After everything came to light, Adeline no longer bothered to hide anything. My in-laws paraded their precious grandson around without shame.
My mother-in-law could send up to eight hundred videos a day—documenting her heartwarming life with her beloved grandchild.
Videos of the grandson helping her down the steps, cooking herbal soup for her, the whole family of four taking a stroll in the park, dining in fancy restaurants...
One clip after another, full of laughter and warmth.
And then there was Adeline—smiling gently as she helped Jeremy pick out clothes, even helping him try them on.
They were just ordinary, everyday moments. Yet they made my eyes sting with an unbearable ache.
I carefully reviewed the documents the paparazzi had given me, then sent a message to Adeline.
[Tomorrow, 8 a.m. Meet me at the Civil Affairs Bureau.]
Moments later, she sent back several long voice messages.
"Easton, I won’t divorce you. I’ve already told you, Jeremy was just an accident. The one I’ve always loved is you."
"We’ve been married for thirty years. Can’t you show me some understanding? Do you really want me to become a heartless woman who abandons her own child?"
"Jonah and I have already discussed it. He’ll live in the Paradise Villa and won’t bother us. When we’re old, Jeremy will care for you too. He was just defending his father today. We’ve already scolded him."
"The day after tomorrow is Mom’s birthday. Jonah and the others will be there. I’ll make him apologize to you in person. Jonah is sensible and mild-tempered. Please don’t keep pushing things—can’t you just let it go?"
Though my tears had already overflowed internally these past few days, hearing her say such heartless things in such a calm, ordinary tone finally broke me.
Tears spilled down, one by one, landing softly on my phone screen.
I couldn’t understand. How could she say these things so casually? So shamelessly?
Had it become completely normal for rich women to keep a lover and raise their child, like it was no different from eating or using the bathroom?
When Adeline found me, I was already drunk beyond reason.
She walked up and held me tightly, kissing away the tears on my face.
"Easton, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry."
"I didn’t want you to suffer. Vasectomies are painful... and yet I still end up hurting you."
For a moment, I was swept back in time—thirty years ago, when the Jenkins family was on the brink of bankruptcy.
I raised my glass to the bank director. He made me down ten shots in a row.
That day, Adeline rushed over and pulled me behind her. “Director Gray, I’m sorry. My husband can’t drink.”
Director Gray slammed his glass on the table. “If President Jenkins looks down on me, then find someone else to talk about the loan.”
I hurried to stop him from leaving, plastering on a smile.
“Director Gray, please don’t be angry. Adeline was just worried I’d say something foolish if I got drunk. It’s my honor to drink with you.”
Then I lifted the glass and downed it in one gulp.
That night, Director Gray smirked and poured ten more shots.
“One shot for two hundred thousand dollars. Let’s see how much you can handle—and how big of a loan you really deserve.”
I drank all ten, and secured a two-million-dollar loan.
My stomach burned like fire, but Adeline held me tightly, just like now, kissing away my tears.
"Easton, once we get through this, I won’t let anyone look down on you ever again. I’ll never let you suffer."
The tears of the past blended with the tears of today, but now, all that remained was bitterness.
“Adeline, can’t you let them go?”
“If you want a child, I’ll go have surgery right now. I’m not afraid of pain.”
“Adeline... when you wanted a child, why didn’t you come to me? Why didn’t you tell me?”
...
The air went still. Only the sound of my quiet sobbing remained.
I looked into Adeline’s eyes—and all I saw was coldness, devoid of the warmth I once knew.
And at that moment, I finally understood—the ones I held onto so tightly...
Had never truly been mine to begin with.
