The guests cast curious glances one after another.
They wanted to see what kind of sparks would fly when the rivals met.
To their surprise, Suzy did not cry or make a scene. Instead, she handed the cold drink in her hand to Samantha, smiling and saying, "Sister, I'm sorry. I was too excited just now. Auntie already scolded me in the kitchen, and I realized my mistake. So, as a sincere apology, I offer this cold drink instead of wine. I hope you can forgive me."
Samantha playfully lifted her lips.
She looked at the cold drink handed to her with interest.
Seeing her hesitating, the gossip flames in the eyes of the surrounding people grew stronger. Someone quickly said, "Yes, you two are real sisters; how can there be lingering resentment overnight? If you drink the cold drink she gave you, it's considered accepting her apology."
Liam quietly warned, "Hurry up and drink it. Everyone is watching! Don't embarrass the Steele family."
However, Alexander and Noah didn't believe Suzy at all.
They both protected Samantha and warned, "Mommy, don't drink! This woman is not well-intentioned; she must have a plot."
Suzy, in an unprecedented move, did not cry as before but remained calm. "Sister, I sincerely want to apologize to you! I was too impulsive just now. Can you forgive me?"
Samantha hesitated.
Under the gaze of everyone.
If she didn't drink, it would be disrespectful to the Steele family and Anna, who was mediating. However, if she accepted the apology and drank the cold drink, she would fall into the trap.
She believed that Suzy wouldn't truly repent, considering that old habits die hard.
In her dilemma, Ethan suddenly snatched the cold drink from her hand and handed it back to Suzy. "You have the right to apologize, but she also has the right not to accept it! Some things cannot be forgiven just with an apology!"
Suzy sincerely repented, "Ethan, I really know I was wrong. Please give me another chance."
Ethan didn't even look at her directly. He raised his wrist to check the time and said to the old man, "Grandpa, the auspicious time has come!"
Suzy wasn't angry. Seeing that they didn't drink, she didn't insist and drank the cold drink in front of them.
Samantha furrowed her brows slightly. For some reason, she always felt that Suzy was suspicious and trying to hide something.
What kind of game was she playing?
The old man, being experienced, instantly noticed the strange atmosphere between them. Knowing that if this continued, the family reunion banquet would become a farce, he stood up with his cane, walked to the center of the hall, and beckoned to Alexander and Noah.
Samantha gently pushed them forward.
Looking at Samantha encouragingly, Alexander and Noah walked to the old man hand in hand.
The old man saw everything without showing any emotion, held the hands of Alexander and Noah, and introduced them with a smile, "Let me formally introduce my other great-grandson, who was lost from the Steele family since childhood and was found only two days ago. His name is Nathan Steele."
At the moment she heard his name, a bitter taste spread in Samantha's heart.
She couldn't help but feel sad, and her eyes gradually became moist.
Her son truly no longer belonged to her.
In stark contrast to his reaction, Alexander had a very intense response upon hearing his own name. "I'm not called Nathan Steele, I'm called Alexander Miller. The Miller I mean is Samantha's Miller.”
His reaction left everyone momentarily stunned.
The old man frowned, displeased, "You are a descendant of the Steele family; how can you have the last name Miller? Naturally, you should revert to your father's last name."
Always lively and optimistic, Alexander felt an inexplicable sadness in his heart. Ignoring much, he exclaimed, "I was raised by Samantha Miller. She will always be my mom, and I've been using the Miller last name since I was little, and I will continue to do so! If you insist that I change my name and last name to Steele, then I won't recognize you. I only want my mommy..."
If even the last name changed, then there would truly be no connection between him and his mommy.
Completely no relationship.
No.
This wasn't the outcome he wanted.
If the price of finding his dad was losing his mommy, he would rather never find his dad.
His words brought tears to Samantha's eyes.
She was deeply moved.
The old man's face turned cold like a sudden frost.
"Nonsense, she's just your adoptive mother, not your biological mother, you..."
Alexander, however, couldn't listen.
Crying, he ran to Samantha, forcefully hugging her legs, crying heartbreakingly.
"Mommy, I don't want daddy anymore. Can you take me home? I miss you, I miss Charlotte. I want to be with you, I don't like this house, I want to go back to our own home."
Samantha's heart ached.
But she patiently comforted him, "Be good, your blood relatives are your family. You can't be so willful. Even though you've changed your name, I am still your mommy. It won't affect our relationship."
Upon hearing her words, Suzy's eyes turned cold, dangerous glint in her narrowed eyes.
However, Alexander didn't believe it, shaking his head desperately, "I don't want to! I know you're lying to me. You haven't come to see me these days, avoiding me. You don't want me anymore; you only want Charlotte..."
Child's mind is the most sensitive.
They can clearly distinguish between likes and dislikes.
Naturally, they can also feel when someone is drifting away from them.
"I don't, you..."
Samantha wanted to explain, but Alexander didn't give her a chance.
"You don't need to lie to me; I can feel it... Before, you would worry if you didn't see me for half a day. But the last time, when I called you after two days without contact, you gave various reasons to refuse to meet, hung up on me... I'm not stupid; I can feel it. If I change my name now, we'll truly have no connection..."
Finally, his words made Samantha unable to hold back her tears. She squatted down, holding him tightly in her arms, apologizing, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just wanted you to adapt to your new life more quickly..."
She was indeed afraid that Alexander getting close to her would upset the Steele family. Deliberately creating distance, hoping he would integrate into the new family quickly.
However, she overlooked Alexander's direct feelings.
She was too selfish.
Mother and son embraced each other, crying openly without caring about others.
Their emotions infected those around them.
Everyone couldn't help but tear up, looking at them sympathetically.
At the same time, it made everyone have a favorable impression of Samantha.
To make an adopted son like this, even to the extent of not recognizing his biological father, proved that Samantha was a successful mother.
On the contrary, as the biological mother, Suzy still couldn't gain her son's approval, proving how much of a failure she was.
***