Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 219

Chapter 219: Imperfect But Real
The next morning arrived gently, sunlight spilling through the windows and casting golden shadows across the living room.

The house was quiet, calm, with only the soft clinking of dishes from the kitchen where Emma was seeing to the chef who was preparing breakfast.

Fiona was already up, dressed in jeans and a soft green sweater, her suitcase sitting quietly by the door. She sipped from a warm cup of tea as she walked slowly through the hallway, taking in the pictures on the wall—some new, some old, all filled with love.

She found Margaret in the garden, kneeling by a row of flowers, humming softly to herself as she trimmed a few wilted leaves.

Fiona paused for a moment, watching her. She couldn’t explain it, but there was something comforting about Margaret. A warmth that didn’t try too hard, yet felt so deeply real. Perhaps that was why Liam was drawn to her.

Fiona crouched beside her. “You seem to love really deeply,” she said observing how carefully she was caring for the flowers.

Margaret gave a soft chuckle. “I’ve lost a lot… but I’ve gained a lot too. Sometimes, the heart has to break a little before it can hold more love. But, it’s all thanks to Emma. It was her love that made me change so much.”

“Emma? How?” Fiona asked with interest.

A small smile graced Margaret’s face and she shook her head. “That’s something you’ll see for yourself with time.”

Fiona looked down, her hands fiddling with a blade of grass. “Liam… he doesn’t really have grandparents. My husband’s parents cut off after he passed. And I never had the chance to give him the kind of family I wished I had since it was only my mom.”

Margaret reached out, her hand resting gently over Fiona’s. “Then maybe it’s time we fix that. If you’ll let me, I’d love to be that for him. And for you, too. Though I might not be perfect, I promise to keep him happy as much as I can.”

Fiona’s eyes welled with tears, a lump rising in her throat. “You don’t even know me that well…”

“But I know your heart,” Margaret said. “I saw it in how you protect your son, how you tried to hold everything together yesterday, and how much you care—even when you’re unsure.”

“I’ve been on my own for so long,” Fiona whispered. “I forgot what it felt like to be cared for like this.”

Margaret gently pulled Fiona into a soft hug. Though hesitant at first, Fiona held her when she felt Margaret warm arms. It felt secure and safe, something she felt only with her adoptive mom.

“You’re not on your own anymore, sweetheart. Family isn’t just blood—it’s choice. And we choose you. We’re here… all of us.”

From the hallway, Emma stood watching quietly, smiling softly at the sight. She stepped forward with a glass of juice and sat beside them on the grass.

“Margaret beat me to it,” she said with a grin.

Fiona wiped her tears and laughed a little. “You guys are too much.”

Emma reached out and squeezed her hand. “We just want you to know you’re wanted. Loved. This house, this family… though it’s not perfect, but it’s real. And now it’s yours too.”

Fiona took a deep breath, letting the peace settle inside her. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she belonged somewhere. That maybe, just maybe, this was the kind of love she’d always dreamed about giving Liam too.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet but full. “For everything.”

Margaret smiled. “No need to thank us. Just promise you’ll come back.”

“I will,” Fiona nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “Again and again.”

They sat there for a while—three women bound not by history, but by heart—under the morning sun, planting roots they never knew they needed.

A while later, after breakfast and everyone had spoken to Fiona privately, the car was already waiting in the driveway.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the house as the family slowly gathered outside. Suitcases were packed. Fiona stood beside the open door, her hand gently resting on Liam’s small shoulder.

He clutched his little backpack tightly, his face unusually quiet. No cheerful humming or endless questions like he’d had the day before. Just wide, uncertain eyes staring at everyone he’d grown to love so quickly.

Margaret stood a few steps away, trying to keep her smile steady, though her heart was twisting inside her chest.

“I don’t wanna go yet,” Liam mumbled, turning to his mom. “Can’t we stay a little more?”

Fiona bent down to his level, brushing his hair back. “I know, baby. But we’ll come back soon. Remember, you still have school. And we’ll call every day, okay?”

Margaret couldn’t hold back any longer. She walked up to them and dropped to her knees in front of Liam. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she took his little hands in hers.

“You’ve been the brightest part of this weekend,” she said softly. “It’s like the house laughed more because of you.”

Liam blinked at her. “Are you sad I’m going?”

Margaret chuckled through a sniffle. “I am. Very much. You remind me a lot of someone I loved with all my heart—my son, Jake. He was just like you when he was about your age.”

She swallowed hard, looking away for a second before meeting Liam’s eyes again. “Having you here… it made that empty space feel a little less lonely.”

Liam reached out and wrapped his small arms around her neck. “You can love me too the way you loved him and I can fill that space too, if you want, you know. I don’t want to see you sad.”

Margaret gasped lightly, holding him close. That simple sentence filled something in her she hadn’t even realized was still broken.

“Thank you, Liam. For accepting me wholeheartedly and I promise not to be sad anymore,” she whispered, kissing his cheek.

Claire looked away for a second, blinking back tears. Emma wrapped an arm around Alex’s waist, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Fiona wiped her eyes quickly and smiled. “Looks like you’ve made a permanent home in someone’s heart.”

Margaret stood, finally letting go of Liam but not of the feeling he left behind. “I didn’t expect this weekend to mean so much,” she said quietly, looking at Fiona. “Thank you… for sharing him with us.”

Fiona nodded, her heart full. “Thank you for welcoming us like family. I was scared at first… but now, I feel like I’ve found pieces of home I didn’t know I was missing.”

Alex stepped forward and hugged his sister tightly. “No more years apart. You hear me? You ever need anything, I’m here. We all are.”

She smiled against his shoulder. “Same here.”

As Liam climbed into the car, he waved from the window, eyes still glued to Margaret.

“I’ll call you, Grandma!” he shouted.

Margaret laughed, waving back with tears finally spilling over. “You better! And don’t forget to draw me something, alright?”

The car pulled away slowly, leaving behind a bittersweet silence.

Margaret stood still for a moment, her arms folded around herself.

Emma stepped beside her. “You okay?”

Margaret gave a watery smile. “I think… I think Liam just helped me grieve Jake a little better. I’ll miss that boy.”

“We all will,” Emma said, squeezing her hand. “But now we’ve got two more peoplr who calls this place home.”

Margaret nodded, her eyes fixed on the road even after the car had disappeared. “Yeah… and maybe now my heart feels just a little more whole.”