Forbidden Kin

Sitting on the plane, I still felt dazed.

I never thought that after five years abroad, I would have the chance to come back.

After all, Orion had said that in this lifetime, I'd better never appear in front of him again.

But it was also he who personally bought me a ticket back home, inviting me to attend his and Melissa's wedding anniversary celebration.

After two layovers, I finally landed.

Uma had been sleeping peacefully on the plane, but once we got off, she started crying.

"Mommy, my feet hurt," she whimpered softly.

Hearing Uma's quiet sobs, I quickly picked her up and walked towards the exit.

At the arrival gate, I turned on my phone, ready to call a cab.

Just then, my phone rang.

Seeing the familiar number on the screen, I fell silent, unsure whether to answer or not.

In the end, I didn't pick up.

But a second call came through almost immediately.

I sighed and finally answered.

Orion's voice quickly came through.

After years without talking, his voice hadn't changed.

"Are you out of the airport? I sent an assistant to pick you up," Orion said in a businesslike manner, as if we were strangers.

I laughed bitterly, "I can get a cab myself."

There was silence for a second; Orion probably didn't expect me to say that.

After all, back then, I had been well taken care of by him. During my years by his side, all my needs were met - I never had to worry about transportation.

After a moment of silence, Orion spoke casually, "Let the assistant come anyway. I bought a gift for Melissa on your behalf, it's in the trunk. You can bring it directly when you come for dinner."

Orion was still so thoughtful, considering even the gift situation perfectly.

Of course, when he spent millions on the venue and commissioned a limited edition diamond to create a unique wedding ring for Melissa, it was clear how much he loved her.

"Alright," I said, rubbing my forehead and responding softly.

Orion didn't say anything more, but he didn't hang up either.

After a while, Orion finally spoke: "Yara, after five years abroad, I hope you've really reflected on things. If you do anything to Melissa, I won't let you off easy."

Hearing this, I was stunned.

The noise around me seemed to fade away.

Orion said he wouldn't let me off easy.

Before I could respond, Orion had already hung up.

Actually, Orion could rest assured. I wouldn't do anything to them.

I just wanted to take good care of Uma and find a job.

As I left the airport, I lowered my head.

The proud 22-year-old me probably couldn't have imagined that my life would end up in such a miserable state.

I was sent abroad by Orion on my 22nd birthday.

That day, Orion discovered my diary.

When I was young, my parents died in a cruise ship accident and never returned. Orion naturally took over my care.

My relationship with him had always been harmonious.

Until I became an adult, I realized I didn't just see Orion as an uncle.

I liked him.

But I also knew very clearly that there was no future between Orion and me.

So I wrote all my feelings in my diary.

If Orion hadn't seen my diary, I probably could have pretended that my feelings for him were just those of a niece for her uncle.

But Orion saw it.

He tore up my diary and asked me how I could have such disgusting thoughts.

"Don't you know I'm your uncle! Even without a blood relation, we can only be family!"

The usually gentlemanly and refined Orion was no longer gentle, shouting at me with disgust in his eyes.

At that time, I wanted to explain, but couldn't explain anything. In the end, I could only keep bowing and apologizing, saying I was wrong, that I shouldn't have fallen for him.

But Orion didn't calm down.

The next day, he resigned from the job I had lined up, and under the guise of studying abroad, sent me to a remote university overseas.

To prevent me from contacting the outside world, Orion even hired bodyguards to watch me.

At first, I didn't understand why Orion treated me this way.

Until the first month after I went abroad, news of Orion's marriage went viral.

Only then did I realize that all these years, he had always had someone in his heart.

I watched Orion's wedding video over and over again.

In the video, when looking at Melissa, Orion's gaze was gentle and loving.

He had never looked at me that way.

From that moment on, I knew that Orion keeping me by his side for so many years was just out of sympathy and responsibility.

His only love was Melissa.

"Miss John, please get in the car," the assistant's voice brought me back to reality.

I nodded and got into the car with the sleeping Uma.

When he saw Uma, the assistant's face showed a hint of surprise: "Miss John, this is...?"

I made a shushing gesture, afraid our conversation would disturb Uma's sleep.

After sitting in the back seat, I answered softly: "This is my daughter."

The assistant nodded and fell silent.

When he drove to our destination, I was stunned.

This hotel was where Orion and Melissa got married.

Five years of marriage, he held a wedding anniversary celebration every year, and personally selected gifts for Melissa.

I thought, Orion really cherished Melissa.

In previous years, he didn't allow me to enter their world. Inviting me back this year was probably just to let me witness their happiness.

