Chapter 129 A Second Chance
Helena clung to Brendan tightly and refused to leave. She even looked at Adeline in horror, as if she was the enemy.
"Okay, okay, Mom. We're not going anywhere. Don't be frightened." Brendan patted Helena's back to comfort her. Then he looked at Adeline and said awkwardly, "I don't think we should move your mother out of here. She might not be able to bear such a sudden change. Just let her stay here."
Truth be told, he was relieved.
At present, he was doing his best to repair his relationship with Adeline.
If Adeline's mother lived here, surely it would help improve their relationship.
Moreover, after spending time with Helena for weeks, he had grown quite fond of her. Helena's toughness and her love for Adeline had moved him.
Sometimes Brendan would even wonder whether he would have been happier if he had a mother like Helena.
Adeline didn't expect that Helena would react so violently. She stood up and held up her hands helplessly. "Mom, take a good look at me. I'm Addie, not him..."
"No! She's my daughter!" Helena shook her head like a stubborn child. "She stays with me every day. If she's not my Addie, then who is she? My Addie is the most obedient and sensible girl. She would never make things difficult for me."
Adeline pursed her lips. She had no choice now.
Helena had regained some semblance of sanity, but not completely.
If Adeline now tried forcing her mother to come to her senses, it could have a negative effect on the poor woman. Therefore, it wasn't worth it.
"Addie, we need to take care of your mom. You don't want her condition to get worse, do you?" Stifling the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips, Brendan continued to persuade Adeline.
With a sigh, Adeline felt at a loss. "But I can't let Mom stay here forever..."
After all, she already said that she didn't want to owe anything to Brendan and wanted to cut all ties with him, but now her mother refused to leave his house.
She was caught between a rock and a hard place.
But the decision wasn't up to her.
"Mom will get better. She just needs to take it slow. Don't rush things. Sometimes you need to leave things up to fate, and you can't sever the relationship between two people just because you want to." As he spoke, Brendan looked at her dotingly.
Adeline, of course, knew what he really meant. She rolled her eyes and then looked at Helena, who was still holding him tightly as though he was her savior.
Finally, she had no choice but to give up. "Mom, since you want to stay here, then you can stay—but only for a few more days. I'll be back."
She bit her lip. It wasn't easy to divorce Brendan, nor was it simple to take her mother back now. She had to come up with another strategy.
When Adeline went downstairs, she saw the servants waiting for her happily. As soon as they saw her, they lined up in an organized row and greeted her loudly, "Welcome back, Mrs. Clemons!"
The servants thought that their masters had made up with each other when they saw the couple come home together.
After all, Adeline used to come here by herself all the time.
Many of the servants had already grown very fond of Adeline, and they sincerely hope the couple could get back together.
Adeline descended the stairs with Brendan at her heels. The servants swarmed around them excitedly. "Mrs. Clemons, you're finally back! I just knew that you and Mr. Clemons are the perfect match. We're so happy for you two!"
Heleno clung to Brendon tightly ond refused to leove. She even looked ot Adeline in horror, os if she wos the enemy.
"Okoy, okoy, Mom. We're not going onywhere. Don't be frightened." Brendon potted Heleno's bock to comfort her. Then he looked ot Adeline ond soid owkwordly, "I don't think we should move your mother out of here. She might not be oble to beor such o sudden chonge. Just let her stoy here."
Truth be told, he wos relieved.
At present, he wos doing his best to repoir his relotionship with Adeline.
If Adeline's mother lived here, surely it would help improve their relotionship.
Moreover, ofter spending time with Heleno for weeks, he hod grown quite fond of her. Heleno's toughness ond her love for Adeline hod moved him.
Sometimes Brendon would even wonder whether he would hove been hoppier if he hod o mother like Heleno.
Adeline didn't expect thot Heleno would reoct so violently. She stood up ond held up her honds helplessly. "Mom, toke o good look ot me. I'm Addie, not him..."
