Chapter 311 - The Closed Heart
311 Ch. 311 The Closed Heart
Elliot and Lori both lay comfortably next to their mother. Lori talked about many things from her school days and her adventures when she learned to ride a horse. Hearing all of Lori’s experiences that sounded so exciting made Elliot want to try horse riding.
While living in Etros, the fake Loraine never taught him to ride a horse or took him off the island. It seemed that Loraine didn’t want him to be an intelligent kid so as not to compete with her for the highest position in Di Sha.
Elliot didn’t mind either since he knew nothing about the world outside the island. Now, he lived with his real family; he could learn and do whatever he wanted.
It wasn’t long before Lori felt her eyelids get heavy since she couldn’t sleep all night thinking about when her parents would be back. And when her mother stroked the top of her head gently, Lori was increasingly unable to hold back her drowsiness and fell asleep without realizing it.
This was an opportunity for Anxia to discover her son’s worries. She realized Elliot’s awkwardness and doubts when the boy met Stanley and Meisya. Richard was also aware of it but left everything to Anxia, who specialized in dealing with children.
“El, do you still feel awkward meeting with opa and oma?” Anxia asked softly while stroking the top of her eldest son’s head after noticing that Lori had fallen asleep.
“I’m sorry, mama. I will try it.”
Anxia smiled, hearing her son’s answer. “I understand you need time. But I want you to know they are neither that woman nor that man. They are the people who will stay by your side even when you are in trouble, and they will not leave you alone.”
“How did you know?”
.....
“I’ve experienced it. Like you, I lived with a group of bad people―they didn’t treat me well or care when I was sick. However, ever since I married your father and lived with them, I have experienced what a real family is like. When I’m sick or in trouble, your oma and opa are the ones who accompany me and support me.”
“Opa Stanley too?”
Anxia chuckled at her son’s tone of disbelief. She understood why Elliot couldn’t believe that Stanley was also helping her.
“Yes, dear. Even though Opa Stanley looks scary like that, he greatly treasures his family. You are his grandson; he will love you just as much as he loved Lori and his other grandchildren.”
Elliot became pensive hearing that. Strangely, when he tried to imagine Uncle Stanley’s face, he remembered Song Lei’s face that had sneaked into his room at night. That scared him, and Elliot immediately curled up in his mother’s arms. His hands held his mother’s pajama tightly as if he was afraid that Anxia would leave him.
The mother could not bear to see her child, who was now starting to feel traumatized. Since Elliot was born, this child had lived on that cursed island and was beset with the worries and fears instilled by the fake Loraine and Song Lei.
But God is good, as the boy had Jamie and Mei Yin accompany him, so Elliot didn’t suffer too much. If Jamie had never told Elliot about Anxia or Richard, Anxia doubted that Elliot would open his heart to her that soon. Because of Jamie’s care and story about Anxia and Richard, Elliot ultimately accepted his parents’ presence when he met them in Kensington Park. However, other than them―other than his twin sister, Elliot found it difficult to accept the existence of anyone else, even if those people were his father’s family.
Jamie never told about Stanley or Meisya, so they were strangers to him.
Only time seemed to convince Elliot that nothing would hurt him since he was off the island.
“It’s okay,” Anxia said soothingly while patting her son’s tiny back. “We have plenty of time to get to know each other. From now on, no one will hurt you. I promise.” she whispered, kissing each child’s head.
Elliot still hadn’t closed his eyes when Anxia had finished kissing his head, but his grip on Anxia’s cloth loosened. He didn’t know what would happen in the future, but he believed everything his mother said.
Anxia didn’t know when Elliot fell asleep, but at exactly midnight, Anxia woke up and got out of bed very slowly.
In the past, Anxia didn’t have to worry about making any loud noises because Lori wouldn’t wake up even though there was loud music from the neighbors. The girl would only wake up if someone shook her body or an earthquake occurred.
As for Elliot, he would also wake up easily if there was a shake in his bed, but the boy would also wake up at the slightest sound.
Elliot’s entire body’s nerves had built a high-level defense system to anticipate someone about to intrude into his room in the middle of the night. Even so, he always wakes up when Loraine pretends to sneak into his room or Jamie sneaks into his room to be with him.
Therefore, Anxia shifted as slowly as possible without making a sound. Getting out of bed alone felt more challenging than breaking into her victim’s house.
One second seemed like a year, and Anxia felt extremely tired when her entire body was lifted from the bed. She ensured her kids were still fast asleep and walked towards the door soundlessly.
As she opened the door, Anxia again opened it slowly to reveal a handsome face waiting for her all along. Just as her husband was about to speak to ask how their children were doing, Anxia put a finger to her lips to tell him not to make a sound.
Anxia opened the door slightly wide, letting Richard peek inside. Richard smiled as he saw his kids sleeping soundly and felt he was looking at two little angels with contrasting faces.
Satisfied with looking at the faces of her two children, Anxia closed the door to her children’s room again and almost screamed in surprise when her husband hugged her tightly.
“Richie, don’t startle me.” Anxia’s scolding made Richard chuckle in amusement.
“Thank You.”
“What for?”
“For giving me the perfect family. Thank you for giving me two beautiful little angels.”
“Then shouldn’t I be the one thanking you? Thank you for letting me trick you.”
Richard laughed at his wife’s answer and lowered his face only to crush her lips which had become his addiction.