“It seems like our hangout n has to be canceled,” via whispered. “Can you take me home?” she asked softly.


    Eijaz looked at via’s pale face and assumed that she was still experiencing a headache. He just nodded in response, then guided via to walk towards the parking lot.


    “Do you want to drop by somewhere first?” via offered when they were getting close to Antony’s house. Eijaz shook his head, politely declining. He felt that via needed rest at the moment. If he visited, he would disturb the girl’s resting time.


    “Get some rest. Take your medicine and don’t stress too much,” he said gently, stroking the top of via’s head. via smiled, feeling more grateful because of Eijaz’s understanding in rejecting her offer. After thanking him, via got out of the car.


    Entering through the side door, via found her stepmother breastfeeding her baby brother. via approached, sat beside her mother, and yfully poked the tiny baby’s chubby cheeks.


    “Mom, if I poke the baby like this, will it really be dimples?” via asked, making ire look at her with amusement.


    “Come on, how old are you? That question is more suitable for Francisca,” ire replied with a teasing tone, making via smile.


    “Okay, then I’ll change the question. How does it feel to be pregnant, give birth, and breastfeed?” She asked, pretending to be enthusiastic. But ire realized there was something in her daughter’s question. Although via smiled, the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Even her gaze wasden with pain.


    “What’s wrong with you?” ire asked in return.


    “Why would there be something wrong with me? I’m fine,” via smiled again.


    ire stopped breastfeeding and asked her household assistant toe closer, instructing the middle-aged woman toy the youngest one in the crib. “I know there’s something; you don’t need to lie. Tell me, what’s bothering you right now?” ire demanded, her gaze sharp and full of directed concern on via.


    via looked at her stepmother’s hand, which now held her hand tightly. Her stepmother’s hand was slightlyrger than via’s, considering her mother’s stature was also taller. And the warmth of that hand wasforting. Instead of answering her stepmother’s question, via shed a tear.


    ire lifted via’s face by raising the girl’s chin. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been neglecting youtely. I’ve been too focused on taking care of Meizar that I forgot you also needed me,” ire said with sadness.


    “I can understand that. Forgive me if I ended up burdening you. But I…” the girl couldn’t say more. She threw herself into her stepmother’s embrace and cried there. ire remained silent, choosing to let her daughter cry until she felt satisfied. During that time, she only stroked the head and back of her stepdaughter with affection.


    “Does this have anything to do with dwin?” ire asked when via finally stopped crying, though there were still traces of sorrow.


    via shook her head. “It has nothing to do with Uncle, Mom,” she said weakly.


    “Don’t lie. I know, even though I’ve been neglectful, I asionally pay attention to you two. Why? Did dwin hurt you? Did he say something that made you sad?” she asked, curious, and once again, via shook her head.


    “He’s not at fault. I’m the one at fault here,” she said again, tears falling without permission.


    “What’s your mistake? Tell me,” ire insisted.


    via looked directly into her mother’s golden eyes. “I’m wrong because I dared to love Uncle. Even though I’m not worthy to love him,” she replied honestly.


    “What’s wrong with loving someone? What’s wrong with loving dwin? He has no blood rtion to you. And why do you feel unworthy for dwin? Who does he think he is?


    “He’s not the President or a Sultan. He’s not a crown prince in a kingdom. He’s just dwin Hampton. A regr man who happens to be thirty-five years old and happens to love his niece. So what makes you both unworthy?” via was surprised to hear her mother’s statement. “Do you think I don’t know that dwin loves you too? We share the same womb. We suckled at the same mother. Our bond is much deeper than anyone else can imagine.


    “dwin has never loved anyone the way he loves you,” ire wiped away the tears on her daughter’s face. “What makes you feel unworthy for him?


    “To be honest, I regret his cowardly behavior in leaving you five years ago. But I also can’t force him to stay here. I have to consider your father’s feelings. He’s not someone who would easily ept your rtionship with dwin if, at that time, dwin chose to confess his feelings for you. And I also know that dwin deliberately chose to leave to give you time to sort out your feelings.


    “He didn’t want to give you false hope. He suffered with his choice as well. It’s not that I support him more because he’s my blood brother. But I also consider you, your father.


    “I know your feelings for him were deep when you chose to keep the events of five years ago a secret. I know you didn’t want him to worry there. But the remaining time you had, the time when you chose to avoid him, that also hurt him.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    “Now he realizes his true feelings for you. And your feelings for him are still strong. Your father and I have given you our blessing, even though we never said it out loud. So, what else are you waiting for?”


    “I’m not worthy of Uncle. I…”


    “Do you think dwin is that shallow? Do you think his mind is that superficial? He’s a doctor; he will understand your condition. You just need to fight together. You are there for him, and he is there for you. Don’t care about what others say.


    “Those who don’t like you will try to bring you down and hurt you intentionally. Whether subtly or harshly. But if you support each other, everything will be like a storm that shakes before the rainbowes. It feels painful but will find beauty in the end.


    “Believe me, dwin won’t give up because he has decided not to give up. The fact you kept hidden from him is just a tiny issue in your lives.”


    “But what about Grandma? She…” via was once again overwhelmed with worry. “What if I cause a rift between Grandma and Uncle?”