Upon hearing that, Cameron and Anastasia stopped, turning around. Rhea, standing quietly at a distance, slowly approached after being called. Looking at them, she said, "Uncle Cameron, Tasia, I'm sorry." Her apology sounded earnest, but her body language contradicted it. "I didn't do it on purpose. I was just in a hurry that day. I'm glad you're fine now."
"Really?" Anastasia smiled. "Are you delighted I'm okay?"
Rhea squinted, offering no answer. Maria, anxiously standing nearby, hurried to her side. "Tasia, you know your cousin hasn't been good at expressing herself since childhood. Ree doesn't say it, but she cares deeply about you. She's like this with your uncle and me too. She spends most of her time in the lab and rarely comes home. But when she heard you were injured, she felt so worried and guilty that she returned and wanted us to bring her to apologize. Please forgive her. You two only have each other. Eventually, we'll all leave this world; you can only rely on each other!"
Anastasia sneered. "Speaking of which, I need to thank Rhea as well."
Fabian frowned. Maria had said so much, yet Anastasia remained cold. "Tasia, your aunt is right. If your mother were alive, she'd want you two to get along. We saw everything that happened that day. Rhea is at fault, and she should apologize, but as cousins, you should laugh it off afterward and not make a fuss, shouldn't you?"
"Uncle Fabian, that's true, but if my mother were alive, she wouldn't want to see me like this either," Anastasia said, lowering her head and glancing at herself. She had lost weight, but was still overweight. She hated herself for her naivetรฉ, for being toyed with for years. Even the sight of them repulsed her.
Fabian's gaze darted between Anastasia, Cameron, and then his daughter. A strange feeling settled in his heart, though he couldn't place it. After a light cough, he said, "Ron, let's go inside. It's odd talking at the door like this. We're family, after all. Even though my sister's been gone for years, we're still family. Tasia and Ree share the same blood," he added smoothly.
Cameron smiled coldly. "Yes, they're cousins, no matter what, but families should always cherish each other."
"Yes, of course!" Fabian said hastily, nodding repeatedly. "Then, let's..." He gestured inside. Cameron, knowing Fabian would continue to press the issue if they didn't resolve this, nodded slightly. "Let's go in and talk."