Chapter 5

Not only did Lance betray me, but he also tried to make me take the fall for his screw-ups.

He didn't even offer a single sincere apology.

All he did was shift the blame and guilt-trip me.

I was worn out from crying, lying on the cold floor with empty eyes, just staring up at the ceiling.

My phone kept vibrating in my bag for a long time, but I didn't bother to check it.

I knew it was Lance calling.

After what felt like forever, someone started knocking at my door.

I didn't want to answer, but the knocking just wouldn't let up.

Annoyed, I got up and yanked the door open.

"Lance, are you..." I began, but as soon as I saw who was at the door, the words caught in my throat, and I froze.

It wasn't Lance.

It was Angel and Jefferson.

Angel's eyes were still red and swollen, but the anger in her gaze had faded, replaced by something else. Was it pleading?

"Ms. Freeman, can we come in and talk?" Jefferson spoke up.

I stepped aside to let them in.

The room was a mess. I hadn't bothered to clean up.

Angela scanned the chaos, her gaze finally settling on me.

She parted her lips, as if she had something to say, but in the end, all she did was let out a heavy sigh.

Jefferson was the first to break the silence. "Ms. Freeman, we're here about Kason."

I smirked coldly to myself that it was always about Kason.

Everyone kept using that kid as their excuse.

"There's nothing to talk about," I said coldly.

My tone was frosty, leaving no room for argument.

Jefferson said, "Ms. Freeman, don't turn us down just yet.

"We know you've been treated unfairly.

"But Kason hasn't done anything wrong. He's innocent."

There we went again, same old excuse.

I looked at him, feeling the bitter irony in my chest. "Mr. Huffman, you're a big name in education.

"Do you really think a child born because a homewrecker tore apart someone else's family is really innocent?

"His very existence is rooted in another woman's suffering."

Jefferson was left speechless by my words.

But Angela suddenly got really emotional. "That's not true! My daughter wasn't a homewrecker!

"Lance lied to her! He told her he and you were already done, that he'd been trying to get a divorce for a long time!

"If she'd known you were still around, she never would've been with him!"

I looked at her and suddenly felt how tragic this all was.

Both of us were just victims of Lance's lies.

Yet here we were, treating each other like enemies, pointing fingers at one another.

All the while, the real culprit was hiding in the background, keeping his hands clean.

I said, my voice heavy with exhaustion. "Mrs. Bryant, does any of this even matter now?

"Your daughter is gone, and my marriage is destroyed.

"All of this, it's all thanks to your wonderful son-in-law."

Angela was caught off guard by my words, her face turning red with anger.

She looked like she was about to snap back, but Jefferson quickly cut her off.

He looked at me, his voice sincere. "Ms. Freeman, we're not here to point fingers or decide who's right or wrong.

"We're here to beg you."

As he spoke, he actually gave a slight bow.

I was startled and instinctively stepped aside. "Mr. Huffman, what are you doing?"

"Ms. Freeman, please, I'm begging you. Help Lance, and help Kason," Jefferson pleaded.

I just stood there, stunned.

I had no idea what exactly I was supposed to help him with.

Angela spoke up, her voice quivering, on the verge of tears. "Ms. Freeman, I know what Chloe did hurt you.

"But she... she left behind a letter, addressed to you."

She pulled an envelope out of her bag and handed it to me.

I hesitated for a moment, then took it.

The envelope wasn't sealed.

I pulled out the letter inside.

The handwriting was delicate and elegant. It was Chloe's.

It read: [Ms. Freeman, by the time you read this letter, I'm probably no longer alive.

"Please forgive me for my boldness and selfishness.

[I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, and even less to ask anything from you.

[I took your husband and ruined your marriage. I'm the one to blame.

[But Kason is innocent. He's only four years old. He needs a mother in his life.

[Lance is a good man, but as a father, he can be careless sometimes. I'm afraid he can't give Kason the care he needs.

[My parents are getting old, and their health isn't great. I can't put any more burden on them.

[So, I really have no one else. I can only turn to you.

[Please, for the sake of Kason, Lance's own child, raise him, help him grow up.

[I know this request is cruel, and it's so unfair to you.

[So, to make up for it, I'm willing to offer you a secret in exchange.]