Chapter 290: Chapter 290

"I-" As Samantha slowly turned over the small brooch in her hands, a flood of emotion overtook her, and tears welled up in her eyes. Her little breath caught in her throat.

In her palms, nestled against her warm flesh, lay a brooch unlike any she had ever seen - a masterpiece, a swirl of gold filigree, delicately holding the teeniest cluster of jewels that shimmered in the soft overhead light. Each gemstone, though small, was perfectly set and caught the light in a different way, casting tiny rainbows that danced across her trembling fingers.

Samantha couldn’t help but widen her eyes in awe, taking in every intricate detail—the way the gold seemed to twist and flow like a liquid, the way the jewels appeared to glow from within the small brooch shaped like a rose with dripping petals.

It was a breathtaking piece of art that spoke of care, love, and a deep understanding of her heart. This made her truly confused, because deep down, Samantha had thought that Shelby was fake and was only currying favour with them. However, this gesture made that whole scene in her mind feel wrong.

The significance of the gift settled over Samantha, causing a lump to rise in her throat. It wasn’t just the brooch; it was what it represented – thoughtfulness, beauty, and unspoken emotions. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the sparkling jewels before spilling over, tracing warm, silent paths down her cheeks.

She held the brooch tightly to her chest, overcome by a rush of emotion she could barely contain in her small frame. The tears came not from sadness but from a deep, unexplainable sense of gratitude. In that moment, she understood how profoundly she was understood, how much she was loved, or could be loved, and how words could never truly express the extent of her gratitude.

Samantha sat up and went on her knees, startling Shelby,

"I’m sorry! I really am sorry for all the mean things I said to you. It’s not because you gave me this but..."

Samantha stopped as she didn’t know what to say or the words to convey what she felt to Shelby.

Shelby smiled and also went up on her knees so that she was almost the same height as her. Holding Samantha’s arms, she replied,

"You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know that I am and will always be there for you."

More tears poured out of Samantha. She had even temporarily forgotten Raye and his issues., "Why are you being so nice to me? I have never been considerate of you in any way."

Her lips trembled as more tears fell off.

"Because I am and would like to be your mother now, Samantha.... But that is only if you let me."

Shelby studied Samantha’s face and then used her sleeve to wipe the tears, "Hug?" She skewed her head and asked,

"Waaaa!!!!!" Samantha’s tear dam gates opened wide, and she buried her face in Shelby’s arms, crying her heart out. Shelby gently patted her back and held her until she had cried to her fill.

She was only a child, and children go through phases like that. Even though such behaviour should not be tolerated, Samantha’s turnaround had been surprisingly so swift that Shelby could not find it in her to do anything contrary then.

In that instant, the front of Shelby’s dress was drenched, yet she remained unfazed.

"Do you feel better now?" Shelby asked gently, and Samantha nodded, still feeling more guilt with a touch of embarrassment. She knew she had made a grave mistake and had to rectify it, but she did not know how.

"Do you really forgive me?"

"Of course! Why wouldn’t I?" Shelby said with no hesitation. Just as Samantha was about be release a sigh of relief, Shelby added,

.... ’There’s a ’but?’

".... "On the condition that you correct your ways from now on."."

Samantha immediately sat back on her heels, and that delayed relief finally left her. She twisted the edge of her hoodie, "I promise!"

"That is all I wish for, then,"

Shelby added, smiling sweetly, ’I am glad it all worked out.’

Frankly, Shelby was not sure what to expect when she insisted that Ian bring her there because Samatha was like a rose, all beautiful but with many thorns. However, seeing Samatha like that, Shelby knew that she would have still made that decision no matter what. She thanked that gut feeling that made her want to find Samantha and follow through to coming to the school premises that day.

Samantha was not the only one feeling guilt as Shelby thought that she had neglected her from the start. Shelby felt that if she had made a lot more effort, maybe, Samantha would not have turned into the little devil.

"Do you want to say something?" Shelby asked gently, encouraging the hesitant Samantha to talk.

