Michelle Hirayama suddenly hugged Rona Muir, crying even more sorrowfully.
What's wrong with this child?
Cecilia Gu shrugged helplessly, indicating she had no idea what was going on.
"Alright, alright, stop crying. Can you tell us your decision now?" Rona Muir tugged Michelle Hirayama and said, "If you stay in China, you must..."
"I'll behave!" Michelle suddenly interrupted Rona, tears streaming down her face. "I'll do whatever you say! Just don't make me go back to Japan. Japan isn't my home. After Mom died, I didn't have a home anymore. Dad and his wife are a family, Grandpa and Grandma are a family, you and Uncle are a family. Only me, I don't belong anywhere."
Rona Muir sighed.
As expected, this child's emotional burden is too heavy.
They say every teenager has a stubborn knot in their heart that can't be untied.
But these kids, no matter how much it hurts, never cry out loud.
They stubbornly hide their pain.
Even if they're hurt and bleeding, they'll smile through their tears and say they just like being different.
"Alright, stop crying." Rona Muir raised her hand to wipe Michelle's tears and said, "Since you'll behave, pull yourself together and get ready for school. Your teacher will adjust your schedule and help you aim for Saint Diana University. Once you graduate, you'll see the world can be even more beautiful."
"Will Auntie give up on me in the future?" Michelle looked at Rona with tearful eyes.
"As long as you're in China, I can't ignore you!" Rona replied firmly. "But I'll hold you to Chinese standards! Before you're eighteen, no dating, no talk of marriage! Got it?"
"Yes." Michelle nodded hard. "I'll behave!"
Seeing their relationship ease up, Cecilia Gu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, now that you've settled things, I can relax. I should get going." Cecilia Gu checked the time. "I need to go back and review the trial reports. The battle is about to start."
Rona Muir nodded. "Alright, thank you for your hard work."
Rona walked Cecilia Gu to the door. After watching her leave with her team, Rona planned to have a good talk with Michelle.
But before she could turn around, her phone rang.
Rona checked the caller ID and was stunned—Mrs. Kerr?
She answered the call, calm and composed: "Mrs. Kerr, is there something you need?"
"Would you join me for a meal?" Mrs. Kerr's voice was gentle over the phone—softer than Rona had ever heard from her.
Rona was a bit taken aback. "Uh... right now?"
"Why? Is it inconvenient? I heard you returned to China today..." Mrs. Kerr's words made Rona realize she'd been under her watch all along.
It seemed Mrs. Kerr really had something important to discuss.
Rona could only reply, "Alright, you set the time and place."
Mrs. Kerr quickly decided on a location and sent the details to Rona's phone.
Rona went to comfort Michelle, then greeted Jiro Hirayama, changed clothes, and headed to the meeting with her assistant and bodyguard.
When Rona saw Mrs. Kerr again, she was startled.
Was this defeated-looking woman really the proud and haughty Mrs. Kerr?
"You wanted to see me?" Rona walked in slowly. "Is there something you need?"
"Yes." Mrs. Kerr sighed. "Miss Mu, I'm here to apologize to you."
"What?!" Rona was completely stunned.
Did she forget to pray today?
Was she hallucinating?
"I invited you here today to formally say sorry. Back then, I was far too selfish. If not for me, maybe the father of your child would have been Sean Kerr." Mrs. Kerr spoke with regret. "You probably don't know, Sean almost broke off from the family just to resist my pressure."
"What exactly happened?" Rona was still confused. "I just got back to China, I don't know anything."
"I know, that's why I asked you out." Mrs. Kerr took out a document and pushed it toward Rona.
Rona took it, glanced at it, and was thunderstruck. She jumped to her feet and said, "How could this be? No, I can't accept it!"
Mrs. Kerr showed Rona the will that Sean Kerr had left.
Mrs. Kerr calmly said, "This will has already been notarized and is legally binding."
Rona stared blankly at Mrs. Kerr. "But I really don't know anything about this. I never told anyone to do anything! I swear, I really didn't!"
