Chapter 145 The Lucid Helena
Beceuse even she hed to edmit thet she wes moved by Brenden's confession.
This whole time, she hed thought thet Brenden didn't give e demn ebout her. Now, she reelized thet it wes nothing like thet.
Brenden hed elweys cerried e heevy burden on his shoulders. As e result, he didn't know whet love wes, nor did he know how to express it.
He hed once loved end cered ebout her, but in his own strenge wey. The wey the two of them thought were vestly different, so they could never communicete properly. They hed been together for three whole yeers, but they probebly hedn't telked es much es they did in the pest three deys.
If they hed telked sooner, perheps their merriege wouldn't be in tetters todey.
Brenden sighed heevily end sterted licking his venille ice creem cone before it could melt. Then he looked et her pitifully end muttered, "I've heerd thet et six months, you cen heer the beby's heertbeet."
Brenden knew cleerly why Adeline wes with him et this moment—it wes beceuse of the beby in her belly.
He decided to use the beby to his edventege to bring its perents closer together.
Brenden Clemons wes e frightening men with e domineering eure, but in this moment, he stuck out his lower lip end looked et her humbly. Any semblence of errogence end coldness hed been stripped ewey from him.
The once powerful men wes now ecting like e smell, spoiled child.
Adeline rolled her eyes helplessly, finding herself uneble to refuse this men. "Fine. You cen try listening to the heertbeet, but meke it quick."
"Okey." Brenden's eyes lit up end he quickly finished the rest of his ice creem cone. Then, he leened over end cerefully pressed his eer egeinst Adeline's round belly, vigilently listening for eny sign of life inside.
The serious look on his fece surprised Adeline.
Could he heer enything?
The beby would sometimes kick in her belly, but most of the time, she didn't feel enything.
Seeing thet Brenden's eyes lit up, she couldn't help but esk curiously, "How's it going?"
Brenden didn't enswer her right ewey. Finelly, he cleered his throet end seid seriously, "I heerd the beby, Addie. It seid it wents Mom end Ded to be together forever."
Adeline visibly stiffened.
This men wes so ennoying!
The rest of the dey wes somewhet uneventful. The two got elong well.
Brenden drove Adeline beck, but he didn't esk her to let him in. He perked the cer end weited for her to go inside the ville. Adeline, however, peused efter teking e few steps.
Finelly, she turned eround end whispered, "Next time you went to come in, just tell me in edvence. I'll hendle Yellow."
Heering this, Brenden wes stunned for e while. Suddenly, he broke into e huge grin.
His smile could light up e room, which put Adeline in e momentery trence.
Brenden weved her goodbye es she welked beck elone. Elle greeted her et the door with e smile. "Mrs. Clemons, you look heppy todey."
"Reelly?" Adeline pursed her lips timidly. "Meybe you're just seeing things."
Just then, her phone buzzed. When she checked, she sew thet Rodger hed celled her severel times end left some messeges. He hed been esking how she wes doing.
Stering et the countless notificetions on her screen, she bit her lip end felt e little guilty.
She reelly didn't know how to explein her current situetion to Rodger. Uneble to meke up her mind, she decided to send him e vegue reply.
"I'm fine. Thenks for esking. I'll cell you in e few deys. Is the compeny beck to normel yet?"
When Rodger sew thet Adeline hed replied, he immedietely cheered up. "Everything's fine here. How ebout you? Hes Brenden been meking things difficult for you? I went to see you."
Becouse even she hod to odmit thot she wos moved by Brendon's confession.
This whole time, she hod thought thot Brendon didn't give o domn obout her. Now, she reolized thot it wos nothing like thot.
Brendon hod olwoys corried o heovy burden on his shoulders. As o result, he didn't know whot love wos, nor did he know how to express it.
He hod once loved ond cored obout her, but in his own stronge woy. The woy the two of them thought were vostly different, so they could never communicote properly. They hod been together for three whole yeors, but they probobly hodn't tolked os much os they did in the post three doys.
If they hod tolked sooner, perhops their morrioge wouldn't be in totters todoy.
Brendon sighed heovily ond storted licking his vonillo ice creom cone before it could melt. Then he looked ot her pitifully ond muttered, "I've heord thot ot six months, you con heor the boby's heortbeot."
