"Mom, when is my sister coming back?" Jasper Ashworth asked listlessly. He hadn't seen Seraphina Ashworth in a year, and he really, really missed her.
The moment Jasper asked, the living room fell into a dead silence. Seraphina Ashworth had been gone for a full year. She hadn't come back at all during that time, not even for the new year. Everyone's longing for her had only grown deeper. Since she left, they had all tacitly avoided the subject, afraid that bringing it up would unleash their pent-up feelings.
"Soon, I hope. Soon." When Sylvia Blaine heard her son mention Seraphina Ashworth, her body couldn't help but stiffen. She reached out to ruffle his hair, offering a comforting word that seemed to be for herself as well.
'How could she not miss her own daughter?' In the dead of night, the longing in her heart would grow heavier, and she had to spend some time in the small building every day.
"It's your birthday in a few days. I'm sure Seraphina will hurry back for it," Paul Ashworth said comfortingly, squeezing Sylvia Blaine's hand.
"Master, wonderful news!" the butler, Alfred, called out as he walked in, his face beaming with joy.
"Alfred, what wonderful news has you in such a hurry?" Mr. Ashworth was completely baffled by Alfred's announcement.
"The Fifth Miss is back! She's back!" Alfred announced excitedly to everyone.
Sylvia Blaine shot to her feet and rushed over to Alfred. "Alfred, are you saying Seraphina is back?"
"Yes. Just now, when I was passing by the Fifth Miss's small building, I saw a woman come out. She told me the Fifth Miss was back and that I should let you all know. The Fifth Miss is just changing her clothes and freshening up, and then she'll be right over," Alfred slowly explained.
As soon as everyone heard that Seraphina Ashworth was back, the entire living room erupted with excitement. "Yay! Seraphina's back! Yay!" Cecilia Ashworth shouted, hopping around the room in delight.
"I have to go see her." Sylvia Blaine immediately tried to rush out, but Paul Ashworth was quick to stop her. "Now, now, don't be so anxious. Alfred said she'll be here in a moment, didn't he? Don't run back and forth. Just wait in the living room." Paul Ashworth pulled Sylvia Blaine back down onto the sofa.
"Honey, have the kitchen make more of Seraphina's favorite dishes. We need to help her recuperate properly." Mr. Ashworth was also beaming with excitement. His precious granddaughter was finally back; she definitely needed to be nourished back to health.
"Of course. Even if you hadn't said anything, I was planning to. I'll cook myself." Miss Ashworth bustled toward the door.
"Mom, wait, I'll go with you." Sylvia Blaine stood up to follow Miss Ashworth to the kitchen, intending to personally cook for her precious daughter.
"Maurice, now that Seraphina's back, let's take her out somewhere fun. The few of us have never all gone out together," Victor Ashworth said. He realized that Seraphina had never really gone out with them. Now that she was back, he was determined to drag her along.
"Yeah, yeah!" Jasper Ashworth chimed in from the side.
"Fine by me, as long as Seraphina agrees," Maurice Ashworth said. He had always known that Seraphina hated going out; her laziness was second to none.
"Oh? Who wants to take me out?" Seraphina Ashworth's warm, teasing voice drifted in as she was wheeled into the room.
"Seraphina."
"Seraphina." Hearing her voice, everyone turned to the doorway. They saw Seraphina Ashworth sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed by an expressionless woman from behind.
"Grandpa, Dad, First Uncle, Second Uncle..." Seraphina Ashworth said, looking at everyone from her wheelchair as a flicker of nostalgia crossed her eyes.
"Seraphina, what's happened to you?" Paul Ashworth immediately rushed to her side, looking her up and down.
Seeing Seraphina in a wheelchair with a slightly pale face, everyone was frightened, thinking something terrible had happened to her.
"Dad, be careful!" Mr. Ashworth was so startled by the sight of Seraphina in a wheelchair that he stumbled back. Luckily, Zachary Ashworth was behind him to catch him. Zachary helped his father to the sofa.
"Grandpa," Seraphina called out immediately, knowing from Zachary's cry of alarm that her grandfather must have been frightened by her appearance.
"Dad, I'm fine. Please, listen to my explanation. Dad, could you push me over there? Lou, you can head back to the small building for now," Seraphina said, patting Paul Ashworth's hand reassuringly.
Paul Ashworth took over, pushing Seraphina's wheelchair toward the sofa. Hearing Seraphina's order, the woman turned and walked away.
Mr. Ashworth, having composed himself, asked, "Seraphina, what happened to your legs?"
"Grandpa, it's a long story. Could you call Mom and Grandma over? I'll explain it to everyone at once."
"Alfred, go get them, quickly," Chester Ashworth immediately instructed.
A few minutes later, Sylvia Blaine came rushing in, with Miss Ashworth following closely behind her.
"Seraphina, this... this..." Sylvia Blaine had the same frightened reaction as everyone else, pointing at Seraphina's legs as she spoke.
"Mom, Grandma, come sit here," Seraphina said, beckoning them over.
Hearing Seraphina call to her, Sylvia Blaine hurried over and grasped her hand, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. "Seraphina, why are you in a wheelchair? What happened? Huh?"
"Mom, I'm okay. Don't cry." Seraphina rarely comforted people and didn't quite know what to say. She just pulled out a tissue and helped Sylvia wipe away her tears.
"Sylvia, don't rush. Let's hear what Seraphina has to say," Paul Ashworth said, helping his distraught wife sit down. Everyone else also settled down, waiting quietly for Seraphina's explanation.
"This is what happened." Seraphina's gaze drifted as she fell into her memories, her voice calm. "As you know, the Cultivation Technique I practice has side effects in the early stages. For the past year, I've been cultivating constantly. One day, when I reached a critical step in the technique, the side effects suddenly doubled in intensity. Luckily, I took an Elixir before cultivating, which lessened some of the pain, but it couldn't eliminate it completely. So, I spent two months recuperating. During this time, however, my body will be quite weak, which is why using a wheelchair is better for getting around. My legs are fine." With just a few sentences, Seraphina casually glossed over the events of the past year, never once mentioning the true dangers involved.
After hearing Seraphina's explanation, everyone felt a little relieved to know her legs weren't permanently injured. However, they all knew she must have endured immense pain and was deliberately being vague about the side effects to keep them from worrying.
"As long as you're back, as long as you're okay." Mr. Ashworth's sharp eyes welled up slightly with tears as he stroked Seraphina's head with his large, calloused hand. 'Since she doesn't want to say more, it must be because she's afraid of making us worry. In that case, I won't press her. All that matters is that she's back safe and sound.'
"Grandpa, I'm fine," Seraphina said, taking Mr. Ashworth's hand in both of hers. Though her face was pale, her eyes, as dark as the midnight sky, were still sparkling as she looked directly at him.
"Seraphina, does that mean you can still hang out with us?" Cecilia Ashworth asked, blinking her eyes pitifully at Seraphina.
"Of course I can. From now on, I'll gradually start making public appearances," Seraphina said. Seeing the verge-of-tears expression on Cecilia's face, she couldn't help but laugh.
"By the way, Seraphina, who was that person just now?" Chester Ashworth suddenly asked, remembering the woman who had been pushing the wheelchair.