Chapter 275: An Indelible Mark 2

"How about we go visit your mother in her room?" Isobel asked gently.

Randy and Yana immediately took Isobel’s hands, each holding one of them as they led her down the short hallway.

Alena’s room was also where Yana slept.

At first, Leon had been hesitant to let the little girl share the bed with her mother. But somehow, Yana’s presence had a calming effect on Alena. Having her daughter close seemed to quiet some of the restlessness that often haunted her.

There were still nights when Alena’s nightmares returned.

On those nights, Yana would sometimes wake to the sound of her mother’s frightened cries.

Alena would thrash beneath the blankets, her breathing ragged, her body twisting as though she were fighting someone only she could see.

And sometimes, in the middle of the nightmare, her hands would strike out.

Once, Yana had been caught in the middle of it.

Her grandfather was awakened by the little girl’s frightened cries.

"Grandpa!"

Leon had rushed into the room and found Yana trembling, tears streaming down her cheeks, while Alena remained trapped in the nightmare.

When Alena finally woke and realized what had happened, she was devastated.

She clutched Yana’s little hands and sobbed.

"I’m sorry, Baby. I’m so sorry."

From that day forward, Alena had repeatedly told her daughter not to sleep beside her anymore.

But Yana refused. She simply shook her head and crawled back beneath the blanket.

"There isn’t any room anywhere else, Mom."

It was a childish excuse.

Everyone knew it.

There was the sofa. There were other places where Yana could sleep.

But Alena understood what her daughter was really saying.

I don’t want to leave you alone.

And in the end, Alena relented.

Since then, Yana had continued sleeping beside her mother, even on the nights when she sometimes woke frightened and called for her grandfather.

Perhaps the little girl didn’t understand the full extent of what her mother had endured. But she understood one thing. Her mother was hurting. And she didn’t want her to hurt alone.

Isobel’s chest tightened as she listened.

She glanced at Yana, who was now quietly leading her down the hallway.

The little girl held Isobel’s hand firmly.

Then she looked toward the closed bedroom door.

For some reason, Isobel suddenly felt as though she was about to enter a place where Alena had been fighting a battle no one else could see.

...

"Cousin."

Isobel stood at the doorway, her smile warm and her voice gentle.

Alena was sitting by the window with her back to the door, staring blankly at the blue sky outside.

She didn’t seem to notice the sound of footsteps.

For a long moment, she simply sat there, motionless.

Then, slowly, she turned her head.

Isobel’s heart tightened.

Alena’s face was pale, almost colorless against her dark hair. Her once-full cheeks had become hollow, and the sharpness of her jaw made her look painfully thin. There was a fragility about her now, as though one harsh word or sudden movement might shatter whatever remained of her strength.

Her eyes moved slowly over Isobel’s face, studying every feature as though she was trying to remember something buried deep inside her mind.

Then, for the briefest moment, surprise flickered in her eyes.

It was the first time they had ever met.

Yet Alena had the strange sensation that she was looking at herself through a broken mirror.

Isobel resembled her. Not completely, but enough.

The shape of their lips. The curve of their noses. The delicate structure of their faces.

Perhaps they shared nearly half of the same features.

Her father had once told her that she had inherited her aunt’s beauty.

Now, for the first time, Alena understood what he meant.

"Cousin Isobel?"

Alena slowly rose from her chair. Her movements were hesitant, almost uncertain, as she approached.

"You look like my Aunt Rosella," she whispered.

There was something fragile in her voice.

"I saw her photograph once. My father kept it in a little box at home."

Alena’s expression had already changed. A fleeting sadness crossed her eyes.

That photograph was gone now. It was washed away by the flood—the same flood that had taken her mother and sisters.

"She was beautiful," she murmured.

Isobel nodded.

"Well, we’re family. I suppose it’s only natural that we resemble each other."

Alena shook her head.

"No."

Isobel blinked.

"You are more beautiful."

A small laugh escaped Isobel.

"We’re both beautiful."

She stepped forward and opened her arms.

"I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time."

She gently embraced Alena. But the moment Isobel’s arms went around her, Alena’s body stiffened.

Her shoulders locked. Her breath caught. For an instant, panic flashed across her eyes.

It was instinctive.

A reflex left behind by years of having her personal space violated.

Isobel felt it immediately. But she didn’t pull away abruptly.

She simply loosened her embrace and gave Alena the space she needed.

She pretended not to notice.

There was no need to make Alena feel ashamed of a reaction she couldn’t control.

After a moment, Isobel gently stepped back. Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out an intricately decorated envelope.

She held it out to Alena.

"I came to invite you, The twins are celebrating their birthday this Saturday. You and the entire family are invited."

Alena looked down at the envelope. Her fingers hesitated before taking it.

"An amusement park?" she asked after reading the invitation.

Isobel smiled.

"Yes. I thought Randy and Yana might enjoy it."

"Yes, Mom!"

Yana’s bright voice came from behind them.

Alena turned. Her daughter was practically bouncing with excitement.

"It will be our first time going to an amusement park!" Yana announced. "Aunt Bel said the rides at the town fiestas are nothing compared to Wonderland!"

Randy nodded enthusiastically beside her.

"She said the roller coasters are really high!"

For the first time, a genuine smile appeared on Alena’s face.

It was small and a little uncertain. But it was real.

"Okay," she said softly.

"We’ll all go."

"Yay!"

Yana squealed. She immediately threw herself into her mother’s arms.

This time, Alena didn’t stiffen. She wrapped both arms around her daughter and held her tightly.

Isobel watched them quietly.

There was something almost heartbreaking about the sight.

A mother who was afraid of her own hands... and a daughter who still trusted those hands completely.

After a while, Isobel said her goodbyes.

Randy and Yana walked her toward the door, chattering excitedly about all the rides they wanted to try.

Before leaving, Isobel glanced back.

Alena was still sitting beside the window.

But this time, she wasn’t staring blankly outside.

She was looking down at the invitation in her hands.

Isobel smiled faintly before stepping out.

The door slowly closed behind her.

She hoped that someday, Alena would be able to walk through that door without fear.

Someday, perhaps, the past would stop following her into every room.

And perhaps...

her family’s laughter, her children’s love, and the simple warmth of being surrounded by people who wanted nothing from her except her presence...

would help her find her way back to the woman she had once been.