Chapter 12
713words
"Kaylee, I don't care about that. But I'm still a little happy hearing you say that. You know how men are a little selfish when it comes to these things."
"I know, Spencer. I'm telling you this just because I don't want him to slander me. It's for you, but mostly, it's for me."
With that, I gave him a grin, then ducked into his trenchcoat.
"Spencer, let's go home. I'm freezing!"
"Alright."
He held on to my hand and held it very tightly, and it would be one that would last a lifetime.
Before my relationship with Spencer was made public, I went to the Johnsons and spent a whole afternoon discussing matters with them.
Finally, with the help of the real daughter, Robyn Johnson, I managed to reclaim custody over myself. Henceforth, I had nothing to do with the Johnson family and vice versa.
I made this choice at this particular point in time because I knew them too well.
If they found out about my relationship with Spencer, then they would latch onto his family, the Lithgows, like vampires.
I did not want him or his family to be subjected to such a nuisance.
When I left their house, Rose, Robyn's mother, was quite unimpressed.
"Kaylee, our family has raised you all these years and spent tens of millions on you. And now we're not getting even a cent back."
To be honest, my state of mind had completely changed now.
The Johnson family had taken great care in raising me until I was sixteen. Until the real daughter had returned.
I had indeed gone through a very dark few years, but never once did I starve.
Then there was Robyn. She started out having ill intentions toward me, but from some point on and for some reason, she changed her attitude.
Come to think of it, Robyn had played a part in forcing me to drop out of school, and when I had nearly been sent back to my biological parents.
However, she was the one to speak up on my behalf right now and helped me take care of one last matter that had been burdening me.
She had convinced Rose to not announce my shameful beginnings to the public.
Thus, I was able to be the carefree Kaylee I was today, a Kaylee who was no longer held down by anything or anyone.
I was content.
"Ma'am." I gave Rose a respectful bow.
"I will never forget the grace you have shown me by raising me."
"Useless words," Rose said while she swept me with a cold look before continuing. "You can't even hold onto Andrew Zelenski—someone you grew up with no less—so what could you possibly amount to in the future? Forget it. Leave, quickly. I'm getting annoyed just from looking at you."
Rose gave me a dismissive wave.
I did not choose to explain any further, but instead gave Robyn a pointed look.
"Mom, I'll see Kaylee out."
Rose's expression softened when speaking to Robyn. "Be quick. We're about to have dinner."
"Okay," answered Robyn with a smile before dragging me out of the living room.
It was not until we reached the garden that we both simultaneously halted our footsteps.
I looked at her just as she looked at me too. Then, we both broke out into laughter.
"Robyn," I said as I hugged her tightly. "Thank you."
And just as I said that, Robyn, too, said in a low voice, "Kaylee, I'm sorry."
We did not go into detail with our words, but we were both clear on what the other wanted to say.
Robyn's apology was likely for the Kaylee from my dreams.
My eyes reddened, and tears fell from Robyn's eyes too.
Finally, she grasped my hand firmly. "Kaylee, this time, promise me you'll be happy. Very, very happy!"
"I will, Robyn. You too."
As for my gratitude toward the Johnsons for raising me, I would show it by repaying it to Robyn instead.
She had suffered for 16 years; I had enjoyed a good life for 16 years in her stead.
In my dreams, I hated her. But now, all that was in the past and would stay in the past.