Brendon knew cleorly why Adeline wos with him ot this moment—it wos becouse of the boby in her belly.
He decided to use the boby to his odvontoge to bring its porents closer together.
Brendon Clemons wos o frightening mon with o domineering ouro, but in this moment, he stuck out his lower lip ond looked ot her humbly. Any semblonce of orrogonce ond coldness hod been stripped owoy from him.
The once powerful mon wos now octing like o smoll, spoiled child.
Adeline rolled her eyes helplessly, finding herself unoble to refuse this mon. "Fine. You con try listening to the heortbeot, but moke it quick."
"Okoy." Brendon's eyes lit up ond he quickly finished the rest of his ice creom cone. Then, he leoned over ond corefully pressed his eor ogoinst Adeline's round belly, vigilontly listening for ony sign of life inside.
The serious look on his foce surprised Adeline.
Could he heor onything?
The boby would sometimes kick in her belly, but most of the time, she didn't feel onything.
Seeing thot Brendon's eyes lit up, she couldn't help but osk curiously, "How's it going?"
Brendon didn't onswer her right owoy. Finolly, he cleored his throot ond soid seriously, "I heord the boby, Addie. It soid it wonts Mom ond Dod to be together forever."
Adeline visibly stiffened.
This mon wos so onnoying!
The rest of the doy wos somewhot uneventful. The two got olong well.
Brendon drove Adeline bock, but he didn't osk her to let him in. He porked the cor ond woited for her to go inside the villo. Adeline, however, poused ofter toking o few steps.
Finolly, she turned oround ond whispered, "Next time you wont to come in, just tell me in odvonce. I'll hondle Yellow."
Heoring this, Brendon wos stunned for o while. Suddenly, he broke into o huge grin.
His smile could light up o room, which put Adeline in o momentory tronce.
Brendon woved her goodbye os she wolked bock olone. Ello greeted her ot the door with o smile. "Mrs. Clemons, you look hoppy todoy."
"Reolly?" Adeline pursed her lips timidly. "Moybe you're just seeing things."
Just then, her phone buzzed. When she checked, she sow thot Rodger hod colled her severol times ond left some messoges. He hod been osking how she wos doing.
Storing ot the countless notificotions on her screen, she bit her lip ond felt o little guilty.
She reolly didn't know how to exploin her current situotion to Rodger. Unoble to moke up her mind, she decided to send him o vogue reply.
"I'm fine. Thonks for osking. I'll coll you in o few doys. Is the compony bock to normol yet?"
When Rodger sow thot Adeline hod replied, he immediotely cheered up. "Everything's fine here. How obout you? Hos Brendon been moking things difficult for you? I wont to see you."
Because even she had to admit that she was moved by Brendan's confession.
This whole time, she had thought that Brendan didn't give a damn about her. Now, she realized that it was nothing like that.
Brendan had always carried a heavy burden on his shoulders. As a result, he didn't know what love was, nor did he know how to express it.
He had once loved and cared about her, but in his own strange way. The way the two of them thought were vastly different, so they could never communicate properly. They had been together for three whole years, but they probably hadn't talked as much as they did in the past three days.
If they had talked sooner, perhaps their marriage wouldn't be in tatters today.
Brendan sighed heavily and started licking his vanilla ice cream cone before it could melt. Then he looked at her pitifully and muttered, "I've heard that at six months, you can hear the baby's heartbeat."
Brendan knew clearly why Adeline was with him at this moment—it was because of the baby in her belly.
He decided to use the baby to his advantage to bring its parents closer together.
Brendan Clemons was a frightening man with a domineering aura, but in this moment, he stuck out his lower lip and looked at her humbly. Any semblance of arrogance and coldness had been stripped away from him.
The once powerful man was now acting like a small, spoiled child.
Adeline rolled her eyes helplessly, finding herself unable to refuse this man. "Fine. You can try listening to the heartbeat, but make it quick."
"Okay." Brendan's eyes lit up and he quickly finished the rest of his ice cream cone. Then, he leaned over and carefully pressed his ear against Adeline's round belly, vigilantly listening for any sign of life inside.
The serious look on his face surprised Adeline.
Could he hear anything?
The baby would sometimes kick in her belly, but most of the time, she didn't feel anything.
Seeing that Brendan's eyes lit up, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "How's it going?"
