Arriving home, Emma saw her mom sitting on the couch and weeping. Pausing at first, she hurriedly walked toward her. "Mom, what's wrong with you? Why are you crying?"
Cristina was agitated from all the crying. Looking up to Emma, she grabbed her hands and said. "Emma, you came!"
Hugging Emma tightly, she sobbed. "I'm so sorry! It's all my fault. I hurt you before, and I hurt myself. Why was I so stupid at that time? How could I come between you and Charles? I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." She said, sobbing.
Emma didn't know what had happened, her mom was acting so strange today. Although Christina had recently started to show pity towards her, this was the first time that she was blaming herself like this. Emma became worried. Tapping her mother's shoulder to comfort her, she asked. "Mom, what happened? Why are you so sad and suddenly so self-condemning?"
"All because of that vixen… that woman, Sarah. I won't let her go easily, absolutely not!" Mrs. Thomas cried with resentment.
Surprised, Emma asked cautiously, "Mom, what did my sister-in-law do to you?"
Christina's anger was triggered again, and loosening her grip on Emma, she started yelling hysterically. "Don't mention her name. She is neither your brother's wife nor our family member!"
Emma dared not speak. She became frightened, seeing her mother was losing control.
Mrs. Thomas sobbed for a while, then gnashed as if sinking into deep anger. After a long time, she finally said, "I will not so easily let that woman call herself my family. No way!"
"Mom…sister…what on earth did Sarah do? Why are you so angry?" Emma asked tentatively.
Christina stared blankly in front of her, with shrew and coldness in her eyes. She didn't say anything, but Emma was scared looking at her. After a long time, Christina suddenly turned around, holding Emma's hands and asked. "Emma, tell me, do you still love Charles?"
Her tone was so kind as if she was imploring, overwhelming Emma. Emma didn't know how to answer, and just looked blankly and a little shy at her mother.
Christina held Emma's hands tightly and said, "I wouldn't blame you now. Just tell me your real feeling. Do you still love him?"
Looking at her mother's pleading eyes, Emma lowered her head and answered hesitantly. "Mom… I really liked him. When I was young, I liked it when he was taking me to school every day. I just adored him. When I grew up, that feeling grew, and I started to love him. In the beginning, I thought I just adored him as a brother, until one day, I began to feel jealous when I found some love letters from other girls or when I saw him go out with another girl.
"I knew I loved him little by little. He's not my real brother, and he was so good to me. I was certain I had fallen in love with him, but I suppressed my feelings for many reasons until one day, I couldn't take it any longer and confess to him. I didn't expect that he loved me too, but he said he loved me. I was so stupid at that time because I believed that we could be together if we loved each other. But then … you and dad were bitter against us."
"It's all my fault. I was against you and Charles from the beginning. And it was me who convinced dad against you two. I didn't expect to cause so much trouble." Christina confessed.
Thinking back, Emma still felt painful. Suppressing her real feelings, she resumed. "Later, I figured that perhaps when two people love each other, but can't be together as a couple, at least they should support each other. So, I gave up… till now…"
Emma hesitated for a while, then continued, "Up until now… I still love him. I loved him so much and can't forget him… but… but I had no courage to strive for it. I got tired of struggling.
What's more… he got married and didn't love me anymore…" Emma couldn't help but crying while saying that as if she was still in so much pain.
Christina hugged Emma, comforting her. "Emma, I was so stupid back then. I'm so sorry. But now I'm willing to make up for it. Do you want to give it another try? You said just now that you were afraid to persuade it any further because you're tired of fighting the world. Now, I'm on your side. Can you get up the courage to strive for it again?"
Emma lifted her head in hesitation. "But……he doesn't love me anymore. He loves Sarah!"
Christina trembled. "Stupid girl. You should fight for your love, no matter whether he loves you or not. How can he love you if you didn't fight for him? Besides, that vixen took him away when he still liked you. Now you take him back. Why not?"
"Mom, is that right? He is married. I'm afraid it's not a good idea." Emma was still hesitating.
Christina froze, instantly hearing Emma's words. "You often told me that you love Charles. If that's true, shouldn't you at least make an effort?
"I do. But he got married. And he really seems to love Sarah…"
"Shut up! She is not your brother's wife. And you would never call her that. She is a vixen!" Christina seized her hands and continued, "Emma, I'm telling you that you have the right to take Charles back because Sarah is a vixen. She's not qualified to be part of our family, and we need to drive her away. You're the only one who is supported by our family. What's more, Charles loved you before. It was Sarah who took him away from you. You should get him back for our family and for yourself. Understand?"
Emma had no idea what to say or if she really did have that right. However, she had some different ideas than her mother. She felt Christina's anger was justifiable.
Noticing her hesitation, Cristina said, "Promise me, you'll get Charles back. Don't worry. I will support you from behind. You are the final winner."
Emma was thinking for a long time, lips tightly pressed against each other. Finally, she reached a decision and nodded.
Christina smiled and hugged her tightly. "Emma, you are so obedient. I will support you!"
Sarah and Charles had no idea what evil plans were brewing against them. But just thinking about Christina made Sarah feel that trouble was coming. She was worried and felt humiliated.
After a long drive, at ten o'clock in the evening, they had finally arrived at Charles's apartment in Houston. Charles was taking a shower while Sarah was sitting in the living room. The TV was on, but Sarah was not in the mood to watch anything.
When Charles finally walked out of the bathroom, she can't help asking, "Charles, can we go back without giving an explanation?"
"No, You have asked me several times already. It's not the first time I had a fight with her. It's no big deal." Charles took a towel to dry his hair while walking out, his upper body naked, the rest of his body wrapped in a towel.
"But it was just you before. This time, I'm involved in it. Your mom hasn't liked me all this time. I'm afraid her rage was because of me."
"Forget it. I told you I'm here for you. Don't worry. I am her only child, she can't just drive me away!"
Sarah stopped, but after thinking for a little while, she asked again. "What about your dad? He's in the hospital. Who will take care of him after Emma goes aboard?"
Charles sat down on the sofa, turned around, and stared at her. "If you miss my dad, we can go back to Los Angeles to visit him on weekends. It's not mandatory to live with them, and the nurse will look after him."
"Alas, I only feel sorry for your dad. He is so kind and nice to me. But I…"
Leaning against the sofa, Charles held her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. Looking at the TV, he said, "Emma will graduate in half a year and will come back home to take care of dad at that time. We can go to Los Angeles to visit him within half a year. Is it okay?"
Sarah was pulled into his arms and leaned against his chest. She wanted to sit up, but Charles was unwilling to let her go, so she gave up.
"I hope Emma finds the right person for her. She's a good girl, I feel sorry for her."
"Why do you feel sorry for her?" Charles turned around and asked in surprise.
Sarah raised her head and replied, "I noticed how sad she was when we got married. She forced a smile throughout the day just for you. And, it was her who called me when you got into a car accident. Otherwise, we wouldn't be together now.
Charles smiled, "You are too kind. You always think about others and feel sorry for them.. You are too easy on my mom."