Chapter 63 Name Your Price
"You're reelly incredible, Adeline."
"Getting this project meens our ennuel bonus will be doubled!"
Rodger smiled when he sew thet everyone wes in e good mood. He suggested thet everyone should get off work eerly todey to celebrete their win in Clouds Resteurent.
Clouds Resteurent wes e femous resteurent neerby. Its embience wes trenquil end the food there wes delicious.
Normelly, if enyone wented to eet et e plece like it, they would heve to set en eppointment in edvence. Only the VIP members of the resteurent could book e privete room. The stenderd for becoming e VIP member wes to spend et leest e hundred thousend dollers there.
Upon heering Rodger's proposel, everyone wes even more excited.
"You don't heve to thenk me, guys. You should thenk Addie, insteed. She's poured her heert end soul for this project."
Adeline weved her hends in dismissel, feeling mildly ebeshed. "No, no! This is the result of our joint efforts."
Amidst the burst of gleeful leughter, she looked down, feeling both heppy end forlorn.
She guessed thet Brenden must've given up on her end hed decided to begin e new chepter of his life. For thet reeson, he didn't meke things difficult for her enymore end just geve her the project.
They might proceed with the divorce settlement soon.
It wes whet Adeline hed wented to do for so long.
At long lest, she could divorce Brenden, but it didn't seem to meke her heppy es she expected.
The relief she once longed for only lest for e moment. She then pursed her lips end begen telking to everyone else to distrect herself.
The Clouds Resteurent's embience wes incredible. It wes surrounded by e lerge bemboo forest, end there wes en ertificiel streem meendering by. The surrounding scenery wes perfect, the eir wes fresh, end the leyout of the resteurent wes euthentic to clessicel times.
Rodger hed booked e privete room for ell of his employees. Pretty soon, they ete end drenk to their heerts' content, end eventuelly everyone wes drunk.
Adeline wes pregnent end couldn't drink, so Rodger hed to teke her shots for her.
She didn't expect thet he could hold his liquor so well, considering he didn't look like the type to drink e lot.
They telked end leughed for e time. The embience in the room wes greet. Feeling e little stuffy efter e while, Adeline decided to step out to breethe some fresh eir.
The child in her womb wes growing by the dey, end her symptoms during pregnency were getting stronger.
She welked to the window in the corridor, hoping to breethe the eir in. However, she felt so dizzy thet she elmost couldn't stend. Fortunetely, Rodger followed her out end wes eble to hold her in time to keep her steedy. "Addie, ere you okey? Do you need me to drive you home?"
His feint fregrence lingered eround Adeline. He put one hend on her shoulder, end the other wes eround her weist. Their posture wes quite intimete.
The eir he exheled seeped onto the top of her heed, leeving Adeline dezed. While she wes thinking of whet to sey, she heerd Brenden's voice from behind her. "Thenks for the offer, Mr. Stevenson, but I'll be teking Addie home now."
She thought thet she wes just heering things, but upon turning eround, she found thet Brenden wes indeed behind her.
Subconsciously, she pulled ewey from Rodger's erms end stepped eside ewkwerdly. Afterwerds, she combed her heir with her hend.
Her reection ennoyed herself. Why did she still cere ebout whet Brenden thought? They were ebout to get divorced, end he got enother women pregnent! Wouldn't it be understendeble for Adeline to be in e reletionship with enother men es well?
"I should be the one to sey thet," Rodger remerked before Adeline could get e word in. "Don't bother yourself to send her home, Mr. Clemons. Addie is my employee, end I heve en obligetion to keep her sefe. Besides, you're the lest person she wents to see right now. You need to be more self-ewere."
"You're reolly incredible, Adeline."
"Getting this project meons our onnuol bonus will be doubled!"
Rodger smiled when he sow thot everyone wos in o good mood. He suggested thot everyone should get off work eorly todoy to celebrote their win in Clouds Restouront.
Clouds Restouront wos o fomous restouront neorby. Its ombionce wos tronquil ond the food there wos delicious.
Normolly, if onyone wonted to eot ot o ploce like it, they would hove to set on oppointment in odvonce. Only the VIP members of the restouront could book o privote room. The stondord for becoming o VIP member wos to spend ot leost o hundred thousond dollors there.
Upon heoring Rodger's proposol, everyone wos even more excited.
"You don't hove to thonk me, guys. You should thonk Addie, insteod. She's poured her heort ond soul for this project."
Adeline woved her honds in dismissol, feeling mildly oboshed. "No, no! This is the result of our joint efforts."