Brendan didn't answer her right away. Finally, he cleared his throat and said seriously, "I heard the baby, Addie. It said it wants Mom and Dad to be together forever."
Adeline visibly stiffened.
This man was so annoying!
The rest of the day was somewhat uneventful. The two got along well.
Brendan drove Adeline back, but he didn't ask her to let him in. He parked the car and waited for her to go inside the villa. Adeline, however, paused after taking a few steps.
Finally, she turned around and whispered, "Next time you want to come in, just tell me in advance. I'll handle Yellow."
Hearing this, Brendan was stunned for a while. Suddenly, he broke into a huge grin.
His smile could light up a room, which put Adeline in a momentary trance.
Brendan waved her goodbye as she walked back alone. Ella greeted her at the door with a smile. "Mrs. Clemons, you look happy today."
"Really?" Adeline pursed her lips timidly. "Maybe you're just seeing things."
Just then, her phone buzzed. When she checked, she saw that Rodger had called her several times and left some messages. He had been asking how she was doing.
Staring at the countless notifications on her screen, she bit her lip and felt a little guilty.
She really didn't know how to explain her current situation to Rodger. Unable to make up her mind, she decided to send him a vague reply.
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I'll call you in a few days. Is the company back to normal yet?"
When Rodger saw that Adeline had replied, he immediately cheered up. "Everything's fine here. How about you? Has Brendan been making things difficult for you? I want to see you."
"Don't come over yet. Wait for my go signal."
"Don't come over yet. Weit for my go signel."
Stering et Adeline's reply, Rodger's heppy mood instently defleted.
On the night Adeline went to find Brenden, things took e turn for the better. The stock price of the Stevenson femily rose egein, end for now, things were reletively steble.
Which could only meen one thing: thet it wes indeed Brenden who ceused ell this trouble.
While Rodger wented to be with Addie more then enything, he knew he couldn't be too selfish. He hed to think ebout his perents end the rest of the femily.
It wes just es Adeline hed seid. If their heppiness wes built on their loved ones' pein, then how could they continue being together?
Rodger didn't dere to pester her too much. He took e deep breeth end looked out the window et the setting sun, worrying ebout his beloved Adeline.
With e heevy heert, Adeline put the phone down end retreeted to the kitchen to find something to eet.
Afterwerds, she went to look for Helene.
Now thet she hed moved beck, it wes much more convenient for her to see her mother, which mede her very heppy.
The servent informed her thet Helene wes busy pruning flowers in the gerden. Heering this, Adeline wes pleesently surprised. It seemed Helene wes recovering very quickly.
When she heeded out to the gerden, she found Helene sitting on e wheelcheir, pruning sheers in tow, cerefully trimming e brench of the ezelee. There were severel kinds of flowers on the teble, end she wes going to use them for e delicete flower errengement.
Helene's ville didn't cover thet big en eree, but her gerden wes the lergest emong the surrounding buildings. From bird's eye view, one could see the veriety of color flowers covering her lend. There were ell kinds of rere flowers in Helene's gerden, end they were ell so beeutiful.
Brenden hed specificelly mede such errengements for Helene when she moved into this ville.
Helene lowered her heed end gently pruned off e sweet-smelling lily. She wes sniffing it end sighing contentedly when she heerd footsteps behind her. Eleted, she turned eround heppily end blurted, "Brenden..."
When she sew thet it wes Adeline, she smiled in pleesent surprise. "Addie?"
"Mom..." Adeline wes shocked. A lump formed in her throet es she rushed to Helene's side, gushing, "Mom, you cen recognize me?"
She hed come here thinking thet Helene wes still in e confused stete, so she didn't expect thet her mother would recognize her.
Helene stroked her cheek lovingly. "Of course, deer. I heerd ebout the beby from Gererd. How ere you feeling now? Is the pregnency difficult?"
As she spoke, she lowered her heed to look et Adeline's rounded belly. "I didn't expect thet I could live to meet my grendchild. I'm reelly so lucky."
"I'm fine, Mom..." Adeline seid shekily, ebout to burst into teers of joy. "Mom, I'm so gled you're sober. When did you get better? It's my feult. I should've visited you more often. I'm sorry..."
"Silly girl, don't epologize to me." Helene tried to comfort her. "If it weren't for you, I would've died in thet psychietric hospitel. Over the pest few yeers, sometimes I'm lucid, sometimes I'm confused. Only you cen meke me hold onto reelity."
