Upon hearing Celeste's words, Jane lapsed into silence. A palpable sadness draped over her, and she seemed immersed in contemplation for nearly five minutes. Eventually, she refrained from probing further about Celeste's mother, Sylvia. Celeste reasoned that it was only natural for Jane to empathize with a woman whose appearance resembled her own. Midway through the meal, Jane's phone rang. She received a video call on WhatsApp. She carefully set her cutlery aside, wiped her hands clean with a napkin, and retrieved her phone from her bag.Jane's countenance had been veiled in gloom for some time, but a radiant smile finally adorned her face as she warmly greeted the person on the other end of the call. "Lily.""Grandma, did you enjoy your meal today?" A gentle and warm female voice resonated from the phone. Celeste speculated that the person on the other end must be Lilian, Jane's god-granddaughter."I did. How was your day, Lily?" Jane inquired, revealing the affectionate dem
Jane and Lilian continued their conversation for an extended period, mainly expressing concern for each other's well-being. Despite not being blood-related, their strong bond and affection were evident.After concluding the call, Jane turned to Celeste with an apologetic smile. "Lily's health isn't the best. I said those things because I was worried about Lily's feelings. I hope you don't mind?" Celeste shook her head. "It's okay." Understanding the recentness of their acquaintance, she acknowledged the profound connection between Jane and Lilian, realizing she couldn't compete for Jane's love."Lilian has had a difficult life. Her family was in a car accident, and she was the only survivor. I took her in and raised her," Jane shared, her voice catching and her eyes reddening. There was a poignant tug at Celeste's heart. In the midst of life's difficulties, Lilian's journey had been marked by greater struggles than Celeste's, earning her a place of deep sympathy.That Saturday
Megan, an honest and conservative individual, grappled with the ethical dilemma of approaching Winston for a DNA sample. Opting for a more subtle approach, she decided to wait until he was asleep after their intimate moments. She used a pair of nose hair scissors to collect a sample of hair. Winston was a light sleeper. Megan held her breath as she leaned in and carefully grasped a few strands of his hair before snipping them with scissors.The crisp sound of the cut caught Megan off guard.Relieved to find Winston undisturbed, Megan sighed softly as she carefully held the strands of hair. With a steady hand, she reached for the sealed bag on the bedside table, intending to store the collected hair securely.Unexpectedly, Winston rolled over, pressing her beneath his body, his eyes wide open, as he fixed his gaze on her. Megan's face instantly flushed red upon realizing she was caught in the act. "I…" Nervously, Megan searched for an excuse, unsure of how to react."Do you like
Celeste feared that she might come off as arrogant if she declined Lilian's personal invitation. That evening, she went to Winston's place, bearing gifts and health supplements. At the sight of Lilian, Celeste found herself surprised, even though she had mentally readied herself for the moment. Lilian appeared incredibly delicate and fragile, characterized by an extremely slender frame and a pallid appearance. The sole burst of vivid color on her face radiated from her pair of amber eyes, their unusual largeness accentuated by her slender features.Moreover, there was something about Lilian's gaze that seemed to convey a thousand words.Despite Lilian's undeniable beauty, it was her fragile and pitiful appearance that left a lasting impression. Anyone observing her would naturally feel compelled to show kindness and sympathy.Lilian, too, was taken aback at the sight of Celeste. She had never encountered such real-life beauty before. Celeste possessed an oval face and fox-like
"Grandma, I won't have any regrets if I can reunite with my family after I die. But I'm worried about what will happen to you..." Lilian's tone softened as she noticed Jane's eyes welling up, and she choked up a little.Jane already looked pitiful enough. But with her eyes and nose turning red, the sight of her was heart-wrenching. Even Celeste couldn't help but feel bad for her. "I know that others can take care of you, but I just can't stop worrying about you," Lilian uttered, feigning an effort to hold back her tears. Dabbing her eyes with a tissue, she put on a smile. "You now have Cece. I feel more at ease knowing that Cece is so reliable." Damon had previously criticized Celeste for her rigidity and headstrong nature. Now, she had a deeper understanding of the appeal of the opposite—the delicate and gentle qualities that some men preferred. In contrast to Lilian, Shannon and Leah's attempts at being gentle and soft seemed trivial.Though Lilian's theatrics were apparent, Ce
Jane arrived within ten minutes. Her eyes were swollen from all the crying. She hugged Celeste tightly as soon as she entered the office. Celeste hadn't even asked why she was there. But she thought that it was not necessary anymore. "My dear Cece." Jane had been trying hard to suppress her emotions. But she couldn't hold back her tears anymore. "I'm your biological grandmother, Cece. Your mother is actually my daughter, Willow Belasco." She cried so much on Celeste's shoulder that it was all wet. She pulled out a paternity test report from her pocket with a trembling hand. The DNA test report was hers and Caleb's. It stated that the report was released two hours ago. Celeste finally felt relieved. It wasn't a matter of the Belasco family refusing to accept her or Jane not wanting her. Rather, both Celeste and Jane had been kept in the dark until the report for the DNA test came out. "Willow was taken away from me when she was just three years old. I thought she was dead. I
Lilian's standing within the Belasco family had always been unconventional. Despite her grandmother's friendship with Jane, Lilian hailed from an ordinary background.Following Jane and Winston's reassumption of their family business, they helped Lilian's grandmother establish a breakfast place in Southlake. Lilian's parents held positions in the Primax Group that didn't demand professional qualifications. Her father served as Winston's driver, and her mother managed the cleaning team in the Primax Group office building.The disparity in their family backgrounds was substantial. Jane and Winston exhibited generosity by providing financial assistance despite being the employers. Remarkably, they never displayed any arrogant attitude. Nevertheless, the reality persisted that their connection remained that of employer and employee.After the passing of Lilian's parents and grandmother, Jane raised Lilian within her household, treating her as if she were her own granddaughter. D
Jane then asked Celeste about her plan for the future. Upon learning that Celeste intended to leave the country for studies after the new year, Jane said, "Your place is too small, and it's a rental. You should just move here and stay with me. From now on, Caleb can stay with me too. He would be well taken care of." Celeste treasured their newly formed family bond, and wanting to ensure Jane's well-being, she agreed. Caleb had liked the atmosphere in the Belasco family from the beginning. He was overjoyed upon hearing the news that they could now live there."After my high school exams, I'll teach you how to swim," Wish told Caleb, his arm around Caleb's shoulder.Jane had already instructed the maids to prepare two rooms for Celeste and Caleb. However, just being in each other's company wasn't enough. No one felt like calling it a night, so the evening persisted until 11:00 pm."God must've seen all my suffering in the past and pitied me. He brought me such adorable grandchi