Cherry Miller had to juggle working for Yina Yin and pursuing her studies, leaving her schedule packed and hardly any time for herself.
Next month was Cherry's mom's forty-third birthday, so Cherry rushed and managed to make it home just in time for the celebration.
"What day exactly is your mom's birthday?" Yina Yin, now 178cm tall, stood beside Cherry, who was still 160cm and hadn't grown at all. Yina casually put her arm around Cherry's shoulder, acting like best buddies. "My mom said, since your mom has worked so hard for our family all these years, we have to celebrate properly! She even approved a special budget for me to help organize the party. So, what kind of birthday bash do you want?"
Cherry quickly replied, "Mrs. Yin is too kind, there's really no need for all that trouble. My mom and I were planning to go back to our hometown, invite all the relatives, and just have a lively meal together—no need to go overboard."
"Leave this to me!" Yina whispered in Cherry's ear, "You're going to be my future sister-in-law, so the in-laws' birthday party has to be top-notch!"
Cherry's face instantly turned bright red. "Yina! Stop it! That was just a childhood joke, how can you take it seriously?"
"What joke?" At that moment, Ethan Yin's voice came from behind them. When he saw Cherry, his gaze softened instantly. "Cherry, you're here too. It's been four years—how have you been?"
"Mr. Yin." Cherry quickly straightened up and greeted him respectfully.
Ethan Yin clearly didn't like that title. He said, "You used to call me Ethan. Why so formal now?"
"I was just a kid back then and didn't know any better. Please don't be upset, Mr. Yin," Cherry said quickly.
Two years ago, Miles Gu had already taken over all of Earl Field's businesses.
With his own company and his PhD studies, he was so busy he barely had time to breathe.
He couldn't even see his fiancée very often.
"Alright, got it," Ethan Yin waved his hand. "I'll go find him."
After Cherry left the Yin household, she didn't go find her mom. Instead, she drove around the city alone, aimlessly wandering the streets.
When it came to Ethan Yin, all she could do was avoid him.
The Yin family had been good to her. She couldn't repay kindness with betrayal and ruin Ethan or the family.
Her mom was right.
She and her mom owed everything to Mrs. Yin's kindness from the very beginning.
You can't forget where you came from. Never be ungrateful.
I'm sorry, Ethan. I'm not good enough for you. You're amazing—you'll definitely meet someone better suited for you!
Suddenly, Cherry's phone, lying on the passenger seat, rang sharply.
The ringtone made Cherry feel a physical sense of disgust.
She parked the car and answered the call with a blank face. "I already sent you the money. What more do you want?"
A rough, sandpaper-like voice came from the other end: "Cherry, I'm your real dad. Isn't it your job to support me? The money you sent is all gone—send more!"
"Don't push it!" Cherry gripped the phone tightly, her face pale.
"So what if I do? I can be even worse, you know!"
"You—" Cherry let go of the phone, exhausted. "Fine, I'll transfer the money now. But you have to stick to our deal—never come back to the country! Otherwise, you won't get a cent!"
"Relax, as long as the money keeps coming, I won't come back—even if you beg me to." The voice on the other end laughed. "Don't forget, you're my kid. Even if you and your mom hide out at the Yin house, you can't change that. You'll never get rid of me!"
The call ended with a sharp click.
Cherry tossed her phone aside and slumped over the steering wheel, unable to recover for a long time.
How could she have such a terrible father?
How could two fathers be so different?
Back in France, that scumbag would beat her mom constantly—even when she was pregnant. If Mrs. Yin hadn't shown up in time, Cherry might never have been born!
That scumbag acted like a coward outside but turned violent at home, beating her mom and even trying to sell her to pay off gambling debts.
Thankfully, Mrs. Yin forced him to sign the divorce papers, letting her mom escape that hell.
After all these years, why hasn't that scumbag died out there?
And how did he even find her?
Cherry lifted her head, resigned, and transferred money to that account.
If she didn't send the money, that scumbag would leak all the videos and photos of her mom being abused and humiliated years ago.
That's why Cherry had been avoiding Ethan Yin all these years.
She really wasn't worthy.
She couldn't let the Yin family's reputation, or Mrs. Yin's, be ruined because of her.
Now she was Yina Yin's Chief Special Assistant, and her mom was Mrs. Yin's most important housekeeper.
If this scandal broke out, neither she nor her mom could ever work for the Yin family again—and it would drag the family down, too.