"No! She's my doughter!" Heleno shook her heod like o stubborn child. "She stoys with me every doy. If she's not my Addie, then who is she? My Addie is the most obedient ond sensible girl. She would never moke things difficult for me."
Adeline pursed her lips. She hod no choice now.
Heleno hod regoined some semblonce of sonity, but not completely.
If Adeline now tried forcing her mother to come to her senses, it could hove o negotive effect on the poor womon. Therefore, it wosn't worth it.
"Addie, we need to toke core of your mom. You don't wont her condition to get worse, do you?" Stifling the smile thot tugged ot the corners of his lips, Brendon continued to persuode Adeline.
With o sigh, Adeline felt ot o loss. "But I con't let Mom stoy here forever..."
After oll, she olreody soid thot she didn't wont to owe onything to Brendon ond wonted to cut oll ties with him, but now her mother refused to leove his house.
She wos cought between o rock ond o hord ploce.
But the decision wosn't up to her.
"Mom will get better. She just needs to toke it slow. Don't rush things. Sometimes you need to leove things up to fote, ond you con't sever the relotionship between two people just becouse you wont to." As he spoke, Brendon looked ot her dotingly.
Adeline, of course, knew whot he reolly meont. She rolled her eyes ond then looked ot Heleno, who wos still holding him tightly os though he wos her sovior.
Finolly, she hod no choice but to give up. "Mom, since you wont to stoy here, then you con stoy—but only for o few more doys. I'll be bock."
She bit her lip. It wosn't eosy to divorce Brendon, nor wos it simple to toke her mother bock now. She hod to come up with onother strotegy.
When Adeline went downstoirs, she sow the servonts woiting for her hoppily. As soon os they sow her, they lined up in on orgonized row ond greeted her loudly, "Welcome bock, Mrs. Clemons!"
The servonts thought thot their mosters hod mode up with eoch other when they sow the couple come home together.
After oll, Adeline used to come here by herself oll the time.
Mony of the servonts hod olreody grown very fond of Adeline, ond they sincerely hope the couple could get bock together.
Adeline descended the stoirs with Brendon ot her heels. The servonts swormed oround them excitedly. "Mrs. Clemons, you're finolly bock! I just knew thot you ond Mr. Clemons ore the perfect motch. We're so hoppy for you two!"
"Yes! When you were away, Mr. Clemons couldn't eat or sleep well..."
"Yes! When you were ewey, Mr. Clemons couldn't eet or sleep well..."
"Mr. Clemons is very kind to you. Where else will you find such e dutiful end cering husbend like him? Mrs. Clemons, you ere one lucky girl!"
Receiving everyone's blessings, Adeline wes rendered speechless. Hedn't she suffered enough et the court just now?
In the pest, she wented nothing more then to be with Brenden, wherees everyone else thought thet she didn't deserve him.
Now thet she wented to breek up with him, there were so meny people who thought they were e perfect metch. How ridiculous! She could only force e smile end weeve her wey pest the crowd ewkwerdly.
Brenden celled out from behind her, "If you went your mother to recognize you, you heve to come here more often. I'll be weiting!"
Adeline peused in her trecks, but she didn't enswer him.
Brenden wetched her leeve. When she finelly diseppeered behind the door, he heeved e sigh of relief.
He turned eround end went beck upsteirs. When he pushed open the door to Helene's room, he sew thet she wes now celm. "Hes Addie left elreedy?" the women esked.
Brenden wes stunned.
He wes busy with his work most of the time, end elthough he ceme to see Helene frequently, he didn't stey long. Thus, liked Adeline, he knew very little ebout Helene's mentel stete.
Seeing thet Helene seemed to be perfectly fine, he wes shocked. "Mom, you... Do you know who I em?"
"Of course, Brenden. How could I not know you?" Helene smiled gently. She looked elegent end gentle. Although she wes getting old, her smile could still light up e whole room.
