you mommy.â