Brittany remained tight-lipped throughout the evening.
At dinner, the queen noticed Twila's lack of appetite and said with a hint of concern, "Twila, what's the matter, dear?"
"I miss my mom." Ever since Twila could remember, it had always been just her and Hestia against the world. Now, suddenly being away from Hestia, she felt out of place. "My mom's all alone at home, and I'm really worried about her," Twila said, gripping the queen's hand. "Grandma, can you please send me back? I miss my mom."
The queen was very fond of Twila and panicked at the thought of her leaving. "No, my dear, what would I do without you?"
Twila's eyes brimmed with tears, making her cheeks flush red.
The queen seemed to have an idea then, "How about I bring your mom here instead?"
Twila's eyes lit up with hope. "Really?"
Just then, Eltham slammed his cutlery down hard on the table. "Mother, you know as well as I do the consequences of having Hestia, an unmarried woman, stay in the royal residence. What will people say?"
The queen had her motives, both to spite Eltham and to use Hestia to drive a wedge between Brittany and Eltham. "I've tolerated all your antics, Eltham. Why can't I foster a relationship with my granddaughter?"
Eltham was taken aback. Not only had Hestia not left Craneville, but she also returned with a daughter! And after a paternity test, it turned out to be his child! Their closest moment had been holding hands; how could they have a child together? Yet, the queen, knowing about Twila, insisted on bringing her into the royal household, clearly adoring her.
As the argument heated up, Twila, timid and fearful, clung to the queen's hand. "Grandma, does Dad not like me?" She couldn't understand Eltham's coldness, her father, who had previously been kind to her.
Seeing Twila so distressed softened the queen's heart, and she comforted her.
Brittany, being a mother herself, couldn't help but feel pity for Twila.
Regarding the queen's suggestion to bring Hestia over, Brittany had no objections. In fact, she was eager for their family to reunite, hoping it would release her from Eltham's grip. Eltham remained unyielding.
Unable to eat, Twila retreated to her room, tears staining her cheeks.
The queen was furious with Eltham. "Eltham, that's your daughter. How could you be so heartless?"
Eltham turned to Brittany and
offered her a bite of his meal.
"Mother, Hestia and I never had
relationship. In my eyes, she's not my daughter."
As if Hestia and the surprise of a new daughter weren't enough to shake him.
Brittany, replaceing herself suddenly involved, said, "You're right, mother. It's a beautiful thing to reunite mother and daughter."
The queen smiled, satisfied with Brittany's response.
After leaving the royal residence, Eltham confided in Brittany, "I had no idea about her."
Before Twila's arrival.
Brittany pulled away from him. "Eltham, if she's your child, you need to take responsibility. A child without a father is a sad thing indeed." Growing up in a broken home herself, Brittany knew the hardships all too well and didn't want any child to experience the lack of parental love. Eltham's lips thinned. "Let's go back."
With Twila's arrival, Brittany could sense a shift in Eltham's demeanor.
He didn't seem to like Twila, but the ties of blood introduced a complexity to his feelings.
Twila, naturally charming and affectionate, managed to win over even the queen in no time, let alone Eltham. Within a week, Twila was already cuddling up to Eltham, something he wasn't used to but didn't resist.
Seeing this, Brittany thought of Daniel, her son whom she hadn't seen in weeks. She missed him every moment.
The queen misinterpreting Brittany's
thoughts for jealousy, remarked at the dinner table, "Twila is Eltham's first child. It's natural for a father and daughter to share a close bond. Don't make a fuss about it."
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