No, she absolutely couldn't let that happen!
Even if she had to be threatened by her scumbag dad forever, she couldn't let her mom get hurt.
She couldn't let Mrs. Yin get dragged into it, either!
Cherry took a deep breath, restarted the car, and this time, she was really heading home.
"Mom, I'm home." Cherry composed herself before entering the house.
"Welcome back. Sit down for a bit, I'll be done soon." Cherry's mom, now promoted to head housekeeper, was as capable as ever. Her hair was neatly tied back, and she wore an apron while bringing out dishes from the kitchen.
Each head housekeeper of the Yin family received a spacious apartment over 200 square meters, or a duplex over 100 square meters.
Cherry's mom chose a large apartment—four bedrooms and two living rooms, more than enough for the two of them.
Besides, they both rarely stayed in this apartment.
Cherry's mom was the chief housekeeper at Zhaoxing Mansion, managing hundreds of people.
Only during vacations could she come back to this apartment and relax for a few days.
As for Cherry, she was either busy with further studies or working by Yina Yin's side. The Yin family had a room just for her, so she rarely stayed here.
So whenever they had a rare break, mother and daughter would enjoy a meal together and have a chat.
"These dishes were all made by the chefs at Zhaoxing Mansion. I packed them up and brought them here," Cherry's mom said, giving her a bite. "Try it—how does it taste?"
"It's great," Cherry replied with a smile. "Does Mrs. Yin stay at Zhaoxing Mansion a lot now?"
"Yes," her mom replied. "Most of the company's business is now in the hands of the young master, so Mr. Yin and Mrs. Yin are much freer. Zhaoxing Mansion is quiet and has a vintage charm, which Mrs. Yin loves, so she spends most of her time there. Oh, I heard Mrs. Yin is planning the wedding for Miles Gu and Miss Yina. As Yina's Chief Special Assistant, you're going to be busy! You can't make any mistakes in this role—you must live up to the trust the Yin family and Mrs. Yin have in us."
"I know, Mom," Cherry replied with a smile.
Seeing her mom so radiant, Cherry knew her life was truly wonderful now.
She looked even younger than before.
With a mom like this, how could Cherry not want to protect her?
She'd spend whatever it took to keep her scumbag dad's secret—she couldn't let him ruin her mom or Mrs. Yin.
"Mom, when I went abroad, it wasn't just for further studies—I was also helping Miss Yina manage her assets," Cherry said. "She trusts me so much, I can't let her down. Her dowry list will never show a deficit."
"Well done," her mom said approvingly, then asked, "All these years, I've never asked you—about you and Ethan...?"
Clang! Cherry's spoon fell into the bowl.
"Mom!" Cherry interrupted, her face pale but forcing a smile. "I was young and foolish then—it's all in the past. You're right, we've gotten where we are thanks to Mrs. Yin's kindness, and I can't forget that. Ethan is wonderful, but he deserves a proper heiress."
"Yes," her mom replied. "Most of the company's business is now in the hands of the young master, so Mr. Yin and Mrs. Yin are much freer. Zhaoxing Mansion is quiet and has a vintage charm, which Mrs. Yin loves, so she spends most of her time there. Oh, I heard Mrs. Yin is planning the wedding for Miles Gu and Miss Yina. As Yina's Chief Special Assistant, you're going to be busy! You can't make any mistakes in this role—you must live up to the trust the Yin family and Mrs. Yin have in us."
"I know, Mom," Cherry replied with a smile.
Seeing her mom so radiant, Cherry knew her life was truly wonderful now.
She looked even younger than before.
With a mom like this, how could Cherry not want to protect her?
She'd spend whatever it took to keep her scumbag dad's secret—she couldn't let him ruin her mom or Mrs. Yin.
"Mom, when I went abroad, it wasn't just for further studies—I was also helping Miss Yina manage her assets," Cherry said. "She trusts me so much, I can't let her down. Her dowry list will never show a deficit."
"Well done," her mom said approvingly, then asked, "All these years, I've never asked you—about you and Ethan...?"
Clang! Cherry's spoon fell into the bowl.
"Mom!" Cherry interrupted, her face pale but forcing a smile. "I was young and foolish then—it's all in the past. You're right, we've gotten where we are thanks to Mrs. Yin's kindness, and I can't forget that. Ethan is wonderful, but he deserves a proper heiress."