Jane sat quietly on the side, curious to hear what they had to say.
“These two children are indeed mine. I gave birth to them overseas, but they were diagnosed with congenital heart disease shortly after birth, and their condition was critical. I couldn’t take care of both children on my own, so I sent them back here. Fortunately, I found out that Patrick’s children were just born and had some minor issues, so I thought of entrusting these two children to Patrick for their upbringing.”
“But I also knew that Patrick wouldn’t just take care of two children for no reason, so I thought about leaving the two children in an orphanage. I didn’t expect Patrick to take them away instead.”
She casually stated a few reasons, but Jane didn’t fully believe her words.
“You still haven’t mentioned who the father of those two children is,” Jane pointed out the crucial question directly.
Beatrice also chimed in, asking, “Are these two children really yours? Who did you have them with?”
Melissa crouched down, holding her head and refusing to speak. After a while, when she finally calmed down, she slowly began to speak.
“I had the two children in a bar…”
Jane interrupted her as soon as she mentioned that. In that kind of place, with a woman drinking alone, they could all imagine what could happen.
“Melissa, Melissa, what should I say about you? Something so significant happened, why didn’t you tell the family? Instead, you went abroad on your own.”
Mike couldn’t help but blame her. If this matter were to become known, it would bring shame to their entire family.
“Grandfather, I really didn’t mean it. Initially, I did want to tell you all about it, but when I saw all of you blaming me, I didn’t want to say anything. In the end, it was Patrick who sent me abroad!”
Jane finally understood why Patrick had proposed sending Melissa abroad and why Melissa agreed so readily. It was truly bewildering to discover this aspect of the situation.
“What about now? What are your plans for those two children? Are you taking them away or leaving them in our home?” If these two children were fatherless and motherless or someone else’s children, Jane would be willing to take care of them. But it just so happened that their mother was Melissa.
The feeling of disgust welled up within her, let alone taking care of them.
“They will continue to stay in the house.” Before Melissa could even speak, a voice came from outside the door. Everyone turned to see Patrick slowly walking in.
“What right do you have to make decisions for her?” Jane immediately retorted.
“She is an unmarried woman. If she has to take care of two children, how will she live in the future?” Patrick unexpectedly spoke up in favor of Melissa.
And Melissa, as if she had been instructed, immediately kneeled down in front of Jane. “I’m sorry, Jane. It’s all my fault. I was immature before, and I’ve done so many things to hurt you. I was blinded by my own interests. Please don’t drive me away, and don’t drive away my two innocent children.”
Even Mike stood by Melissa’s side, speaking up for her. “Why don’t you two keep these two children? After all, they are two innocent lives, and besides, outsiders have always believed that all four children are yours.”
Beatrice, on the other hand, remained silent and kept her thoughts to herself.
Jane smiled, fully aware of the consequences of keeping these two children in her life. They were like ticking time bombs, ready to explode at any moment by her side, and Melissa would take advantage of them to come and go from her house.
How did it come to this? How did she become the villain in the end?
“What are you talking about? All of you are urging me to keep these two children, but have any of you considered my current situation? Melissa, did you not think about your children still being in my house when you hurt me?” Jane shouted at them.
“This decision was made by me, and it has nothing to do with anyone else. If you want to vent your anger, direct it at me instead of my family,” Patrick unexpectedly spoke up for the people who had hurt Jane.
Jane walked up to him and slapped him across the face. “This is what you’ve brought upon me. Until now, I have already accepted these two children, but in your heart, you still consider me an outsider. What use is my presence in this house?”
At that moment, Jane’s heart turned completely cold.
She never expected that the person who had always been by her side would say such things.
“Jane, don’t be so stubborn. After all, you have taken care of these two children for over a month. Overall, there is an emotional bond,” Beatrice finally spoke, but her words only angered Jane further.
“In your eyes, I am a bad person, an evil person. If I decided not to keep these two children today, what would you all do?”
Jane left her words there.
Patrick remained silent, while Melissa continued kneeling on the ground, refusing to get up. Mike and Beatrice sighed one after another, seemingly trying to persuade Jane.
“I advise you to think carefully,” Mike said again.
This completely infuriated Jane. She couldn’t vent her anger on the elderly, nor could she pass it on to outsiders. She could only turn to Patrick and say, “There is only one option before you: either keep the children, or we get a divorce!”
Jane had spoken, and even Patrick was somewhat surprised. He never expected Jane to bring up the divorce again over such a trivial matter.
“Is divorce so casually mentioned in your mouth? Do you take our marriage so lightly?” Patrick said, leaving Jane feeling like he had come to the wrong place today. He shouldn’t have wasted his breath here, and he definitely shouldn’t have wasted his time.
“Now that you’ve decided on a divorce, I agree,” Patrick said, shocking everyone present.
Jane stared at him incredulously, tears swirling in her eyes, refusing to fall. She pointed at Patrick’s nose and cursed, “You’re willing to divorce me for two children? It turns out that in your heart, I’m still not as good as Melissa!”
After saying that, Jane left directly.
Patrick remained in place, and Mike walked up to him with a cane, closed his hand, and hit his back. “What’s wrong with you? You make it sound so casual. Do you really want a divorce? Is it because your recent business has been going so well?”
Even Beatrice, who had always disliked Jane, disagreed with the idea of the two of them getting a divorce this time.