Solana had a long, long dream.
In the dream, Solana was running–desperately running–only to watch Averie crash into Charles again and again, killing him right in front of her eyes.
“Dad, no-” Solana screamed as she shot upright in bed.
Charles, who had just dozed off at the edge of the bed, jumped up in shock. When he saw that Solana was awake, he immediately smiled and sat down beside her, gently touching her face and asking softly, “How do you feel? Does your head still hurt?”
Seeing her father alive and sitting right in front of her, Solana instinctively threw herself into his arms and held him tightly.
‘Thank God–he’s still alive. Thank God!‘ Solana thought.
Charles was momentarily stunned by the hug, but quickly smiled and lowered his head to gently rub her back, soothing her. “It’s okay now, it’s okay. Daddy’s here. Be good. Does your head hurt?”
Solana came back to her senses slowly and realized she might have gotten too familiar too fast–after all, her dad hadn’t been through any kind of second life.
Solana quickly let go and awkwardly ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the bedroom door burst open with a loud bang, and a woman rushed in. “Honey, what happened? Oh my God, Solana!”
The woman shrieked and dropped the spatula in her hand, darting over and wrapping Solana, who was still sitting on the bed in a daze, into a tight hug. “My Solana finally woke up! The doctor said you had a mild concussion–I was so afraid you wouldn’t wake up!”
Charles looked both exasperated and amused. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
“I’m your mom, Solana, remember?” Kathryn let go and looked her up and down, eyes suddenly welling up with tears again. “Honey, is our Solana… dumb now? What do we do? Oh my God…”
Kathryn couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. Her face, still streaked with soot from cooking, was quickly smeared all over by her wiping.
Charles pulled her back hurriedly and coaxed her, “Alright, alright, Solana’s just fine. Don’t cry anymore, okay?”
Solana didn’t say anything. In her mind, she had imagined what a poor, uneducated housewife living in the countryside. might look like. Maybe someone honest, with sallow skin and a tired, worn–out figure.
Solana had even imagined that maybe, upon finding out about the switch, her mother might become quiet and expressionless.
But never had Solana imagined that her mom would be wearing a flowery dress, with a fresh bun on her head, dewy skin like a twenty–something who could squeeze water from her cheeks–and she was a total crier and drama queen.
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Solana stared at Kathryn from head to toe again, completely unable to process it. She thought, ‘Is this really the so–called bad–tempered, uneducated, idle middle–aged woman Averie had described?‘
Kathryn was still crying. Solana cleared her throat, ready to cut in. “Um, excuse me, Dad, Mom…”
The couple finally seemed to remember their daughter was right there.
Charles said quickly, “Look at you, you’re scaring Solana.”
Kathryn finally wiped her tears and sat down.
It turned out Solana had been unconscious for three days after hitting her head.
During those three days, someone from the Webb family had come. Of course, it wasn’t Averie or Robert–it was Robert’s
secretary.
He had dropped off a check for 70 thousand dollars and left a warning that Charles and Kathryn were never to disturb Averie again. Naturally, they were also cutting all ties with Solana.
During those three days, the two families had already swapped the household registrations back for both girls. Even the IDs had been processed with rush service.
Solana looked at her new ID with the name “Solana Spencer” clearly printed on it and couldn’t help but smile.
Charles looked at his daughter, who still looked a bit pale, and said seriously, “Solana, don’t worry. The Webb family might have money, but now that you’re back home, I will never let you suffer.”
Solana paused. 70 thousand dollars wasn’t exactly pocket change, but it wasn’t life–changing money either. If they were trying to match the standard of living she’d had with the Webb family, that was a total fantasy.
But Solana didn’t care that. When she’d lived with the Webbs, Robert had always doubted she was his daughter, so she’d
never really experienced fatherly love.
Now, back to the Spencer family, Charles looked at her with such warmth.
Solana held both their hands and tried to reassure them. “It’s fine. As long as the three of us are together, nothing else
matters.”
Kathryn’s eyes welled up again and she pulled Solana in for another long, tearful hug.
Solana had to gently pat her back to comfort her. ‘Seriously, who’s the kid here?‘ she murmured.
Even Charles’s eyes were getting red.
“Dad, please don’t cry!” Solana felt overwhelmed. ‘What kind of emotional family is this?‘
Charles sniffled and said, “I just want to say I’m sorry.”
Solana replied quickly. “What for? It’s not like you meant to switch us at birth.”
“No, Solana, you don’t get it.” Charles hesitated before continuing, “Even though Averie was always beautiful, she never
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looked like either of us. I did suspect that we might’ve taken the wrong child back then.”
Hearing this, Solana was stunned.
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“But I never did a paternity test,” Charles went on. “Averie was already grown up. If the results came back and she wasn’t mine, then where was my real daughter? Would she be able to accept us? Would both families end up suffering because of it? With all that in mind, I chose not to look for you. So I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
Kathryn, wiping her tears, looked completely baffled. “Honey, why didn’t you ever tell me this?”
Charles sighed. “I didn’t want you to go through the same emotional turmoil I was feeling.”
‘No wonder Charles accepted her so easily–it all makes sense now,‘ Kathryn thought.
Solana stared at him, dazed. “You never doubted Mom? Never thought Averie just wasn’t yours?”
Charles couldn’t help laughing. He said, “Of all the people to doubt, I’d never doubt your mom. She’s way too cute. No way she’d ever cheat on me.”
“Honey…” Kathryn threw herself into his arms.
The two of them–one tall and strong, the other dainty and affectionate–despite already having a daughter Solana’s age, somehow looked perfectly matched together.
Solana couldn’t help feeling jealous. Compared to Robert, who had never trusted Gloria, her own parents were like angels.
Taking a deep breath, Solana asked quietly, “Mom, if you don’t mind me asking… how old are you?”
Kathryn gasped and covered her face bashfully. “I’m already really old… I’m… thirty–six!”
Solana almost choked. “So you had me when you were eighteen? Did you go to college?”
“Of course!” Kathryn said quickly. “I was a total nerd. I graduated early.”
Solana was puzzled. She wondered, ‘If my parents‘ generation had college degrees, they should’ve had decent jobs, right? Then how come–‘
Solana guessed Kathryn must be hiding something serious, so she swallowed her questions.
Kathryn looped her arm through Charles’s and started gushing, “Back then, your dad was six–foot–two, so tall and handsome. He was the most dazzling guy in any crowd. I spotted him right away!”
Charles’s gaze never left Kathryn’s face, soaking in her every expression.
But Solana picked up something odd in the air. She said, “Wait… do you guys smell something weird?”
Kathryn gasped suddenly. “Oh no! My soup!”
Then Kathryn bolted out of the room. Charles rushed after her. “Babe, don’t move–watch out for the hot pot. I got it!”
‘Seriously? Get a room. Solana followed them out, still curious to check out her new home.
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Solana’s room was tiny–barely bigger than the bathroom she’d had at the Webb house.
From the doorway, Solana could already see the living room, dining area, and kitchen in one glance.
But that wasn’t even the shocking part. The real kicker? There wasn’t even a TV in the living room.
‘This place is seriously that poor?‘ Solana thought.
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