Chapter 20
Robin froze for a moment. His expression seemed conflicted.
“Elena, you’re his mother. If Kane didn’t turn out right, both you and I are responsible for
that.”
“Mother?” Elena let out a cold, mocking laugh I’m pretty sure we’re already divorced. If I remember correctly, Ms. Beck should’ve married you by now, right?
“Only Evangeline was ever Kane’s mother in the past and your legitimate wife. Now it’s Constance. What does that have to do with me?
“I raised him for three years, and he was well–behaved and sensible. Then, Constance came along, and his entire personality changed in just three years. I can’t teach him anything anymore, and I certainly won’t try again.‘
www
As soon as she said this, Robin quickly explained, “I know you care about what happened with. Constance. I didn’t marry her. I never did, and never will.
“Both Kaney and I know now that she orchestrated everything. That car accident also had nothing to do with you.
“She’s already received the punishment she deserves. If that’s still not enough, you can handle her however you see fit when we go back
“We came here to apologize. It was our mistake, and we misunderstood and neglected you. That won’t happen again. Come home with us. Please stop being angry. Kaney and I need you.
Kane eagerly nodded along.
“Yeah, Mom, I really know I was wrong. I’ll apologize however you want me to. Just don’t be nice to any other kids!
“You said it yourself that you’d only ever love one child in this life, and that’s me. Please send her back to the orphanage, okay?
“You like good kids, right? I can be like that too. Ill change!”
Before Elena could even open her mouth to respond, Willow stepped forward and cut in coldly.
“Mr. Marsh, Kane, my daughter has suffered enough when she was with the Marsh family. She’ll never go back to that hellhole again!
“She stayed with you because of me. If I had known back then the kind of pain she’d endure, I would’ve rather ended my own life on the spot than let her be bullied like that by the likes of you!”
As she spoke, the fire in Willow’s eyes only burned stronger. Sure, she felt nothing but hatred toward Robin and Kane–but even more than that, there was deep disappointment in herself.
”
“Mom! Don’t say that… If you had died back then, I’m afraid I would’ve…”
Elena didn’t finish the sentence, but Willow understood what she meant. She gently patted her daughter’s hand in comfort, then turned back to Robin and continued, “Robin, Elena was just a young woman when she married you. She spent six good years of her life caring for you and your son. Whatever bond or obligation that existed between you two ended a long time ago.
“What more do you want? Do you intend to waste the rest of her life too?
“She had no choice before. But now, I will never allow it, even if Elena agrees to go even if it costs me my life!”
back! Not
Willow stepped in front of Elena with her thin, frail body like a shield. Elena’s eyes immediately welled with tears. Her mother had always protected her like this for more than 20
now.
years
“Robin, the moment our contract ended, so did anything between us. Stop bothering us from now on. I’m living a happy life now, and your apologies and regrets mean nothing to me.
”
She blinked her tears away and looked straight at Robin and Kane, her expression firm and unwavering. Whatever love there once was in her eyes had long since faded, replaced now with nothing but calm detachment.
“The kindness, the affection, and the sincerity once showed you was all real. But more than that, it was duty.
“You never lacked someone to care for you. Without Constance, there’ll always be someone else willing to step in. But it’s not going to be me anymore.”
With that, Elena turned without hesitation. She took her mother’s hand and led the children back into the courtyard.
The gate of the guesthouse closed behind them with a loud bang, and a new sign was hung at
the door.
“Temporarily Closed for Business.”
