Chapter 13 After my brother was discharged, Dad took us to his new home. Standing at the doorway, my stomach still fluttered with unease. Although I had forgiven my father, I wasn't ready to slip comfortably into this new family life. Sensing my hesitation, my brother squeezed my hand and murmured, "Don't worry. If you feel uncomfortable, we'll move out." was about to nod when the door burst open and a lively figure sprang out. 'Brother! Sister! Yay-I finally have company!" A gentler woman quickly caught her by the sleeve and hushed her with a smile. "Micah, stop ooling around-don't scare them." Dad turned, a little embarrassed, and introduced them, "This is Donna, and my daughter, Micah." My brother gave a polite nod. "Aunt Donna, hello." Before I could answer, Micah hooked her arm through mine and my brother's, all affectionat ind chatter. "Hehe, let's get inside-I'm starving. We can talk while we eat~" At the table, everyone eagerly tried to feed me first. The gesture felt oddly sweet and slightly verwhelming-a warm kind of burden I hadn't expected. didn't refuse; I ate obediently. Memories drifted through me: Mom had always busy with work, most dinners were just the two f us siblings. After marriage, Tristan rarely sat down to eat with me; the Palmer family's socia whirl swallowed him. Eating alone had felt normal-something I believed I'd grown used to. Bu onight, amid the warm lights and chatter of a household, I realized how much my heart stil ched for familial warmth. unt Donna noticed me staring at my plate and asked gently, "Is it not to your liking? Should nake something else?" snapped back to the present and looked up, hurriedly reassuring her, "No, it's delicious. I've een eating hospital food for half a month, so I was just overwhelmed. Aunt, your cooking is vonderful." I'm glad you like it," she said, smiling lightly. Micah puffed her cheeks and mumbled, "Right! My mom cooks well but she's lazy-I only get tc at this when you come. Luckily you arrived!" The meal wrapped up in a light, comfortable atmosphere, and much of the heaviness I'd carried ately seemed to lift. Afterward, we settled in the living room. I absentmindedly rubbed my lower belly and, before I could change my mind, I said, "I'm pregnant, and I plan to keep the baby." In an instant, every pair of eyes turned to me. Dad was the first to react and said excitedly, "Don't worry-after the baby's born, Donna and I will help take care of it." My brother and Micah echoed their agreement with quick, eager nods. "Okay." I smiled softly. Micah immediately threw an arm around my shoulder, her eyes sparkling. "Don't be afraid! I'm a lawyer-leave that scumbag to me. I'll make him regret it!" "Exactly!" my brother said, eyes burning. "If Tristan dared do this to you, I would not let him off." Micah pulled me into the study and spread out a neat stack of documents. She methodically ran through Palmer Group's weak spots and legal vulnerabilities. My own plan had already been thought out in detail, but with her professional help, it became invincible. This time, Tristan would have to pay painfully for what he and his family had done to me. Outside, the moon was just right. Over on Tristan and Hillary's side, chaos wasn't far off. I ɔressed my palm to the child inside me and felt a fierce, steady resolve. This time, I would set the rules of the game.