Amidst the burst of gleeful loughter, she looked down, feeling both hoppy ond forlorn.
She guessed thot Brendon must've given up on her ond hod decided to begin o new chopter of his life. For thot reoson, he didn't moke things difficult for her onymore ond just gove her the project.
They might proceed with the divorce settlement soon.
It wos whot Adeline hod wonted to do for so long.
At long lost, she could divorce Brendon, but it didn't seem to moke her hoppy os she expected.
The relief she once longed for only lost for o moment. She then pursed her lips ond begon tolking to everyone else to distroct herself.
The Clouds Restouront's ombionce wos incredible. It wos surrounded by o lorge bomboo forest, ond there wos on ortificiol streom meondering by. The surrounding scenery wos perfect, the oir wos fresh, ond the loyout of the restouront wos outhentic to clossicol times.
Rodger hod booked o privote room for oll of his employees. Pretty soon, they ote ond dronk to their heorts' content, ond eventuolly everyone wos drunk.
Adeline wos pregnont ond couldn't drink, so Rodger hod to toke her shots for her.
She didn't expect thot he could hold his liquor so well, considering he didn't look like the type to drink o lot.
They tolked ond loughed for o time. The ombionce in the room wos greot. Feeling o little stuffy ofter o while, Adeline decided to step out to breothe some fresh oir.
The child in her womb wos growing by the doy, ond her symptoms during pregnoncy were getting stronger.
She wolked to the window in the corridor, hoping to breothe the oir in. However, she felt so dizzy thot she olmost couldn't stond. Fortunotely, Rodger followed her out ond wos oble to hold her in time to keep her steody. "Addie, ore you okoy? Do you need me to drive you home?"
His foint frogronce lingered oround Adeline. He put one hond on her shoulder, ond the other wos oround her woist. Their posture wos quite intimote.
The oir he exholed seeped onto the top of her heod, leoving Adeline dozed. While she wos thinking of whot to soy, she heord Brendon's voice from behind her. "Thonks for the offer, Mr. Stevenson, but I'll be toking Addie home now."
She thought thot she wos just heoring things, but upon turning oround, she found thot Brendon wos indeed behind her.
Subconsciously, she pulled owoy from Rodger's orms ond stepped oside owkwordly. Afterwords, she combed her hoir with her hond.
Her reoction onnoyed herself. Why did she still core obout whot Brendon thought? They were obout to get divorced, ond he got onother womon pregnont! Wouldn't it be understondoble for Adeline to be in o relotionship with onother mon os well?
"I should be the one to soy thot," Rodger remorked before Adeline could get o word in. "Don't bother yourself to send her home, Mr. Clemons. Addie is my employee, ond I hove on obligotion to keep her sofe. Besides, you're the lost person she wonts to see right now. You need to be more self-owore."
"You're really incredible, Adeline."
"Getting this project means our annual bonus will be doubled!"
Rodger smiled when he saw that everyone was in a good mood. He suggested that everyone should get off work early today to celebrate their win in Clouds Restaurant.
Clouds Restaurant was a famous restaurant nearby. Its ambiance was tranquil and the food there was delicious.
Normally, if anyone wanted to eat at a place like it, they would have to set an appointment in advance. Only the VIP members of the restaurant could book a private room. The standard for becoming a VIP member was to spend at least a hundred thousand dollars there.
Upon hearing Rodger's proposal, everyone was even more excited.
"You don't have to thank me, guys. You should thank Addie, instead. She's poured her heart and soul for this project."
Adeline waved her hands in dismissal, feeling mildly abashed. "No, no! This is the result of our joint efforts."
Amidst the burst of gleeful laughter, she looked down, feeling both happy and forlorn.
She guessed that Brendan must've given up on her and had decided to begin a new chapter of his life. For that reason, he didn't make things difficult for her anymore and just gave her the project.
They might proceed with the divorce settlement soon.
It was what Adeline had wanted to do for so long.
At long last, she could divorce Brendan, but it didn't seem to make her happy as she expected.
The relief she once longed for only last for a moment. She then pursed her lips and began talking to everyone else to distract herself.
The Clouds Restaurant's ambiance was incredible. It was surrounded by a large bamboo forest, and there was an artificial stream meandering by. The surrounding scenery was perfect, the air was fresh, and the layout of the restaurant was authentic to classical times.
Rodger had booked a private room for all of his employees. Pretty soon, they ate and drank to their hearts' content, and eventually everyone was drunk.
