novelraw Chapter 387 - 388: Asking for Daughter’s Forgiveness
Chapter 387 - 388: Asking for Daughter’s Forgiveness
Their mother-daughter relationship wasn’t suitable for this kind of intimacy. Since she had returned to the Johnson family at the age of thirteen, Pauline had never held Sienna.
It was surprising that Pauline suddenly became so close to her, making it difficult for Sienna to react. Pauline’s embrace made Sienna uncomfortable.
"Don’t cry..." Sienna did not know how to console her. However, Pauline couldn’t stop crying, clinging to Sienna and sobbing uncontrollably.
"It’s good to cry it out..." Sienna gently patted her back, as if calming Curly, her pet.
Adrian stood outside, frowning, but thinking it was not appropriate to disturb them. Regardless of how unlikable Pauline was, she was still Sienna’s mother and his mother-in-law.
"Madam Johnson, don’t cry. I will take revenge for you and make sure Sabrina ends up in jail!" Adrian tried to comfort her, hoping her crying would stop. Sienna’s shoulder was already soaked from her tears.
Finally, Pauline cried herself to exhaustion and passed out. When Pauline fainted, Sienna let out a sigh of relief; she truly didn’t know how to deal with such a vulnerable Pauline. It was better this way, allowing her to have a good sleep, with time making the pain fade away.
"Are you all right?" Adrian asked, handing her a tissue to wipe the tears from her shoulder. "Is Madam Johnson made of water? Look, your clothes are soaking wet."
"I’m fine, but Madam Johnson is not."
Sienna decided to publicize Sabrina’s crimes, forgetting about Pauline’s feelings in the process. Pauline had a deep, affectionate relationship with Dexter. To any woman, having their adopted daughter murder the man they loved most would be unbearable.
"Just do what you need to do, and do it wholeheartedly," Adrian told her.
Adrian was ruthless towards everyone except Sienna. Even though Pauline was Sienna’s biological mother, he could only bring himself to tolerate her; he had no deeper feelings for her.
"...Madam Johnson, it’s time to grow up."
Sienna looked at the unconscious Pauline as if she were an immature child, her eyes filled with helplessness.
「...」
Pauline stayed in the hospital, with Sienna keeping her company. When Adrian came to deliver food, he told Sienna that Sabrina had been arrested.
He informed Pauline directly, not hiding anything from her. With a somber face, Pauline said, "She killed Dexter, and her life should be taken in return!"
Sienna glanced at Adrian. Thankfully, Pauline had a clear stance. She had been afraid that Pauline might get manipulated if Sabrina cried and pleaded with her, causing Pauline to believe her lies again.
"The law won’t let her go!" Sienna replied.
Pauline cried again. "But my Dexter won’t come back..."
Sienna’s eyes reddened as well. Even if Sabrina was sentenced to death, the father who had once loved her would never return.
Seeing Sienna on the verge of tears, Adrian quickly said, "Don’t cry. Didn’t the doctor say that crying isn’t good for the baby when you’re pregnant?"
Sienna wiped her eyes, holding back her tears.
"I’ll be a bit busy these next few days and might not be able to visit you often," Adrian said to Pauline. "How about I take you to stay with your grandparents?"
"I won’t leave! I want to see Sabrina go to jail!" Pauline said stubbornly.
"Alright," Sienna said. "But there are journalists swarming outside this hospital. When it gets dark, we’ll transfer you. I’ll take you to the Fragrant Hill Sanatorium. It’s quiet there, so you can rest and heal. I’ll inform you immediately if anything happens."
Pauline looked at Sienna and said through her tears, "Sienna, Mama is so sorry. It’s all Mama’s fault... Mama was stupid and gullible, and that’s why you suffered so much..."
Pauline was filled with immense regret. Because she had favored a venomous adopted daughter, she had neglected and wronged her own. She wished she could turn back time, never to lose her biological daughter, to cherish and spoil her, ensuring she wouldn’t suffer so much.
"It’s all in the past," Sienna said indifferently. She didn’t have much affection for Pauline, so she felt neither love nor hate for her.
"Sienna, can you forgive Mama? Mama knows she was wrong, and Mama regrets it to death now..." Pauline cried, clutching her chest.
"Yes, I forgive you," Sienna said calmly.
"You should eat something. Adrian cooked this; I don’t know if it suits your taste."
Pauline had no appetite. She shook her head and said, "I’m not hungry. You eat."
"Eat something, or your body will break down. How will you have the strength to attend the trial when the Court proceedings begin for Sabrina?"
Sienna unpacked the food Adrian had prepared: vegetarian chicken with bamboo shoots, sweet and sour cabbage, pepper fish fillets, winter melon and barley crucian carp soup, and the main dish was jujube rice.
"If you don’t want to eat, at least have some soup." Sienna served Pauline a bowl of soup, but she refused, turning her head away. "I’m not hungry."
"Shall I feed you?"
Pauline looked at Sienna in disbelief. They looked very similar, though Sienna’s features were colder, and her brow held a touch more resolve.
Sienna scooped a spoonful of soup, blew on it to cool it, and fed it to Pauline. Pauline, not having expected Sienna to treat her this way, was stunned. As Sienna fed her each mouthful, she ate.
"Try some fish. I’ve picked out all the bones."
"This rice is made with jasmine rice. It smells so good. Taste it..."
Feeding her soup, vegetables, and rice, Sienna managed to get Pauline to eat quite a bit.
"I’m full now. You should eat," Pauline said, seeing the fatigue on her daughter’s face. She felt both heartbroken and guilty. She was the mother, yet she always seemed to cause her daughter trouble.
Sienna was tired and didn’t have much appetite. Just as she was about to say she wouldn’t eat, she saw Adrian’s stern face and swallowed her words.
Forcing herself to eat a few bites, she smiled at Adrian and said, "I can’t finish this; you eat with me."
Adrian served her a bowl of rice and half a bowl of soup, saying domineeringly, "Finish all of this!"
Sienna looked at the bowl of rice, frowned slightly, but still said, "Okay."
It was rare for someone to care for her so deeply, and Sienna cherished it. She was starved for love. Even when Adrian’s affection was sometimes overbearing or too forceful, Sienna would accept it with a smile.
"Eat more vegetables!"
"You too!"
They put food into each other’s bowls, each wanting the other to eat more.
Watching her daughter and son-in-law, Pauline felt a pang of guilt and heartache. She and her husband used to be just as affectionate, but Sabrina had ruined it all—or more accurately, she herself had ruined it. Now, her heart was filled with nothing but regret.
She looked at her daughter. Sienna was strong-willed; with her around, Pauline wouldn’t have to worry about Samara. Once Sabrina faced justice, Pauline decided, she would atone with her own death and join Dexter.