Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Her husband inquired, "Could you kindly share with us what you wish to do?" She remained silent for a while before finally responding,
"Darling, there is something I would like to confess to both you and our daughter."
"I am not ready to discuss my family just yet, as the timing doesn't feel right. However, I promise that when the appropriate moment arrives, I
will divulge everything about my family. As for the confession, it relates to the time after I give birth to our daughter and witness how your
family treats us as a whole." Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
"I recognized the importance of working diligently to ensure a stable future for our child and to protect her under any circumstances.
However, I kept this burden to myself, fearing that it would place undue pressure on you."
"As a result, I felt compelled to work even harder without imposing any expectations on you. When I initially left home, I had some savings
with me. Upon arriving in this unfamiliar city, my primary objective was to exert tremendous effort and establish a reputable name for myself,
fully aware of the challenges that lay ahead in this new city where I knew no one."
"However, I possessed a talent for cooking and firmly believed that I could succeed by opening a restaurant. Providentially, I express my
gratitude to God because, before I could even contemplate where to find a suitable location, my landlord at the time—a kind woman who had
no children—took me under her wing upon learning of my lack of parental support."
"Feeling lonely after a month of contemplating how to secure a place to rent and open a restaurant, she unexpectedly visited my house and
inquired about my aspirations to earn a living."
"I shared my dream with her, and to my surprise, she mentioned that she had a vacant space that could be used as a restaurant. Despite my
reluctance to accept a free space, she insisted and challenged me to prove my sincerity in wanting to be her daughter."
"I couldn't turn down her kind offer, especially considering her genuine and generous nature. The following day, we visited the location,
which turned out to be perfect for a restaurant. I wasted no time in starting my own establishment. With my culinary skills, the restaurant
quickly gained popularity, attracting a large customer base. I personally hired and trained other individuals to work alongside me."
"As the business flourished, demands for a larger space began to arise, as the initial one proved too small. Consequently, I opened another
branch, which happened to be where we first crossed paths. Although you assumed I would be a waitress at that restaurant, I didn't approach
you because I wasn't certain about your level of seriousness."
"As our love deepened and my restaurants continued to thrive, I yearned to reveal the truth to you. Unfortunately, we were consistently
interrupted whenever I tried to broach the subject. It was on the day you introduced me to your family after our wedding when I had intended
to finally disclose the reality of my success."
"However, after witnessing how your parents treated me with disrespect, I became hesitant to trust you completely. It wasn't until we spent
more time together and I saw your genuine love and acceptance for who I am that I wanted to share my secret. Yet, observing your fear of
confronting your family, I feared that if you knew the truth and disclosed it to them, they might cause trouble for me, particularly your mother.
So, I chose to keep it hidden."
"After giving birth and experiencing how your family treated our daughter as if she were insignificant, I made a solemn vow to improve my
restaurants and provide our daughter with the best life possible."
"With time, my restaurants flourished, and I expanded my income by opening hotels in addition to them. Now, my restaurants and hotels have
a presence in cities across the country. I have managed them with the assistance of Betty, my landlord-turned-mother figure. She has eagerly
awaited the chance to meet you, but I never found the right moment to introduce you to her."
Andrew was taken aback by this revelation, as he had never expected his wife to be the owner of that restaurant. Despite his persistent
curiosity about his wife's background over the years, he had been unsuccessful in his search. This revelation only confirmed his suspicion that
her background was far from ordinary, yet he had chosen to let it go out of love.
Their daughter, observing her parents, fell into silence, feeling as if she hardly knew them. It raised questions in her mind about their true
intentions in bringing her back. Was it solely out of love for her, or was there something concealed beneath their affection?
Furthermore, the cryptic remark from the elderly Mrs. Smith, "I would have killed you when I had time," puzzled her. Was there something
she needed to uncover and understand?
The daughter realized the need to be cautious, avoiding any inadvertent revelation of her own identity, particularly now that she suspected her
parents might not be as straightforward as they appeared. After spending a significant amount of time in the business and establishing a
reputation in front of their adversaries, she understood that her parents couldn't be foolish. Moreover, she recognized that her own intelligence
would not have been possible if her parents were indeed lacking in astuteness.
Addressing her parents, she said, "Mom and Dad, I appreciate that our family is not impoverished, and we have a roof over our heads and
food to eat. That's enough for me."
"I'm feeling somewhat weary, so I would like to retire to bed," she added. Her statement brought her father back to reality, and he replied, "It's
alright, honey. Go to bed early."
She responded, "Yes, especially since I need to wake up early to prepare for my wedding."