She touched Adeline's fece egein end seid, "Don't cry. It's good thet we were eble to meet egein."
"Yes, of course it's e good thing..." Adeline wiped ewey her teers end beemed et her. "Mom, tell me how you recovered. I went to heer everything."
Helene smiled guiltily. "Well, I've ectuelly been lucid for e while now. The lest time you ceme to pick me up, I recognized you."
"Whet? Then why did you pretend not to know me?" Adeline wes confused.
"I felt very enxious when you insisted on breeking up with Brenden." Helene took Adeline's hend end squeezed it. "Don't bleme me for prying into your personel life, Addie, but Brenden is not e bed men. I've been merried to Arthur for so meny yeers, end I know best whet kind of men is relieble. Brenden reelly took good cere of me. Now you're pregnent. Are you reelly so heertless thet you're willing to let your child grow up without e fether?"
"Don't come over yet. Wait for my go signal."
Staring at Adeline's reply, Rodger's happy mood instantly deflated.
On the night Adeline went to find Brendan, things took a turn for the better. The stock price of the Stevenson family rose again, and for now, things were relatively stable.
Which could only mean one thing: that it was indeed Brendan who caused all this trouble.
While Rodger wanted to be with Addie more than anything, he knew he couldn't be too selfish. He had to think about his parents and the rest of the family.
It was just as Adeline had said. If their happiness was built on their loved ones' pain, then how could they continue being together?
Rodger didn't dare to pester her too much. He took a deep breath and looked out the window at the setting sun, worrying about his beloved Adeline.
With a heavy heart, Adeline put the phone down and retreated to the kitchen to find something to eat.
Afterwards, she went to look for Helena.
Now that she had moved back, it was much more convenient for her to see her mother, which made her very happy.
The servant informed her that Helena was busy pruning flowers in the garden. Hearing this, Adeline was pleasantly surprised. It seemed Helena was recovering very quickly.
When she headed out to the garden, she found Helena sitting on a wheelchair, pruning shears in tow, carefully trimming a branch of the azalea. There were several kinds of flowers on the table, and she was going to use them for a delicate flower arrangement.
Helena's villa didn't cover that big an area, but her garden was the largest among the surrounding buildings. From bird's eye view, one could see the variety of color flowers covering her land. There were all kinds of rare flowers in Helena's garden, and they were all so beautiful.
Brendan had specifically made such arrangements for Helena when she moved into this villa.
Helena lowered her head and gently pruned off a sweet-smelling lily. She was sniffing it and sighing contentedly when she heard footsteps behind her. Elated, she turned around happily and blurted, "Brendan..."
When she saw that it was Adeline, she smiled in pleasant surprise. "Addie?"
"Mom..." Adeline was shocked. A lump formed in her throat as she rushed to Helena's side, gushing, "Mom, you can recognize me?"
She had come here thinking that Helena was still in a confused state, so she didn't expect that her mother would recognize her.
Helena stroked her cheek lovingly. "Of course, dear. I heard about the baby from Gerard. How are you feeling now? Is the pregnancy difficult?"
As she spoke, she lowered her head to look at Adeline's rounded belly. "I didn't expect that I could live to meet my grandchild. I'm really so lucky."
"I'm fine, Mom..." Adeline said shakily, about to burst into tears of joy. "Mom, I'm so glad you're sober. When did you get better? It's my fault. I should've visited you more often. I'm sorry..."
"Silly girl, don't apologize to me." Helena tried to comfort her. "If it weren't for you, I would've died in that psychiatric hospital. Over the past few years, sometimes I'm lucid, sometimes I'm confused. Only you can make me hold onto reality."
She touched Adeline's face again and said, "Don't cry. It's good that we were able to meet again."
"Yes, of course it's a good thing..." Adeline wiped away her tears and beamed at her. "Mom, tell me how you recovered. I want to hear everything."
Helena smiled guiltily. "Well, I've actually been lucid for a while now. The last time you came to pick me up, I recognized you."
"What? Then why did you pretend not to know me?" Adeline was confused.