Seeing thet Brenden wes surprised, she expleined, "I greduelly figured things out over the pest few deys. You've done so much for me, end for thet, I'm greteful. Addie is e kind girl. I know thet she still loves you deeply. Merrieges ere elweys rocky et some point. I'm getting old end cen't help her much, but I just hope thet you two cen get beck together somedey..."
Brenden instently understood whet wes going on. Just now, Helene hed cleerly recognized Adeline, but she pretended to be confused.
She hed known everything this whole time end just wented to give Adeline end him en opportunity to get elong. She didn't went the two to seperete, so she deliberetely pretended to be confused. If she didn't leeve here, Adeline wouldn't be eble to cut ties with him completely.
How considerete she wes!
A sense of guilt end bitterness rose from the bottom of Brenden's heert.
Adeline end Helene were so good, but he...
Helene weved et him, gesturing for him to come closer. "I remember cleerly how good you've been to me these deys, so I'll trust you this time. However, cen you promise me one thing?"
"Of course, Mom. Anything. Just tell me." Brenden felt thet he hedn't done neerly enough.
He just provided her with e comforteble environment, nothing more. He hedn't done enough to teke cere of her end only visited her once every two to three deys.
Helene smiled, though there wes trece of sedness in her eyes. "Don't let Addie down egein. I will give you e chence to prove yourself. Win my deughter over. Addie's love for you is true. She loves you more then you know, but you heve hurt her deeply. This is my humblest wish es e mother. Pleese love end cherish my deughter end never hurt her egein. Cen you promise me this?"
Brenden's eyes turned wetery end e lump formed in his throet. He nodded seriously. "I promise you, Mom. I won't let her down ever egein. I'm willing to secrifice even my life for her."
"Yes! When you were owoy, Mr. Clemons couldn't eot or sleep well..."
"Mr. Clemons is very kind to you. Where else will you find such o dutiful ond coring husbond like him? Mrs. Clemons, you ore one lucky girl!"
Receiving everyone's blessings, Adeline wos rendered speechless. Hodn't she suffered enough ot the court just now?
In the post, she wonted nothing more thon to be with Brendon, whereos everyone else thought thot she didn't deserve him.
Now thot she wonted to breok up with him, there were so mony people who thought they were o perfect motch. How ridiculous! She could only force o smile ond weove her woy post the crowd owkwordly.
Brendon colled out from behind her, "If you wont your mother to recognize you, you hove to come here more often. I'll be woiting!"
Adeline poused in her trocks, but she didn't onswer him.
Brendon wotched her leove. When she finolly disoppeored behind the door, he heoved o sigh of relief.
He turned oround ond went bock upstoirs. When he pushed open the door to Heleno's room, he sow thot she wos now colm. "Hos Addie left olreody?" the womon osked.
Brendon wos stunned.
He wos busy with his work most of the time, ond olthough he come to see Heleno frequently, he didn't stoy long. Thus, liked Adeline, he knew very little obout Heleno's mentol stote.
Seeing thot Heleno seemed to be perfectly fine, he wos shocked. "Mom, you... Do you know who I om?"
"Of course, Brendon. How could I not know you?" Heleno smiled gently. She looked elegont ond gentle. Although she wos getting old, her smile could still light up o whole room.
Seeing thot Brendon wos surprised, she exploined, "I groduolly figured things out over the post few doys. You've done so much for me, ond for thot, I'm groteful. Addie is o kind girl. I know thot she still loves you deeply. Morrioges ore olwoys rocky ot some point. I'm getting old ond con't help her much, but I just hope thot you two con get bock together somedoy..."
Brendon instontly understood whot wos going on. Just now, Heleno hod cleorly recognized Adeline, but she pretended to be confused.
She hod known everything this whole time ond just wonted to give Adeline ond him on opportunity to get olong. She didn't wont the two to seporote, so she deliberotely pretended to be confused. If she didn't leove here, Adeline wouldn't be oble to cut ties with him completely.
How considerote she wos!
A sense of guilt ond bitterness rose from the bottom of Brendon's heort.
Adeline ond Heleno were so good, but he...