I numbly got out of the car and saw Melissa smiling as she walked towards me.

Unlike my haggard appearance and simple clothes, Melissa wore expensive jewelry and perfume, looking well-cared for by Orion.

Melissa's smile suddenly froze.

I knew she had seen Uma in my arms.

Sure enough, when she came to my side, Melissa's expression was very surprised: "Yara, how did you secretly have a child abroad without telling me? I've been married to your uncle for so long, you still treat me like an outsider."

Before I could speak, Melissa took Uma from my arms without asking.

Uma woke up and immediately started crying, struggling not to let Melissa hold her.

I took Uma back from Melissa and comforted her for a while.

Actually, Melissa knew about my past crush on Orion.

Returning this time, I didn't want to get too involved with Melissa.

But Melissa still stubbornly wanted to hold Uma.

When Melissa and I arrived at the hotel's private room, Uma was still crying and wanting me to hold her.

Melissa forced a smile and handed Uma back to me: "Your uncle knows having children isn't easy. We haven't thought about having kids these past few years. Seeing you've had a daughter, I got too excited."

There were already several people sitting in the room.

I wasn't used to socializing, so I chose a corner seat, and Melissa sat down next to me.

She enthusiastically linked arms with me, introducing me and Uma to the others.

The looks others gave me were visibly teasing and probing.

I couldn't stand the strange atmosphere here and said I wanted to go to the restroom.

When I came back after washing my face, I heard Melissa's voice.

Someone asked Melissa why she brought in an unlucky thing like me.

"What unlucky thing, Yara is Orion's sister. Although she went down the wrong path and tried to seduce Orion before, now that she's had a child, she definitely won't make mistakes again."

Hearing Melissa say this, I just quietly stood at the door of the private room.

Yes, in others' eyes, I was just a madwoman who tried to seduce her uncle, a shameless slut.

Uma tugged at my clothes uneasily, and I comforted her before entering the room.

Some things have to be faced eventually.

I don't know how long passed, but suddenly everyone in the room stood up.

"Mr. John is here!"

"Hello, Mr. John!"

A group of people crowded around him, while I didn't move, just sitting in my seat.

After a long time, I finally raised my head and looked at Orion.

He seemed to have lost some weight.

Orion wore a suit, with Melissa leaning on him. When they looked at each other, their eyes were full of smiles.

Orion was surrounded by people and didn't notice me in the corner.

All these years, he who should have been the center of attention still was, while the only one not doing well was me.

Suddenly, Melissa seemed to remember something and pushed Orion with a smile: "Orion, Yara is here too. You uncle and niece haven't seen each other for so many years, catch up a bit. Yara even brought back a surprise!"

Hearing the word "surprise", Orion remained unmoved, first helping Melissa sit down and ordering her a glass of milk before raising his eyes to look in my direction.

Uma shrank into a ball, looking very wary.

Orion obviously saw Uma too, his eyes widening suddenly.

"Yara, what is this?"

He was asking about Uma.

I hadn't told them about Uma, so when they saw me with her, their expressions were all the same - either surprised or looking like they were watching a show.

Melissa spoke for me: "Orion, this is Yara's daughter. Isn't she cute? She looks just like Yara and seems to be a few years old already."

Orion's gaze fell on Uma, then on me, examining me for a while.

Just when I thought Orion wouldn't pay attention to me anymore, he asked hoarsely, pointing at Uma: "During these years abroad... you got married and had a child?"

I raised my head, looking directly at Orion, and nodded.

"I got married a while ago. Sorry I didn't tell you."

It was very quiet around, no one spoke.

Orion stared at me, as if trying to judge whether my words were true or false.

Melissa seemed about to say something, but Orion had already come to stand in front of me: "Where's your husband?"

I pursed my lips: "He's busy recently, so he didn't come."

Whispers and snickers sounded around the room, though these guests seemed to restrain their laughter out of respect for Orion.

Orion's face was aJohn, but in the end he didn't say anything, just sat down next to Melissa.

This meal, I ate without tasting anything.

Everyone else was praising how well-matched Orion and Melissa were, while I just wanted to take Uma to rest early.

The rent here wasn't too expensive, I could still afford it.

I didn't want to go abroad again.

The meal ended quickly.

I wanted to leave, but Orion stopped me, saying he had something to tell me.

In the end, Orion and I stayed in the private room.

Melissa was there too.

Orion looked at me coldly, his words as emotionless as his expression.

"Yara, since we all have our own families now, I hope you won't come to bother me in the future."

