Irene was convinced that she had failed as a mother. She could not stay with her son in the days immediately following his birth, let alone give her son a complete family."Your father…" Sheryl began just then.That was when Irene looked up at her mother, and saw the terrible look on her face. She must have been crying."Sorry, Mom," she said apologetically. "I should have told you sooner so that you can see Dad one last time."Shery did not blame her—Irene had mentioned Lionel's condition before, but she paid no heed.Breathing a long sigh, she said, "I'm unhappy and feel much grief against him, but he's gone now, and it all ends with him. That's why I'm here—I should be there to send him off as his wife."Then, handing Tommy's belongings to Irene, she said, "Tommy is still very young. Take him—I'll go back to Spencer Mansion."Irene was worried. "I should go with you—""No. Tommy is just a baby—he should not spend too much time with the dead. I'm fine on my own." Sheryl s
Mrs. Watson then noticed the tiny child in Irene's arms, and hurried toward her, asking, "Where's this baby from?"Before Irene could answer, she asked, "Is he yours, Ms. Adams?"Lulu glanced at Irene and smiled tenderly. "I wish—I'm not that lucky."That naturally puzzled Mrs. Watson. "Then, whose is he?""Mine," Irene replied. Mrs. Watson gaped. "Mrs. Jefferson… W-What did you just say?"Suddenly coming up with an idea, she asked, "Could he be Mr. Jefferson's?"Irene shook her head. "No.""What?!" Mrs. Watson became flustered. "If he isn't… then who's the father? Did you have a child with another man?""Yes," Irene replied, having no intention of denying it."Irene." A deep, slightly angry growl could be heard behind her just then.Irene turned to find Henry leaning against his crutch at the doorway. He was glowering, and must have overheard her conversation with Mrs. Watson. "Come with me," he growled, and headed to Isaac's study.Moneypenny was with him, and he level
Suddenly, Irene felt as if something was stuck in her chest, suffocating her."You're not insisting on staying, are you?" Henry growled, seeing the look on her face. "Are you really making a bastard called Isaac daddy? Would he accept that? Do you think I would?"Irene suddenly realized that she had missed out something important—Isaac was the heir to his family's inestimable wealth!The greater the dynasty, the more selective they were about bloodlines.Even if Isaac insisted that he did not mind and was willing to raise Tommy as his own, would Henry allow Tommy in the family, when the blood of the Jeffersons did not flow in his veins?It was maybe acceptable for the average family, but not for a dynasty, especially with a throne and money at stake. Irene realized that she had been delusional. Having focused on herself and Isaac, she had ignored innumerable external elements, along with the environment where Tommy would be raised, or if she would hurt him spiritually. She was
"I've fed him and coaxed him to sleep," Lulu replied. Right now, she was worried that Henry had made things difficult for Irene, especially after she saw the horrific look on his face as he left.Irene shook her head. "We have to go.""Go? Go where?" Lulu asked.Irene certainly had no idea… All she knew was that she must leave with Tommy, and she needed Lulu's help again."Are you really fine?" Lulu could see that she looked terrible."I think I've made more than a few mistakes…" Irene murmured darkly. Henry's visit made her aware of a great many things, and the worst of all was that she had allowed her sentiment to take control of her!She was so deluded she believed she could stay with Isaac, when Tommy was the impassable rift between them—the Jeffersons would never allow a child who was not of their blood!For her part, she will not allow her son to suffer, and he most certainly would if she left him with the Jeffersons!"Mistakes? What are you talking about?" Lulu asked
"Who do I think I am? I should be asking you that—Lionel never divorced me." Sheryl spoke calmly and quietly, but it was enough to leave Samantha speechless!The fact that Samantha was not legally married to Lionel would always be her Achilles' heel.Sheryl telling her that also hurt her even more than when Irene had told her that. Coupled with Ricky's injury, her frustrations piled and she flew into a rage.However, just as she raised her hand, ready to slap Sheryl across the face, Irene strode up and caught her hand. "My dad just died. Don't act like a fishwife at his funeral."Samantha's eyes were bulging when she turned and saw Irene. "Well done! Neither of you were here to visit or care for Lionel when he's sick, but you're here to get a cut of his inheritance as soon as he dies?! I'm telling you, everything in this house belongs to Ricky!"Murderous intent showed in her eyes. "And you dared to hurt him! I'll destroy you!""Just stop already!" Irene snapped and shoved her as
Before the lawyer could read the contents of Lionel's will, Samantha snatched it away impatiently. There was joy and eagerness in her eyes as she opened the folder and scanned through it, because it meant she could get her hands on the Spencer estate now…And yet, the more she read, the paler her face became—eventually, all color drained from her face. "No, this is impossible! Lionel wouldn't do this to me! This has to be fake!" she cried hysterically and tore the papers into pieces.The lawyer did not stop her, however—that was just a copy and not the original. It hardly mattered."You must be working with them!" Samantha continued, glaring between the lawyer, Irene, and Sheryl. "You two… You put him up to this!"Irene, however, was not bothered with her raving, and asked the lawyer to read the will.Samantha was not about to let it rest, when Ricky caught her and said, "Stop it, Mom. Mr. Cooper is a man whom Dad trusted when he was alive, and he won't lie to us.""Ricky, I'm
With those words, Irene turned to Sheryl. "Let's go, Mom."Sheryl quickly followed Irene out of Spencer Mansion, which had become a bleak place since Lionel's death."What did your father say in that letter?" she asked when they were out—it had been gnawing at her for a while, but she did not ask immediately since Samantha and Ricky were around. "Dad asked me to take care of Ricky," Irene replied. Sheryl laughed icily. "What is he thinking? Entrusting you with that boy? Is he that sure that you can accept such an arrangement? Even if you do, I won't."After all, Samantha had groomed Ricky since she was a child, and he was therefore heavily influenced to become just like her."That's why Dad gave me evidence of Samantha attempting to murder me. He's trying to appease me."In reality, Irene thought that Lionel was a little heartless—Samantha had been with him since her youth, even giving him a son despite having no legitimate ties to him. But in the end, he left her with nothi
Irene quickly averted her eyes and tried to avoid them, but Stan suddenly said, "Mr. Jefferson is here. Aren't you going to greet him?"His voice drew the attention of those nearby.As Isaac turned to look, Irene had nowhere to hide. Meeting his gaze and flashing a smile, she said, "I was going to consult Stan…""About what?" Isaac asked, despite knowing the answer. He just wanted to know how she was going to answer. Moreover, he had the feeling that she was distancing herself from him. She kept claiming that she was busy and never returned to the mansion, even stopping him from attending Lionel's funeral."It's nothing important," she said flatly.Remaining impassive, Isaac told her, "Come with me."With that, he headed inside his own office. Irene stood where she was, hesitating if she should follow. Seeing that she was not moving, Stan quietly told her, "Just go already—Mr. Jefferson is being nice, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a temper.""I know," Irene repli