Her Rebirth.

Mason threw a warning look at Amelia as they headed towards Grandfather Cosgrove.

"Don't cause a scene."

Amelia snorted softly.

"I won't if you and your cute little family don't start one."

Mason clenched his fist and was about to respond when he heard her gleeful voice ring out.

"Ahh, Grandfather. I missed you!"

Mason's eyes widened in shock as Amelia strode ahead, her face glowing with affection, and wrapped her arms around Grandfather Cosgrove. The old man stiffened, caught completely off-guard, but after a brief pause, he slowly returned the embrace, his large, weathered hands resting gently on her back.

"Is everything alright, Amelia?" Grandfather Cosgrove asked cautiously, obviously confused.

Amelia could see the bewilderment in his eyes. Of course, he was surprised. This was not something the original Amelia would do due to her resentment towards him.

But Amelia couldn't afford to hold onto that grudge. She needed him.

Pulling back just enough to meet his gaze, Amelia sweetly said with a soft smile,

"Ah, Grandfather... When I was on the verge of death three weeks ago, the only face I saw was yours." She let her voice tremble slightly. "That's when I realized... you're the only one who truly cares for me." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The room fell into stunned silence. Then—

BANG!

Grandfather Cosgrove's cane slammed against the floor, his face darkening with rage.

"You were on the verge of death two weeks ago?! Why wasn't I informed? What happened?" he glared at Mason Cosgrove angrily.

Mason became flustered.

What was this girl trying to pull again?

"Father... She—"

"Grandpa, she's lying," Ray interrupted smoothly, stepping forward with an indifferent shrug. "She ran away with some delinquents, and when she came back, she tried gaslighting us, claiming she jumped off a bridge."

Mason frowned. Why hadn't he been informed that she had done such a thing?

Amelia's lips curled into a small, sad smile.

"Grandfather, it seems I have such a bad reputation that even my own brother sees me as such..."

Grandfather Cosgrove's stern expression softened immediately. He stretched forth his hand, wanting to comfort her, when she caught it, holding it gently.

"I do not want to ruin your birthday party, Grandfather, so let's not talk about it anymore."

"How can caring about my granddaughter ruin my birthday?" Grandfather Cosgrove said vehemently.

As he held her hand, his brow furrowed, noticing the roughness and faint scars on her palms. His eyes narrowed, and he couldn't help but ask further,

"Why does it seem you have injuries on your palms? Have you been bullied?"

Amelia smiled but didn't reply. Instead, she pulled out a small gift box from her pocket and placed it in his hands.

"Happy birthday, Grandfather."

Grandfather Cosgrove stared at the small gift box, quite surprised. His mind drifted back to when Amelia was a child—before her mother ran away. She used to give him little handmade trinkets, things he cherished dearly. But after her mother's departure, the gifts stopped. The ones she did give later were hollow gestures, clearly picked out by Mason just to save face, and Amelia had always tossed them at him with a dismissive, "Happy birthday," before quickly leaving.

But now, the way she was looking at him so affectionately made him feel that maybe...

his little Amelia was finally back.

The crowd looked on curiously, wondering what was in the small gift box. Probably a rare diamond or jade.

Grandfather Cosgrove opened the gift box, and a handkerchief neatly embroidered with chrysanthemum flowers came into view.

A scoff echoed through the hall.

"Seriously? A three-dollar handkerchief?" Ray laughed mockingly, shaking his head.

Mason's face twisted in anger. This girl will really be the death of him.

Amelia ignored the mocking remark and said very softly,

"I spent a long time thinking about what to get you, Grandfather, because you seem to have everything in the whole world. But then I remembered those memories when I was a little child, those times I would make little things for Grandpa." She paused, her lips curling into a bittersweet smile. "Grandfather, forgive me if this may not be fitting for the status you hold; however, I wish to give you something from my heart. Happy birthday, Grandfather. I pray you live a long, healthy life."

Grandfather Cosgrove's fingers trailed over the embroidered chrysanthemum flowers slowly.

Longevity.

That's what chrysanthemums symbolized. And now he realized, those rough fingers of hers... she must have worked tirelessly on this.

His chest tightened. My little Amelia... she's forgiven me.

Lifting his gaze, Grandfather Cosgrove looked at her with warmth and gratitude.

"Out of all the gifts given to me, this will be my most treasured, my dear granddaughter," he declared. "Because you've made me extremely happy, speak—what do you wish for? I'll try my best to fulfill it."

Amelia bit her lower lip as if contemplating.

"Grandfather may not like what I want to wish for."

"That is left to be determined until I hear it."

Amelia blinked, forcing tears out, and knelt down, laying her head on Grandfather Cosgrove's lap.

"Grandfather, remember I said I was on the verge of death?"

His hand instinctively stroked her hair.

"What about it?"

She slowly looked up, her gaze locking with his.

"It's because I jumped off that bridge."

The hall fell into stunned silence. Grandfather Cosgrove's face paled, his body tensing.

"Why would you—"

"Because I realized..." Amelia's voice broke, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Ace... Ace doesn't love me. He loves Lilac."

Grandfather Cosgrove became angry.

"That insolent—"

But Amelia quickly cut him off, placing her hand over his.

"Don't get angry, Grandfather. I understand it was an arranged marriage, and since his heart belongs to another, I want to let him go. So please, Grandfather, I wish to end the engagement with Ace Blackwood."