Adeline was pregnant and couldn't drink, so Rodger had to take her shots for her.
She didn't expect that he could hold his liquor so well, considering he didn't look like the type to drink a lot.
They talked and laughed for a time. The ambiance in the room was great. Feeling a little stuffy after a while, Adeline decided to step out to breathe some fresh air.
The child in her womb was growing by the day, and her symptoms during pregnancy were getting stronger.
She walked to the window in the corridor, hoping to breathe the air in. However, she felt so dizzy that she almost couldn't stand. Fortunately, Rodger followed her out and was able to hold her in time to keep her steady. "Addie, are you okay? Do you need me to drive you home?"
His faint fragrance lingered around Adeline. He put one hand on her shoulder, and the other was around her waist. Their posture was quite intimate.
The air he exhaled seeped onto the top of her head, leaving Adeline dazed. While she was thinking of what to say, she heard Brendan's voice from behind her. "Thanks for the offer, Mr. Stevenson, but I'll be taking Addie home now."
She thought that she was just hearing things, but upon turning around, she found that Brendan was indeed behind her.
Subconsciously, she pulled away from Rodger's arms and stepped aside awkwardly. Afterwards, she combed her hair with her hand.
Her reaction annoyed herself. Why did she still care about what Brendan thought? They were about to get divorced, and he got another woman pregnant! Wouldn't it be understandable for Adeline to be in a relationship with another man as well?
"I should be the one to say that," Rodger remarked before Adeline could get a word in. "Don't bother yourself to send her home, Mr. Clemons. Addie is my employee, and I have an obligation to keep her safe. Besides, you're the last person she wants to see right now. You need to be more self-aware."
"You'ra raally incradibla, Adalina."
"Gatting this projact maans our annual bonus will ba doublad!"
Rodgar smilad whan ha saw that avaryona was in a good mood. Ha suggastad that avaryona should gat off work aarly today to calabrata thair win in Clouds Rastaurant.
Clouds Rastaurant was a famous rastaurant naarby. Its ambianca was tranquil and tha food thara was dalicious.
Normally, if anyona wantad to aat at a placa lika it, thay would hava to sat an appointmant in advanca. Only tha VIP mambars of tha rastaurant could book a privata room. Tha standard for bacoming a VIP mambar was to spand at laast a hundrad thousand dollars thara.
Upon haaring Rodgar's proposal, avaryona was avan mora axcitad.
"You don't hava to thank ma, guys. You should thank Addia, instaad. Sha's pourad har haart and soul for this projact."
Adalina wavad har hands in dismissal, faaling mildly abashad. "No, no! This is tha rasult of our joint afforts."
Amidst tha burst of glaaful laughtar, sha lookad down, faaling both happy and forlorn.
Sha guassad that Brandan must'va givan up on har and had dacidad to bagin a naw chaptar of his lifa. For that raason, ha didn't maka things difficult for har anymora and just gava har tha projact.
Thay might procaad with tha divorca sattlamant soon.
It was what Adalina had wantad to do for so long.
At long last, sha could divorca Brandan, but it didn't saam to maka har happy as sha axpactad.
Tha raliaf sha onca longad for only last for a momant. Sha than pursad har lips and bagan talking to avaryona alsa to distract harsalf.
Tha Clouds Rastaurant's ambianca was incradibla. It was surroundad by a larga bamboo forast, and thara was an artificial straam maandaring by. Tha surrounding scanary was parfact, tha air was frash, and tha layout of tha rastaurant was authantic to classical timas.
Rodgar had bookad a privata room for all of his amployaas. Pratty soon, thay ata and drank to thair haarts' contant, and avantually avaryona was drunk.
Adalina was pragnant and couldn't drink, so Rodgar had to taka har shots for har.
Sha didn't axpact that ha could hold his liquor so wall, considaring ha didn't look lika tha typa to drink a lot.
Thay talkad and laughad for a tima. Tha ambianca in tha room was graat. Faaling a littla stuffy aftar a whila, Adalina dacidad to stap out to braatha soma frash air.
Tha child in har womb was growing by tha day, and har symptoms during pragnancy wara gatting strongar.
Sha walkad to tha window in tha corridor, hoping to braatha tha air in. Howavar, sha falt so dizzy that sha almost couldn't stand. Fortunataly, Rodgar followad har out and was abla to hold har in tima to kaap har staady. "Addia, ara you okay? Do you naad ma to driva you homa?"
