Ever since Angelina arrived, Belinda could not take her eyes off the young woman.
Angelina had to lower her head out of embarrassment every time she saw the lady of the house looking
at her with so much enthusiasm.
Belinda could not be any happier. This was her Camelia. She finally saw her. She teared up at the relief
of finding her after a long time.
Martin went over to hug her shoulders and tried to calm her down. She tried to control her emotion.
"Mom, let's get inside and chat," suggested Jeremy.
"Right. I almost forgot. Angelina, come, let's go inside," Belinda said, leading the way.
"Maria, please bring the food out. It's time for dinner."
"You haven't had dinner, have you? I've cooked some dishes you would like."
She walked over to Angelina's side and clung to her arms. She had endless words to say to her. She
badly wanted to talk to her daughter for as long as she could.
"You cooked it yourself?" Angelina asked, looking at her with surprise and disbelief.
Angelina could not fathom the idea that this lady who was a member of a wealthy family knew how to
cook.
Since she entered the villa, she hadn't seen anyone else except two servants.
The two servants were both aged. One was the housekeeper, Li, who was in charge of house chores
and transportation. The other one was Maria, the cook in the villa.
Belinda's heart jumped with joy when Angelina responded to her. She cheerfully responded to her
daughter's question, "Sure! I cooked some dishes that you used to like when you were a kid, but I'm
not sure if you still like them." As these words came out of her mouth, she started to get anxious.
The thought of Angelina not liking the dishes she prepared made her worry.
Angelina couldn't help but look at Belinda. She had kept her eyes on her since she arrived. This lady
cooked personally when she heard that she was coming.
She didn't even pay much attention to her son when he greeted her just now. All her attention was
solely on Angelina.
Deep in her heart was a kind of warmth she had never felt before. A mother's love, deep and strong
with affection.
Angelina mustered her courage and took her mother's hand. "Of course I will like them. I'm so glad I'd
get to taste your cooking, Auntie."
"Mr. and Mrs. Gu, dinner is ready." When the family came to the table, everything was already prepared
by Maria.
The cook studied Angelina intently from time to time. Even she couldn't believe that the daughter who
had been missing for nearly two decades was finally at the family villa, eating dinner together with
them.
"Okay, let's eat first. We can talk later after dinner," said Martin.
"Angelina, you must be very hungry now. Come, sit down," ushered Belinda.
Martin took the host's seat. Belinda guided Angelina to sit with her by the left side of the table. Jeremy
sat opposite them.
The table was full with a delectable feast that would whet up anyone's appetite.
"Angelina, try this. It's sweet and sour spareribs. I remember you liked them when you were a kid. Try
one, see if it still tastes the same as before."
Belinda helped Angelina get one piece into her plate and watched her expectantly.
Angelina didn't like sweet and sour spareribs very much. Moreover, she didn't have any memory of
liking it even during her childhood. And now she knew that she didn't like it for sure.
But looking at Belinda's eyes that were full of anticipation, she took a bite and commented, "Oh, it
tastes terrific. You're really good at cooking, Auntie."
Belinda beamed with delight, like a child who finally got the candy she wanted.
She kept adding food to Angelina's plate, believing that she still enjoyed them like she used to.
Seeing Angelina eat them made her even happier.
She hardly ate anything as she was busy serving her and watching her eat.
For her, to see Camelia and eat with her was more than enough.
Angelina returned the favor by placing some food on Belinda's plate. "Auntie, you have to eat too. You
put all the food into my plate. You forgot about yourself."
These words pinched Belinda's heart with happiness. Her Camelia helping her take the food into her
plate felt like a dream.
"Okay, let's both eat," said she with a cracking voice, eyes wet with tears of joy.
"What's wrong, Auntie? Why are you crying?" Angelina felt at a loss upon seeing her suddenly tear up.
Belinda choked between her words. "No, I'm not crying. I'm just too happy, too excited."
Jeremy drew out a piece of paper napkin and gave it to her. "Okay, don't cry, Mom. You shouldn't cry if
you're happy. Now that we have found Angelina, we should be happy, right?"
Belinda took the paper napkin from him and dried her eyes. "Right. I'm happy. I shouldn't have cried."
After they had dinner, they went to sit in the living room and watch TV.
In the living room, Belinda never let go of Angelina's hand, fearing she would lose her again.
Her eyes still fixed on her, she knew she would never see enough of her.
Even though she was completely aware that the lady's been looking at her ever since she got to the
villa, Angelina just let Belinda watch her. She knew how much she loved her daughter.
Angelina was never treated well at the Li household. Within less than two years after she was adopted,
a child was born into the family.
Because they had their real child, she was never given any importance.
Ever since her adopted mother was pregnant, she felt that her existence in the family was becoming
less and less important. And later her adopted mother gave birth to a boy.
In a country where boys were usually more important than girls, Angelina's life in the family got even
worse. What became of her was solely because of her own effort and intelligence.
Still she was thankful, as the Li family had supported her just like what adopted parents were supposed
to do.
"Angelina, how are you doing in your life?" Angelina was pulled back into reality when she felt Belinda
gently touching her face.
"I'm doing all right. Don't worry about me, Auntie," she replied timidly, not really knowing what to tell
her.
"How are your adopted parents treating you? Are they nice to you?"
Belinda was genuinely worried that her Camelia was being mistreated and wronged.
Angelina wanted to tell them everything.
Of course not well!
She wanted to tell them how she was only treated nicely during her first two years in the family.
How her existence started fading out to them ever since they had their own child. How despite not
sending her back, the good life she had with the Li's were brief.
She badly wanted to tell them everything, but she couldn't. She decided it would be better if they could
find out about it themselves.
"They treat me very well, really," Angelina shook her head and forced a smile. After saying that, she
smiled at her.
But the smile was forced, whoever saw it.
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