CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 121: I’M SORRY, MY DAUGHTER

Shannon Quinn placed the fruit she was holding on the bedside table and then sat down on an empty chair by the side.

Sheila Yardley sat directly by the bed, "I told Shannon not to bring anything, but she insisted on buying something."

Catherine Yardley turned her head to look at Shannon Quinn and said softly, "Thank you."

"No need, I didn’t really help much."

"Oh, you two, stop being so polite, it’s making me feel awkward."

Only then did Catherine Yardley move her gaze away from Shannon Quinn’s face and asked Sheila Yardley, "Is Ryder Griffin not coming tonight?"

"He’s on his way; do you think he’d dare not come for dinner with you?"

"Ryder is a good man; cherish him well and don’t throw childish tantrums."

"I know, Mom, you’ve told me that a hundred times."

Catherine Yardley asked as she turned her head back towards Shannon Quinn, casually inquiring, "...Miss Quinn, are you married?"

Shannon Quinn was taken aback, but Sheila Yardley thought she was embarrassed and hurriedly said, "Mom, stop being so nosy. If you keep this up, Shannon won’t dare to visit next time."

Catherine Yardley smiled apologetically, "Alright, I won’t ask, I won’t ask. Why don’t you call Julian and ask him to meet us at the restaurant?"

Shannon Quinn felt a bit entranced. When Catherine Yardley asked if she was married, the feeling in that one moment was strange. Maybe it was because it had been too long since any elder showed concern for her affairs.

After arriving at the restaurant, Shannon Quinn felt a bit like an outsider and even envied their familial atmosphere somewhat.

Especially when she considered that Catherine Yardley might be her mother, comparing it to her own experiences growing up, a vague sense of injustice stirred in her heart.

"Shannon, do you not like the food?"

Shannon Quinn snapped out of it and smiled lightly, shaking her head, "No, everything’s really good."

Julian Yardley sneered, "Maybe she’s accustomed to delicacies and can’t appreciate our home-style cooking."

Sheila Yardley immediately glared at Julian, "Just eat your meal; stop talking!"

"Brother-in-law, you should discipline my sister; she has no manners!"

Ryder Griffin glanced at Sheila Yardley and smiled without speaking, the fondness in his eyes already answering the question.

Catherine Yardley added, "Talking about disciplining your sister, I think a nice girl should come and discipline you."

"I can’t stay in this house; everyone sides with her!"

"By the way, do you have a girlfriend? If you do, bring her home to meet Mom."

"All the people I meet at work are men. Where would I bring you a girlfriend? A boyfriend is more likely."

Catherine Yardley shot him a glare, "Nonsense!"

Shannon Quinn placed down her utensils and smiled apologetically, "I’ve had enough, and I’ve got something to do tonight, so I’ll leave now."

"So soon?" Catherine Yardley was surprised Shannon Quinn was leaving so quickly.

Shannon Quinn nodded and stood up, "Take your time eating."

She didn’t even know why she wanted to escape.

When she got home, Shannon Quinn told Erin Bishop about the events of the evening, and Erin advised her to clarify things, or it would continue to bother her.

As Shannon Quinn was contemplating how to broach the subject, her phone chimed with a WeChat notification.

It was a new contact request. She opened it to see the profile picture was of Catherine Yardley and Julian Yardley; it listed the age as 39, and she speculated it was Catherine Yardley.

From the start, she thought Catherine Yardley looked young, but her actual age was much younger than she imagined.

Erin Bishop glanced at it and said, "Isn’t that the woman? Only thirty-nine? Could she really be your sister?"

With doubts swirling, Shannon Quinn accepted the friend request.

Almost immediately, a message came through: Hi, I’m Sheila Yardley’s mom.

Then a second message followed: I got your contact from Sheila, sorry to disturb you.

Shannon Quinn simply replied: Is there something you need?

The indicator showed the other party was typing, yet no message came through for a while, as though they were editing their words.

Eventually, just a photo came through—of a jade bracelet, broken in half—followed by a message: Do you recognize this bracelet?

How could Shannon Quinn not recognize it? Since she could remember, the orphanage’s headmistress had given her half of that bracelet, saying it was left with her in her swaddling clothes when she was abandoned there.

She knew it might be a clue to finding her biological parents, but she never investigated. Her half of the bracelet remained tucked away in a drawer corner.

Shannon Quinn didn’t respond whether she recognized it or not, simply asking: What do you want to say?

Catherine Yardley replied: If you recognize it, and have time tomorrow, could you bring the other half of the bracelet to the hospital? There’s something I want to say to you.

Even though she said she didn’t care about finding her parents, Shannon Quinn still had a restless night.

Early the next morning she drove to the hospital; at that hour, Julian Yardley was at work, and Sheila Yardley was at school. When she arrived, the nurse had just finished with Catherine Yardley’s check-up.

The room had three beds, but the other two were unoccupied, so once the nurse left, only Shannon Quinn and Catherine Yardley were left.

"You came?" Catherine Yardley smiled at Shannon Quinn, propping herself up in bed, staring intently at Shannon Quinn, hints of tears in her eyes, "The first time I saw you, I thought of it."

Shannon Quinn remained silent as Catherine Yardley turned her back, opened the drawer by the bed, took out her bag, and retrieved the cloth bag containing the half-bracelet she had shown Shannon Quinn the night before.

On the surface, Shannon Quinn seemed calm, but inside she was in turmoil, her mind somewhat blank, not knowing what to say.

"And yours?" Catherine Yardley asked gently, looking at her.

Shannon Quinn lowered her head to take out her own half, and Catherine Yardley stretched out her hand to receive it, her hand trembling slightly, as she pieced the bracelet together, the cracks aligned perfectly.

In that moment, Shannon Quinn saw tears fall from Catherine Yardley’s eyes, making her appear somewhat pitiable.

"...Finally found you, my daughter."

Listening to Catherine Yardley’s choked voice, Shannon Quinn felt little emotion, feeling partly sorry for Catherine Yardley, yet at the same time remembering she was heartless enough to abandon her.

"It’s my fault... I don’t deserve to be your mom."

"You really don’t deserve it."

Catherine Yardley wiped her tears in sorrow, seemingly having much to say to Shannon Quinn, but ultimately only asked her, "...Are you doing well now? I got some information about you from Sheila. I was afraid of disturbing your life, but... I don’t know how long I’ll live with this illness. I’ve searched for you so long, suddenly to find you before me, I’m afraid I’d leave regrets if I didn’t acknowledge you after I die..."