Chapter 583
Jennifer said, “Irene isn’t a pushover. Putting my own problems aside, I’m genuinely thinking about my sister. She knows exactly what Irene is like, so does she really need to see Irene snatch Mike away before she finally wakes up?”
“These are two separate issues,” Sanford said. “No matter what Irene might do, Mike has the right to know who his father is.
“Just like when I was a kid, I kept asking my mom, ‘Who’s my dad?’ But no matter how much I asked, she never told me. The more something’s kept secret, the more obsessed you become with it.”
A secret remains a secret until the day it’s finally revealed; only then can one truly find inner peace.
Sanford was still struggling to accept the fact that he was a bastard, but at least the pain of feeling abandoned wasn’t as crushing as before.
At least he knew his father didn’t mean to leave him. Even Werner himself never knew of his existence.
“Jennifer, trust me, the outcome isn’t as terrible as you imagine. But if you keep dragging this out, the situation will spiral out of your control.”
Jennifer rubbed her temples, her face twisted in anguish. After a long, heavy silence, Jennifer finally spoke, “Can you talk to Teresa for me?
“Ask her to give me some time to get ready, at least until Donald sorts out his family matters. I can’t add to his burdens at this critical moment.”
Sanford could tell that Jennifer was genuinely in love with Donald. He looked around, and he saw the wedding photo displayed beside the TV, and framed wedding portraits hanging on the walls.
Sanford’s lips curved into a faint smile, a hint of relief in his expression. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll tell Teresa. You take good care of yourself.”
As Sanford’s footsteps faded into the distance, Jennifer slowly raised her head. Her gaze, heavy and troubled, lingered on the photo of her and Donald. His arm wrapped warmly around her waist in the picture.
Jennifer thought to herself, “Every moment we shared flashes before my eyes; he was like a ray of sunshine that warmed my very soul. But now…”
At this moment, at Donald’s eldest aunt Catherine’s house, his second aunt Cecilia had also come over. Together, they were trying to persuade Cathy to return home.
As soon as Werner arrived at the door, Catherine kept shooting him urgent looks, and he quickly apologized to Cathy.
“Don’t touch me!” Cathy snapped, angrily shaking off the hand on her shoulder.
Seeing this, Donald stepped forward and said, “Mom, please calm down. Why don’t you come stay with us at our home? Jennifer and I will take good care of you, so you don’t have to trouble Catherine anymore.”
Cathy looked at Donald, her eyes full of pain. “You sided with your father and lied to me. You’ve completely broken my heart.”
Donald lowered his head in guilt. “Mom, whatever you say now, I’ll obey. Your word is my command.”
Cathy said sharply, “Call Cheryl right now. Tell her to come home. And make sure she knows exactly what Werner did.”
Catherine and Cecilia hurried to calm Cathy down. “Cathy, please, don’t get so worked up,” they urged. “Think about Cheryl; she still has her whole future ahead of her.” Cathy fell silent.
Seizing the moment, Werner hurriedly apologized to Cathy again, earnestly promising, “This will never happen again. I’ll do everything I can to make amends for my mistakes.”
Cecilia said, “Werner has always treated you well. He just had a momentary lapse in judgment this time. Please forgive him, just this once, for the sake of…”
Persuaded by her two sisters, Cathy finally brought herself to glance at Werner, only to quickly avert her eyes in distaste. “I can’t bring myself to trust him. I just don’t know how to anymore.”
Werner solemnly raised his hand and declared, “I swear before Catherine and Cecilia, if I ever do wrong to you again, I’ll divorce.”