Chapter 152

Ingrid’s panic was hidden behind her sunglasses, especially when she laid eyes on the child. Her grip tightened unconsciously, which hurt Sherryn so much that it brought her back to her senses. Although Angeline didn’t expect to see them here, she did not avoid them. Regardless of the Fletcher family’s reason for letting her stay with them in the past, they had taken her in nevertheless. Although Ned’s parents were often away on business, they always included a gift for her when they returned for the holidays.
Their estrangement later on was because of Ned. Angeline’s last memory of meeting Ned’s mother, Sherryn, was unpleasant.
Sherryn had hysterically accused Angeline of holding on to Ned, who had lost his memory. She pleaded with Angeline to stop disrupting his life and felt that Ingrid’s status was unworthy of her son. She commanded Angeline to find a way to separate Ingrid from Ned as a way to repay them for the many years of shelter they provided.
At that time, Sherryn probably vented her frustration at Angeline because she felt she was losing control over her son.
Angeline stepped forward with a smile while holding Yasmine’s hand and greeted, “Mrs. Fletcher.”
Yasmine looked at Sherryn and bowed.
She said sweetly in a soft voice, “Hello, Mrs. Fletcher!”
A sudden realization dawned on Sherryn, prompting her to widen her eyes and tightly grip Ingrid’s hand. She looked up at Angeline in shock.
Ned was the first to speak.
His voice was rough when he asked, “Is this child… yours? Did you give birth to her?”
Yasmine was unhappy when she heard his questions.
“Of course my mom gave birth to me. Do you think my dad could give birth?”
Ingrid was surprised.
“Angeline, you’re married?”
“Yes,” Angeline replied with a graceful and generous smile while still holding Yasmine’s hand.
“If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.”
As Angeline and Yasmine brushed past the Fletcher family, Ingrid noticed the flowers in Angeline’s arms.
“Wait!”
Ingrid stopped Angeline.
“I’m sorry, Angeline, Mrs. Fletcher has been looking for this Silver Petal for a long time. We came here today specifically to buy this flower. Could you possibly part with it? I’m really sorry… You see, she came all the way from Oceanford
Angeline looked at Ingrid with a half-smile.
“Ms. Dalton seems to really enjoy taking things away from me, doesn’t she?”
Ned stepped forward and took hold of Ingrid to calm her.
“Let it go. We’ll find another one. It’s first come, first serve… We arrived too late.”
After saying this, Ned’s gaze involuntarily fell on Yasmine. With dark eyes like black grapes, Yasmine looked at Angeline, Ned, and Ingrid.
“I’m sorry, Angeline, I just thought Mrs. Fletcher liked it a lot,” Ingrid apologized softly to Angeline.
“I know you’re still blaming me for what happened in the past.”
Before Ingrid could finish speaking, Angeline had already taken Yasmine and started walking away.
Sherryn held onto a nearby flower stand. She was losing her balance.
“Ned… That young girl looks about three, not quite four,” she said, struggling.
“Considering her age… Could it be? Was she born before you and Angeline were divorced? Was it from that time?”
“Mum!”
Ned steadied Sherryn gently, interrupting her.
Ingrid’s eyes welled up with tears as she looked at the backs of Angeline and Yasmine. A great sense of dread and unease filled her.