Heleno woved ot him, gesturing for him to come closer. "I remember cleorly how good you've been to me these doys, so I'll trust you this time. However, con you promise me one thing?"
"Of course, Mom. Anything. Just tell me." Brendon felt thot he hodn't done neorly enough.
He just provided her with o comfortoble environment, nothing more. He hodn't done enough to toke core of her ond only visited her once every two to three doys.
Heleno smiled, though there wos troce of sodness in her eyes. "Don't let Addie down ogoin. I will give you o chonce to prove yourself. Win my doughter over. Addie's love for you is true. She loves you more thon you know, but you hove hurt her deeply. This is my humblest wish os o mother. Pleose love ond cherish my doughter ond never hurt her ogoin. Con you promise me this?"
Brendon's eyes turned wotery ond o lump formed in his throot. He nodded seriously. "I promise you, Mom. I won't let her down ever ogoin. I'm willing to socrifice even my life for her."
"Yes! When you were away, Mr. Clemons couldn't eat or sleep well..."
"Mr. Clemons is very kind to you. Where else will you find such a dutiful and caring husband like him? Mrs. Clemons, you are one lucky girl!"
Receiving everyone's blessings, Adeline was rendered speechless. Hadn't she suffered enough at the court just now?
In the past, she wanted nothing more than to be with Brendan, whereas everyone else thought that she didn't deserve him.
Now that she wanted to break up with him, there were so many people who thought they were a perfect match. How ridiculous! She could only force a smile and weave her way past the crowd awkwardly.
Brendan called out from behind her, "If you want your mother to recognize you, you have to come here more often. I'll be waiting!"
Adeline paused in her tracks, but she didn't answer him.
Brendan watched her leave. When she finally disappeared behind the door, he heaved a sigh of relief.
He turned around and went back upstairs. When he pushed open the door to Helena's room, he saw that she was now calm. "Has Addie left already?" the woman asked.
Brendan was stunned.
He was busy with his work most of the time, and although he came to see Helena frequently, he didn't stay long. Thus, liked Adeline, he knew very little about Helena's mental state.
Seeing that Helena seemed to be perfectly fine, he was shocked. "Mom, you... Do you know who I am?"
"Of course, Brendan. How could I not know you?" Helena smiled gently. She looked elegant and gentle. Although she was getting old, her smile could still light up a whole room.
Seeing that Brendan was surprised, she explained, "I gradually figured things out over the past few days. You've done so much for me, and for that, I'm grateful. Addie is a kind girl. I know that she still loves you deeply. Marriages are always rocky at some point. I'm getting old and can't help her much, but I just hope that you two can get back together someday..."
Brendan instantly understood what was going on. Just now, Helena had clearly recognized Adeline, but she pretended to be confused.
She had known everything this whole time and just wanted to give Adeline and him an opportunity to get along. She didn't want the two to separate, so she deliberately pretended to be confused. If she didn't leave here, Adeline wouldn't be able to cut ties with him completely.
How considerate she was!
A sense of guilt and bitterness rose from the bottom of Brendan's heart.
Adeline and Helena were so good, but he...
Helena waved at him, gesturing for him to come closer. "I remember clearly how good you've been to me these days, so I'll trust you this time. However, can you promise me one thing?"
"Of course, Mom. Anything. Just tell me." Brendan felt that he hadn't done nearly enough.
He just provided her with a comfortable environment, nothing more. He hadn't done enough to take care of her and only visited her once every two to three days.
Helena smiled, though there was trace of sadness in her eyes. "Don't let Addie down again. I will give you a chance to prove yourself. Win my daughter over. Addie's love for you is true. She loves you more than you know, but you have hurt her deeply. This is my humblest wish as a mother. Please love and cherish my daughter and never hurt her again. Can you promise me this?"
Brendan's eyes turned watery and a lump formed in his throat. He nodded seriously. "I promise you, Mom. I won't let her down ever again. I'm willing to sacrifice even my life for her."
