"When I saw Farrah, she was so thin she was unrecognizable.


    Farrah said that before she had a child, she could tolerate the man''s possessiveness and control.


    But as their child grew older, she felt more and more strongly that the Gardner family was no ce to raise him.


    The man, trying to prevent her from leaving, had threatened her with his own death.


    And after he died, Farrah''s own health copsed from years of depression.


    s, the rumors were true.


    Anyone who gets involved with the Gardners is touched by misfortune."


    Ste sighed silently.


    Grandma Connolly continued, "When we brought Marvin back, he was only three years old.


    He was a very well-behaved and polite child.


    Out of guilt for what happened to Farrah, we decided to register Marvin under Neville''s name.


    Firstly, it was to give Marvin a father, an emotional anchor.


    Secondly, it was to avoid all sorts of untrue spection from the outside world."


    Ste understood Grandma Connolly''s reasoning.


    The world has always held women to a higher moral standard than men.


    Take, for example, an illegitimate child.


    If a woman has one, she isbeled as promiscuous andcking self-respect.


    The child, too, faces public criticism.


    But if it''s a man, people think it''s perfectly normal, that it''smon for wealthy men to have children out of wedlock.


    Moreover, Marvin''s father was a Gardner, a family everyone already avoided.


    Grandma Connolly wanted nothing to do with them and would never hand the child over to their care.


    To protect Marvin from a life without parents and to conceal the truth, Old Mrs. Connolly''s decision was understandable.


    But...


    As if reading Ste''s mind, Old Mrs. Connolly added, "But this meant that Neville had to make a sacrifice."


    "Did Neville agree?" Ste asked softly.


    Old Mrs. Connolly nodded. "Neville is a kind boy. He and Farrah grew up together


    and were very close. He agreed without a moment''s hesitation.


    However, Neville had a girlfriend at the time, his childhood sweetheart from a family


    of equal social standing, and she did not approve.


    Even though she knew the child wasn''t Neville''s biologically.


    She felt that if she had children of her own ne day, Marvin would take


    away half of the fatherly love and resources that should have


    belonged to them.


    She feared that our family, out of guilt, would constantly ask her children to make concessions for Marvin.


    She didn''t want to be a stepmother before she was even married to Neville."


    Ste remained silent.


    Neville''s girlfriend''s concerns were not without reason.


    Anyone with children knows that being a biological mother is hard enough, let alone a stepmother.


    Dating is between two people.


    But marriage is between two families.


    As Grandma Connolly said, Neville''s girlfriend came from a family of simr status;


    she was the daughter of a prominent family.


    With her own qualifications, she could easily find a partner without such


    Her concerns were valid. There was no right or wrong in this situation.


    It just showed she was very clear-headed.


    "So, Neville and that girl broke up," Grandma Connolly continued. "Since then, Neville hasn''t had another girlfriend. He''s devoted himself entirely to his career and to raising. Marvin.


    Our guilt over Farrah turned into guilt over Neville.


    Ah, I haven''t been a good grandmother. I didn''t raise Farrah and Neville well."


    "Grandma please don''t say that," Ste


    them forted her. "You raised


    to be such exceptional people.


    That alone is a Pemarkableople


    achievement."