"Does your mum really not like you?" Shelby chuckled at those words and then nodded solemly,

"She does not know what she is missing then! She is an idiot!" Samantha said with more intensity than she had intended.

"I hate to say this, but I totally agree with you!" Shelby smiled and then extended her hands for Samatha’s,

"Errrmmmmm...." Samantha was not sure what and how to address Shelby, so she used prompting words like that,

"Is there anything else, dear?"

Samantha’s eyes constricted, and she bowed her head in shame. She was hesitant about how and what to call Shelby, but the older woman had no such issues.

"A-re you, okay? I- heard-" She lowered her head, and her voice trailed off.

Shelby’s lips curved up, and she lightly patted Samantha’s hair. She already understood the girl’s question despite the unfinished statement. "As you can see, I am doing well. It is so sweet of you to ask though. I really appreciate the thought."

Samantha nodded and then took Shelby’s hand that had been offered to her again. Samantha had no idea that her last statement was what changed Ian’s bad impression of her.

In the hallway, Ian leaned against the wall with his eyes closed and his legs crossed. He had no qualms about many things relating to his outworldly capabilities at all because Currey always handled such things as the CCTV, or else, it would have been unexplainable as to how he had gotten there that day.

His Elfin had just survived a harrowing ordeal, and the last thing Ian wanted was for her to meet that ungrateful girl. However, from Shelby’s words, Ian was willing to give the girl one more chance. His Elfin was, sometimes, just too good for her own good, but Ian knew to let her spread her wings. All he had to do was to protect her.

Just as he was still lost in deep thought, the door that Shelby had disappeared into swung open.

Ian straightened and waited. He had heard most of the conversation, so he did not need to ask, and he knew who was coming out exactly, but Samantha did not know that Ian had been out there. As soon as her eyes landed on Ian, she immediately hid behind Shelby.

"It’s okay. He won’t bite!" Shelby encouraged, but Shelby had no idea what had ensued between the two some time back.

Gritting her teeth and with her heart pounding, Samantha took small steps and stood decisively between Shelby and Ian,

She twisted her hands nervously. Her heart was pounding so hard that Samantha could not hear the words coming out of her mouth. Despite this, she chose to trust that Shelby had her back.

Samantha went on her knees, bowed her head and said, "I am sorry, S-sir! I- h-ave n-o wo-rd-s to e-xplai-n why- I did that but I kn-ow bett-er now!"

He gazed intently at the young girl before him, her body quivering as she fought to hold herself together. He could see Shelby encouraging him as well.

’I don’t know why you want to give her a chance, but I will trust your judgement on this.’ Ian used their mindlink, and then he sighed loudly.

’Thanks! You’re the best!’

Ian addressed the girl; his cold voice made Samantha flinch, but she held her ground,

"I hope you remember what you have said today! If you go back on your words and hurt my wife, that would be the last straw!"

"Th-anks S-ir! I will never go back on my words and will always respect m-um too!"

Shelby’s eyes widened at how Samantha was addressing her, and she also noted Samantha’s wariness around Ian.

Wasn’t that too fast with her calling me that? She wondered as a warm fuzzy feeling crept up. She couldn’t help but take another look at Samantha, and then her world tilted.

"Ah!" She screamed just as Ian swept her off her feet and into his arms,

"Now, can we go back?" Ian asked,

Shelby wrapped her hands around his neck and then added, "Can we go home instead?"

"No! We are going back to the hospital!"

She opened her mouth and then closed it, knowing when to give up an argument when it came to Ian.

Ian had taken just a couple of steps before he turned back to the still-kneeling girl,

"What are you waiting for?"

Samantha did not need a second invitation. She got up to her feet and hurried after them. Their interaction in school had just opened her eyes to many things about her new family that she had taken for granted, especially Ian’s words to her the night she had encountered him in her siblings’ room.

She made a ’self-conviction’ to live right with her new family. Before that, Samantha knew that there were bumpy roads ahead. She had made too much of a mess and hoped that she would be able to make things right with the rest as she had done with her adoptive parents. It didn’t take long for Ian to ask a question that made Samantha’s mouth drop open in surprise.

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