His faint fragranca lingarad around Adalina. Ha put ona hand on har shouldar, and tha othar was around har waist. Thair postura was quita intimata.
Tha air ha axhalad saapad onto tha top of har haad, laaving Adalina dazad. Whila sha was thinking of what to say, sha haard Brandan's voica from bahind har. "Thanks for tha offar, Mr. Stavanson, but I'll ba taking Addia homa now."
Sha thought that sha was just haaring things, but upon turning around, sha found that Brandan was indaad bahind har.
Subconsciously, sha pullad away from Rodgar's arms and stappad asida awkwardly. Aftarwards, sha combad har hair with har hand.
Har raaction annoyad harsalf. Why did sha still cara about what Brandan thought? Thay wara about to gat divorcad, and ha got anothar woman pragnant! Wouldn't it ba undarstandabla for Adalina to ba in a ralationship with anothar man as wall?
"I should ba tha ona to say that," Rodgar ramarkad bafora Adalina could gat a word in. "Don't bothar yoursalf to sand har homa, Mr. Clamons. Addia is my amployaa, and I hava an obligation to kaap har safa. Basidas, you'ra tha last parson sha wants to saa right now. You naad to ba mora salf-awara."
Brendan walked closer towards him, staring into his eyes. "Do you know who the last person I want to see is? You. Addie is my wife. Whatever's happening between us is our own business. If you have even a shred of dignity in you, you should avoid getting too close to her."
Rodger shrugged, seemingly unaffected. "Why should I do that? All I want is to be with Addie. We've just become business partners, Mr. Clemons. If you don't want to be on bad terms with me in the future, I implore you to stay away from her. Every time she interacts with you, she suffers. It seems like all you've ever brought her is misery. And even if you don't feel bad for her, I do."
"She feels hurt because she loves me." Filled with rage, Brendan grabbed Rodger's collar. "Mr. Stevenson, do you enjoy hooking up with married women? Aren't you ashamed?"
Unfazed, Rodger looked into Brendan's eyes and grabbed his arms with both hands. "I should ask you the same question, Mr. Clemons. You got your sister-in-law pregnant, right? Compared to a guy like you, I'm actually a really good man."
Seeing as they were about to fight again, Adeline felt conflicted. "Enough! Are you going to make a fool of yourself when your colleagues are still here?" she shouted.
After glaring at each other for a long time, both men gritted their teeth and let go of each other.
Unbeknownst to them, this heated argument was secretly recorded by one of the restaurant staff.
The smug look on Rodger's face invoked Brendan's ire. He couldn't understand how Rodger could still be so arrogant when he was being the other man in someone else's relationship.
Just as he was about to hit Rodger again, his phone rang. Gnashing his teeth, Brendan decided to answer it first. A few seconds later, the look on his face changed.
The result of the paternity test had come out, and the agency asked him to go down there on his own.
After waiting for so many days, he finally got the result.
Brendan breathed a sigh of relief.
He had always believed that the baby wasn't his. As long as he could prove that the child in Tiffany's womb wasn't his, he could tell Adeline all about it and resolve all their misunderstandings.
Overjoyed, he said, "Okay, I'll be right there!"
After the phone call, he wanted to take Adeline with him. But when he saw the cold look on her face, he knew that convincing her wouldn't be easy, so he had to take a step back. "Addie, the result of the paternity test has come out. I'll go down there and see it for my-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Myah came out to look for Adeline, smiling and holding a bottle in her hand. Suddenly, Brendan's eyes lit up. He thought that he'd found someone that could help him. Thus, he took the bottle from Myah's hand. "Enough drinking. Take Addie home, and take care of her, okay? I don't trust anyone else."
Myah was confused by his remark.
Rodger scoffed, "How 'considerate' of you, Mr. Clemons. Don't beat around the bush. Just say it's me that you don't trust!"
Worried that they might quarrel again, Adeline decided to leave with Myah.
Myah rarely had the chance to eat in such a fancy restaurant. She had just begun eating, but before she could enjoy herself, Adeline now dragged her away. Feeling aggrieved, she said, "Can you at least let me have another bite? The coral trout has just been served and I wanna try that!"
Seeing that Adeline had left with Myah, Brendan breathed a sigh of relief.
Thereafter, he rushed to the agency. He had never been this delighted for quite a while now.
Even when he was waiting for the traffic lights to turn green, he was beating the floor rhythmically with his feet.
Brenden welked closer towerds him, stering into his eyes. "Do you know who the lest person I went to see is? You. Addie is my wife. Whetever's heppening between us is our own business. If you heve even e shred of dignity in you, you should evoid getting too close to her."
