Chapter 8 The meeting

It wasn't an hour when the two arrived at a small town. They stopped by a quiet path with a lamppost and a bench. There was someone already waiting there.

Luke glanced at Juliet who seemed frozen before opening the door. She also came out and fixated her gaze on the woman on the bench.

The woman hastily stood up. She didn't look that old and was pretty in her own way.

Juliet stood there petrified, her heart beating faster. How can she forget that figure? Tears welled up in her eyes naturally. "Mum.....mum!"

The woman seemed agitated as she reached her arms out. "Julie.....is that you? Julie."

"Mummy!" Juliet shouted and ran into her embrace hugging her tightly. The woman also held her tightly crying tears of joy.

Luke stared at the two women reunion and smiled. They held each other for more than a minute before separating. The woman looked at Juliet and wiped her tears away. Juliet's eyes were already red but she was smiling.

"My little girl is all grown up. I'm sorry dear. I didn't watch you grow up. I was a bad mother. A bad one indeed. Can you ever forgive me." Miss Lan cried. The memory of leaving her kid had been hunting her all this years that she couldn't forgive herself.

Juliet hastily shook head. "As long as you're here, everything's fine. "

"No, I can't stop blaming myself. I really should have taken you away that time. " miss Lan sniffed.

Juliet immediately stiffened remembering that issue. "Mummy, let's sit and talk." She suggested. Seeing her mother nod, Juliet led her to the bench.

"Who is that?", Miss Lan pointed at Luke with a smile.

Juliet turned to Luke and gestured to him. He pointed at himself, as she nodded, he walked over.

"Hello." He waved at Miss Lan. He didn't seem cold as before.

"This is Luke. Dad sent me to his friend mr. Cheng's house for the time being. He's mr Cheng's son. We'll be working together soon." Juliet explained with a smile.

"Oh, I see. Nice meeting you." Miss Lan nodded at Luke.

"I'll let the two of you speak. I'll be in the car." He said and left the two of them. The way Juliet looked at him was filled with gratitude.

"Such a nice guy. Are you friends now?" , miss Lan smiled knowingly.

"Mummy. He's the reason I'm able to meet you. If not I don't know when we'll meet. I owe a favour to him now." Juliet explained. "Dad never told me what happened before and I was still young. Mummy, can you tell me what happened?"

Miss Lan became serious and melancholic.

"Your dad and I met when I was just eighteen and he was twenty. We weren't even financially fit but as we loved each other dearly, we decided to get married. We both worked hard to support each other but when I became pregnant, I stopped working. When I gave birth to you, I wanted to keep working but your father insisted that I take care of you but I was always an ambitious woman. How can I let a child ruin my dreams. Your father didn't understand me and I didn't get him too. We all had our mistakes. We ended up fighting alot but came to a resolution . I worked while I took care of you at the same time."

"Working and taking care of a kid at the same time was really hard but I tried everything for my child but as I got a promotion at work, my time became tight. Li Chen was even more absent than I was but he never once tried assisting me. He always blamed me for not taking care of you properly. There was a time when......when you almost got burned. I held on for a whole six years but I eventually gave up. Li Chen and I always fought. We never agreed to anything, so we went for a divorce. "

Miss Lan was already crying hard as she spoke. Juliet who was consoling was also sobbing.

"I wanted custody of the child because I knew that if I left you with your father, he wouldn't take care of you. I was really scared but your father was more successful than I was . He even used some of my mistakes as evidence. Eventually, I couldn't take you with me. I got job overseas and despite not wanting to leave you, I had to . Julie, please forgive me. Forgive your mother okay?"

"Mummy!", Juliet cried as she hugged her mother. "It's not your fault. It was never yours and it will never be. I was the one. This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't given birth to." Juliet repeatedly shook her head as she sobbed.

Miss Lan immediately closed her lips. "Don't say that Julie. You were never a mistake. Never. You weren't, you wouldn't be and you will never be."

Juliet nodded and laid her head on her mum's arms. She never had this feeling before and this was what she always wanted. Miss Lan gently stroked her head.

"Mummy, can you take me with you now?" Juliet asked softly.

Miss Lan shivered after hearing the question.

Juliet sat up and looked at her expectantly.

"I.....I can't."