Harold had called the rest of his family on his way home. They dropped what they were doing and rushed back home.
Vera recalled what Harold told her and was so skeptical that she could not accept the information. “Are you sure Bonnie is Master Kieran?”
Yolanda grimaced with anger when she heard Bonnie’s name. The former replied in exasperation, “When have Harold and I ever lied to you?”
Vera did not know how to respond for a moment. Then, she grumbled, “Bonnie has done nothing but stir up trouble when she stayed with us. That brat has done nothing to make me happy. How is she suddenly the most prestigious painter? That’s- How is that possible?”
Vera was not the only one thinking that. The whole family shared her sentiment and thought the entire thing was inconceivable. Still, they had to accept that Bonnie was Kieran.
Grant said, “How superior or prestigious Bonnie is now doesn’t matter. Our blood flows through her. With that in mind, we must ask her to make us a painting. She won’t reject us if we put aside our pride.” Harold swept his gaze across his family before focusing on Gresham and Vera. “You two know Bonnie never listens to anything we say! That said, I won’t leave it at that. We must do what we can. Maybe we can turn it around somehow.
“You two are her parents, so you’re closer to her than we are. You probably stand a better chance of convincing her than we do. You should ask her to make us a painting.”
Gresham froze as various emotions overwhelmed him. “I-I can’t do that! I announced on Twitter that I’ll never talk to her again.”
Harold gazed at Vera and wanted to say something, but she shook her head and spoke first, “I can’t do it either. Back in Pyralis University, I swore before everyone that I would stop bugging Bonnie. Her friend even recorded the whole thing.”
The couple exchanged glances and sighed simultaneously.
Vera instinctively gazed at Harold, thinking, ‘Gresham and I know how talented Bonnie is, but we’re prideful. I can’t bear groveling at her feet and asking for a painting.’
“Dad, you’re esteemed and respected. Maybe you can do it.”
‘It’s not like I haven’t tried,’ Harold thought, ‘However, Bonnie has rejected me mercilessly. I can’t set aside my pride and ask her again.’
“You two are Bonnie’s parents. If you can’t do it, what makes you think I can? Furthermore, you know just how sharp-tongued she is more than anyone. She has shamed us every time we meet her. “Bonnie can mock us again if we ask her for a favor. Anyone can set aside their pride if they feel like it, but leave me out. Bah! What’s wrong with that brat anyway? Why would she keep her talents a secret? “I don’t know why she never told us who she really was. We wouldn’t have disowned her if we knew how spectacular she was.”
Now that Harold brought it up, Vera felt uneasy and embarrassed. She said, “Bonnie did mention it to me last time. She told me she won an award for her painting and discussed how she could treat your condition. It’s just that we never believed her.”
She could not help but feel responsible for how things had turned out.
‘Bonnie did lie to us multiple times. How was I supposed to know the truth from the lies?’
While the family conversed, Trina, who used to be the loudest among them, kept her mouth shut. She also did her best to hide in a corner, trying not to let the others notice her.
Fernanda was standing nearby and saw what she was doing. The former sneered and raised her voice, “Uncle Gresham, don’t you find the whole thing strange?! What about you, Aunt Vera?”
