Library

Search

Home / Romance Short Story / The Depths of Affection / Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

All Chapters of The Depths of Affection: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

24 Chapters

11

After that, I didn't invest too much thought in this mother and son.I left the investigation in the capable hands of Mr. Jones, who was quite competent.As I gazed out at the hazy mist beyond the window, the phone rang incessantly.Billy's teacher on the other end of the line said, "Miss White, Billy got into a fight with a classmate today. Do you have time to come over?"I've always made time for Billy's matters.But I never expected to see Lucas at the kindergarten, standing across from Billy.He was a strict father, admonishing his own son for harming his lover's niece."Billy, you're a boy, why did you scratch a little girl's face?"Is this how your mother taught you?"Show me the hand you used to scratch her!"Billy stood his ground, tears welling up in his eyes, refusing to let them fall."I don't want you! I want Mommy!"From childhood to now, Billy had never suffered any injustices.With both the Walsh and White families standing behind him, any troublesome elements would be q

12

After a considerable amount of time passed since the incident, Lucas and I finally had contact again.He said he wanted to have a chat with me.At that time, I was walking through the airport lobby with Billy.I asked him, "What do you want to talk about? Is it about the divorce?"Billy looked up at me.I reached out and patted his head.Lucas breathed in silence, and the bustling sounds of the airport passed through the phone."Where are you right now?"I hung up the phone with a cold face.The plane was about to take off, and there were more important things at hand.Soon it would be Arthur's memorial day, and I had never taken Billy to see his biological father.A message popped up on the screen.I glanced at it and turned off my phone.

13

Both the Walsh and White families became successful in a small, unknown county.After some refurbishments, Arthur was buried in the ancestral tomb.The photo affixed to the tombstone was cropped from a picture of Arthur and me together.He was smiling so happily, showing his pearly whites because I was by his side.I ruffled Billy's hair and whispered, "Billy, this is your dad."Billy wasn't Lucas's child.So, after Lucas' affair, I didn't stand on a moral high ground to blame him.Because I didn't have morality to begin with."He had a car accident on his way to see you, and in his final moments, he was texting Mom."He said, "Rachel, I'm sorry."And also, I love you and our..."Arthur couldn't finish a complete sentence.According to bystanders, the man in the car had his lower body crushed and deformed.Yet, he struggled to reach for his phone, trembling as he typed this message, finally hitting send in his last moments.Then, with his eyes open, he stopped breathing.Billy looked a

14

Lucas arrived on the plane right behind me.At this moment, he stood not far away, furrowing his brow.I turned around and saw him immediately.There was a hostility in his eyes, and he gritted his teeth as he spoke, "So, Billy is Arthur's son?"I stood my ground, not saying a word.Lucas sneered coldly. "No wonder, no wonder I don't remember anything from that night. Turns out, nothing actually happened!"As expected of Director White. You kept it a secret from me all these years, only for me to unknowingly raise someone else's child."He walked slowly, but his steps were long.I pulled Billy behind me, and when I raised my eyelids again, he was already standing in front of me.Lucas grabbed the hand that was holding mine firmly and said softly, "Unfortunately, Billy only recognizes me as his father."My forearm hurt, and I struggled for a moment, but he held on even tighter."After all these years of keeping it a secret, why did you suddenly tell Billy? Is it because I'm no longer of

15

He certainly wasn't the same as before.After Lucas returned, he unilaterally tore up the cooperation contracts of the two companies.He acted like an impulsive child which led to significant problems for both the Walsh and White families.In less than two months, a crowd of protesters gathered at the company's entrance.Projects stagnated, funds didn't flow, and the wages of the lower-level workers were delayed.They raised banners, and some even resorted to drastic measures.Just when I was racking my brains to resolve these dire situations.Lucas watched coldly, going to various social events with his new love every day.I lightly massaged my temples and leaned back.Mr. Jones bent down and reported the latest public opinion trends to me.It was nothing more than where Lucas and Wendy had gone to have fun again.They had been to the aquarium and the polar park.Today, they were at the amusement park, and I heard that Lucas booked the entire area for Wendy. They both rode on a childi

