The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our UnfiAnished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 97

Cedars POV 

Nathaniel sat in the center of the gathering, surrounded by guests eager to engage with him. Despite his seventy years and silver hair, he maintained an imposing presence. When he spotted me entering, his expression remained unchanged as he motioned with his hand. 

“Cedar, come here,” he commanded. 

I approached with my gift bag in hand, forcing a smile. “Happy birthday, Grandfather. May you be blessed with health and longevity.” 

“Selena tells me you haven’t visited the Wright house for quite some time,” Nathaniel said sternly. “What’s this about? We didn’t raise you 

just so you could fly the nest and forget where you came from.” 

“Oh, Grandfather,” Selena wrapped herself around his arm, sighing dramatically. “My sister has her own circumstances now. She can’t visit 

frequently because she’s not alone anymore.” 

Nathaniel’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean, not alone?” 

“Grandfather, don’t you know? My sister has a child–a six–year–old boy… Oh! Should I not have mentioned that?” 

Selena covered her mouth with feigned remorse, but the damage was done. The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. 

Though I held a lower status as the Wright family’s adopted daughter, everyone in Chicago’s Gold Coast social circles knew of my existence. After all, why would a family like the Wrights adopt a daughter without reason? 

But this–this they hadn’t heard before. 

I was only twenty–six, unmarried, yet apparently had a six–year–old son? 

“I’m sorry, Cedar,” Selena continued with her performance, covering her face as if about to cry. “I shouldn’t have revealed your secret about having a child out of wedlock… Sister, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry with me.” 

I nearly laughed from the absurdity. So this was her plan–exposing Oliver’s existence to humiliate me? Did she still think I was that defenseless adopted girl who would endure the Wright family’s shame and accusations without fighting back? 

I’d severed my ties with the Wright family. Whatever happened in my life was none of their business. 

“Grandfather,” I said coldly, “I’ve delivered your birthday gift. I’ll be leaving now.” 

I turned to leave, but Nathaniel’s voice cut through the room like ice. “Stop right there. Explain this child situation to me immediately!” 

Nathaniel had raised three daughters and one son, each under his strict supervision. Though he favored his son, all his children received 

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Chapter 97 

proper education, 

The Wright family prided itself on strict family values at least in Nathaniel’s mind. 

“Is what Selena said true?‘ he demanded. 

I turned back, my gaze steady. “What if it is? What if it isn’t? Does it matter?” 

“How dare you!” 

Nathaniel hurled his teacup toward me. It shattered at my feet, but I didn’t flinch. 

“Is this how you address your elders? Is this the upbringing we gave you?” he shouted. 

I looked at the broken pieces, then back at him. “May I ask what upbringing that would be, Grandfather?” 

My voice remained calm as I continued, “No one ever taught me how to properly address elders, nor did anyone tell me I shouldn’t have a child before marriage.” I curled my lips into a mischievous smile. “When Selena was in college, she constantly changed boyfriends and often stayed out all night with different men. I thought that was the Wright family upbringing.” 

“Don’t make things up!” Selena exploded. 

I could see she was furious. Her plan had been to destroy my reputation, not have the spotlight turned on her. The hatred in her eyes made it clear she wanted to strangle me. 

“Cedar, how dare you make such accusations!” Elara Wright interjected coldly. “Selena has always conducted herself properly. She hasn’t even had a boyfriend yet. Don’t try to smear your sister’s reputation! It’s you who, unmarried, has a six–year–old son. That means you got pregnant at twenty! At that age, still in school, you dared to get pregnant and secretly have a child. The Wright family never taught you 

such behavior.” 

The ballroom erupted in gossip. 

“My goodness, the Wright’s adopted daughter is so brazen, having a child that young and keeping it secret for six years!” 

“Well, she’s a foundling of unknown origin herself, now she’s produced another illegitimate child. Like mother, like child!”