Chapter 9 The Return of His Daughter (Part One)

The news about Ken spread fast. My second uncle came back from nowhere. Besides me, my third aunt was the only member of the Millers to visit Ken.

Early in the morning, my father had me over the study.

At the stairway, I met Hale who was still at my home. He held a glass of orange juice and pouted at me with a smile. "Your father is waiting for you in the study."

I looked at him in surprise. "Why haven't you left yet?"

He took a sip of the orange juice gracefully and said, "It's none of your business."

"Brother, this is my home!"

"You have called me brother. We are family now."

I didn't want to talk to him anymore. I pushed him away and said, "Who is your family? Go away! Don't get in the way!"

A few meters away, I could hear Hale standing still and muttering, "My Juice--"

I was in a good mood suddenly.

When I opened the door of the study, my father was reading an economic book attentively.

Two meters away from the desk, I stood still and asked, "Dad, what's wrong?"

He took off his glasses and said calmly, "Daisy, you are sixteen years old already. You can officially work in the company after the Spring Festival."

I thought to myself, 'Is my father on guard against me now?'

"Father, I'm just studying in the company. Many things are up to you." In fact, I wanted to say that I was at most a shareholder and wouldn't get in your way. You were still the boss.

He put the book aside, crossed his hands in front of him, and leaned back. "It's best that you think in this way. Jacob is your brother, you should teach him when you have time."

I frowned and said, "He's always with you. Besides, he's so young."

"When you were a child, your grandma had taught you personally. Your brother will help you in the future."

He tried his best to speak in a peaceful tone, which sounded like a father who was planning for his children. It was not difficult to guess that this matter was brought up by Tessa. It was said that the emperor loved his eldest son and the people loved the youngest. It was true! Besides, Jacob was his only son.

"Dad, please send him to the old house when you have time. Grandma has been busy recently, so I won't come back to live here."

My father's face suddenly changed and his breath became much heavier.

"Daisy, you... Do you really think so?"

"Dad, with Grandma, Jacob can be fully guided." As long as Grandma was willing to look him in the eye.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Seeing him coughing violently, I hurriedly handed the medicine at his hand to him.

"Dad, why is your asthma getting worse and worse?"

He looked askance at me and said nothing.

"The company has been so busy recently, so you must be unable to handle things alone. If only Jacob could grow up as soon as possible, he could help you share your worries. If only he could be taught by Grandma in person." I thought I said it sincerely.

My father changed the topic, "Daisy, did you go to the hospital to see Ken last night?"

I walked around to his him and gently touched his back. "Yes, what's wrong?"

"I just want you to know which is more important."

I took my hands back and rubbed them with crossed hands. "I see."

He suddenly said, "Take Minna back."

I was shocked, Minna...

But I didn't expect that as soon as I had this plan, she came by herself.

The next noon, Tessa invited the family of my third uncle. I didn't know if there was something wrong with this woman's brain. She took Grandma's jade screen as the reason to entertain the guests at home again.

I was sitting next to my father. The big dining table was full. There were four children from the family of my third uncle, and she had four children too. Plus two couples, how lively. During the dinner, no one talked about Ken.

The old butler came to me in a hurry, bowed his head and said, "Lady, Miss Minna is here."

I put down my chopsticks heavily, but it didn't interrupt the other people's interest - they compared their children's interest to each other. I was not among the comparison. I would always be the one they flatter. I often thought that if Grandma disliked me, would I also be the topic of conversation at leisure?

My father looked at me expectantly. I knew what he was thinking.

Over the years, Minna had come to see me frequently. A seven year old child should be carefree, but she didn't see any child's smile on this child. I knew that my father had secretly visited her many times in the past few years. Because of my unwillingness to admit her, this child was like a rootless duckweed that had been denied since she was born. She could only grow up under other people's roof for so many years.

With sweat dripping from her forehead, Minna knelt down on the hard cobblestone. Perhaps, she had kept the position for long. Her yellow hair, due to malnourishment and uncleanliness, was shining under the sun. "Sister..."

I turned my head to avoid looking at her. Behind her stood the man. I couldn't help but get angry. "Where is the money I give you every month? Is this how you take care of her?"

The man raised his gaunt face and said, "I have liver disease and can't take care of her anymore. Lady, after all, Miss Minna is your sister. You can't leave her alone."

When I heard Minna's low sobs, I felt very depressed. I was about to leave, but she held my feet and said, "Sister... I... I'm hungry..." I felt humiliated because of what happened in the past. At the age of nine, I couldn't accept the girl who reminded my mother of her romantic affair at this moment. Her pale face was similar to my dead mother's. How could I treat my sister like this? Who should I blame? Was it the mother who was unwilling to be lonely but be lowly, and had already been submerged in the wheel of time? Or was it the father who indulged in women everywhere? Or Grandma, who indiscriminately convicted my mother of adultery and indirectly caused her accidental death? Or was she the biological sister of the second daughter of the tan family, who had been denied as an illegitimate daughter since she was born for no reason? What was wrong with her? She had to suffer on behalf of her mother?

The thin man in front of me was the brother who was regarded to have an affair with my mother. After the scandal of that year, my father let him leave with Minna.

"Get up," I said reluctantly.

The man's pale face slowly revealed a smile. He pulled up the child on the ground and said, "Get up quickly to thank your sister."

I pulled her up and threw away the man's hand in disgust. Minna rubbed the hem of her clothes with one hand cautiously and uneasily, and the other hand sweated in my palm. I knew she was afraid.

I threw a bank card in front of him and said, "there are five hundred thousand dollars here. There is no password. Take it to cure your disease. If it is cured, leave here and never come back. If it can't be cured, take this money to buy a better place." I took Minna's hand and left. The carved door was slowly closed, which completely ended her previous life.