The 320th operation concludes, ending the countdown of sixteen days.
Alice stared blankly at Tina. This was her daughter. When she was little, she was a clever, cute, and sensible girl. But when she was ten, she was in a car accident and became mentally disabled. Now she was twenty-one years old, but for eleven years, she had always been just a child in Alice's eyes. Tonight, she had never imagined that this child would say such things to her. This was indeed very unsettling for Alice, and she couldn't accept it for a moment.
People are always more likely to accept established things. For example, Alice should be very happy about Tina's recovery, but she feels a faint sense of loss. Perhaps it's because her daughter after the recovery is no longer the innocent daughter who wholeheartedly depends on her.
But are these things really important? Shouldn't the important thing be that she can finally live a more comfortable life with her daughter from now on?
Alice gazed at Tina for a long time. She knew her daughter had always been very sensible, even when she was mentally challenged, she was still a very obedient child. After a brief moment of surprise, Alice patted Tina's hand that was on her arm, and the smile on her face was really, really gentle.
“Tina, you’ve grown up and can teach your mother principles now. Your mother has dedicated her whole life to you. As long as you’re happy, your mother will do whatever you say.”
Alice was right. She had always lived for Tina. Even when she returned to Xiangcheng to seek revenge on Gu Huaikun, she did not forget to ask Xiao Yan to promise to take good care of her in the future. However, she also had her own knot in her heart, a secret that had been hidden in her heart for decades. Now that her daughter was well and Gu Huaikun was dead, Alice felt that her knot in her heart seemed to have become less important.
Just as Tina said, after all, Gu Mingxia also has the same blood as her, which is an unchangeable fact. No matter how Alice tries to escape it, she can never erase the fact that Gu Mingxia calls her aunt. They were originally close relatives. Now, after Tina said that, Alice also felt that she had an inseparable affection for the Gu Group. After all, it was the Gu family's company, a family business that the Gu family had passed down for hundreds of years. Could she really bear to destroy such a company because of her own likes and dislikes?
Alice felt she couldn't do it, perhaps because she had finally let go of her inner conflict; the smile on her face looked exceptionally elegant and beautiful.
"Mommy, no matter what has happened, I will always be your dearest daughter. We will continue to rely on each other in the future. But this time, how about it is my turn to take care of you?"
Tina was very happy with Alice's transformation. This was the real mommy she knew. She was sure that she and her daughter would be very happy after leaving Xiangcheng!
"Yes, Tina has grown up so much in the blink of an eye. But promise Mommy, never get married hastily just because of Mommy. Marriage can be said to be a woman's second chance at life. Mommy won't be unhappy like you, okay?"
"Does Mommy not like Brother Su?"
"You little devil, it's late, go to bed. In a couple of days, Mommy will ask your brother Xiao to come out and talk things out with him, and then we'll go back to America, okay?"
Alice looked at Tina's mischievous expression, affectionately tapped the tip of her nose, and the mother and daughter went upstairs to their bedroom hand in hand.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Alice went out alone. She went straight to the VIP ward where Gu Mingxia was at Maria Hospital.
Clearly, Gu Mingxia and Xiao Yan were somewhat surprised by her arrival, but Gu Mingxia merely raised an eyebrow and then revealed a faint smile.
"Why did Auntie decide to come see me? Xiao Yan, please pour Auntie a glass of water."
Xiao Yan didn't say anything, but he still glanced at Alice warily before reluctantly getting up to go outside to get some water.
Perhaps because she became a mother, Gu Mingxia's personality softened considerably, and the strong aura she once exuded faded. Now she appeared much more gentle and graceful, radiating an indescribable elegance.
"You're still willing to call me aunt?"
"No matter what, you are my aunt. This is an issue that neither you nor I can escape. Since this is a fact, why can't I call you aunt?"
Gu Mingxia calmly watched Alice sitting by the hospital bed, a faint smile always on her lips, but her gaze kept drifting towards Xiao Qing'er in the crib to the side.
Alice simply smiled gracefully, and following Gu Mingxia's gaze, she saw Xiao Qing'er in the crib wearing a white monk's robe.
Three days after her birth, Xiao Qing'er's complexion was no longer as rosy as it had been at first. Her face looked much rosier and she appeared even cuter.
"The baby looks a lot like you, and will definitely be very beautiful in the future."
As she spoke, Alice took out a large red envelope from her bag, stood up and placed it next to Xiao Qing'er. Looking at the delicate baby, her eyes unconsciously filled with tears.
