Chapter 3

Tears pooled in my eyes silently as I lowered my head. Dad was a famous calligrapher.

After being acknowledged and brought back to the Groff family, I, too, requested his work in private. However, he always refused with a smile. "It's been years since I've written anything. I'm already rusty, so just forget it."

It wasn't until this moment that I realized that he wasn't out of practice. He simply wasn't willing to write something for me.

"Also, you have to remember to wash these sweaters with cold water. Mrs. Groff put in a lot of effort into knitting these by hand for Ms. Anatalia. From what I heard, she didn't even do this for her own son!" Janet said.

I did not respond to her, probably because I had been rendered speechless.

Just like a thief, I stole glimpses of someone else's happiness, yearning for the love that Janet's idle chatter revealed.

Truth be told, Zachary was right—I was the one who wasn't loved.

"Also, these group pictures are snapshots of Ms. Quinlan's family of three throughout the years. She looks at them often, so you have to wipe them down carefully. Make sure to clean the frames as well."

I glanced across each of the group photos. They pictured every stage of life, and Leta was present in every single one of them.

I, on the other hand, had nothing but a single wedding photo. Even when I asked Leta about it, she simply said that she wasn't keen on taking photos.

I hung my head low and pulled my face mask even further up, concealing the tears that had streamed down my face. But before I could come back to my senses, some noises came from the door.

"It's probably Ms. Quinlan and the others returning after their outing to the amusement park in the afternoon. I have to check on the kitchen staff to see where they're at with dinner preparation.

"Alright, take your things and get to work at the back of the house for now."

At the front door, Anatalia snuggled in Leta's arms. Something she said made Leta and Zachary burst out in laughter.

After the nanny brought Anatalia to get changed, I hid by a pillar silently, eavesdropping on the conversation between Zachary and Leta.

"Leta, I know that Anna's birth wasn't planned. I got carried away by my emotions back then when I was with you, and that was how she came about. You've also been with us and taking care of us all these years.

"But Anna is getting older. I don't want her to remain hidden forever."

Leta hesitated for quite some time. In the end, she took Zachary by his hand and buried her face in his arms. She reassured, "That won't happen as long as you don't go and stir up trouble with Harvey.

"Don't worry about anything else. I will take care of them. Just be at ease and attend Anna's birthday party happening in five days. Your parents and I have come up with our excuses. Harvey won't suspect a thing."

I widened my eyes instantly.

In the past, Leta was always brusque toward Zachary. Back then, she firmly declared her love for me, confessing deep remorse for sleeping with Zachary while drunk and pleading for my forgiveness.

More than that, she, looking absolutely disgusted, warned Zachary not to come between our relationship and said that she never wanted to see him again.

I believed her and chose to forgive her by feigning obliviousness. I never thought that those were just lies to deceive me.

As it turned out, during that year when she went abroad to expand her business, she had actually left to give birth.

Unwilling to be here any longer, I turned around and headed to the backyard, gripping tightly to the voice recorder and miniature camera in my hands. I wanted to leave after getting changed.

But to my surprise, I bumped into Leta when I came back out.

The moment I looked at that familiar face of hers, a dull ache surged through me, making it difficult for me to find my balance. I grabbed onto the railing behind me for support and lowered my head respectfully, waiting for her to walk past me.

However, she had barely taken two steps forward when she walked back all of a sudden. She looked at me with an intense gaze and asked, "Are you new? Why have I never seen you around? Also, why are you wearing a face mask?"