8 FAMILY

Adrian heard the beeping sound thatshows the call has ended but still held the phone in this hand, frozen. Erika on the other hand threw her phone on the bed they were sitting on angrily.

Monica knew she was annoyed but stillteasingly asked " is your ex husba nd asking for you to come back".

Erika laughed at her question"haha, he doesn't need me, he only needs Felicia". She continued "you know I would really love it if their hard work goes down the drain".

Monica knew her friend was up to something and sinisterly asked "what is your plan".

Erika replied "plan? I plan to go back home and see my family again, I miss them so much then after that...." she paused " I will get back at them.

Monica replied "Oh yeah ,I miss auntie and uncle so much, so when should we leave ?"

Erika replied "let's go tomorrow, this city is

becoming suffocating".

Later, they were done playing their gameof chess while chatting in between and decided to go have dinner and pack their bags for their travel. Erika didn't want to let her parents know that she was coming home and wanted to surprise them. They arrived in San Francisco in the afternoon and directly went to the Walters Mansion.

The Walters mansion was like four times the size of the Hart's mansion. Erika looked at the mansion and remembered what happened three years ago when her mom and dad were warning her not to marry Adrian, now she wished she had listened to them.

The security guards remembered her and let her and Monica in. The dragged their luggages to the front door, Erika took a deep breath before knocking on the door and in less than 10 seconds, the family's long time butler, Uncle Matthew opened the door and stared shockingly at Erika.

The family's young miss is back, his eyes went to her luggage and could already

imagine what made her come back home. He recovered from his shock and invited the both of them inside quickly. California weather and San Francisco weather is not the same thing. It's hot in California currently and quite cold in San Francisco currently so he asked the maids to come carry their bags and he personally went to go make them hot coco.

Monica held Erika's hand to try calm her down as they walked into the living room. Her dad, James Walters was watching a show with her mom, Sophia Walters. They were quite immersed in the show and didn't notice the two people who were standing them and watching them quietly.

Monica brought their attention to them and said "Uncle, auntie look who I brought with me today ". And instantly, they turned to them and they became frozen from seeing their daughter for the first time in three years.

Her mom, Sophia ran over and enveloped her daughter in a bone crushing hug. Sophia wasn't strong but she did her best

by hugging her as tightly as possible afraid that her daughter would disappear again.

The mother and daughter sobbed while hugging each other. James was happy that his daughter was finally back but he put on a strict look on his face and pretended he wasn't happy to teach Erika a lesson.

He coughed to gain his wife's attention and said"why are you here, I thought you already severed ties with your family so what right do you have to come back here?". Erika felt her heart drop into her stomach. She released her mother from the hug and walked slowly to her dad.

She called softly "dad". She knew her dad was mad at her and she understood him.

James continued acting "I am not your dad okay? You disowned all of us and decided not to listen to us, the last time I checked, my daughter died three years ago".

Erika sobbed even more as she felt cold water was poured on her. Sophia couldn't take it anymore and scolded her husband"will you stop all these drama of yours and

hug your daughter, i think it's enough now".

Erika was confused with what her mother said and asked "what do you mean mom?".

Sophia cleaned her tears and said "don't mind your dad, yesterday Monica called us to say that the both of you were coming home today so your dad decided to act like he disowned you to teach you a lesson".

Erika faced Monica and said," you told them? I thought I said I would surprise them".

Monica sheepishly defended herself"I only told them you were coming home but I didn't tell uncle to put on a show today". She continued "you can think of it as a little punishment for your actions earlier so wipe your tears now , no one is disowning anyone".

Erika wipes her tears and quickly hugged her dad"you scared me dad, am mad at you, hmph" she said coquettishly.

"Sorry princess, dad went a littleoverboard, am sorry", he apologized.

She shook her head" it's not your fault, I

should be the one apologizing".

Sophia looked at her daughter and husband looking happy, her family was finally complete.