Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!-Chapter 85: The past isn’t all black and white(2)

Lixue stared at the documents handed to her by the butler, her fingers tightening around the edges. The birth certificate and accompanying DNA results seemed unnecessary at first glance, but the butler’s next words caught her attention.

"Madam, the master asked me to give you these," he said evenly, his expression measured. "He thought it was time you understood the full picture of what happened between your mother and the family."

Lixue’s jaw tightened, her expression unreadable. "The full picture?" she repeated. "I’ve heard enough of the past to know it wasn’t kind to my mother."

The butler met her gaze with a calm steadiness. "Your mother suffered greatly, but not all of it was inflicted upon her. Some of her suffering stemmed from choices she made, young miss. The master believes it is important for you to understand that the blame does not lie solely with him or this family."

Lixue’s chest tightened at his words, a flicker of anger rising beneath her calm facade. "So you’re saying my mother is at fault for the choices she made?"

"No," the butler replied firmly. "I am saying that there were wrong decisions made on both sides. Your grandfather did not abandon her as cruelly as it may have led you to believe. It was... complicated. Misunderstandings, pride, and pain all played their part."

Lixue’s fingers trembled slightly as she held the documents closer. She had spent her whole life believing, the people her mother trusted the most had abandoned her. To hear otherwise felt like a betrayal of the narrative she had clung to for so long.

"She had no one else to turn to," Lixue said quietly, her voice laced with defensiveness.

The butler’s gaze softened. "She had the master. He offered her help many times, but your mother... she chose a different path. She was proud, and her choices took her further away from the family. That pride made reconciliation difficult, even when she needed it most."

Lixue turned her gaze toward the sprawling estate, her emotions swirling in a chaotic storm. This place, this family—she had spent years blaming them for her mother’s struggles. But now, doubt crept in, and it was as unsettling as it was unwelcome.

Before she could formulate a response, a familiar voice broke the tension.

"Lixue."

She turned to see her grandfather standing at the entrance to the stairs. His presence was commanding, yet his expression was calm and almost weary.

"I see the butler Chen has already started the conversation I wanted to have with you," he said, his voice steady but carrying a trace of sadness. "Come inside. We need to talk." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Lixue hesitated, glancing at the documents in her hands. Finally, she nodded and followed him into the house, her steps measured. She wasn’t sure she was ready to hear the truth, but she knew there was no avoiding it now.

Inside, the atmosphere was both familiar and foreign. The grandeur of the estate was undeniable, but it held an air of restraint, as if the house itself carried the weight of unspoken words and unresolved tensions.

Her grandfather gestured for her to sit in the drawing room, where tea was already set. As she settled into her seat, he spoke.

"Your mother has always been welcome here, Lixue," he began, his tone gentle. "But she chose to walk her own path. That path was difficult, and I wish she had let us help her more. But I never stopped caring for her, and I never stopped hoping she would return."

Lixue studied his face, searching for any hint of insincerity but finding none. "She told me she had no one," she said quietly.

"She believed that," her grandfather said. "And in some ways, it was true. Her pride wouldn’t let her see otherwise. She felt betrayed, and that blinded her to the support that was offered. But none of that changes the fact that she is my daughter, and you are my granddaughter. You are both part of this family, and you always will be."

Lixue felt a lump form in her throat. The narrative she had clung to for so long was unraveling, and she wasn’t sure how to feel. She thought of her mother, of the sacrifices she had made, and of the choices that had shaped both their lives.

"I don’t know what to believe anymore," she admitted. Her mother had never told her anything about her family, so who was wrong in this situation.

"Your mother is almost here, would you like to see the room I’ve prepared for her? The staff and the instruments for treatment? If you’re not still sure you can still send someone of yours here as well.."

Nangong Juntiao stared at Lixue for a while before heading to the sick room that had been created for Nangong Leili.

Lixue walked into the sickroom, her gaze taking in every detail as she stepped carefully inside. The room was designed with quiet elegance—a balance of modern care and comfort. The soft pastel colors of the walls were calming, and the gentle light filtering through the curtains gave the space a peaceful glow.

Two nurses stood by the bedside, adjusting the IV line that was connected to her mother. One was a younger woman, her hair neatly tied back, while the other was older, with a comforting, no-nonsense presence. They both greeted Lixue as she entered.

"Madam," the older nurse said with a respectful bow, "the setup is as requested. Everything is ready for your mother’s arrival."

Lixue nodded, her eyes briefly flickering to the bed where her mother would soon be resting. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice betraying the concern she always felt.

She turned her gaze toward the equipment—an IV drip, an oxygen tank, and several other medical devices that Lixue had learned to recognize from her visits to the hospital. They were all neatly arranged along the wall, hidden behind privacy screens so they didn’t overwhelm the room’s peaceful atmosphere. The air was cool and crisp, a soft hum from the machines creating a rhythmic sound in the background.

The younger nurse adjusted the pillow for Lixue’s mother and gave a soft smile. "Everything is set, Madam. We will continue to monitor her throughout the day. The room temperature is controlled to ensure she’s comfortable. The staff will rotate every few hours to make sure there is always someone available if she needs anything."