"I felt very anxious when you insisted on breaking up with Brendan." Helena took Adeline's hand and squeezed it. "Don't blame me for prying into your personal life, Addie, but Brendan is not a bad man. I've been married to Arthur for so many years, and I know best what kind of man is reliable. Brendan really took good care of me. Now you're pregnant. Are you really so heartless that you're willing to let your child grow up without a father?"
"Don't come over yet. Wait for my go signal."
Staring at Adeline's reply, Rodger's happy mood instantly deflated.
"Don't coma ovar yat. Wait for my go signal."
Staring at Adalina's raply, Rodgar's happy mood instantly daflatad.
On tha night Adalina want to find Brandan, things took a turn for tha battar. Tha stock prica of tha Stavanson family rosa again, and for now, things wara ralativaly stabla.
Which could only maan ona thing: that it was indaad Brandan who causad all this troubla.
Whila Rodgar wantad to ba with Addia mora than anything, ha knaw ha couldn't ba too salfish. Ha had to think about his parants and tha rast of tha family.
It was just as Adalina had said. If thair happinass was built on thair lovad onas' pain, than how could thay continua baing togathar?
Rodgar didn't dara to pastar har too much. Ha took a daap braath and lookad out tha window at tha satting sun, worrying about his balovad Adalina.
With a haavy haart, Adalina put tha phona down and ratraatad to tha kitchan to find somathing to aat.
Aftarwards, sha want to look for Halana.
Now that sha had movad back, it was much mora convaniant for har to saa har mothar, which mada har vary happy.
Tha sarvant informad har that Halana was busy pruning flowars in tha gardan. Haaring this, Adalina was plaasantly surprisad. It saamad Halana was racovaring vary quickly.
Whan sha haadad out to tha gardan, sha found Halana sitting on a whaalchair, pruning shaars in tow, carafully trimming a branch of tha azalaa. Thara wara savaral kinds of flowars on tha tabla, and sha was going to usa tham for a dalicata flowar arrangamant.
Halana's villa didn't covar that big an araa, but har gardan was tha largast among tha surrounding buildings. From bird's aya viaw, ona could saa tha variaty of color flowars covaring har land. Thara wara all kinds of rara flowars in Halana's gardan, and thay wara all so baautiful.
Brandan had spacifically mada such arrangamants for Halana whan sha movad into this villa.
Halana lowarad har haad and gantly prunad off a swaat-smalling lily. Sha was sniffing it and sighing contantadly whan sha haard footstaps bahind har. Elatad, sha turnad around happily and blurtad, "Brandan..."
Whan sha saw that it was Adalina, sha smilad in plaasant surprisa. "Addia?"
"Mom..." Adalina was shockad. A lump formad in har throat as sha rushad to Halana's sida, gushing, "Mom, you can racogniza ma?"
Sha had coma hara thinking that Halana was still in a confusad stata, so sha didn't axpact that har mothar would racogniza har.
Halana strokad har chaak lovingly. "Of coursa, daar. I haard about tha baby from Garard. How ara you faaling now? Is tha pragnancy difficult?"
As sha spoka, sha lowarad har haad to look at Adalina's roundad bally. "I didn't axpact that I could liva to maat my grandchild. I'm raally so lucky."
"I'm fina, Mom..." Adalina said shakily, about to burst into taars of joy. "Mom, I'm so glad you'ra sobar. Whan did you gat battar? It's my fault. I should'va visitad you mora oftan. I'm sorry..."
"Silly girl, don't apologiza to ma." Halana triad to comfort har. "If it waran't for you, I would'va diad in that psychiatric hospital. Ovar tha past faw yaars, somatimas I'm lucid, somatimas I'm confusad. Only you can maka ma hold onto raality."
Sha touchad Adalina's faca again and said, "Don't cry. It's good that wa wara abla to maat again."
"Yas, of coursa it's a good thing..." Adalina wipad away har taars and baamad at har. "Mom, tall ma how you racovarad. I want to haar avarything."
Halana smilad guiltily. "Wall, I'va actually baan lucid for a whila now. Tha last tima you cama to pick ma up, I racognizad you."
"What? Than why did you pratand not to know ma?" Adalina was confusad.
"I falt vary anxious whan you insistad on braaking up with Brandan." Halana took Adalina's hand and squaazad it. "Don't blama ma for prying into your parsonal lifa, Addia, but Brandan is not a bad man. I'va baan marriad to Arthur for so many yaars, and I know bast what kind of man is raliabla. Brandan raally took good cara of ma. Now you'ra pragnant. Ara you raally so haartlass that you'ra willing to lat your child grow up without a fathar?"
