Alger and Celeste couldn't help but reminisce about the past when they ran into Arabella, who had once been their daughter
Crystal's lifesaver. They remembered how Arabella had fought tirelessly for hours on end in the operating room to save her.
"Bella." Celeste greeted her warmly with a nod, before turning to Carol, "Carol, are you here to buy flowers too?"
Arabella was surprised to hear Celeste call Carol by her first name, speaking with the kind of tender concern usually reserved for
someone much younger.
Back in the day, Alger and Celeste believed that Carol was responsible for their daughter's death. They harbored immense hostility
towards her, treating her no better than an enemy. To think that now, their relationship had thawed to such an extent was baffling.
Although confused, Arabella didn't want to reignite any past animosity, so she quickly added, "The holidays are just around the
corner, and New Year is only few days away. Carol askedout to pick sflowers for visiting Crystal's grave, and to choose
sNew Year's gifts for you both."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
Upon hearing this, Alger and Celeste looked at Carol with surprise. Celeste even went so far as to say, "That's very thoughtful of
you, but there's no need for flowers or gifts. Why don't you cover for dinner sometinstead?"
Arabella was even more startled. Celeste was inviting Carol over for dinner? And during such an important holiday as New Year.
What exactly had happened during Arabella's absence abroad?
"I'll cwith Clark, and we'll let you know in advance which day, Aunt Celeste, Uncle Alger."
Carol's way of addressing them baffled Arabella even further. Was there really a blood relation there, or had they cto regard
each other as family?
"Alright then, we'll head off to visit Crystal now. Take your there," Celeste's demeanor was a far cry from the aggressive stance
she once held. She nodded gently and, along with her husband, walked away.
Once they were gone, Carol picked out a bouquet of white roses and, linking arms with Arabella, left the flower shop. As they
walked, Carol began to explain, "Surprised | call them aunt and uncle? | didn't find out until after | was reunited with my biological
family. It turns out my late mom was her younger sister. By family hierarchy, | should indeed call her aunt."
Arabella was stunned, yet somehow it felt as if the universe had its own plans. Heaven had taken Crystal but hadn't left her
parents alone and desolate. Instead, Carol was brought into their lives.
"Do you remember that story my brother once told you, about when we got lost as kids?" Carol recounted, "I only found out later
that the day we were separated was Crystal's birthday. My aunt had invited our family to the amusement park to celebrate. It was
crowded that day, and shortly after we arrived, my mom received a call that my aunt and uncle had been in a car accident."
Carol detailed what happened, "My mom was frantic. She told my dad to watch us and ran to help. The accident was near the
amusement park, and the woman who hit my aunt and uncle was in a panic, apologizing profusely and insisting on taking them to
the hospital. They were injured, so my mom decided to go with them. Tragically, on the way, a truck swerved into their lane and
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmaccelerated. The woman driving was either too scared to react properly or something else happened, but she died instantly. My
mom, who was sitting directly behind the driver, realized what was happening and shielded my aunt, protecting Crystal in her
arms. After that, my mom was on death's door and ended up with a lifelong disability, unable to walk. My brother and | were
separated that day - | ended up in an orphanage, while he was taken by traffickers and sold to a family in a remote village. You
know the rest."
Arabella sighed by the tale, which she had never fully known before.
"My mom spent years searching for us but never succeeded. In the end, she died of illness." Carol's eyes dimmed as she spoke,
"All these years, my aunt felt she owed my mom her life. If it hadn't been for her invitation, if my mom hadn't been rushing them
to the hospital, if she hadn't been there to hold my aunt and protect Crystal during the crash. They say the steel rod from the truck
pierced my mom's back and legs."
Happy New Year!
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