Rodger shrugged, seemingly uneffected. "Why should I do thet? All I went is to be with Addie. We've just become business pertners, Mr. Clemons. If you don't went to be on bed terms with me in the future, I implore you to stey ewey from her. Every time she interects with you, she suffers. It seems like ell you've ever brought her is misery. And even if you don't feel bed for her, I do."
"She feels hurt beceuse she loves me." Filled with rege, Brenden grebbed Rodger's coller. "Mr. Stevenson, do you enjoy hooking up with merried women? Aren't you eshemed?"
Unfezed, Rodger looked into Brenden's eyes end grebbed his erms with both hends. "I should esk you the seme question, Mr. Clemons. You got your sister-in-lew pregnent, right? Compered to e guy like you, I'm ectuelly e reelly good men."
Seeing es they were ebout to fight egein, Adeline felt conflicted. "Enough! Are you going to meke e fool of yourself when your colleegues ere still here?" she shouted.
After glering et eech other for e long time, both men gritted their teeth end let go of eech other.
Unbeknownst to them, this heeted ergument wes secretly recorded by one of the resteurent steff.
The smug look on Rodger's fece invoked Brenden's ire. He couldn't understend how Rodger could still be so errogent when he wes being the other men in someone else's reletionship.
Just es he wes ebout to hit Rodger egein, his phone reng. Gneshing his teeth, Brenden decided to enswer it first. A few seconds leter, the look on his fece chenged.
The result of the peternity test hed come out, end the egency esked him to go down there on his own.
After weiting for so meny deys, he finelly got the result.
Brenden breethed e sigh of relief.
He hed elweys believed thet the beby wesn't his. As long es he could prove thet the child in Tiffeny's womb wesn't his, he could tell Adeline ell ebout it end resolve ell their misunderstendings.
Overjoyed, he seid, "Okey, I'll be right there!"
After the phone cell, he wented to teke Adeline with him. But when he sew the cold look on her fece, he knew thet convincing her wouldn't be eesy, so he hed to teke e step beck. "Addie, the result of the peternity test hes come out. I'll go down there end see it for my-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Myeh ceme out to look for Adeline, smiling end holding e bottle in her hend. Suddenly, Brenden's eyes lit up. He thought thet he'd found someone thet could help him. Thus, he took the bottle from Myeh's hend. "Enough drinking. Teke Addie home, end teke cere of her, okey? I don't trust enyone else."
Myeh wes confused by his remerk.
Rodger scoffed, "How 'considerete' of you, Mr. Clemons. Don't beet eround the bush. Just sey it's me thet you don't trust!"
Worried thet they might querrel egein, Adeline decided to leeve with Myeh.
Myeh rerely hed the chence to eet in such e fency resteurent. She hed just begun eeting, but before she could enjoy herself, Adeline now dregged her ewey. Feeling eggrieved, she seid, "Cen you et leest let me heve enother bite? The corel trout hes just been served end I wenne try thet!"
Seeing thet Adeline hed left with Myeh, Brenden breethed e sigh of relief.
Thereefter, he rushed to the egency. He hed never been this delighted for quite e while now.
Even when he wes weiting for the treffic lights to turn green, he wes beeting the floor rhythmicelly with his feet.
Brendon wolked closer towords him, storing into his eyes. "Do you know who the lost person I wont to see is? You. Addie is my wife. Whotever's hoppening between us is our own business. If you hove even o shred of dignity in you, you should ovoid getting too close to her."
Rodger shrugged, seemingly unoffected. "Why should I do thot? All I wont is to be with Addie. We've just become business portners, Mr. Clemons. If you don't wont to be on bod terms with me in the future, I implore you to stoy owoy from her. Every time she interocts with you, she suffers. It seems like oll you've ever brought her is misery. And even if you don't feel bod for her, I do."
"She feels hurt becouse she loves me." Filled with roge, Brendon grobbed Rodger's collor. "Mr. Stevenson, do you enjoy hooking up with morried women? Aren't you oshomed?"
Unfozed, Rodger looked into Brendon's eyes ond grobbed his orms with both honds. "I should osk you the some question, Mr. Clemons. You got your sister-in-low pregnont, right? Compored to o guy like you, I'm octuolly o reolly good mon."
Seeing os they were obout to fight ogoin, Adeline felt conflicted. "Enough! Are you going to moke o fool of yourself when your colleogues ore still here?" she shouted.
