amaotonovel Chapter 232 "As long as I'm by his side, it's okay even if he doesn't call me
Chapter 232 "As long as I'm by his side, it's okay even if he doesn't call me
Huan'er slumped onto the bed, postpartum weakness engulfing her like a tidal wave. Her face was pale and bloodless, and the stray hairs on her forehead were soaked with sweat and clung messily to her face.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her dim eyes, her shoulders trembled slightly, and suppressed sobs echoed in the quiet room.
She slowly closed her eyes, her brows furrowed, her heart filled with pain and helplessness that she could not let go of.
Sun Lan watched from the side, her heart aching with heartache. She quickly stepped forward, gently placing her hands on Huan'er's shoulders, and softly comforted her, "Huan'er, don't be sad. Didn't the Princess promise to take you back to the manor? You can still stay with the child!"
Upon hearing this, Huan'er slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with despair and sorrow, her voice trembling with tears, on the verge of collapse: "But I can't acknowledge him! My heart aches so much! Although I am just a lowly maid who has served the princess since I was a child, I didn't think too much about it. The princess promised me that she would take good care of the child, on the condition that the child be registered under her name and call her 'mother.' I am extremely grateful to the princess."
She choked up, and tears welled up again. "But ever since the child was born, every time I saw him, I regretted it."
As she spoke, Huan'er's gaze unconsciously drifted to the sleeping child not far away. Her eyes instantly softened, revealing an extreme tenderness and affection.
Her eyes shone with a soft light, as if the child was the only light in her life.
Her lips curled up slightly, revealing a weak yet happy smile, a smile filled with a mother's boundless love for her child.
Her gaze never left her child, as if she wanted to etch the child's image deep into her heart. Even if she was about to be separated from her child in the next second, she wanted to look at him one more time and love him a little more.
Sun Lan's eyes reddened, filled with self-blame and regret. She pulled Huan'er into her arms, her voice trembling with sobs, almost breaking down: "Poor child, it's all my fault. I was greedy for money. I'm so sorry!"
She held Huan'er tightly in her arms, as if she wanted to convey all her guilt and heartache to her.
Huan'er leaned against Sun Lan's chest, gently shaking her head. Though her face was streaked with tears, she forced a smile. Her voice was soft but filled with endless helplessness: "Auntie, this isn't your fault. It's all fate. It's my fate, and I accept it."
Her eyes held a calm that came with experience, but her slightly trembling lips betrayed the turmoil in her heart.
“Huan’er…” Sun Lan hesitated, her throat felt like it was choked by something, and she could no longer speak. She could only hold Huan’er tightly, tears streaming down her face.
Huan'er took a deep breath to calm herself down, and then said, "I've made up my mind. As long as I can be by my child's side, even if he doesn't know that I am his mother, even if he doesn't call me mother, as long as I can see him, I will be content."
Looking at Huan'er's distressed and helpless appearance, Sun Lan felt a pang of pain in her heart. She hugged Huan'er tightly, as if to build a barrier against all the suffering in the world for her with her embrace.
She gently patted Huan'er's back, again and again, trying to soothe her broken heart, murmuring, "Good child, you've suffered so much. If you ever have any troubles in the future, you can come to me. I'm happy to help you!"
Huan'er hugged her tightly, weeping, "Auntie—"
Just then, Li Yue returned pushing the cart. She carefully placed the cart, clapped her hands, put her hands on her hips, a hint of displeasure flashing across her face, and muttered, "What an unlucky day! I ran into that annoying guy. I hope I don't see him again!" She shook her head helplessly and stepped towards the house.
Just then, a faint sobbing sound came from inside the house. Li Yue suddenly stopped, her brows furrowed, her eyes full of confusion.
She stood at the doorway, listening intently, and the mournful weeping grew clearer. "Why is there crying? What's going on?" she murmured to herself, her voice tinged with surprise and unease.
Filled with doubt, Li Yue slowly pushed open the door. The scene inside startled her; Huan'er was sobbing in Sun Lan's arms, and Sun Lan, her face also streaked with tears, was gently comforting her.
Li Yue's gaze darted back and forth between the two of them, momentarily at a loss for words. Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't know what to say.
Li Yue's face was filled with confusion and worry. Her gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, and she asked anxiously, "Mother, Sister Huan'er, what's wrong with you two?"
Upon hearing Li Yue's voice, Sun Lan seemed startled. She hurriedly raised her hand and wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, trying to force a smile and appear calm. "Yue'er, you're back..." But her slightly trembling voice betrayed her inner sorrow.
Huan'er also noticed Li Yue's arrival at the same time. She subconsciously turned around, quickly wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand, her shoulders trembling slightly as she tried her best to suppress her sobs.
Seeing this, Li Yue quickly stepped forward, her brows furrowed tightly, her eyes filled with concern, and her voice unconsciously rose: "What happened? Why are you two crying? Huh? Mother, what's wrong?"
She stared intently at her mother, but Sun Lan kept her head down, her eyes darting around, her lips trembling, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. That helpless expression tugged at Li Yue's heart.
"You—" Seeing that her mother did not answer, Li Yue was filled with anxiety and had nowhere to put it. She could only turn to Huan'er immediately. Looking at Huan'er's pale face and her weak body as if a gust of wind could blow her away, her eyes reddened with heartache. "Sister Huan'er, what's wrong? You... why are you so weak... your face is so pale, what happened?"
She gently held Huan'er's hand, her voice choked with emotion, wishing she could know immediately what had happened and help them solve their problems.
Huan'er stared intently at Li Yue, as if looking through her at something distant and unattainable. After a long while, tears streamed down her face, and her long-suppressed emotions erupted instantly. She turned around abruptly, her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the bed, burying her face deep in the blankets. Her shoulders trembled violently, and her cries were heart-wrenching, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances, pain, and despair she had endured during this time.
Li Yue was taken aback by this sudden turn of events, her brows furrowing tightly, her face filled with bewilderment. She stepped forward, her voice trembling with anxiety and helplessness, and asked loudly, "What happened?" Seeing no response, she looked anxiously at Sun Lan, her expression becoming extremely serious, her tone unconsciously becoming more forceful: "Mom, what happened? Tell me quickly! Oh dear, I'm so worried!"
Sun Lan lowered her head, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes. After hesitating for a long time, she finally said in a trembling voice, "Yue'er, call her, she's in premature labor!"
"What?!" Li Yue's eyes widened instantly, her mouth agape, her face filled with shock, completely dumbfounded. Her gaze darted back and forth between Sun Lan and Huan'er, as if trying to confirm if this was a cruel joke, then she said incredulously, "Isn't it not yet the due date? How could this be..."
Sun Lan's face was full of self-reproach, her eyes reddened again, and her voice trembled with tears: "It's all my fault, I didn't take good care of her, she accidentally fell..."
"Oh dear, how old are you? How can you still be so careless!" Li Yue said anxiously and angrily.
"I know I was wrong!" Sun Lan replied, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Where is the child?" Li Yue asked anxiously, her heart filled with worry.
Upon hearing this, Sun Lan's expression froze, her eyes darting around, and she stammered, "Uh, this..."
Li Yue looked anxious, speechless and helpless, her brows furrowed as she shouted, "Stop talking in such bursts, it's driving me crazy!"
Sun Lan eventually told her the whole story.
Upon hearing this, Li Yue was both angry and indignant on Huan'er's behalf. She leaned closer to Huan'er, gently stroked her hand, and comforted her, "Sister Huan'er, don't be sad. I know you're suffering. How about this, I'll go with you. We'll go tell the Prince the truth and let him return the child to you!"