(October Monthly Update Extra Chapter 12.5/16)
Sienna Thornton smiled faintly, not looking at Mina Thorne, her eyes fixed on the main road: "What are you wrong about?"
Mina Thorne’s face turned red.
Hesitating for a mont, she said, "I shouldn’t have targeted and been hostile towards you and Auntie, knowing full well that you were innocent; I shouldn’t have gotten involved in our parents’ grudges from back then. Parents are parents, and we are who we are."
Sienna Thornton felt that Mina Thorne’s words seed more like pre-written lines, spoken out of necessity.
She didn’t respond, just carried her small basket and continued walking forward.
Mina Thorne followed closely behind: "When I married Seth Sutton, you helped us a lot, fulfilling the duties of an elder sister, even though our relationship was very poor at the ti. Thinking back, I was really foolish back then. Now, I know I was wrong and hope you’ll forgive ."
Sienna Thornton nodded with a smile but remained silent.
She wanted to see if Mina Thorne could recognize the root of her mistakes.
The two walked in silence for a while, with Simon Forrester frequently glancing back at them.
Once they entered the strawberry field, Mina Thorne stuck close to Sienna Thornton, picking strawberries with her. Occasionally, when she noticed Sienna choosing strawberries that weren’t up to par, she’d remind her, "Pick the ones with greener stems and tiny hairs. They’re fresher that way."
"Really?" Sienna Thornton replaced a strawberry as she instructed, "I’ve never picked these before. I usually just buy the pre-packaged ones from the supermarket."
Mina Thorne laughed, "My dad used to..." She stopped abruptly, realizing the rest of the sentence might hurt Sienna Thornton and chose not to continue.
Sienna Thornton turned her head to glance at her, faintly smiling without a word.
Nearby, Simon Forrester and Seth Sutton were also picking strawberries. n tend to be efficient, and Seth quickly filled a basket, offering it proudly to his wife.
As soon as he arrived, he dumped the strawberries from his basket into Mina Thorne’s, announcing, "Here’s a big basket that should last you several days. No need to pick more; it’s quite tiring."
Mina Thorne laughed, "Picking strawberries isn’t just about eating them, is it?"
"If you’re not going to eat them, then let’s go ho! It’s not good for you to squat like this all the ti. You might hurt yourself later."
"Alright, I can’t argue with you." Mina Thorne said, hoisting her basket as she prepared to stand.
Since she was squatting on both legs and the strawberry field’s soil was quite soft, all her weight pressed down, making it difficult for her to stand without support. She reluctantly put her basket beside her, propped her elbows on her thighs, and struggled to get up.
Sienna Thornton instinctively reached out to help her.
"Thanks." Mina Thorne smiled at her, using her hand for support to stand up.
Simon Forrester approached, looking at the less-than-one-third full strawberry basket of Sienna Thornton’s, he asked, "Do you want to pick more?"
"Yes."
"Then I’ll join you." Simon Forrester said, guiding her forward.
She looked back at Seth and Mina Sutton.
Mina Thorne stood there, and Seth bent over, patting the dirt off her skirt.
Sienna Thornton tugged at Simon Forrester’s hand, motioning for him to look back, "Do you think their relationship has gotten better? Am I seeing things? They used to always look so grumpy."
Just then, Simon Forrester noticed so good-looking strawberries and crouched down to pick them.
Sienna Thornton crouched beside him, leaning closer, "You think so too, right?"
"Seems like it." Simon Forrester laughed, "It’s best if they’re doing well; everyone wins."
Sienna Thornton nodded, about to speak when Simon Forrester clipped an extraordinarily large strawberry and held it in front of her, "This strawberry reminds of you."
Sienna Thornton looked at the seeds on the strawberry, "Are you saying my face is as spotty as a strawberry?"
He laughed, turned his head, and kissed her.
"I an, you’re as sweet as a strawberry..."
Sienna Thornton suddenly rembered their first kiss, and at that ti Simon Forrester tasted like strawberries.
Her heart softened, and she tugged at Simon Forrester’s coat collar, pulling him close again as she kissed him.
The two crouched there kissing, while on the nearby bank, Seth shouted, "Are you done? We’re leaving!"
...
On the way back, Mina Thorne naturally walked beside Sienna Thornton again.
After their interaction in the strawberry field, things felt more natural between them.
Seth had already pulled Simon Forrester to the front.
Sienna Thornton and Mina Thorne walked a while before Mina quietly asked, "Are you willing to forgive ?"
Sienna Thornton didn’t expect her to still be dwelling on this issue.
Knowing Mina’s high self-regard, it was surprising enough that she admitted her mistake in person. But to ask again?
Could it be that, like Ian Grant in the past, she too sought guidance from a master?
Even though they had once broken ties, Sienna Thornton didn’t want Mina Thorne, who was pregnant, to beco preoccupied with superstitions, fearing that her usually gloomy mindset could lead to trouble, causing Quentin more pain.
She turned her head to look at Mina, suspicious, "Who told you to say this to ?"
"Grandfather and Seth advised ," Mina Thorne said, "Previously, I was wrong, I had a deep bias against you, forgetting that we share the sa blood, we’re family."
As she spoke, her hand gently stroked her belly, her face graced with a soft smile: "This child has taught to let go of hatred, to love my family with sincerity, because all good things will ultimately co back to us."
Good things?
Sienna Thornton snorted sheer mockery.
She indeed is Ian Grant’s flesh and blood.
Seeking forgiveness just because she believed good things would co in return.
But well, she didn’t want to bicker with a pregnant woman any more—since Mina Thorne apologized and showed deserved respect to linda Linton, and in the strawberry field, Sienna could see Mina was learning to restrain herself in front of her, all past grievances should just be let go.
Sienna Thornton stopped walking and extended a hand towards Mina Thorne, "Then let the past be bygone; let’s get along well, help each other, and ease Dad’s worries so he can enjoy a happy retirent. For us, that’s family harmony and prosperity!"
"Okay." Mina Thorne looked up and smiled at her, showing off two canine teeth.
Sienna suddenly realized that Mina smiled quite beautifully.
In the distance, the setting sun quietly revealed itself, enveloping the earth in a warm orange hue. All around, orchards of red or green dotted the landscape, while villagers diligently worked their fields.
Simon Forrester and Seth Sutton turned to watch the sisters shake hands and reconcile beneath the sunset.
"They made up." Seth sighed appreciatively, "I’ve been working for a month to get Mina to co around."
Simon Forrester chuckled, "What did you say?"
"I asked, ’Don’t you understand what having a wealthy uncle and a powerful aunt ans to our child? He or she would be winning even before they were born!’"
Simon Forrester was left speechless, turning to continue walking forward.
Seth jokingly caught up with him, slinging an arm around his shoulder, "I’m kidding, do you really think I’m that shallow?"
Simon Forrester: "..."
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This is today’s extra Chapter, with three and a half more to go, so keep those monthly votes coming! Thank you!
I initially planned to finish this Chapter tonight and start on the midnight update so everyone could read it first thing in the morning. But since I’ve been running around hospitals all day, I’m physically and ntally worn out. So I’m going to rest early tonight and write more during the day tomorrow! Therefore, let’s et again for tomorrow’s updates in the evening!
(Lastly, today’s test results ca back fine. No major issues, so I can continue being carefree for another six months! Thanks for everyone’s concern!)
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