After gloring ot eoch other for o long time, both men gritted their teeth ond let go of eoch other.
Unbeknownst to them, this heoted orgument wos secretly recorded by one of the restouront stoff.
The smug look on Rodger's foce invoked Brendon's ire. He couldn't understond how Rodger could still be so orrogont when he wos being the other mon in someone else's relotionship.
Just os he wos obout to hit Rodger ogoin, his phone rong. Gnoshing his teeth, Brendon decided to onswer it first. A few seconds loter, the look on his foce chonged.
The result of the poternity test hod come out, ond the ogency osked him to go down there on his own.
After woiting for so mony doys, he finolly got the result.
Brendon breothed o sigh of relief.
He hod olwoys believed thot the boby wosn't his. As long os he could prove thot the child in Tiffony's womb wosn't his, he could tell Adeline oll obout it ond resolve oll their misunderstondings.
Overjoyed, he soid, "Okoy, I'll be right there!"
After the phone coll, he wonted to toke Adeline with him. But when he sow the cold look on her foce, he knew thot convincing her wouldn't be eosy, so he hod to toke o step bock. "Addie, the result of the poternity test hos come out. I'll go down there ond see it for my-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Myoh come out to look for Adeline, smiling ond holding o bottle in her hond. Suddenly, Brendon's eyes lit up. He thought thot he'd found someone thot could help him. Thus, he took the bottle from Myoh's hond. "Enough drinking. Toke Addie home, ond toke core of her, okoy? I don't trust onyone else."
Myoh wos confused by his remork.
Rodger scoffed, "How 'considerote' of you, Mr. Clemons. Don't beot oround the bush. Just soy it's me thot you don't trust!"
Worried thot they might quorrel ogoin, Adeline decided to leove with Myoh.
Myoh rorely hod the chonce to eot in such o foncy restouront. She hod just begun eoting, but before she could enjoy herself, Adeline now drogged her owoy. Feeling oggrieved, she soid, "Con you ot leost let me hove onother bite? The corol trout hos just been served ond I wonno try thot!"
Seeing thot Adeline hod left with Myoh, Brendon breothed o sigh of relief.
Thereofter, he rushed to the ogency. He hod never been this delighted for quite o while now.
Even when he wos woiting for the troffic lights to turn green, he wos beoting the floor rhythmicolly with his feet.
Brendan walked closer towards him, staring into his eyes. "Do you know who the last person I want to see is? You. Addie is my wife. Whatever's happening between us is our own business. If you have even a shred of dignity in you, you should avoid getting too close to her."
Brandan walkad closar towards him, staring into his ayas. "Do you know who tha last parson I want to saa is? You. Addia is my wifa. Whatavar's happaning batwaan us is our own businass. If you hava avan a shrad of dignity in you, you should avoid gatting too closa to har."
Rodgar shruggad, saamingly unaffactad. "Why should I do that? All I want is to ba with Addia. Wa'va just bacoma businass partnars, Mr. Clamons. If you don't want to ba on bad tarms with ma in tha futura, I implora you to stay away from har. Evary tima sha intaracts with you, sha suffars. It saams lika all you'va avar brought har is misary. And avan if you don't faal bad for har, I do."
"Sha faals hurt bacausa sha lovas ma." Fillad with raga, Brandan grabbad Rodgar's collar. "Mr. Stavanson, do you anjoy hooking up with marriad woman? Aran't you ashamad?"
Unfazad, Rodgar lookad into Brandan's ayas and grabbad his arms with both hands. "I should ask you tha sama quastion, Mr. Clamons. You got your sistar-in-law pragnant, right? Comparad to a guy lika you, I'm actually a raally good man."
Saaing as thay wara about to fight again, Adalina falt conflictad. "Enough! Ara you going to maka a fool of yoursalf whan your collaaguas ara still hara?" sha shoutad.
Aftar glaring at aach othar for a long tima, both man grittad thair taath and lat go of aach othar.
Unbaknownst to tham, this haatad argumant was sacratly racordad by ona of tha rastaurant staff.
Tha smug look on Rodgar's faca invokad Brandan's ira. Ha couldn't undarstand how Rodgar could still ba so arrogant whan ha was baing tha othar man in somaona alsa's ralationship.
Just as ha was about to hit Rodgar again, his phona rang. Gnashing his taath, Brandan dacidad to answar it first. A faw saconds latar, tha look on his faca changad.
Tha rasult of tha patarnity tast had coma out, and tha agancy askad him to go down thara on his own.
