Jerome''s voice was filled with anguish. He had been living in misery, tormented by the fact that he had hurt Zenobia, who had always loved him, for a wicked woman.


    "What?" Wendy hung up, feeling her world crumble.


    What on earth had their family done to deserve this? To be sopletely manipted by that woman, Joanna.


    It was as if they had been under a spell, believing every word she said.


    "Oh, God..." Wendy copsed over the steering wheel, sobbing uncontrobly.


    She had a grandson, and she was thest to know.


    Natalie and Zenobia were close, so she must have known about the pregnancy all along but never mentioned it. Because Wendy didn''t deserve to know.


    The thought made Wendy''s grief deepen. After crying for a long time, she drove the car a little further up, but the winter weather made it impossible to see inside the house or hear any voices.


    Wendy stared at the vi''s gate, feeling a profound sense of despair. Zenobia was a good girl; she had always seen her as a future daughter-inw.


    But that idiot Jerome had been fixated on Yvonne, willing to abandon his own humanity just to defend her.


    Joanna hadn''t just wanted to ruin her four sons; she wanted to destroy their lives and rtionships, too.


    Wendy didn''t grieve for long. There was still so much to do.


    She sat in the car for a long time, staring at the vi even though she couldn''t see anything.


    asionally, she saw Zenobia''s mother go upstairs to get something.


    Mrs. Nelson had been her neighbor and a good friend.


    After the hotel incident, their family had moved away the very next day, and they


    had lost all contact. To meet again like this...


    Tears streamed down Wendy''s face again.


    After some time, she finally drove off to find Jerome.


    Jerome was staying at a rehabilitation center.


    Wendy had known this all along. She walked in with a basket of fruit and saw. Jerome sitting by the window The


    room was warm so he was dressed lightly, his head bowed as he focused on something.


    Seeing him like this, he seemed to have matured, losing the restlessness and cavalier attitude he once had.


    Wendy walked closer and saw he


    was reading books on finance. She was slightly surprised. Colin had been studying business


    management under her guidance, and now it seemed her eldest son was doing the same.


    "What''s the use of reading these now?" Wendy''s voice was weary.


    Jerome was startled by his mother''s


    voice. He turned and his eyes lit up


    in


    in surprise. Since he''d been


    had never on


    gevenonce


    admitted his mother had never once


    utterly disappointed in him.


    He knew she was disappointed—he was disappointed in himself. His mood was low,


    his body was broken, and he didn''t want to see anyone.


    But what child doesn''t miss their mother?


    "Mom." His eyes instantly reddened. She had actuallye to see him.


    "It''s so cold out. What are you doing here?" Jerome was genuinely happy. His mother had finallye to see him.


    Wendy managed a smile. "I came to see you. Do you regret it? A wonderful girl like Zenobia, and you hurt her beyond repair."


    Wendy regretted not having properly investigated the truth back then.


    Jerome gave a bitter smile. "Mom, I only learned the truthter. I regret it so much, but it''s toote. Zenobia doesn''t need me."


    And now, he was just a cripple.


    Even after his legs were ruined, he had still wanted to believe Joanna was a good person.


    He thought the little sister he had doted on for years would never harm him. He had underestimated Joanna''s viciousness.


    But the devastating truth was that his own biological father and Joanna had been the ones to cripple him.