《A change of heart, starting anew》
In the courtroom confrontation, a scene of uncomfortable truths unfolds.
Smith has no blood relation to "that child." Hidden illnesses exposed, secrets meant to stay hidden. Half a lifetime of sacrifices, fulfilling moral obligations, and the original source of property purchases with parents. Emotions, reason, and law contradict with Lillian's concepts; reason, law, and emotions each stand apart.
Everyone is a victim, yet the lawyer emerges the biggest winner. To avoid further mental and physical exhaustion, more financial losses deepen. Both sides settle back to square one, each holding half the wealth. If only they had known earlier, why stir up such a big fuss? Self-damage does no good to others.
In 2013, Smith retired and flew to the United States. Lillian, already leading a solitary life, suddenly feels abandoned and lost. For a long... long time, she avoids social interactions and stops visiting hospitals. She isolates herself in that home, her imprisoned heart bound to her mother and "that child."
Back to reality, "that child" is a flawed product, prone to physical and emotional turbulence, causing harm.
As "that child" ages, allergies to tap water emerge, and walking soon becomes exhausting. Their distorted body slowly consumes the candle of life.
Lillian tries her best to save her lifeline, but fate turns against her, and she must eventually return.
Born to challenge Lillian, "that child" both suffer losses. Twenty-eight years pass with eyes open and closed.
Lillian's plans can't keep up with the changes. The passing of "that child" is a blow to her. It seems her life's drive, once fueled by motherly love, ends with her shedding responsibilities. Everything returns to square one, only memories and loss remain. Busy as she was, she ends up alone. Despite many sympathizing with Lillian's plight and wanting to help, she rejects all offers.
Time heals wounds, marking the beginning of a new life. As long as she lives, a meal and a revived body, once her heart is unburdened, she becomes invincible.
Without Smith, without "that child," Lillian begins discussing future plans with her mother. They exchange warmth and lean on each other, as if returning to the past, sharing little secrets and smiling. Yet, both bear marks of their different encounters, their fragile bodies showing the years' imprints.
Lillian steps confidently into the crowd, converses with Sister Que, makes new friends, learns to sing karaoke, and resumes her past self-taught baking experiences, becoming a master who shares and exchanges knowledge.
Lillian's confidence gradually returns, though there's still a hint of emptiness in her home. Deep down, she wonders: How is Smith doing?
Truly, old adversaries often reunite!
《轉念，重新做人》
法庭對決，是一場挖開難堪的場面。
史密斯跟 ”那孩子” 沒有血緣關係。曝露出隱疾，不想公開的祕密。半輩子的犧牲，遵守道德義務，和父母買房置產的原始金流。情、理、法，與林立蓮概念違背；理、法、情，則兩端各據一方。
大家都是受害者，結果最大贏家是律師。為了不再勞心勞力，加深更多金錢流失。雙方協調回至原點，各持一半財富。早知如此，何必鬧一大圈？損己也不利人。
2013 年，史密斯退休飛往美國了。本就形單影隻的林立蓮，忽然有一種被拋棄失落的感覺。好長...好長…一段時間，不想與人交流，也停止去醫院就診。封閉自守在那個家，桎梏的心又綁在母親跟 “那孩子” 的身上。
回到現實， “那孩子” 是一個不良品的產物，遇到生理轉換或情緒交錯，都是傷害。
“那孩子” 年歲增長，對自來水產生過敏，行走也很快就沒力氣了。扭曲的身體，一點一點在燒盡生命殘燭。
林立蓮使盡全力想保住命根子，奈何福盡禍至，終須歸去。
“那孩子” 就像生來跟林立蓮比劃刀劍，最後兩敗俱傷。在世睜眼閉眼，一晃28年。
林立蓮的計畫跟不上變化。”那孩子” 的離世，對林立蓮來說，是一個打擊。好像這一生的動力，源自於母愛光輝，最後到責任卸去。所有一切，回歸到原點，只剩回憶跟失落。忙忙碌碌，結果孑然一身。儘管許多人唏噓不捨林立蓮的遭遇，想出手幫忙，都被拒絕。
時間療傷，是啟動人生起點。只要活著，一口飯、一身軀回魂後，一旦心無罣礙，就所向無敵。
沒了史密斯，沒了 “那孩子”，林立蓮開始跟母親聊未來的想法。噓寒問暖、相互依偎，就像回到過去，母女之間有小祕密而竊笑。只是倆人臉上風霜，各有不同際遇，刻印著痕跡。脆弱體態，是歲月年輪。
林立蓮踏穩腳步邁向人群，跟隨雀姊交流，結識些朋友，學習唱卡拉 OK，拾起曾經自學烘焙記憶經驗，當起師父分享交流。
林立蓮的自信慢慢回復，軒宇間帶點空虛。心裡還是惦記：史密斯過得如何？
真的是：不是冤家不聚頭！
