Chapter 4 An Adorable Encounter

• Five years had passed.
• Osteron International Airport.
• The entrance of a young lad, clad in a blue suit adorned with a Windsor knot, precipitated an influx of gazes upon the airport hall. His locks, a cascade of golden curls, framed features that had been the reverie of myriad maidens since infancy—a visage finely wrought, with lashes reminiscent of a porcelain doll's.
• As the crowd pondered over the ethereal beauty that must belong to the boy's mother, a woman with a round countenance, a flat nose, and lips of ample girth called out to him.
• "Darling, have you fetched the cola?"
• "Mum, all set."
• The term 'mum' left the young ladies and mothers aghast. How could this son be so attractive and refined while his mother appeared so plain?
• Yet Joel Simmons had grown accustomed.
• Ever since his mother began donning that dreadfully hideous mask of human skin, this peculiar scenario had become his norm.
• Approaching Elsie's side, he tendered her the cola, then sipping his mineral water with obedient mien.
• "Mum, how long will you persist with that unsightly guise?"
• "Darling, are you implying I am unattractive?"
• "Mum, how could I? I ... I only feel it has weighed on you for too long, causing discomfort."
• Joel inwardly reproached himself, sensing he had no grounds to critique his own mother!
• A trio they were—Elsie, Carey, and Joel—Joel undoubtedly the least fair. As the least fair member of the kin, he harboured neither the courage nor the right to opine on his mother's divine allure.
• "As long as you know you're the plainest in the family."
• Onlookers stood confounded. Had their sense of beauty faltered? Clearly, the mother was far less attractive than her son!
• ...
• Through the airport's pane, Elsie gazed upon this city, at once familiar and foreign, a faint smile gracing her lips.
• Five years past, her father sold her out to Jon, the Beta of the Snow Moon pack. In a twist of events, she had a night of passion with a stranger and gave birth to four cubs.
• The first set of twins were snatched by Juliet, and their situation was unknown. With Daphne's aid, she escaped the inferno and gave birth to a second set of twins: Carey and Joel Simmons.
• Since that perilous escape from death's grip, her wolf companion Daphne had vanished without a trace, leaving Elsie to ponder if she had once again been ensnared ...
• Yet in these five years, she had encountered myriad opportunities, evolving beyond the pliable Elsie of yore.
• Now returned, it was time to reconcile all past debts!
• Lost in contemplation, Elsie was abruptly jostled by a delicately fashioned little girl, who stumbled against her leg and fell to the ground.
• Elsie swiftly knelt down, aiding the girl to rise. "Are you hurt? Do you need assistance?"
• Sophie Tyland's eyes, as dark as obsidian, blinked rapidly as she fixed her unblinking gaze upon Elsie.
• She made no outcry, no protest of pain, but softly murmured, "Mum ... mummy ... "
• At the tender call of 'mummy' from the child, Elsie felt an inexplicable surge of emotion. She felt an uncanny closeness to this little one, an urge to embrace her ...
• Beside them, Joel cast a jealous glance. "Hey, hey, hey! You can't just call her 'mum'! She's my mum, not yours!"
• Ignoring Joel's protest, Sophie flung her arms around Elsie.
• In that moment of embrace, Elsie felt the intensity of that peculiar sensation grow stronger. She sensed how tightly this small bundle clung to her, as though fearing separation.
• Instinctively, Elsie wrapped her arms gently around Sophie ...
• Joel, standing nearby, scowled in jealousy, but Elsie silenced him with a warning glance, prompting him to sullenly gulp down his entire bottle of mineral water.
• Softly, Elsie inquired, "Have you become separated from your mummy? Where is she? Shall we seek her together?"
• Sophie vigorously shook her head, her little face now marked with worry.
• Elsie sensed the child's apprehension and tenderly stroked her cheek. "Do you trust me? I will help you find your mummy."
• Even at five years old, Sophie could not speak or articulate her thoughts, but today, encountering Elsie, she simply found herself drawn to her without words, instinctively bestowing upon her the title of 'mummy'.
• Sophie herself didn't quite understand why, but she felt an inexplicable urge to rely on Elsie.
• The stubborn little girl kept murmuring towards Elsie, repeating softly, "Mum ... Mummy ... "
• Caught off guard by the girl's persistence, Elsie's son Joel looked like he'd just taken a dip in a vat of jealousy.
• Meanwhile, on the other side, Leroy Tyland, the younger uncle searching for Sophie, was overjoyed to finally spot her! If they couldn't find Sophie, his elder brother was sure to have a fit!
• Leroy, seeing Sophie with this unrelated woman, was about to swoop in and take her away. But in the next moment, he heard Sophie, who had never spoken before, babble, "Mummy ... "
• Leroy froze solid, hardly daring to believe it, squatting down to grasp Sophie's shoulders. "Sophie, what did you just say? Can you say it again?"
• The little girl, pointing towards Elsie, glanced back at Leroy and said again, "Mum ... Mummy ... "
• Following Sophie's gesture, Leroy looked over and saw the memorable, unattractive face of Elsie. What in the world? Sophie is actually calling this woman 'mummy'?
• Shocked and bewildered, he demanded, "What have you done to Sophie?"
• "I presume you're her father? How dare you interrogate me?" Elsie, sensing the girl's insecurities, couldn't help but retort, "If you can't appreciate such an adorable daughter, how bad must her life be for her to call out to me as her mother like this?"
• Leroy, once again thrown for a loop, asked incredulously, "She called out to you?"
• Elsie rolled her eyes. "Or do you think she called out to you?"
• After confirming repeatedly, Leroy slowly began to process the unbelievable truth.
• "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Sophie's uncle, Leroy."
• "I was so shocked earlier because Sophie has suffered from aphasia since childhood and has never spoken to anyone."
• Knowing the girl couldn't speak, Elsie's eyes softened with sudden sympathy for her.
• "Sissy, can he be trusted?"
• Sophie nodded.
• "Is it true, Sissy? Are you afflicted with aphasia?"
• Another nod from Sophie.
• "Very well. Your uncle has located you. You should return home with him." Elsie patted the girl's head and stood back up.
• However, she found herself reluctant to part with the girl the moment she let her go.
• Sophie quietly saw Elsie and Joel off, causing no ruckus or chaos.
• Leroy wanted to know why Sophie could speak all of a sudden, and he took a glance.
• Oh, my dear gods.
• Sophie's eyes were filled with tears, and her nose was scarlet. She was a mess.