Melissa covered the smile at the corner of her lips: "Orion, don't say that to Yara. She's a grown woman now, she knows what she shouldn't do."

The couple sang in harmony, looking particularly in sync.

And I was excluded from this synchronization.

They never believed the promises I made.

But I still nodded and bowed: "I won't in the future."

They didn't say anything, and I had already turned to leave with Uma in my arms.

Orion called his assistant to send me off, but this time I refused.

After returning to the rental apartment with Uma, she suddenly asked me quietly if the uncle and aunt today disliked her.

They say children are perceptive and know everything.

I shook my head: "They don't dislike Uma."

They just dislike me.

Uma looked like she had many questions she wanted to ask me, but in the end she didn't, just hugged me and said, mom, you've worked hard.

The tears I had held back all day seemed about to fall at this moment.

But I couldn't cry in front of Uma.

So I tilted my head back, holding back the tears.

After putting Uma to sleep, I suddenly received a text message.

The sender was Melissa.

"Yara, if you have time, let's talk."

I frowned and told her she could just text me directly.

But Melissa didn't send any more messages.

Just before bed, I received a call from Melissa.

"I'm downstairs at your place. I just want to ask you one thing."

"Do you have any thoughts of going abroad again recently? Orion and I actually both hope you'll continue to stay abroad. And your husband is abroad too, right? It's better for you to go abroad."

I was a bit confused at first, but after realizing, I found it a bit funny.

The only thing that could make Melissa contact me late at night was probably just this.

They both hated me to this extent.

They couldn't even stand being in the same country as me.

I glanced at Uma sleeping beside me.

After going downstairs, I indeed saw Melissa standing under a streetlight.

Standing in front of her, I took a deep breath before looking directly into her eyes: "I don't plan to go abroad."

Even if just for Uma's sake, I won't take her on such a tiring journey again.

Melissa laughed lightly.

With no one else around, her gaze finally showed undisguised contempt.

"Yara, I know you're very short on money now. What if I could give you a sum of money, would you be willing to go abroad?"

I was silent for a moment.

The fact that I was short on money was already common knowledge.

Melissa and Orion knew I had a hard time abroad, so when threatening me, they were also very clear about my weakness.

But I refused.

Melissa seemed a bit surprised.

That night, Melissa and I parted on bad terms.

For the next few days, I was busy looking for work, but I would be rejected after the first round of interviews every time.

It wasn't until a young interviewer hesitantly told me that this was Ms. Cheng's order that I realized Melissa didn't even want me to find a job.

Melissa was determined to make me go abroad again.

After being stunned for a long time, I thanked the interviewer who told me the truth.

Just as I left the interview company, I received a text message from the hospital.

Last night, I had made an appointment at the hospital, wanting to get some antidepressants.

During the consultation, the doctor told me that my recent condition was very poor and I should consider doing more psychological counseling sessions.

Back when I was abroad, doctors had given me similar advice.

It seemed my depression had indeed become very serious.

As I was leaving the clinic looking at the prescription instructions, I accidentally bumped into someone while passing a corner.

"I'm sorry..."

I apologized first, but when I looked up, I found that the person standing in front of me was Orion.

And behind him was Melissa.

Orion frowned, seemingly not intending to talk to me, and was about to leave directly.

At this time, Orion suddenly noticed the medicine in my hand.

"Yara, what are you doing at the hospital?"

He seemed to want to see what I was holding, but I had already quickly stuffed the medicine box into my bag: "I just caught a cold recently, came to buy some medicine."

Melissa chimed in at the right moment: "There are indeed quite a few people getting the flu lately."

But Orion didn't speak, still staring at my bag.

I lowered my head and quickly went downstairs.

The encounter with Orion was not in my expectations.

In the past, I always wanted to see Orion, but he was always busy.

Before going abroad, I could count on one hand the number of times I met with Orion. Most of the time, he would only occasionally send me a couple of messages.

After going abroad, Orion simply didn't contact me at all.

Unexpectedly, after returning home, when I really didn't want to run into Orion anymore, I could bump into him.

I've had depression for a long time.

At the worst times, I experienced severe somatization symptoms and even thought about jumping off a building, but I still gritted my teeth and lived on.

When I got home, Uma was waiting for me in the living room.

Uma didn't sleep well last night, so I decided to take her to bed early.

But just as we were finally starting to feel a bit drowsy, I smelled something burning.

Uma was sound asleep, completely unaware of anything wrong.

At first, I thought the neighbors had just burned their food, but as the burning smell got stronger, I finally realized something was wrong.

Suddenly rolling out of bed, I stood by the window and saw thick smoke rising into the sky.