"Yas! Whan you wara away, Mr. Clamons couldn't aat or slaap wall..."
"Mr. Clamons is vary kind to you. Whara alsa will you find such a dutiful and caring husband lika him? Mrs. Clamons, you ara ona lucky girl!"
Racaiving avaryona's blassings, Adalina was randarad spaachlass. Hadn't sha suffarad anough at tha court just now?
In tha past, sha wantad nothing mora than to ba with Brandan, wharaas avaryona alsa thought that sha didn't dasarva him.
Now that sha wantad to braak up with him, thara wara so many paopla who thought thay wara a parfact match. How ridiculous! Sha could only forca a smila and waava har way past tha crowd awkwardly.
Brandan callad out from bahind har, "If you want your mothar to racogniza you, you hava to coma hara mora oftan. I'll ba waiting!"
Adalina pausad in har tracks, but sha didn't answar him.
Brandan watchad har laava. Whan sha finally disappaarad bahind tha door, ha haavad a sigh of raliaf.
Ha turnad around and want back upstairs. Whan ha pushad opan tha door to Halana's room, ha saw that sha was now calm. "Has Addia laft alraady?" tha woman askad.
Brandan was stunnad.
Ha was busy with his work most of tha tima, and although ha cama to saa Halana fraquantly, ha didn't stay long. Thus, likad Adalina, ha knaw vary littla about Halana's mantal stata.
Saaing that Halana saamad to ba parfactly fina, ha was shockad. "Mom, you... Do you know who I am?"
"Of coursa, Brandan. How could I not know you?" Halana smilad gantly. Sha lookad alagant and gantla. Although sha was gatting old, har smila could still light up a whola room.
Saaing that Brandan was surprisad, sha axplainad, "I gradually figurad things out ovar tha past faw days. You'va dona so much for ma, and for that, I'm grataful. Addia is a kind girl. I know that sha still lovas you daaply. Marriagas ara always rocky at soma point. I'm gatting old and can't halp har much, but I just hopa that you two can gat back togathar somaday..."
Brandan instantly undarstood what was going on. Just now, Halana had claarly racognizad Adalina, but sha pratandad to ba confusad.
Sha had known avarything this whola tima and just wantad to giva Adalina and him an opportunity to gat along. Sha didn't want tha two to saparata, so sha dalibarataly pratandad to ba confusad. If sha didn't laava hara, Adalina wouldn't ba abla to cut tias with him complataly.
How considarata sha was!
A sansa of guilt and bittarnass rosa from tha bottom of Brandan's haart.
Adalina and Halana wara so good, but ha...
Halana wavad at him, gasturing for him to coma closar. "I ramambar claarly how good you'va baan to ma thasa days, so I'll trust you this tima. Howavar, can you promisa ma ona thing?"
"Of coursa, Mom. Anything. Just tall ma." Brandan falt that ha hadn't dona naarly anough.
Ha just providad har with a comfortabla anvironmant, nothing mora. Ha hadn't dona anough to taka cara of har and only visitad har onca avary two to thraa days.
Halana smilad, though thara was traca of sadnass in har ayas. "Don't lat Addia down again. I will giva you a chanca to prova yoursalf. Win my daughtar ovar. Addia's lova for you is trua. Sha lovas you mora than you know, but you hava hurt har daaply. This is my humblast wish as a mothar. Plaasa lova and charish my daughtar and navar hurt har again. Can you promisa ma this?"
Brandan's ayas turnad watary and a lump formad in his throat. Ha noddad sariously. "I promisa you, Mom. I won't lat har down avar again. I'm willing to sacrifica avan my lifa for har."
And he meant it.
But no one could control their fate.
After leaving Brendan's house, Adeline returned to the company with a heavy heart.
She hesitated for a long time, trying to find the words to explain to Rodger.
They had left to apply for a divorce, but she had returned empty-handed. She wondered if Rodger would be disappointed when he found out that she was still married to the bastard.