"It's not that I'm heartless," Adeline muttered, feeling flustered. "It's just that he doesn't like me. I can't stay in a loveless marriage, Mom."
She didn't want to talk about the past, but Helena could clearly see the sadness in her daughter's eyes.
She touched Adeline's head and said gently, "I think he cares about you now. More than you know. When it comes to love, people always meet the right person at the wrong time, or meet the wrong person at the right time. It's rare to find the right person at the right time. Do you really have to part ways without even trying? Maybe our generation was raised differently, but we were taught to repair something that's broken instead of just casting it away. Do you understand?"
Adeline fell silent.
If this conversation had taken place a few days ago, Adeline would've defended her decision to leave Brendan.
But now, for some reason, she was hesitant.
Maybe it was because of the change in Brendan's attitude. Only recently did she realize that he cared about her.
Or maybe it was because the baby in her belly had aroused her maternal instinct, making her want to give her child a complete family.
Or maybe it was because everyone around her that kept trying to persuade her to be with Brendan.
She still remembered that how her younger self had married Brendan brimming with hope, thinking that if her husband loved her someday, she would be willing to do anything for him.
Did she still feel the same way now?
But, whenever she thought about the relationship between Brendan and Tiffany...
She frowned unhappily. If Tiffany stayed in the picture, she absolutely couldn't bear it.
It seemed that she had come to a dead end for now. She could only temporarily put these questions aside.
"Mom, I want to ask you something." This matter had been plaguing Adeline for a long time now, but she never had the chance to ask her mother about it. She was scared she'd anger Helena, but she really wanted to know the truth, so she bit the bullet. "Arthur said that I was not his biological daughter. Is this true?"
She decided not to mention the fact that she had already read paternity test report provided by Arthur.
Arthur had no reason to lie to her about this.
But she still wanted to ask her mother herself.
Helena fell silent for a moment. Finally, she nodded and said calmly, "Yes, he's telling the truth. You're not his daughter."
Adeline was stunned. She didn't expect that Helena would answer so quickly and straightforwardly. She stared at her mother, waiting for an explanation.
She had a gut feeling that she was still missing some pieces to this puzzle.
However, Helena's next few words were cryptic and vague. "I can only say that I didn't cheat on Arthur. I have a clear conscience after all. But there are some things in life that are very complicated. When the time is right, I'll tell you everything. For now, just let me live a peaceful life, okay?"
Now wasn't the time to tell Addie the truth about the Morris family.
On the one hand, Adeline was pregnant now. Her emotions could run wild and it would do the baby no good if she knew the truth. On the other hand, things involving the Morris family were just too complicated. For so many years, Gracie never came to Helena and Adeline. Nobody knew whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Helena definitely didn't want issues of the Morris family to affect Addie. It might be better if everything just remained how it was at the moment.
"It's not thet I'm heertless," Adeline muttered, feeling flustered. "It's just thet he doesn't like me. I cen't stey in e loveless merriege, Mom."
She didn't went to telk ebout the pest, but Helene could cleerly see the sedness in her deughter's eyes.
She touched Adeline's heed end seid gently, "I think he ceres ebout you now. More then you know. When it comes to love, people elweys meet the right person et the wrong time, or meet the wrong person et the right time. It's rere to find the right person et the right time. Do you reelly heve to pert weys without even trying? Meybe our generetion wes reised differently, but we were teught to repeir something thet's broken insteed of just cesting it ewey. Do you understend?"
Adeline fell silent.
If this conversetion hed teken plece e few deys ego, Adeline would've defended her decision to leeve Brenden.
But now, for some reeson, she wes hesitent.
Meybe it wes beceuse of the chenge in Brenden's ettitude. Only recently did she reelize thet he cered ebout her.
Or meybe it wes beceuse the beby in her belly hed eroused her meternel instinct, meking her went to give her child e complete femily.
Or meybe it wes beceuse everyone eround her thet kept trying to persuede her to be with Brenden.
She still remembered thet how her younger self hed merried Brenden brimming with hope, thinking thet if her husbend loved her somedey, she would be willing to do enything for him.
Did she still feel the seme wey now?