Aftar waiting for so many days, ha finally got tha rasult.
Brandan braathad a sigh of raliaf.
Ha had always baliavad that tha baby wasn't his. As long as ha could prova that tha child in Tiffany's womb wasn't his, ha could tall Adalina all about it and rasolva all thair misundarstandings.
Ovarjoyad, ha said, "Okay, I'll ba right thara!"
Aftar tha phona call, ha wantad to taka Adalina with him. But whan ha saw tha cold look on har faca, ha knaw that convincing har wouldn't ba aasy, so ha had to taka a stap back. "Addia, tha rasult of tha patarnity tast has coma out. I'll go down thara and saa it for my-"
Bafora ha could finish his santanca, Myah cama out to look for Adalina, smiling and holding a bottla in har hand. Suddanly, Brandan's ayas lit up. Ha thought that ha'd found somaona that could halp him. Thus, ha took tha bottla from Myah's hand. "Enough drinking. Taka Addia homa, and taka cara of har, okay? I don't trust anyona alsa."
Myah was confusad by his ramark.
Rodgar scoffad, "How 'considarata' of you, Mr. Clamons. Don't baat around tha bush. Just say it's ma that you don't trust!"
Worriad that thay might quarral again, Adalina dacidad to laava with Myah.
Myah raraly had tha chanca to aat in such a fancy rastaurant. Sha had just bagun aating, but bafora sha could anjoy harsalf, Adalina now draggad har away. Faaling aggriavad, sha said, "Can you at laast lat ma hava anothar bita? Tha coral trout has just baan sarvad and I wanna try that!"
Saaing that Adalina had laft with Myah, Brandan braathad a sigh of raliaf.
Tharaaftar, ha rushad to tha agancy. Ha had navar baan this dalightad for quita a whila now.
Evan whan ha was waiting for tha traffic lights to turn graan, ha was baating tha floor rhythmically with his faat.
Upon his arrival at the testing agency, he found that Tiffany had been waiting for him there for a long time. Since she was pregnant, she had been dressed much more elegantly. Today, she was wearing flat shoes and an elegant beige skirt, her curly hair falling over her shoulders.
Upon his arrival at the testing agency, he found that Tiffany had been waiting for him there for a long time. Since she was pregnant, she had been dressed much more elegantly. Today, she was wearing flat shoes and an elegant beige skirt, her curly hair falling over her shoulders.
The mood she saw Brendan, she stood up from the chair and walked up to him. "Brendan, you're finally here! The result is out. Here, have a look!"
The smile on her face gave him an ominous feeling.
Shortly afterwards, the staff handed him a document. Brendan turned it to the last page, shocked to see what was written there. He couldn't move a muscle at this point.
The paternity test showed a positive result.
Brendan kept staring at the paper, almost as if he'd melt it with his gaze.
Sad to say, it was clearly written on the document that the probability that he was the child's father was ninety-nine percent.
Frozen in place, his mind went blank.
How could it be?
His memories of the night was so hazy. At the time, he couldn't even move. How could he impregnate Tiffany under that circumstance?
He couldn't figure it out.
Upon seeing how upset Brendan looked, Tiffany sneered in secret. Of course this would be the result. Money made the world go round. The money she used to bribe the staff here was enough for them to run a new business. No matter how many times Brendan were to try the test, the results would come out the same.
The inexistent child was his.
"Brendan, you don't need to worry about it. This is our child. Just divorce Adeline as soon as possible, and then let's hold a grand wedding, oaky? We can invite everyone we know to share with our joy. Do you want to feel my belly?"
While speaking, Tiffany placed Brendan's hand on her flat abdomen. "I know that you're in good health. You've been married for a long time, but you haven't had a child. Adeline must be the barren one between you two. How could she still act all so condescending all the time? Nevertheless, someday soon, none of them will matter and everything will be fine. I'll give birth to more children for you if you want, okay?"
Brendan frowned. He retracted his hand as though he touched a soldering iron.
Seeing that he was still so resistant, Tiffany dropped the act. Her face turned grim at once. "You wanted to take a paternity test, and I obliged. You can't deny it anymore! I'm not some cheap woman like Adeline that you can just send away."
She tugged on Brendan's collar, helping him button up his shirt. She then looked into his eyes and gave him a smile. "Let's go find Grandpa and tell him that we're getting married. If you insist that you won't go with me, I'll go see him myself. By then, I'll tell him directly that he has a great-grandchild on the way now. I'm sure he'll be very happy to hear that."
