Elvira was very worried. She had so many issues to consider.

She could have lied, but considering her relationship with Nigel, she had scruples about lying to him.

Elvira hesitated.

After giving it some thought, she decided to tell him the truth about her family. It seemed to be the easiest way for her to deal with the issue.

She took a deep breath, sat up, and looked Nigel in the eye.

"My mom died many years ago. My father is Harlow Tao. He hardly paid any attention to me after my mom died.

My stepmother Colette Liu wants to marry me off to a rich man, so that she can get a handsome betrothal gift of money."

Elvira was very calm when she said that, as if she was telling someone else’s life story. But the look in her eyes was intense.

Nigel hadn’t expected to hear this from her. It was so sad.

He dropped what he was doing and looked at her with concern.

Their eyes met. The look in their eyes was so intent as if they were trying to absorb the other person into their eyes.

"My stepbrother is 13 years old. His name is Cedric Tao,"

she continued.

His eyebrows knitted.

So far, she had said only a few words, but there was so much information to process.

And what she had said was shocking.

"He is my stepmother’s ex-husband’s son, but after he came to our family, he started to use my father's surname."

Her eyes became blank.

Nigel walked over to her and knelt on one knee. He held her hand in his. Her hand was so cold his heart tightened into a knot.

"Elv, if you don’t want to see them, let’s forget about it," he said. He knew that she didn’t want to go back to that home. No one would.

Home was supposed to be a warm place. Unfortunately, for some people, home was the place where they had learned the meaning of the word "cold."

Home was supposed to be a harbor, which provided protection. But in some cases, it hurt deeply.

"It’s okay. If you want to meet them, let’s fix a date,"

she said firmly. She wanted to face the difficulty and sadness. Avoiding it wouldn’t change anything.

Only taking the first step could she solve the problem.

There was another reason for her to be brave.

She had Nigel now. She wouldn’t be alone when she faced her family. No one knew the truth about their marriage even though they were only nominal husband and wife.

The day they went to meet Elvira’s family, once the car came to a halt, the past came flooding in her head.

She recalled how hard her mother had worked to save her father's business, how dispirited her father had been. She still remembered the day when her father had been so drunk he had collapsed on the floor; Colette’s eyes were full of disdain when she looked at him, holding her son. Then she yelled at Elvira...

Elvira shook her head to dispel the past from her head. Opening the door of the car, she stepped out and walked towards the house.

Nigel followed behind her. He knew how worried she was, but he said nothing. She needed some time to herself now, so he had decided to leave her alone.

It was Colette who opened the door for them. Upon seeing Elvira, she became impatient. She was going to say something when she saw Nigel who was standing behind Elvira.

Nigel wasn’t wearing his military uniform but an Italian hand-made navy blue suit. He looked distinguished.

One looked at him and Colette knew that he was rich and important.

She sized him up and thought Elvira had found herself a rich "buyer."

"Where is my father?"

Elvira asked, looking around for Harlow. She simply ignored Colette’s rude attitude.

"In the bedroom,"

Colette answered casually.

"It seems you have found yourself a rich man. You don’t need us anymore. Why did you come back?"

Colette said sarcastically as she gave Nigel a sidelong look. Then she slumped onto the sofa.

Elvira didn’t want to waste time on Colette. She told Nigel she would be upstairs with her father, and then she went.

Nigel watched her leave and stood in the living room, waiting for her. He didn’t intend to sit down.

Taking a sip of tea, Colette stole glances at him.

This guy’s clothes look expensive. He must be a son of some rich family,

she thought to herself.

Where did Elvira meet such a powerful man?

With that, Colette stood up to suck up to Nigel.

"Are you Elv’s friend?

Where do you work?"

she asked with a fawning smile, holding out her hand to lead him to the sofa.

"I’m her husband,"

Nigel replied with a stern face, turning to move away from her hand.

Husband? Colette was shocked.

She could tell Nigel and Elvira were not just friends, but she hadn’t expected him to be her husband.

When did that damn girl get married?

If she got married without my knowledge, where am I supposed to get the money? That’s a big loss.

Colette clenched her teeth, resentment written all over her face. She had raised Elvira for many years, and she hadn’t benefited from it at all. She couldn’t accept such an outcome.

Elvira came to her father’s bedroom and stood at the door. She hesitated for a while before she knocked on the door. "Dad," she called.

She didn’t remember the last time she had called Harlow "Dad." It seemed a long time ago.

Harlow didn’t respond.

Elvira opened the door. Her father was saying something in front of the computer, wearing a headset.

She walked over to find that he was playing a computer game.

Elvira was rendered speechless. But at least, it was better than drinking.

"Dad!"

she called again, patting on his shoulder. Harlow turned around in confusion.

He was wearing glasses, even more dejected than before. Elvira realized he looked so old now.

Half of his hair had turned white. His eyes had dimmed. Lines creased his forehead, the mark of his eventful life.

Suddenly, sadness seized her. She almost cried when she recalled that he used to call her "Sunshine."