Chapter 457 From Now On, Dad’s Got Your Back

• Irene burst into tears the second she saw Enna. She’d been holding it in, too embarrassed to cry in front of Gloria and Melanie. But the moment she saw Stephanie and Enna, the floodgates opened. She grabbed Enna and sobbed, all elegance gone: “My sweetheart…” Thiago clenched the armrest of his chair, clearly forcing himself to stay calm. Stephanie stood there, too stunned to speak. She’d always been carefree and headstrong, living for herself. Only now did she finally feel, deep and sharp, just how much her parents loved her and let things slide for her. Guilt hit her hard—grown as she was, she was still making them worry and hurt. Enna was held tight in her grandma’s arms, little body stiff, but she didn’t struggle. She stared blankly at her mom, totally lost about what was happening. “This is Grandma. She’s Mommy’s mommy,” Stephanie said, squatting down and stroking Enna’s hair. Hearing that, Irene grabbed Stephanie and hugged her again. “Why didn’t you tell us?” “Where’s that jerk?” “Where’s that whole rotten family?” Irene was usually so lavish and elegant, but now anger warped her face and her voice went razor-cold. Thiago let out a breath. “Don’t cry. You’re scaring the kid.” They’d already heard Enna’s situation from Melanie, and their hearts were heavy. Melanie and Gloria made an excuse to step out, leaving the main hall to the family. They all sat, and Stephanie told her parents everything she’d just learned. Irene wiped her tears and said through gritted teeth: “Back then, when your dad and I came looking, you were living in the Qin family’s old farmhouse in the countryside. That wooden house was over a hundred years old, broken everywhere, wind cutting through from all sides.” “You did your postpartum recovery in a place like that—nothing decent to eat, no hot water. When you saw us, you didn’t even recognize us. You grabbed at us, begging for your baby.” Thinking of the hell her precious daughter had gone through, Irene couldn’t stop crying. “The treasure I kept in the palm of my hand was locked up like livestock. Seeing you like that, I fainted on the spot.” “It’s my fault for being useless. If I hadn’t fainted, your dad might have found a way to bring Enna back.” Irene hugged Enna again, tears streaming, heart aching. Enna watched her cry, dazed. She reached out a tiny hand and touched Irene’s face. She seemed curious about tears, staring at her finger, now wet with her grandma’s crying. Stephanie didn’t notice her daughter’s odd reaction. Even with no memories, fury burned hotter in her chest. “We couldn’t have taken her. The Qin matriarch held Enna on purpose. She was afraid I’d use the kid to cling to Qin Xiuyun.” Thiago slammed the armrest, furious. “If I’d known they were abusing the child, I would’ve gotten her back no matter what.” He sighed again, guilt heavy in his eyes when he looked at Enna. Truth is, he really didn’t have the bandwidth back then. His wife was sick, his daughter was out of her mind. He was stretched to breaking and couldn’t manage the baby on top of all that. And he hated the Qin family to the bone at the time. The child was theirs, after all. Since they wouldn’t give her, he wasn’t going to beg. He just wanted to drag Stephanie out of that nightmare, help her forget, and start over. Who could’ve imagined the Qin family would abuse a child? She was Qin Xiuyun’s own flesh and blood. To hurt your own kid—what kind of people do that? Stephanie turned it around and comforted her parents: “It’s over. Don’t be sad. Now that Enna’s back with me, I’m not giving her to them again.” Thiago’s voice went low and steady: “No way we’re giving her back. From now on, Dad’s got your back.”