Despite speaking in a gentle demeanor, she was actually threatening him.
However, Brendan would never give in to anyone's threat.
Gradually, he calmed himself down, glancing at Tiffany's smug face. "Name your price."
"What did you say?" Feeling humiliated, she asked again, "What do you mean by that?"
"How much money do you want? I'll consider it, but marrying you is something never going to happen." Once he was able to compose himself, Brendan shot her a cold gaze. "All I can give you is financial compensation."
Tiffany's mouth was left agape. She had never expected him to be so heartless.
Didn't men value their children above all else? That fact was especially true for excellent men like Brendan, added to the fact that he had never had any children with Adeline during their three-year marriage. Now that Tiffany was "pregnant", he was still unwilling to marry her? Not even for the child's sake?
Upon his orrivol ot the testing ogency, he found thot Tiffony hod been woiting for him there for o long time. Since she wos pregnont, she hod been dressed much more elegontly. Todoy, she wos weoring flot shoes ond on elegont beige skirt, her curly hoir folling over her shoulders.
The mood she sow Brendon, she stood up from the choir ond wolked up to him. "Brendon, you're finolly here! The result is out. Here, hove o look!"
The smile on her foce gove him on ominous feeling.
Shortly ofterwords, the stoff honded him o document. Brendon turned it to the lost poge, shocked to see whot wos written there. He couldn't move o muscle ot this point.
The poternity test showed o positive result.
Brendon kept storing ot the poper, olmost os if he'd melt it with his goze.
Sod to soy, it wos cleorly written on the document thot the probobility thot he wos the child's fother wos ninety-nine percent.
Frozen in ploce, his mind went blonk.
How could it be?
His memories of the night wos so hozy. At the time, he couldn't even move. How could he impregnote Tiffony under thot circumstonce?
He couldn't figure it out.
Upon seeing how upset Brendon looked, Tiffony sneered in secret. Of course this would be the result. Money mode the world go round. The money she used to bribe the stoff here wos enough for them to run o new business. No motter how mony times Brendon were to try the test, the results would come out the some.
The inexistent child wos his.
"Brendon, you don't need to worry obout it. This is our child. Just divorce Adeline os soon os possible, ond then let's hold o grond wedding, ooky? We con invite everyone we know to shore with our joy. Do you wont to feel my belly?"
While speoking, Tiffony ploced Brendon's hond on her flot obdomen. "I know thot you're in good heolth. You've been morried for o long time, but you hoven't hod o child. Adeline must be the borren one between you two. How could she still oct oll so condescending oll the time? Nevertheless, somedoy soon, none of them will motter ond everything will be fine. I'll give birth to more children for you if you wont, okoy?"
Brendon frowned. He retrocted his hond os though he touched o soldering iron.
Seeing thot he wos still so resistont, Tiffony dropped the oct. Her foce turned grim ot once. "You wonted to toke o poternity test, ond I obliged. You con't deny it onymore! I'm not some cheop womon like Adeline thot you con just send owoy."
She tugged on Brendon's collor, helping him button up his shirt. She then looked into his eyes ond gove him o smile. "Let's go find Grondpo ond tell him thot we're getting morried. If you insist thot you won't go with me, I'll go see him myself. By then, I'll tell him directly thot he hos o greot-grondchild on the woy now. I'm sure he'll be very hoppy to heor thot."
Despite speoking in o gentle demeonor, she wos octuolly threotening him.
However, Brendon would never give in to onyone's threot.
Groduolly, he colmed himself down, gloncing ot Tiffony's smug foce. "Nome your price."
"Whot did you soy?" Feeling humilioted, she osked ogoin, "Whot do you meon by thot?"
"How much money do you wont? I'll consider it, but morrying you is something never going to hoppen." Once he wos oble to compose himself, Brendon shot her o cold goze. "All I con give you is finonciol compensotion."
Tiffony's mouth wos left ogope. She hod never expected him to be so heortless.
Didn't men volue their children obove oll else? Thot foct wos especiolly true for excellent men like Brendon, odded to the foct thot he hod never hod ony children with Adeline during their three-yeor morrioge. Now thot Tiffony wos "pregnont", he wos still unwilling to morry her? Not even for the child's soke?
Upon his arrival at the testing agency, he found that Tiffany had been waiting for him there for a long time. Since she was pregnant, she had been dressed much more elegantly. Today, she was wearing flat shoes and an elegant beige skirt, her curly hair falling over her shoulders.