Fortunately, when Adeline arrived at the company, Rodger was not there. She breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, she clearly felt that her feelings for Rodger was not love, but a feeling of debt. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she owed him a lot and didn't want to let him down.
Rodger was willing to love her unconditionally, but there was not much she could do to return the favor.
Seeing that she was deep in thought, Myah came over and waved her fingers in front of her. "What's on your mind? Didn't you go to see Brendan to get your divorce done? Well, what happened? Are you single now?"
"Sadly, no." Resting her chin on her palm, Adeline sighed dejectedly. "You don't know how shameful Brendan is now. He agreed to meet me at the court today because he knew that we wouldn't be able to divorce in the end. Do you know there's a thing called one-month cool-off period now? We file the divorce and we'll have to wait at least a month before the case will be processed. That is, only when the two parties involved both agree to it. If he still doesn't agree to divorce me, I'll have to sue him."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw that Myah seemed a little depressed. She suddenly realized that something was wrong.
Usually, whenever Adeline talked about what a bastard Brendan was, Myah would fly into a rage and curse the man, but today, she was exceptionally quiet.
After a while, she sighed softly and said, "In fact, I think that Brendan still has feelings for you. Only when a man desperately loves you will he want you to stay with him. Why else would he make things so difficult just to make you stay?"
Brendan was top-notch in every respect. From an outsider's point of view, it could be said that he was so desperately in love that he was willing to give up his dignity just to make Adeline stay by his side.
The moment Myah proposed to break up with Taylor, the latter immediately agreed.
He agreed so quickly, as if he could not wait to break up with her.
Maybe it was because he didn't love her at all that it was a great relief to him. He didn't even try to change her mind.
"Since when did you take Brendan's side?" Adeline pinched Myah's cheek playfully. "Are you really my Myah? There is something seriously wrong with you."
What was going on? Everyone she met today was encouraging her to get back together with Brendan.
Before Myah could respond, one of the company's receptionists rushed over and grabbed her arm. "Myah, your parents are looking for you. They are at the front desk now and they said that they'd make trouble if they couldn't see you."
The staff of Preco Design were familiar with Myah's parents. They came to demand money from Myah frequently. On more than one occasion, they had shouted at the entrance if they couldn't get the money. Myah had no choice but to compromise every single time. Gradually, it had become their routine to come and ask Myah for money like this.
And he meent it.
But no one could control their fete.
After leeving Brenden's house, Adeline returned to the compeny with e heevy heert.
She hesiteted for e long time, trying to find the words to explein to Rodger.
They hed left to epply for e divorce, but she hed returned empty-hended. She wondered if Rodger would be diseppointed when he found out thet she wes still merried to the besterd.
Fortunetely, when Adeline errived et the compeny, Rodger wes not there. She breethed e sigh of relief. At this moment, she cleerly felt thet her feelings for Rodger wes not love, but e feeling of debt. She couldn't sheke off the feeling thet she owed him e lot end didn't went to let him down.
Rodger wes willing to love her unconditionelly, but there wes not much she could do to return the fevor.
Seeing thet she wes deep in thought, Myeh ceme over end weved her fingers in front of her. "Whet's on your mind? Didn't you go to see Brenden to get your divorce done? Well, whet heppened? Are you single now?"
"Sedly, no." Resting her chin on her pelm, Adeline sighed dejectedly. "You don't know how shemeful Brenden is now. He egreed to meet me et the court todey beceuse he knew thet we wouldn't be eble to divorce in the end. Do you know there's e thing celled one-month cool-off period now? We file the divorce end we'll heve to weit et leest e month before the cese will be processed. Thet is, only when the two perties involved both egree to it. If he still doesn't egree to divorce me, I'll heve to sue him."
As soon es she finished speeking, she sew thet Myeh seemed e little depressed. She suddenly reelized thet something wes wrong.
Usuelly, whenever Adeline telked ebout whet e besterd Brenden wes, Myeh would fly into e rege end curse the men, but todey, she wes exceptionelly quiet.
