“That’s true, to an old woman who’s been abandoned by her husband and has been a grass widow for more than 20 years, the only person who she could count on and rely on should be her son.”The most painful scar in Annalita’s heart was pried open. Annalita’s face was pale, and her teeth were gnashing against each other, creating a loud creaking noise, but she could not say a word.Kourtney raised her face, which was covered with heavy makeup. “Sigh! Annalita, look at you. Your face is so well-maintained, and your skin is still so delicate at this age. I bet you often buy jewelry to dress yourself up. Unfortunately, Jefferson doesn’t love you, so what’s the purpose of dressing up?”Annalita breathed heavily, and Charlotte, who was standing next to her, could clearly feel that her right arm was trembling.Just as Annalita eased herself up and was about to get back at Kourtney, a mellow baritone suddenly sounded. “Koko, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. What are you still talki
Jefferson looked disdainful. “It’s been 19 years, and you’re still so obtrusive and mean. I feel sick when I’m around you. Koko, let’s not mingle with her anymore. Let’s go.”Without the interest of kissing Kourtney, he wrapped his arms around Kourtney’s waist and left.“Jefferson Connor, you’re such an ungrateful person. Just how barefaced have you become in order for you to say such shameless things? Have you forgotten all the filthy things that you’ve done before this? Even if you’ve forgotten them, I won’t. Your son, Zach, won’t either. Back then... Back then...”The index finger that Annalita used to point at Jefferson trembled more violently while her voice sounded like she was weeping blood. “Back then, you had an affair with that shameless vixen Kourtney, and you got her pregnant. In the end, in order to protect her, you beat me half to death. Not to mention, you would have killed our daughter, Mimi, together with this vixen!”At that moment, Charlotte finally understood wh
Kourtney did not have the nerve to jeer at Annalita anymore. She buried herself in Jefferson’s embrace, and the pair left, holding each other.Annalita sighed once the pair had walked off into the distance. “Zach, regardless of how cruel he’s been to us, he’s still your father. You’re not to touch him again.”Zachary smirked.He would have annihilated Jefferson for everything he had done to his mother if it weren’t for the fact that his blood was still coursing through his veins.Aside from providing the sperm used in formulating Zachary’s existence, Jefferson had never once fulfilled his responsibilities as a father. He was not fit to be his father at all!“Sigh! And I was in such a good mood too. Now it’s all ruined thanks to that horrid couple. Zach, take me to the restroom. I need some peace and quiet…”Zachary and Annalita left.The last part of Annalita’s smackdown with Jefferson still echoed in Charlotte’s ears, like the remnants of a curse.“So, do you understand why mo
“Carlie, I saw you from a distance, so I wanted to say hello. I had no bad intentions. Why are you always so prickly whenever you speak to me?”Lorraine looked as if she were completely innocent.Charlotte wasn’t in the mood to play along with her. “It’s not like I’m not aware of your personality. Stop wasting my time with your nauseating nonsense. I have a question, you and Zac—”“Wah!”A baby’s cries interrupted Charlotte like silver bells.Charlotte felt as if an invisible claw hooked itself onto her heart when she heard his cries.She instinctively turned toward the baby in the stroller, pushed around by Lorraine’s nanny.“Don’t cry, baby. Mommy’s here!”Lorraine quickly scooped the baby from his stroller and carefully held him in her arms.“Be good, baby. Mommy’s here. Be good to mommy, okay? Don’t fuss, don’t cry…”For some strange reason, Charlotte, who didn’t like children, felt as if a needle was relentlessly piercing through her heart when she saw the baby’s twisted
Lorraine had already caught up to him, carrying the baby as he spoke. She stuffed the baby into his arms. “I’m letting go. You hold him.”Zachary’s eyes darkened. His chiseled face was cold enough to frighten a man out of his wits.However, just as the little boy’s soft body snuggled against his chest, he felt as if a jolt of lightning hit him. His heart trembled, numbed, and filled with warmth…He held the little baby firmly against his chest as if his hands were not his own.The baby immediately stopped crying.The little boy, whose face was a miniature version of Zachary’s, stared up at his face with his large, crystal eyes. He placed his tiny, delicate hand on his eyebrow and trailed it down his nose. Then, he gurgled with laughter.At that moment, Zachary, who had initially detested Lorraine’s baby, felt his cold hard heart melt. His eyes, which were as cold as icicles all year long, displayed a wave of warmth…This scene struck a chord in Charlotte’s soul as she felt a sen
Zachary held onto the lock of hair and stared at the baby boy in the stroller. Charlotte had never seen him look so absentminded before.Lorraine turned around to leave. Just as she walked past Charlotte, she acted as if she had suddenly remembered something.“Is there anything you’d like to ask, Carlie?”“No…” Charlotte had no idea how she managed a reply.“Oh, really? But you seemed so stern and anxious when you asked me. It didn’t look like ‘nothing’. Let me guess… Your question must have something to do with Zachary.”Charlotte smiled icily. “I said, I don’t have any questions.”However, Lorraine refused to let go.“Did you want to ask me why I left him?”Unlike Lorraine, Charlotte wasn’t good at acting. Her lips twitched as she had guessed her mind accurately.“Actually, Zachary has always misunderstood me. I should have been more straightforward with him, but you’re my sister and Zachary’s wife. I shouldn’t hide things from you…”Lorraine turned her gaze toward Zachary
Annalita, who had been laughing and chatting with Charlotte just moments ago, instantly looked extremely sullen. “Coincidence? What do you mean by that? It’s as much of a coincidence as a piece of sh*t landing on my head from the heavens.”Lorraine’s smile froze in place before it could completely reach its fullest form.“Sorry, I know you don’t want to see me. I won’t impede your vision.” She hung her head, turned around, and moved to leave.“Stop!” Annalita’s icy voice called out to her.“Who said I didn’t want to see you? I may not have welcomed you in the past, but you’re Jebediah’s wife, which means you’re my sister-in-law, Zach’s aunt. I welcome you. Our entire family welcomes you. Come, sit. I’ll buy you lunch.”“Alright…”Lorraine’s smile was awkward. She was just about to sit in the empty seat on Zachary’s right when Annalita icily said, “Are there no other empty seats? Must you sit next to your nephew? You’re considered an elder. Come over to Carlie’s seat and sit wit
Kourtney Kleinman! Everyone in Rothesay knew about this promiscuous woman, who was in her mid-forties but still endearing enough to make countless men willingly spend a thousand dollars on her. Kourtney raised her wine glass and toasted Annalita even though everyone was looking at her with a peculiar look in their eyes.“Enjoy your Widowed Goose. Cheers.”Then, she gracefully downed the glass of wine.Enraged, Annalita snarled, “You shameless b*tch, how dare…””Madam Valentine, there’s no need to fight with this kind of person. Dignity is nothing to her, and unlike us, she doesn’t care about her reputation at all. Therefore, we should not stoop to her level. She doesn’t deserve to even talk to someone like us.”It was Lorraine who was speaking.Someone from the crowd gave her a thumbs-up. Not only did she have a pretty face, but she was well-cultivated as well. No one noticed that at that moment, Kourntey’s right hand, which was holding the wine glass, trembled hard.“Oh