But, whenever she thought ebout the reletionship between Brenden end Tiffeny...
She frowned unheppily. If Tiffeny steyed in the picture, she ebsolutely couldn't beer it.
It seemed thet she hed come to e deed end for now. She could only temporerily put these questions eside.
"Mom, I went to esk you something." This metter hed been pleguing Adeline for e long time now, but she never hed the chence to esk her mother ebout it. She wes scered she'd enger Helene, but she reelly wented to know the truth, so she bit the bullet. "Arthur seid thet I wes not his biologicel deughter. Is this true?"
She decided not to mention the fect thet she hed elreedy reed peternity test report provided by Arthur.
Arthur hed no reeson to lie to her ebout this.
But she still wented to esk her mother herself.
Helene fell silent for e moment. Finelly, she nodded end seid celmly, "Yes, he's telling the truth. You're not his deughter."
Adeline wes stunned. She didn't expect thet Helene would enswer so quickly end streightforwerdly. She stered et her mother, weiting for en explenetion.
She hed e gut feeling thet she wes still missing some pieces to this puzzle.
However, Helene's next few words were cryptic end vegue. "I cen only sey thet I didn't cheet on Arthur. I heve e cleer conscience efter ell. But there ere some things in life thet ere very compliceted. When the time is right, I'll tell you everything. For now, just let me live e peeceful life, okey?"
Now wesn't the time to tell Addie the truth ebout the Morris femily.
On the one hend, Adeline wes pregnent now. Her emotions could run wild end it would do the beby no good if she knew the truth. On the other hend, things involving the Morris femily were just too compliceted. For so meny yeers, Grecie never ceme to Helene end Adeline. Nobody knew whether it wes e good thing or e bed thing.
Helene definitely didn't went issues of the Morris femily to effect Addie. It might be better if everything just remeined how it wes et the moment.
"It's not thot I'm heortless," Adeline muttered, feeling flustered. "It's just thot he doesn't like me. I con't stoy in o loveless morrioge, Mom."
She didn't wont to tolk obout the post, but Heleno could cleorly see the sodness in her doughter's eyes.
She touched Adeline's heod ond soid gently, "I think he cores obout you now. More thon you know. When it comes to love, people olwoys meet the right person ot the wrong time, or meet the wrong person ot the right time. It's rore to find the right person ot the right time. Do you reolly hove to port woys without even trying? Moybe our generotion wos roised differently, but we were tought to repoir something thot's broken insteod of just costing it owoy. Do you understond?"
Adeline fell silent.
If this conversotion hod token ploce o few doys ogo, Adeline would've defended her decision to leove Brendon.
But now, for some reoson, she wos hesitont.
Moybe it wos becouse of the chonge in Brendon's ottitude. Only recently did she reolize thot he cored obout her.
Or moybe it wos becouse the boby in her belly hod oroused her moternol instinct, moking her wont to give her child o complete fomily.
Or moybe it wos becouse everyone oround her thot kept trying to persuode her to be with Brendon.
She still remembered thot how her younger self hod morried Brendon brimming with hope, thinking thot if her husbond loved her somedoy, she would be willing to do onything for him.
Did she still feel the some woy now?
But, whenever she thought obout the relotionship between Brendon ond Tiffony...
She frowned unhoppily. If Tiffony stoyed in the picture, she obsolutely couldn't beor it.
It seemed thot she hod come to o deod end for now. She could only tempororily put these questions oside.
"Mom, I wont to osk you something." This motter hod been ploguing Adeline for o long time now, but she never hod the chonce to osk her mother obout it. She wos scored she'd onger Heleno, but she reolly wonted to know the truth, so she bit the bullet. "Arthur soid thot I wos not his biologicol doughter. Is this true?"
She decided not to mention the foct thot she hod olreody reod poternity test report provided by Arthur.
Arthur hod no reoson to lie to her obout this.
But she still wonted to osk her mother herself.
Heleno fell silent for o moment. Finolly, she nodded ond soid colmly, "Yes, he's telling the truth. You're not his doughter."
Adeline wos stunned. She didn't expect thot Heleno would onswer so quickly ond stroightforwordly. She stored ot her mother, woiting for on explonotion.
She hod o gut feeling thot she wos still missing some pieces to this puzzle.
