Chapter 11

Andrew's face darkened. "I remember you always being a sensible kid. Why are you making a fuss now?"

"Dad, Mom!" Celeste stomped her foot in frustration. "I'm your daughter too! How can you treat me like this?"

With that, she stormed upstairs, clearly throwing a tantrum.

Susan didn't pay much attention to her outburst. Instead, she held Alexandra's hand. "Alexandra, don't mind Celeste. We've spoiled her, and now she's a bit of a brat! Please don't take it to heart."

Alexandra smiled and nodded.

Celeste's reaction was understandable. After all, anyone would struggle to accept a suddenly appearing sister. Celeste had always been the youngest and the only girl in the family, doted on by her three brothers and parents. Now, someone new was here to share that attention. Even Alexandra might feel uneasy in her shoes, let alone the pampered Celeste.

Andrew, worried that Alexandra might be upset, quickly tried to comfort her. "Celeste has been spoiled by her brothers. Please don't take it to heart."

"Don't worry, I won't."

Alexandra's calm demeanor reassured Susan and Andrew.

"You are so understanding!"

"Exactly, if only Celeste were half as sensible as you, we wouldn't have to worry so much about her!"

Susan's eyes welled up with tears at Andrew's words. "It's our fault for losing Alexandra back then. If we hadn't, she would have been just as spoiled. She wouldn't have to be so understanding. We wouldn't need her to be!"

Seeing Susan about to cry, Alexandra remained unaffected.

Andrew quickly comforted her. "Thank God we finally found Alexandra! Since we've been given this chance, we must make it up to her."

"Yes! Alexandra, we promise to do everything we can to make up for the years we lost with you!"

Susan nodded firmly, her gaze towards Alexandra filled with determination.

Even though Alexandra had been lost, their warm treatment seemed to have already earned her forgiveness. She felt they didn't need to be so remorseful.

"I've been doing okay all these years. You don't need to do this."

Although life with the Smith family wasn't perfect, compared to an average family, Alexandra had been quite fortunate.

So, she never complained or felt that life had been unfair to her. She didn't think Andrew and Susan owed her anything, making their guilt unnecessary.

"No, no, no! We must!" Susan insisted firmly. "Losing you was our fault. If we can't make it up to you, we'll never be at peace!"

Andrew agreed. "Yes, Alexandra, we had no choice back then, but looking back, if it weren't for our carelessness, you wouldn't have suffered so much. We can only make it up to you by treating you even better."

In truth, being taken in by the Smith family wasn't all that bad. Clara had a bad temper, but when she thought Alexandra was her own daughter, she didn't hit her every day. She only occasionally scolded her, calling it a form of education.

John, on the other hand, was more concerned with his reputation. He was cold towards Alexandra but didn't do much else.

Compared to an average family, Alexandra's life had been quite comfortable and happy. She just didn't have as much parental love and attention as Celeste.

This lack of affection over the years had made Alexandra somewhat reserved.

Susan and Andrew's warmth was something she wasn't used to.

As they spoke, Susan and Andrew began to tear up again, holding her hand and looking at her with a pitiful expression.

This made Alexandra uncomfortable, and she instinctively stepped back. "Please don't cry."

Susan quickly wiped her tears. "Yes, we shouldn't cry! We don't want to make Alexandra feel bad!"

"Right, right, no more crying!" Andrew also wiped his eyes. "Now that you're back, we can be together as a family. We have plenty of time ahead!"

When it was time for dinner, Celeste still hadn't come out of her room.

Andrew, Susan, and Alexandra were already seated at the table, but there was no sign of Celeste.

After a few minutes, Andrew looked annoyed and turned to the maid.

"Didn't you call Celeste down for dinner?"

"I did, but Miss Celeste Windsor said she didn't want to eat," the maid replied, looking embarrassed and terrified.

Andrew's anger flared, and he slammed his hand on the table. "Today is Alexandra's first day home. Her brothers are busy and couldn't make it, but Celeste is here. She should be welcoming her properly!"

"Now she won't even come down for dinner? Who spoiled her like this?"

Andrew's sudden outburst shocked Alexandra, and her expression changed slightly.

Susan quickly intervened. "Why are you yelling? You're scaring Alexandra!"

She then turned to the maid. "What are you standing there for? Go get Celeste down here! If she doesn't come, Andrew will be even angrier!"

The maid hurried upstairs to fetch Celeste.

Susan tried to comfort Alexandra. "Don't mind him. Andrew isn't usually like this. He's just upset with Celeste."

Andrew also softened his tone when he looked at Alexandra. "Don't be afraid, Alexandra. I won't treat you like that."

Alexandra just nodded.

A few minutes later, Celeste reluctantly came downstairs, following the maid.

Her expression made it clear how unhappy she was.

She was about to sit in her usual spot when she noticed that Alexandra was already sitting in the seat next to Andrew, the one beside Susan.

Celeste stood there, stunned, unable to process the change.

Susan quickly called out. "What are you standing there for? Come and sit down!"

Celeste walked over and sat across from Alexandra, in the seat next to Andrew.

She was in disbelief. That seat should have been hers!

Why? Why had everything changed so much?

Celeste's heart pounded, her anger and frustration reaching a peak.