Chapter 102: You’re a cheat, dad!
“Dad, see what you’ve caused. You’ve always been my role model all these years and I always look up to you for advice and counselling. But today, I don’t know what to say to you.
I am two years older than Arianna. I was born within the bonds of wedlock. It only means that being Arianna’s father, you cheated on Mom. You are a cheat, dad. Yes a cheat” Richard reprimanded his dad.
“It is not your place to say that to your father, Richard. I knew about it from the day everything happened. But none of us knew Susan was pregnant with Arianna. So just go to your room and rest” Jane Delmark ordered.
“Are you trying to cover up for him because you love him? A man cheated on you and has an illegitimate daughter and now you try to defend him?” Richard declared.
“You should ask your mother why she wouldn’t go after another man but took away Susan’s man” Derick snapped at him as soon as he stepped in.
Richard turned and glared at his uncle. Why is he saying the same thing Arianna said? His mom actually took dad away from Arianna’s mom?
He glanced at his Mom and saw she was sobbing. He doesn’t know what else to say. His uncle and his mom had always had a toxic relationship. But could that be the reason?
“Why did you talk to Arianna that way, Richard? You insulted her mom and extended it to her. She’s the one hurting and wounded here, not you. Why did you humiliate her more?” Derick asked.
“She started it, when she insulted my mom” Richard retorted. No matter what his mother had done, he wouldn’t let her be insulted by anyone.
“She didn’t insult Jane. She only told the truth. It itches the ear when the truth is unpleasant, right? But Susan doesn’t deserve to be insulted.
Did she do anything wrong to introduce her friend and boyfriend to each other? Why is Adrian and Jane seeing each other behind her back and eventually going public about their relationship?
They both left Susan wounded, hurt and betrayed. Adrian still went ahead and got married to your mother. I haven’t set my eyes on your parents after I heard they were married until I decided to come because of the political office he was aspiring for.
It hurt me to the bones why things took this turn. Now, you say such horrible words to Arianna and insult the woman who wouldn’t even tell your dad she was pregnant because she doesn’t want to ruin his happiness.
She told me that your parents are happy and she wouldn’t want to ruin their happiness because she loved him. Is it that woman you now insult and call names?
For twenty six years, your sister lived her life without the love of her father. Did you live a single day of your life without Adrian’s love? But she lived years without it.
Arianna might have been conceived illegitimately, but she was carried and birthed by a woman who truly loves your father. I know that it was hard for Susan to stop loving Adrian that’s why she chose to have his child.
She chose to have Adrian’s flesh and blood so she could be happy for the rest of her life. But she didn’t get to enjoy that happiness when death took her soul away.
She sought to have Adrian with her, and she got it when she had a female little Adrian. But death, why he decided to take such a lovely woman away is what I cannot tell. Don’t you ever insult or talk to Arianna like that ever again” Derick bellowed and eyed Richard and his mom before walking away.
By the time Derick returned to the guest room, Adrian simply turned around and went upstairs. Only Richard and his Mom were left.
He sat down and glared at her. “Tell me Mom, did my dad fall in love with Ariana’s Mom before you?”
Jane stood up and strode off. She isn’t in the best frame of mind to say anything yet. She’s too broken-hearted at the moment. That part of her story with Adrian is not a pleasant one.
Richard was dazed. Why wouldn’t his Mom talk with him? Is everything uncle Derrick said true?
Arianna didn’t say anything the entire way home. She wanted to cry, to ease herself of the emotions in her but she couldn’t. She Just couldn’t cry.
Her heart was beating fast and there was a turmoil in her heart but she didn’t know how to express it. She was just seated unmoving like a statue.
Jace kept glancing at her at intervals. He doesn’t know how to pacify her yet. He wants her to cry, to offer her his shoulders to lean on and then he could pacify.
But the way she sat, unmoving, makes him feel that she’s distant in heart and mind. Her body was right there in the car but her soul had travelled far, possibly to the past to question her mom why she ever became friends with Jane Delmark.
When they got home, the chauffeur parked the car and Jace Hudson alighted. He walked over to hold the door for her but Arianna didn’t even know where she was. She remained seated, her arms folded around her chest and looked straight in front of her.
“Arianna, can you hear me?” Jace said but Arianna didn’t respond to him. Jace gently helped her down and crossed his arms around her shoulders.
She was happy and excited a while ago. But she’s someone else now. He wished her wounds would get healed, and wished that she lived her life only for herself, her son and him.
Only the three of them mattered. They should make a family and live happily. She deserved to be happy and forget the life and things of the past.
When they stepped in, They met Chase playing a computer game with Eli. When the door opened, Eli sprang up and went to his parents.
“Mummy, daddy” and hugged his parents. Jace let his hand off Arianna’s shoulders and lifted him off his feet, raising him high into the air.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
Arianna simply walked away, not turning to glance at Eli nor Chase.