Reunion with Family

On the way back home, Andrea and the taxi driver engaged in a conversation. Through their conversation, she learned about the driver's circumstances. Due to unemployment, he had resorted to driving a taxi to make ends meet. His family was facing financial difficulties, with his wife taking care of his mother while he worked odd jobs. He appeared tall and thin, with a slight hunch in his back, perhaps due to his towering height. His face showed signs of hardship, with sun-kissed skin.

As Andrea listened to his story, she fell into a somber silence. The atmosphere in the car suddenly became quiet, prompting her to look out the window.

"Sigh... I shouldn't have said anything. She's just a passenger after all..."

About 30 minutes later, they arrived at the address she had mentioned, and the driver stopped the car.

"Rose Mansion"

As soon as he saw the words, he knew what lay beyond that sturdy gate. He dared not look for too long and quickly grabbed the suitcase to help her out of the car. If this was her destination, he guessed that today's passenger must come from an unimaginably wealthy background.

And yet... "And yet, why did I even think..." He mocked himself. How could he have shared his own circumstances with her, only for her to respond in silence? Just because the wealthy don't care about the struggles of working people like him.

As soon as the car stopped, the staff went in to inform the butler, and Elena came out to welcome the younger sister she had been separated from for so many years.

"Andrea... welcome back... my beloved little sister..."

Elena embraced Andrea, her smile radiant. The younger sister was different now, no longer the playful child of the past. Instead, there was a sense of maturity and growth within her, evident in her expressions and actions.

Andrea smiled and returned Elena's warm embrace. This was the older sister whom Andrea loved and respected deeply. She had heard that Elena was getting married, so she hurried back to attend her sister's wedding.

"Oh my... little missy... you don't recognize us anymore..."

The housekeeper stood next to the butler and said, making Andrea turn to look at the two. Elena laughed and also looked at the couple, the housekeeper and the butler, who were here.

"How could I forget Uncle Lam and Uncle Ha... Uncle Lam used to teach me how to take care of the plants, and Uncle Ha always cooked my favorite dishes... occasionally, they even taught me some 'nourishing life' practices, don't they?"

Andrea pretended to be stern, acting like a little old lady, recounting stories from her past before she moved to L.A. The butler (Uncle Lam) nodded in agreement.

"You truly have a good memory, little missy... it's been so long, and you still remember... unlike us, getting old and forgetful... right, madam? Haha..."

"You are so beautiful, little miss... if the lady in heaven sees the young miss like this, she would be very happy."

Because the butler and housekeeper had been working for Andrea's family for two generations, it could be said that they had taken care of Andrea since she was a child, even before her mother passed away.

Seeing Andrea's face falter, Elena subtly signaled the butler to remain silent.

"Hey, can you help Andrea with her suitcase?"

"Oh..."

Andrea turned around and realized that she hadn't paid the taxi fare. She felt a bit embarrassed because she had been so caught up in the conversation. But there was something more important that Andrea needed her sister's help with.

"Sis..."

"Yeah, what is it, little sister?"

"Can you help him find a stable job? His situation is difficult, and he's unemployed..."

The driver was taken aback when he heard Andrea talking to her sister. It seemed that she had listened to everything he shared earlier. Just a moment ago, he had even wondered...

"Is she helping me?"

"Sure... What's your name?"

"I'm Hai Nam, Pham Hai Nam. I studied architecture..."

"What a coincidence... Well, this afternoon, come to the HISMART Corporation. I'll help you find a job that matches your expertise."

"HISMART Corporation? HISMART Corporation..."

"Yes... Thank you, Miss. Thank you for this opportunity..."

Hai Nam muttered to himself, then bowed and thanked Andrea and Elena. He was overwhelmed with gratitude because HISMART was a well-known company. Even if he didn't have a high position, being a security guard there would provide enough income to support his family.

"Hey... Don't do that. You're older than us... And don't call me that. Call me Andrea. This is my sister."

"You can call me Elena."

Andrea stopped his bowing action. It was true that he was over 30 years old, and he shouldn't be bowing like this. She felt really awkward about it.

"Alright... Let's go inside... Dad has been waiting for you since morning."

Elena urged Andrea inside. Elena had a pleasant personality and loved her sister dearly, so helping Andrea was only natural. As long as it was within her capabilities, she would do everything she could.

"Thank you, Elena. Thank you, Andrea."

As the gate closed, Hai Nam gave one final bow. Then he got back into his car and drove away. He needed to push aside his thoughts about Andrea. A beautiful person with a kind heart, always helping others. He quickly left and went home to share the good news with his mother and wife.

As Andrea stepped into the grand and majestic house, the architecture inside reflected a Western classical style. Everything seemed unchanged from before. She glanced around the house and heard her father calling her.

"Anni..."

It had been a long time since she heard those two words, only her beloved father called her that.

"Dad."

She ran to him and embraced her father tightly.

"Anni, I missed you... Anni."

The middle-aged man in a simple white t-shirt, who had a worried expression earlier, now had a face full of happiness. As Andrea entered, his eyes were filled with sadness, realizing that as she grew up, her face, especially those eyes, resembled her late mother more and more.

"Dad, I will never leave you again."

When Andrea said those words, her father's tears fell. He never imagined that he would have such a talented and understanding daughter like her. His life was truly blessed to have two intelligent and understanding daughters by his side.

"Alright... Anni... You see our little An up there, don't you? Our daughter is so talented, isn't she? Up there, please protect our two children. I promise you, I will do everything to protect them."

He made a promise to himself because their daughter, since she was born, lacked the love of a mother. He remembered one day when she reached the age to go to school, she was only four years old. She was happy and eager like any other child her age, wanting to go to school to meet friends and play. But no, her first day of school was also the last time she set foot in the school. That day, he went to pick her up, and her face was full of sadness, her eyes red. When he asked, she didn't answer, only saying that she wouldn't go to school. Days passed, and she worried him and his wife, even Elena went to her room to play with her after school, but she remained the same. He didn't know what happened, so he had to go back to school, watching the security camera footage. His face turned grim, truly touching the pain of a child who had just entered the world but lost the embrace of a mother, a pain that even he couldn't bear.

Since he returned from the school, he instructed the housekeeper couple, whom he considered as family, and who were also loyal and concerned for her well-being.

"I would rather be a selfish father than let anyone hurt our little girl. Do you agree with me?"

After hearing his story, the housekeeper couple nodded in agreement. From that day on, Andrea received special care from them, protection, and her life revolved around the four of them: her father, her older sister, and the two housekeepers. All information about her was kept confidential, and any school-related information was erased. When she turned ten, her father consulted with his in-laws and made the difficult decision to send her to L.A.