(Chapter 59) The Return Home

As the clock struck 8pm. Astrid noticed that her phone was ringing.

After taking a glance, her expression softened. "Yes dad?" She picked up the phone.

"Astrid, will you be coming home? You do know that Anya does want to see you." Mr. Tuhs's tone was quite warm. He had long understood that Anya was his daughter's soft spot.

His words hit Astrid where he wanted. Thinking about her younger sister Astrid's eyes softened even more. Even resulting into a small smile. "I'll be home in a couple of hours."

Astrid hung up and put her work aside for Wu to finish, she had done the work she required to sign long ago. Since Wu was so competent, she wouldn't need to worry about anything.

Astrid drove home and the guard opened the gate for her immediately, he was someone who knew Astrid's identity and asked no questions when he saw her face.

Astrid parked into the garage and then sighed as she rubbed away the sweat on her hands.

She left abruptly 3 years ago. She didn't plan on coming back home so quickly, but here she was, unable to let her family be without her.

She quickly finished a cigarette in her car and then stepped out. Walking into the same, familiar side entrance...

She walked to the living room, considering the time she didn't expect to see Anya still awake. Let alone still seeing Francesca and Winoa sitting with her father and mother.

"Oh? So you do still know this is your home then?" Mr. Tuhs gave his oldest some sass. He was upset that she left 3 years ago when she didn't need to. So he expressed his feelings now.

Mrs. Tuhs also felt the same, she was upset Astrid had left without giving much thought. But then she quickly got it out of her mind. She knew what pushed Astrid to leave quickly to establish herself, she could only feel guilt for it.

"Mum, dad. I'm home." Astrid softly announced as she noticed the sleeping ball on the sofa awaken.

Anya rubbed her eyes, she picked up her mother and father's genes like Astrid. She was ridiculously cute, especially her chubby cheeks which Astrid could barely resist squeezing.

"Big sis!?" Anya was excited, as she tried to get off the sofa quickly to go see her sister.

Astrid smiled warmly seeing Anya. "Hang on, I'm coming now." She spoke softly, Anya was her soft spot. She couldn't resist calling her parents from time to time to see her face. She had a range of emotions in her heart thinking that she missed a lot of her growth.

"Sis, you won't leave me will you?" Anya had tears forming in her eyes. She could only see her sister through the screen of a video call. Including that she was incredibly cute, Astrid immediately crumbled.

"I promise. Aren't you tired precious hmm? Come on, let's go to bed." The honey tone Astrid was using made Winoa glance away.

Anya was stuck to Astrid like glue. But seeing her sleeping face Astrid picked her up and put her into bed.

"See, I wasn't lying." Mr. Tuhs spoke softly to his daughter. Anya did really want to see Astrid. He didn't know how many sleepless nights he had over Anya's tears and why Astrid couldn't stay at home at her young age.

"I know." Astrid took a sip of the tea made for her.

Francesca was expecting a grand reunion. But the situation she was watching was now awkward, Astrid never spoke a lot anyway. And she was sticking out like a saw thumb within this family...

"Uh, I guess I'll be taking my leave." Francesca announced as she finished her tea.

The family of 3 all looked at Francesca with the same eyes. "There is no need. Just stay around for tonight." Astrid spoke softly, that was her consent that what they going to talk about Francesca could hear.

Francesca chuckled awkwardly and sat back down. She didn't know what to do with herself. She then started to nibble on a biscuit.

"I have an entertainment company under me. I already moved over Francesca and her manager. Is that fine mum?" Astrid then asked the most stupid question going.

Mrs. Tuhs wanted to hit her daughter. "Why ask me? It's your choice not mine." She spoke to both Astrid and Francesca in that sentence.

Astrid nodded. "I'll be staying for a while. I have ratted out our enemies from our cousin's side." Astrid spoke in sentences that didn't connect, she either didn't want to talk... Or kept away her true reason for doing what she did.

Hearing her words Francesca then realized that she probably shouldn't be listening. "I have to be up early. Goodnight." She wasn't stupid enough to listen to something she shouldn't be.

Seeing Francesca basically run away Mrs. Tuhs stifled a laugh. "She's a good seedling. I'm glad you made a friend of her." Mrs. Tuhs spoke to both Winoa and Astrid.

Astrid nodded. "Mum, dad. You should get some rest, staying up late isn't good for your health." Astrid then finished her tea.

Winoa silently took her leave. As Mrs. Tuhs fumed at Astrid. "You are calling us old? Don't worry, we can still stay up as late as you." Mrs. Tuhs was quite upset.

Astrid chuckled. "I would never call you old mum. You have softer skin than me, You have no wrinkles and look to be in your late 20's. While dad could still make you fall in love with him time and time again. Aren't I right?" Astrid teased her parents.

Seeing her mother's flaring cheeks. Astrid smirked. "I'll talk more business tomorrow." Astrid basically sent her parents to their room. As she was left in the living room by herself.

She went back to her room which was left untouched, but remained dust-free. She sat down at the familiar desk. And continued her work on the brand new computer at the desk...

'If only they knew why I didn't want to come back. Would they think of me as a monster?' Astrid had her reason for leaving abruptly and not coming back home. She didn't wish to taint this house with her bloodied hands or herself. Her sister was too young to be close to her...

But yet she couldn't resist. This home resonated with her. She couldn't be called a 'child' in her previous life. But in this life, she was treated with such love and affection it made her see the world in a better light. But with light comes the shadow of the world. Astrid had long been residing in the shadow.