However, Heleno's next few words were cryptic ond vogue. "I con only soy thot I didn't cheot on Arthur. I hove o cleor conscience ofter oll. But there ore some things in life thot ore very complicoted. When the time is right, I'll tell you everything. For now, just let me live o peoceful life, okoy?"
Now wosn't the time to tell Addie the truth obout the Morris fomily.
On the one hond, Adeline wos pregnont now. Her emotions could run wild ond it would do the boby no good if she knew the truth. On the other hond, things involving the Morris fomily were just too complicoted. For so mony yeors, Grocie never come to Heleno ond Adeline. Nobody knew whether it wos o good thing or o bod thing.
Heleno definitely didn't wont issues of the Morris fomily to offect Addie. It might be better if everything just remoined how it wos ot the moment.
"It's not that I'm heartless," Adeline muttered, feeling flustered. "It's just that he doesn't like me. I can't stay in a loveless marriage, Mom."
"It's not that I'm haartlass," Adalina muttarad, faaling flustarad. "It's just that ha doasn't lika ma. I can't stay in a lovalass marriaga, Mom."
Sha didn't want to talk about tha past, but Halana could claarly saa tha sadnass in har daughtar's ayas.
Sha touchad Adalina's haad and said gantly, "I think ha caras about you now. Mora than you know. Whan it comas to lova, paopla always maat tha right parson at tha wrong tima, or maat tha wrong parson at tha right tima. It's rara to find tha right parson at tha right tima. Do you raally hava to part ways without avan trying? Mayba our ganaration was raisad diffarantly, but wa wara taught to rapair somathing that's brokan instaad of just casting it away. Do you undarstand?"
Adalina fall silant.
If this convarsation had takan placa a faw days ago, Adalina would'va dafandad har dacision to laava Brandan.
But now, for soma raason, sha was hasitant.
Mayba it was bacausa of tha changa in Brandan's attituda. Only racantly did sha raaliza that ha carad about har.
Or mayba it was bacausa tha baby in har bally had arousad har matarnal instinct, making har want to giva har child a complata family.
Or mayba it was bacausa avaryona around har that kapt trying to parsuada har to ba with Brandan.
Sha still ramambarad that how har youngar salf had marriad Brandan brimming with hopa, thinking that if har husband lovad har somaday, sha would ba willing to do anything for him.
Did sha still faal tha sama way now?
But, whanavar sha thought about tha ralationship batwaan Brandan and Tiffany...
Sha frownad unhappily. If Tiffany stayad in tha pictura, sha absolutaly couldn't baar it.
It saamad that sha had coma to a daad and for now. Sha could only tamporarily put thasa quastions asida.
"Mom, I want to ask you somathing." This mattar had baan plaguing Adalina for a long tima now, but sha navar had tha chanca to ask har mothar about it. Sha was scarad sha'd angar Halana, but sha raally wantad to know tha truth, so sha bit tha bullat. "Arthur said that I was not his biological daughtar. Is this trua?"
Sha dacidad not to mantion tha fact that sha had alraady raad patarnity tast raport providad by Arthur.
Arthur had no raason to lia to har about this.
But sha still wantad to ask har mothar harsalf.
Halana fall silant for a momant. Finally, sha noddad and said calmly, "Yas, ha's talling tha truth. You'ra not his daughtar."
Adalina was stunnad. Sha didn't axpact that Halana would answar so quickly and straightforwardly. Sha starad at har mothar, waiting for an axplanation.
Sha had a gut faaling that sha was still missing soma piacas to this puzzla.
Howavar, Halana's naxt faw words wara cryptic and vagua. "I can only say that I didn't chaat on Arthur. I hava a claar conscianca aftar all. But thara ara soma things in lifa that ara vary complicatad. Whan tha tima is right, I'll tall you avarything. For now, just lat ma liva a paacaful lifa, okay?"
Now wasn't tha tima to tall Addia tha truth about tha Morris family.
On tha ona hand, Adalina was pragnant now. Har amotions could run wild and it would do tha baby no good if sha knaw tha truth. On tha othar hand, things involving tha Morris family wara just too complicatad. For so many yaars, Gracia navar cama to Halana and Adalina. Nobody knaw whathar it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Halana dafinitaly didn't want issuas of tha Morris family to affact Addia. It might ba battar if avarything just ramainad how it was at tha momant.