16

That day, it wasn't just little Billy who was taken; Wendy's young niece was with him.They were cornered dangerously on the rooftop by a group of people.Those individuals threatened Lucas, demanding their hard-earned money."Our kids need an education, and our family depends on this place!"We can't even afford the rent; we're about to be evicted by the landlord!"You, on the other hand, are still playing at the amusement park, even booking down the entire area! Why can't you give us the money?"We just want to survive!"The cries of the two children echoed one after another.Lucas remained composed, saying, "I've already sent someone to raise the money. Please, calm down, and be careful not to harm the children."There were quite a few people on the rooftop, all trying to mediate.Lucas furrowed his brow and called me."Rachel."Hearing the cries on the other end of the phone, my heart felt like it was about to leap out.That feeling was no different from when I heard about Arthur's

17

When I got to the Walsh company, everything was already over.I was in a sorry state, and I even stumbled and tore my clothes while rushing there.The situation on the rooftop was clear; Lucas was comforting a little girl.Wendy stood beside him, gently patting the girl's back.They looked like a family of three.Billy was nearby, staring blankly and softly sobbing.When he saw me, his eyes lit up, and he ran toward me, saying, "Mommy!"He was terrified, suddenly crying intensely.Choking on his tears, he asked me, "Mommy, why didn't Daddy save me?"Mommy, why didn't Daddy save me?!"I held him in my arms, apologizing over and over again.As Lucas and Wendy passed by, they didn't stop their footsteps, leaving only a remark, "It seems you really love my half-brother."Too bad, he's already dead."I held Billy tightly as he cried loudly, unable to respond.I thought Lucas must have regretted his impulsive actions.After all, threatening anyone with a child was a grave mistake in the eyes

18

For the safety of Billy, I sent him abroad.Mr. Jones stood beside me, watching as Billy boarded the plane with me.After a while, he said, "Director White, the person responsible for the accident from years ago was released from prison three months ago, and we've tracked down his current residence."Mr. Jones paused. "It's in an upscale residential area, and the house is registered under his name."The person sentenced to five years for the accident now owned a house as soon as he got out.I couldn't believe I just discovered such a major loophole.I think, before Lucas had an affair, I might have genuinely developed feelings.After all, it was a whole five years.Whether it was real or fake.He did play the role of a husband and a father quite well.That's why I forgot that I once had a crush on someone when I was young, a crush that lasted for many years.But then he died.And it seemed I had forgotten about him too.How could I be trapped in the past like this?After all, those ali

19

I didn't think Lucas was a fool.Embezzling company funds, once discovered, leads to prison time for sure.The only person I could think of who would do such a foolish thing was my mother-in-law who raised her status by becoming a mistress.Maybe it was because the individual behind the accident asked for a substantial sum upon getting out of prison, and she was worried that Lucas might become suspicious. So, she chose to put up the "Heart of the Ocean" for auction, a valuable item she had kept hidden for five years.She probably thought that no one in this world remembered Arthur anymore.I placed the box containing the blue diamond in the safe, atop the blood-stained receipt.The blood from that year had turned black.The two words "Arthur Walsh" were covered in ink, as if they no longer existed.

20

Lucas came to see me later than I had expected.But it made sense; all his attention was on Wendy these days, spending time with that aunt-niece duo just as he used to do with me and Billy.To outsiders, they all appeared to be a loving family of three.This time, he probably came home because he had mistakenly entered the wrong door while drunk.I sat on the bed, silently gazing at the unexpected visitor not far away.Lucas leaned against the door frame, his dark eyes turning towards me.I switched on the light.His facial features, strikingly similar to Arthur's, became bright and distinct under the bright lamp, instantly pulling my thoughts back to the past.Long-forgotten scenes flashed through my mind.Starting with a complex and uncertain entanglement, progressing to a passionate romance, followed by a proposal, and ultimately experiencing the separation brought about by life and death.Those memories were more vivid than ever before."It's that look again!"Lucas' voice brought

PREV

NEXT

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP

DMCA.com Protection Status