Chasing The Vengeful Villainous Heiress-Chapter 86: I’m calling gramps

Mariam had decided to ignore what was in front of her. Rather, her heart could not process much so she did not think too much about the lady who looked exactly as the mother in her memories.

Mariam’s lips curled up and she said,

"You’re joking, right?"

But the expression of the people in front of her did not look like they were joking. Were they serious? She looked at Tiana seated with a calm expression.

"That’s my mother? She’s dead." She said. "There was a funeral. We cried. It’s been seven years, dammit." Her hands trembled. "Are you telling me she was alive this whole time?"

"Yes," Max answered. "I found her in the asylum Valerie was locked in. She... Spent seven years there."

Mariam’s eyes twitched.

"Asylum? What was she doing there? Who did it?" She flared but everyone went silent.

As a kid, she was not told many things. She wasn’t told why her brother had to switch schools all of a sudden, why her mother suddenly died, or why her brother returned home in a cast and had to visit rehab for two months.

She didn’t know anything so understanding what was in front of her now was awfully difficult.

She immediately took out her phone and got up.

"Mariam, what are you doing?" Max asked.

"I’m calling gramps." Mariam said, and Max was about to stop her when Tiana shook her head against it.

"Let her be." Tiana said. "I believe it’s time that my father knows of this as well."

After calling Grandpa Leo, the head of the house, and saying so many vague words and concerning explanations, she sat down and stared at the people in front of her.

She was doubting a lot and her heart was unsteady. If her brother wouldn’t explain it clearly to her then she’d pull her grandfather into it.

Grandpa Leo, having heard so many concerning things from Mariam, immediately set out with Oscar to Max’s house.

As soon as he walked in, he saw Valerie first. She was having tea and wondering what would happen after the head of the family arrived and saw that she had escaped from the asylum.

No, rather, she was worried that he believed that news that she was the one who killed those people in her room. He believed in her so far, so to see a disappointed look on his face, it scared her.

"Valerie?" She heard the old man call out and raised her head to see him hurrying towards her.

He held her hand and said,

"Child, I was so worried. You must’ve suffered." He said, but Valerie was a bit too stunned to understand. So she stared strangely.

But the old man interpreted her strange expression to be that of disappointment.

"I apologize that I could not do anything for you." He suddenly apologized. "I wanted to find out where you were taken but that grandson of mine asked me not to interfere. I worried since then but also thought it might’ve been part of your plan so I did not do anything further. I’m glad you’re safe."

Valerie slowly parted her lips but instead of saying anything, she tilted her head and smiled. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Good to see you too, old man." She said and relief coursed through this old man’s, showing vividly on his face. He was glad.

He thought she would end up hating him. He couldn’t do anything while she suffered over the years so for him not to do anything even now, he felt like a failure and was disappointed in himself. But he was glad she did not blame him for it.

"Hm, seems you’re still a worrywart as ever." Grandpa Leo suddenly heard this and he froze. That voice. Slowly, he turned his head to see the person sitting opposite Valerie, the person behind him that he had unknowingly walked past to be none other than his daughter.

"T... Tiana?" He called, his lips slightly quivering. "Is... Is that you?" He asked and she smiled.

"You’ve grown old, father." She said with a nostalgic smile.

Grandpa Leo could not believe it. He looked at Valerie to see if she was seeing what he was seeing and Valerie smiled. He felt he was seeing things but if Valerie was seeing her too then that meant it was real, right?

"Tiana? Is that really you?" He asked once more, steadily approaching her.

He got to her and reached for her face with hands that were quivering. It felt too good to be true and the mere thought of her disappearing if he made skin contact scared him.

"Aye, you don’t have to treat me like an egg." Tiana said, grabbing her father’s hands, and placing them on her face. "See, I’m warm. Does this feel normal to you now?"

This brought tears to Old Man Leo’s eyes. His daughter... His precious daughter...

"I’ve failed you, Tiana." He said, and Tiana got up, hugging her father. She was taller than him but that was okay. "I’ve failed you as your father and the only parent you could rely on. How can I call myself your father?"

"Hey, now, we both know I made that decision on my own." Tiana said. "It wasn’t like you could stop me either. It was either that or me dying. You did well, father. Thank you for taking care of my kids."

Mariam and Max watched from a little distance. Mariam’s heart that refused to believe what was in front of her finally believed it as she saw her grandfather who was known as a man of steel crying to the appearance of his daughter who had been declared dead a long time ago.

Just listening to them, it was clear that something had definitely happened all those years ago and it was not in their hands to change the outcome. They had no choice.

"You see." Max said. "She’s really our mother. You have to accept that." He looked down at Mariam, only to find her crying silently.

"Mother. My mother." She cleaned her tears with the back of her palm. "My mother was alive the whole time." She cried.

Max hugged her, pressing her head to his chest as she cried. He looked up and met Valerie’s eyes. She smiled at him and he smiled back.