"I believe you. When Sean made this will, you were still in Japan." Mrs. Kerr sighed softly. "He used such a drastic way to resist my years of iron-fisted control. It was this will that made me face everything. But the damage is done, and I truly don't know what to do now! Miss Mu, if you and Sean could get back together, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Rona was left speechless.
Get back together?
No, that's impossible now.
There's no turning back for any of us.
"If you can win Sean back, I promise Danni Cosmetics will win this competition. I could even give you Jolene—no, I could give you the entire Kerr Family!" Mrs. Kerr was truly desperate, bursting into tears. "My son has publicly announced he won't marry! He won't inherit the Kerr Family! I was so wrong! So terribly wrong!"
Rona never expected Mrs. Kerr to apologize to her.
Even more unexpected, after their last meeting, Sean hadn't toned it down—he'd gone even further.
This time, it wasn't about partying with influencers or chasing after flashy things. He chose a more drastic, final way to show his resolve.
But all of this came too late.
If he'd done this sooner, maybe there would have been a chance for us.
But it's too late now.
I've already found my own way to happiness.
There's no turning back.
"I accept your apology, but for everything else, I truly can't help." Rona sighed. "Miss Molly Mao is now carrying the Kerr Family's child. You should focus on comforting her. If Sean gives up his inheritance, then the child will be the heir. If you start nurturing them now, there's still time."
Mrs. Kerr looked at Rona with tearful eyes. "Could you please try persuading Sean to take back his statement? He's breaking my heart! If he cuts ties with the Kerr Family, what good will it do him?"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Kerr, I can't." Rona's eyes darkened as she gently touched her belly, where a tiny foot was kicking. She already had her own responsibilities and family—she couldn't get involved with another man anymore.
Disappointment washed over Mrs. Kerr's face.
Rona said softly, "Maybe after some time, Sean will see Molly Mao's good side. When Molly gives birth, as a father, Sean won't really abandon them. Molly is a smart woman; she knows how to manage things. Up to now, she's behaved well—no drama, just quietly taking care of herself and the baby. You have such a clever daughter-in-law, you should be content."
Mrs. Kerr sighed, wanting to say more but stopping herself.
"As a friend, I can't bear to see Sean fall apart. But I can't interfere in his life—it's his freedom, his right." Rona continued, "The future is up to him. None of us can help. Besides, after working with Sean for so many years, I know he's not as bad as you think. At heart, he's responsible and cultured. He won't go too far. Right now, he's just angry, so he's being extreme. Once he calms down, maybe the birth of the child will be a turning point."
"Your personality really is too strong. Too much rigidity breaks easily. After all, Sean isn't a child anymore." Rona, now a mother herself, confided to Mrs. Kerr, "I can understand your feelings now. Mothers all want the best for their children, to correct their mistakes, to show them the right path."
"But as mothers, we forget—the path we choose isn't necessarily what they want!" Rona laughed softly. "Cecilia does this so well. She never forces the kids to learn or do anything, but once they choose, they must do it well. That's why Miles and Ethan, even at a young age, understand choice and responsibility. Either don't choose, or if you do, take responsibility. When my child is born, I'll teach them the same way."
"I won't comment on your parenting style. But some things, when they're wrong, they're just wrong." Rona sighed. "Hearing your apology today was a surprise, and I'm glad. This is the first time in so many years you've truly acknowledged me. No matter how things go with Sean, you'll always be my elder. Having your recognition means a lot to me."
Mrs. Kerr gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "What was wrong with me before? Why couldn't I see how good you were?"
"Maybe Sean and I just weren't meant to be." Rona smiled. "But that's okay. We're still in this city, breathing the same air, walking the same streets. For decades, we've been together. Maybe that's enough."
"Yes." Mrs. Kerr managed a weary smile. "You're so open-minded..."
Outside the door, Sean listened quietly to the conversation inside.
He gently closed his eyes, leaning against the wall.
Yes, maybe it really is just fate.
Deep feelings, but shallow fate...
Deep love, short fate—destined for a sad ending.