Chapter 221
Rolando’s two half-brothers always picked on her, sometimes openly, sometimes behind her back, and even her relationship with her two sisters-in-law wasn’t good. Rolando’s place in Wallace’s heart wasn’t even as good as his two older brothers, and he wasn’t as capable either, so he just couldn’t compete.
Everything changed when she had Kieran. Out of plans for her son, as soon as Kieran was born, she said she was too busy with work and had Kieran raised by Wallace. She thought it through. Wallace had already divorced his third wife and was living alone in the Argent’s villa. If Kieran grew up under his roof, maybe they could even build some feelings. There were quite a few people who did what she did, so at first, Wallace had more than just Kieran as a grandchild–there were several others too. But luckily, Kieran’s talent was way above the other kids, and he quickly caught Wallace’s attention. After Kieran turned ten, Wallace had already hinted that he wanted Kieran to be the family heir, and he sent the other kids back to their parents, saying he wouldn’t look after them anymore.
Kieran was really impressive. Whether it was school, hobbies, or character, he was top-notch. She didn’t have to discipline him much–he was already outstanding, way ahead of other kids his age. He stood out in a crowd but still stayed humble and modest. There wasn’t a single thing about him that wasn’t perfect or didn’t fit Wallace’s idea of an heir. After Kieran single-handedly founded the Kierose Group, Wallace already ignored the opposition and insisted on making a will, clearly stating in black and white that Kieran would inherit most of the estate after his death, and would also give Kieran full control of the Argent Group. This was a huge and unexpected surprise.
Marlene felt she owed this son. Since he was little, while other kids were raised by their own parents, Kieran was raised by his grandpa. His parents worked overseas, and he barely saw them growing up. Marlene knew Kieran had some attachment to her and Rolando when he was a kid, and he would always watch their car leave with teary eyes whenever she left. But as he grew up, Kieran didn’t have that baby bird feeling toward her and Rolando anymore. He didn’t look forward to his parents coming back to see him every day like he did when he was little, and when they met, they didn’t have much to say.
The relationship between the three was actually not like father and son or mother and son. So she felt even more guilty, and wanted to make it up to Kieran even more. But the Argent family was a wealthy family for a hundred years, and Kieran grew up under the care of the head, Wallace. He never lacked anything, and definitely never lacked money. She couldn’t think of anything to make it up to Kieran right then.
She married Kieran’s father. It was arranged by the elders of both families, with benefits and family ties involved. The two families‘ relationship, and the relationship between the couple, got even closer. She and Kieran’s father didn’t have much affection. To call them husband and wife – it was actually more accurate to say they were partners. In front of others, they were polite and supported each other. In private, she already didn’t know how many of her husband’s mistresses she had dealt with. Some of the lovers her husband kept outside even came to her door.
These years she and her husband Rolando managed the Argent family’s business abroad. Without the elders around, Rolando got even more reckless. The blonde, blue-eyed woman he kept outside even got pregnant and had a baby without her knowing. She made a scene and cried, but it didn’t work. Rolando said he’d been tired of her for a long time, she was old and not attractive anymore, women outside were young and fresh, felt better, and now she could never compare to girls in their twenties.
After a round of drama, Marlene figured it out. As long as Rolando didn’t bring the illegitimate child in front of Wallace, didn’t let the kid be acknowledged by the family, and didn’t let the kid take Kieran’s place, then everything was fine. Marlene also thought a lot. Her marriage with Rolando was arranged by their parents. Before they got married, she and Rolando had only met three times and didn’t have any feelings for each other. Maybe for a while after they got married, when they were newlyweds, there really was a bit of love between them, but it all faded away. What was left was just impatience, misunderstanding, and yelling like a shrew. Her marriage with Rolando had already been a mess, and there was no such thing as a warm home.
Chapter 222