Chapter 6: A Brief Introduction
Stephanie tightened her grip on Amy’s hand. Her eyes flickered towards Myrna as she whispered, “Grandma, did you hear what that man just said? He said that Myrna’s biological grandfather was in that private room…”
Wasn’t Myrna’s family from the countryside? How could they book a private room at the Watershed Restaurant?
At this thought, everyone in the Stark family looked uneasy. However, with outsiders present, discussing it openly was inconvenient. They had to set aside their doubts and follow the waiter to their booked location.
Calvin led Myrna to the private room. He pushed the door open and saw several people inside. Myrna followed him in.
Harold Payne, sitting in a wheelchair, asked someone to push him closer and excitedly grabbed Myrna’s hand. Tears in his eyes, he said, “Are you Myrna? Good girl. After all these years, I finally found you. I was afraid I would die before finding you. Then I’d be ashamed to see your mother after I died…”
Myrna looked at Harold’s gray hair. Judging from his expression, he didn’t seem to be acting. His bright, piercing eyes, now filled with tears, indicated his excitement. Moreover, his hand was trembling. Myrna had never felt this way before and became as emotional as the elderly man holding her hand.
Harold, a man who had seen much of the world, lost control of his emotions for a moment, but gradually regained composure. However, his eyes remained red from his earlier tears. Holding Myrna’s hand, he began to introduce the people in the room one by one.
“Myrna, this is your dad, Charles Payne. He’s a teacher.”
Calvin raised his eyes and leaned against the wall, watching Harold introduce the Payne family members to Myrna. Charles, a professor at Craydon University, was simply referred to as a teacher by Harold. Charles, wearing a suit, had red eyes and clenched fists, as if struggling to control his emotions.
Myrna had a vague idea of her father, but Harold waited for her to greet Charles. She pursed her lips and looked at the middle-aged man with clear eyes. “Dad.”
“Good girl.” Charles’s eyes turned red, and he quickly looked away, afraid of showing his emotions.
Harold breathed a sigh of relief and gently introduced the other family members. “That’s your uncle, Patrick Payne, his wife Camryn Payne, and his daughter Kristin Payne. Patrick is a businessman, and Kristin is about your age. You’ve met her brother, Blake Payne.”
Myrna looked over and saw a girl around her age standing next to a couple. Kristin and Camryn appeared indifferent, reluctantly nodding to Myrna for Harold’s sake. Patrick, however, looked pleasant and greeted Myrna warmly.
“Nice to meet you guys,” Myrna greeted gently.
Harold was overjoyed. He didn’t expect Myrna to immediately integrate into the Payne family; he was simply satisfied that she didn’t resist. He took Myrna’s hand and asked, “Are you hungry? You haven’t had lunch yet, have you? Come on, let’s eat. Charles, let the waiter serve the dishes.”
“Okay.”
The Payne family enjoyed their lunch. Harold kept filling Myrna’s plate and asked her about the past. Myrna answered all his questions briefly yet sincerely.