77: A Laugh About It

Yelun opened the drawer of his desk, took out an old photograph, and examined it carefully. After a while, he handed the photo to Lizzie.

"Dad, who is this?" Lizzie asked, looking at the young woman in the photo and then back at Yelun. The woman in the photo bore a striking resemblance to Bruno.

"She was Bruno's biological mother," Yelun said, his gaze drifting towards the window as if lost in distant memories. "I made a mistake all those years ago, and that's how Bruno came into being. I know he's always blamed me. Blamed me for taking her even though I couldn't marry her, for ignoring her even after she gave birth, for not visiting her or the child even after she fell ill and passed away... I couldn't bring Bruno back to the Kolo family, forcing him into an orphanage. His resentment towards me, his anger... I understand it all."

It had been over twenty years, but the pain was still fresh.

Lizzie looked at the photo in her hand, then back up at Yelun. "Dad..."

Yelun turned back to fa