If I had been less obsessed back then, would I be happily enjoying family life now? If I hadn't always wanted revenge, would Tina have recovered so late in life?
Fortunately, it wasn't too late. Alice was incredibly grateful that Tina's recovery allowed her to turn back sooner.
“Baby, this is a red envelope from your great-aunt. You must be a good girl and listen to your mother. Grow up to be a beautiful young lady. Your great-aunt won't be able to visit you often in the future, but she will pray for you every day.”
"Aunt, are you leaving?"
As soon as Alice sat down, Gu Mingxia frowned and looked at her. When Alice met Gu Mingxia's gaze, she nodded slightly.
"I plan to take Tina back to the United States in a couple of days. In the future... we might travel around the world together, but here in Xiangcheng..."
Alice paused abruptly, looking out the window at the sky. The city was still the same as before, a bustling and hurried place. Everything seemed unchanged, yet everything was subtly altering. Alice sighed softly.
“I don’t think I’ll ever come back to Xiangcheng. It holds too much pain for me. I’m old now and just want a simple and easy life. Everything here is too heavy. I don’t want to carry this burden anymore. As for Tina, I don’t want her to have a hard time either. Life in America is simpler, and she grew up there. I think she’ll be better able to adapt.”
Gu Mingxia hadn't expected Alice to make such a decision. She remembered what Alice had said when she took the initiative to contact her, but in just a few months, Alice had made so many changes. Gu Mingxia really couldn't believe it.
Seemingly sensing her confusion and unease, Alice smiled helplessly and gently tucked the hair that had fallen behind her ear. With just this one movement, Gu Mingxia vaguely saw strands of white hair beneath the black hair, and for some reason, her heart suddenly ached.
"Brother Kun is dead. I poured all my youth and emotions into him. Although I'm an elder, I'm not afraid to tell you this so you might laugh. Really, even now, I still remember that feeling of being moved. It was such a beautiful feeling, and I think that feeling will stay with me until the day I die. Xiaxia, I've never regretted loving Brother Kun. It's just that fate played a cruel trick on us. We... were always just siblings, bound by ethical and moral constraints. But now it's all in the past. I have Tina by my side, and Brother Kun has passed away. I think I can finally let go of my worries. As for the Gu Group, it's our family business, and of course I have to protect it. So, Xiaxia, your aunt is sincere."
“Aunt, I have never made fun of you. Love itself is not wrong; the problem lies in your different identities. Since Aunt has decided to take Tina away from Xiangcheng, I will not say anything more. I only hope that you will be happy in the future.”
Gu Mingxia grasped Alice's hands, looking at her sincerely. Alice nodded, returning the grip, her eyes glistening with tears. After nearly thirty years, she could finally face the Gu family with ease, facing the daughter of her former rival!
"You've just given birth and need to rest, so I won't bother you."
"When is Auntie going back to America?"
"It'll be the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. Although I won't be going back to Xiangcheng, you can bring your baby to visit me when you have time."
"Okay, then I wish Aunt a safe journey."
The sadness that Gu Mingxia had just experienced after giving birth immediately dissipated. Alice got up, walked to the crib, bent down and kissed Xiao Qing'er's cheek, and then left the ward.
"Xiao Yan, please see me downstairs."
Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, but still followed Alice downstairs.
Walking in the cold winter wind, neither of them spoke until they were almost at the hospital entrance. Alice stopped, looked at Xiao Yan's indifferent face, and sighed softly.
“I took Tina back to the United States on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. As for our past, let’s just call it quits. Please take good care of Xiaxia from now on. She is now the only heir of the Gu family’s eldest branch, and I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
“As long as you don’t try to harm the Gu family, I don’t think anyone in Xiangcheng will be able to hurt her.”
Xiao Yan stood with his hands in his pockets, staring indifferently at Alice. His attitude was exactly what Alice had expected, and she simply smiled faintly.
"Tina said she didn't want me to be enemies with her Xiao-gege, so for Tina's sake, I've decided to go back to America, and I'll never come back again!"
Alice paused for a moment, but still took out an agreement from her bag and handed it to Xiao Yan, indicating that he should take it.
"These are the remaining shares of the Morgan Group. I have already signed the transfer agreement. I hope you will cherish them and make good use of them!"
"you……"
"Tina said she believes her brother Xiao won't let her go hungry, so I'm leaving everything to you. I've decided to enjoy life for the rest of my days."
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