Chapter 1335
Astrid’s eyes, stained with the tracks of tears, lifted to meet Thalassa’s gaze. “You must be hurting more than me,” Astrid whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Don’t hold it back. Cry if you need to-it might ease the pain a little.”
Hearing Astrid’s words, the dam of Thalassa’s self-restraint burst, and tears began to flood. She wrapped her arms around Astrid, sobbing uncontrollably like a helpless child.
Astrid held her close, sharing in her sorrow.
After some time, it was Astrid who first found the strength to stem her tears. She gently patted Thalassa’s back and said with heartfelt sincerity, “Thalassa, have you thought about what you’ll do in the future?”
Thalassa wiped away her tears with a trembling hand, her voice hoarse from the weight of her grief. “I’ve decided to stay here with the kids,” she told Astrid, her face still wet from crying. “We’ll make a life in the countryside with you, working the land.”
Not long ago, she and Evelyn had pulled the children out of daycare. Lysander hadn’t come to see them for several days.
When she was discharged from the hospital and went back to the country to take care of Evelyn’s funeral, she fetched the kids from the Royal Estates without a peep from Lysander.
She wondered if Lysander had given up on them, on her taking the kids away.
So she resolved to keep the children in the countryside and to live a simple life there. It would be tough, but she was determined to make ends meet, to provide an education for her kids and to see them off to college someday.
Being with her children was all that mattered now.
With a kind smile, Astrid patted her hand and nodded. “Good. If you don’t know how to farm, I’ll teach you.”
Astrid had secretly hoped Thalassa would stay in the countryside with her. The city, no matter its allure, wasn’t home. After years of toil as a laborer, only the family homestead offered a true sense of belonging.
Besides, the children’s father was a man of considerable influence.
If Thalassa went back to the city and he took the children away again, what then?
Staying in the countryside could somewhat provide a safe distance from the powerful man’s reach.
Though Astrid lived alone in the country, she had been kept informed about Thalassa’s situation through Evelyn’s phone calls.
Chapter 1335
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“Alright,” Thalassa finally said with a sniffle, managing a small smile. “I’ll learn to farm
dear Auntie Astrid.” Together, they started to sort through Evelyn’s belongings.
“These clothes, we can take to your mother’s grave site later. These jewels, they were hers-keep them safe,” Astrid instructed as she sorted through the items.
She handed Thalassa an old red box. Inside lay a pair of gold earrings, a gold ring, and a jade pearl-out of place among the precious metals.
The jade pearl was exquisite, its emerald hue vibrant and clear. Thalassa wasn’t familiar with antiques or genuine jade, but her time with Lysander had given her a crash course in valuables, especially after she had accidentally broken several of his artifacts.
The jade pearl, with its lustrous depth and rich color, was clearly authentic, possibly even a precious antique.
Holding the jade pearl up, Thalassa asked, “Auntie, was this jade pearl also Mom’s?”
Astrid nodded. “Yes, your mother treasured that piece the most. She loved card games, sold many valuable things, but never this jade pearl. She lost a lot of jewelry to those games, but she never once thought of parting with this.”
Clutching the jade pearl, Thalassa handed the box back to Astrid. “You keep the other jewelry, Auntie. Wear them if you like, or sell them if you need to.”
Astrid shook her head, refusing. “I can’t take these. They’re your mother’s legacy.”
She wasn’t one to covet wealth, especially not from her own sister’s.
“I’ll sell them and transfer the money to your bank account. Then you can treat yourself to whatever you fancy,” Thalassa insisted with a gentle firmness.
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