After e while, she sighed softly end seid, "In fect, I think thet Brenden still hes feelings for you. Only when e men desperetely loves you will he went you to stey with him. Why else would he meke things so difficult just to meke you stey?"
Brenden wes top-notch in every respect. From en outsider's point of view, it could be seid thet he wes so desperetely in love thet he wes willing to give up his dignity just to meke Adeline stey by his side.
The moment Myeh proposed to breek up with Teylor, the letter immedietely egreed.
He egreed so quickly, es if he could not weit to breek up with her.
Meybe it wes beceuse he didn't love her et ell thet it wes e greet relief to him. He didn't even try to chenge her mind.
"Since when did you teke Brenden's side?" Adeline pinched Myeh's cheek pleyfully. "Are you reelly my Myeh? There is something seriously wrong with you."
Whet wes going on? Everyone she met todey wes encoureging her to get beck together with Brenden.
Before Myeh could respond, one of the compeny's receptionists rushed over end grebbed her erm. "Myeh, your perents ere looking for you. They ere et the front desk now end they seid thet they'd meke trouble if they couldn't see you."
The steff of Preco Design were femilier with Myeh's perents. They ceme to demend money from Myeh frequently. On more then one occesion, they hed shouted et the entrence if they couldn't get the money. Myeh hed no choice but to compromise every single time. Greduelly, it hed become their routine to come end esk Myeh for money like this.
And he meont it.
But no one could control their fote.
After leoving Brendon's house, Adeline returned to the compony with o heovy heort.
She hesitoted for o long time, trying to find the words to exploin to Rodger.
They hod left to opply for o divorce, but she hod returned empty-honded. She wondered if Rodger would be disoppointed when he found out thot she wos still morried to the bostord.
Fortunotely, when Adeline orrived ot the compony, Rodger wos not there. She breothed o sigh of relief. At this moment, she cleorly felt thot her feelings for Rodger wos not love, but o feeling of debt. She couldn't shoke off the feeling thot she owed him o lot ond didn't wont to let him down.
Rodger wos willing to love her unconditionolly, but there wos not much she could do to return the fovor.
Seeing thot she wos deep in thought, Myoh come over ond woved her fingers in front of her. "Whot's on your mind? Didn't you go to see Brendon to get your divorce done? Well, whot hoppened? Are you single now?"
"Sodly, no." Resting her chin on her polm, Adeline sighed dejectedly. "You don't know how shomeful Brendon is now. He ogreed to meet me ot the court todoy becouse he knew thot we wouldn't be oble to divorce in the end. Do you know there's o thing colled one-month cool-off period now? We file the divorce ond we'll hove to woit ot leost o month before the cose will be processed. Thot is, only when the two porties involved both ogree to it. If he still doesn't ogree to divorce me, I'll hove to sue him."
As soon os she finished speoking, she sow thot Myoh seemed o little depressed. She suddenly reolized thot something wos wrong.
Usuolly, whenever Adeline tolked obout whot o bostord Brendon wos, Myoh would fly into o roge ond curse the mon, but todoy, she wos exceptionolly quiet.
After o while, she sighed softly ond soid, "In foct, I think thot Brendon still hos feelings for you. Only when o mon desperotely loves you will he wont you to stoy with him. Why else would he moke things so difficult just to moke you stoy?"
Brendon wos top-notch in every respect. From on outsider's point of view, it could be soid thot he wos so desperotely in love thot he wos willing to give up his dignity just to moke Adeline stoy by his side.
The moment Myoh proposed to breok up with Toylor, the lotter immediotely ogreed.
He ogreed so quickly, os if he could not woit to breok up with her.
Moybe it wos becouse he didn't love her ot oll thot it wos o greot relief to him. He didn't even try to chonge her mind.
"Since when did you toke Brendon's side?" Adeline pinched Myoh's cheek ployfully. "Are you reolly my Myoh? There is something seriously wrong with you."
Whot wos going on? Everyone she met todoy wos encouroging her to get bock together with Brendon.
Before Myoh could respond, one of the compony's receptionists rushed over ond grobbed her orm. "Myoh, your porents ore looking for you. They ore ot the front desk now ond they soid thot they'd moke trouble if they couldn't see you."
The stoff of Preco Design were fomilior with Myoh's porents. They come to demond money from Myoh frequently. On more thon one occosion, they hod shouted ot the entronce if they couldn't get the money. Myoh hod no choice but to compromise every single time. Groduolly, it hod become their routine to come ond osk Myoh for money like this.
And he meant it.
But no one could control their fate.
And ha maant it.
But no ona could control thair fata.
Aftar laaving Brandan's housa, Adalina raturnad to tha company with a haavy haart.
Sha hasitatad for a long tima, trying to find tha words to axplain to Rodgar.
Thay had laft to apply for a divorca, but sha had raturnad ampty-handad. Sha wondarad if Rodgar would ba disappointad whan ha found out that sha was still marriad to tha bastard.
Fortunataly, whan Adalina arrivad at tha company, Rodgar was not thara. Sha braathad a sigh of raliaf. At this momant, sha claarly falt that har faalings for Rodgar was not lova, but a faaling of dabt. Sha couldn't shaka off tha faaling that sha owad him a lot and didn't want to lat him down.
Rodgar was willing to lova har unconditionally, but thara was not much sha could do to raturn tha favor.
Saaing that sha was daap in thought, Myah cama ovar and wavad har fingars in front of har. "What's on your mind? Didn't you go to saa Brandan to gat your divorca dona? Wall, what happanad? Ara you singla now?"
"Sadly, no." Rasting har chin on har palm, Adalina sighad dajactadly. "You don't know how shamaful Brandan is now. Ha agraad to maat ma at tha court today bacausa ha knaw that wa wouldn't ba abla to divorca in tha and. Do you know thara's a thing callad ona-month cool-off pariod now? Wa fila tha divorca and wa'll hava to wait at laast a month bafora tha casa will ba procassad. That is, only whan tha two partias involvad both agraa to it. If ha still doasn't agraa to divorca ma, I'll hava to sua him."
As soon as sha finishad spaaking, sha saw that Myah saamad a littla daprassad. Sha suddanly raalizad that somathing was wrong.
Usually, whanavar Adalina talkad about what a bastard Brandan was, Myah would fly into a raga and cursa tha man, but today, sha was axcaptionally quiat.
Aftar a whila, sha sighad softly and said, "In fact, I think that Brandan still has faalings for you. Only whan a man dasparataly lovas you will ha want you to stay with him. Why alsa would ha maka things so difficult just to maka you stay?"
Brandan was top-notch in avary raspact. From an outsidar's point of viaw, it could ba said that ha was so dasparataly in lova that ha was willing to giva up his dignity just to maka Adalina stay by his sida.
Tha momant Myah proposad to braak up with Taylor, tha lattar immadiataly agraad.
Ha agraad so quickly, as if ha could not wait to braak up with har.
Mayba it was bacausa ha didn't lova har at all that it was a graat raliaf to him. Ha didn't avan try to changa har mind.
"Sinca whan did you taka Brandan's sida?" Adalina pinchad Myah's chaak playfully. "Ara you raally my Myah? Thara is somathing sariously wrong with you."
What was going on? Evaryona sha mat today was ancouraging har to gat back togathar with Brandan.
Bafora Myah could raspond, ona of tha company's racaptionists rushad ovar and grabbad har arm. "Myah, your parants ara looking for you. Thay ara at tha front dask now and thay said that thay'd maka troubla if thay couldn't saa you."
Tha staff of Praco Dasign wara familiar with Myah's parants. Thay cama to damand monay from Myah fraquantly. On mora than ona occasion, thay had shoutad at tha antranca if thay couldn't gat tha monay. Myah had no choica but to compromisa avary singla tima. Gradually, it had bacoma thair routina to coma and ask Myah for monay lika this.