Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson) novel Chapter 180

"When I was brought back to the Larson family that year, everyone called me a bastard." Mark paused, his beautiful eyes swirling with complex emotions. "But I knew he had deceived my mom..."

That was when I realized that even Mark, who was as gentle and refined as he seemed, had his share of a miserable and prolonged past.

Mark’s dad, his mom's first love, had married someone else for the sake of his family, all the while keeping it a secret from her. When his mom found out, Mark was almost born.

"My mom took me far away, but we still couldn't escape Violet's vengeance."

"She..." His voice choked up, his eyes revealing a mix of pain and deep-seated hatred that was quickly masked. His hand tightened into a fist at his side, knuckles turning white.

Hearing that, I felt a heavy sadness.

When Mark was eight, his mom must have been only in her early thirties. Yet, she paid such a painful price for misjudging someone.

Mark managed a bitter smile as he continued, "According to Violet's plan, I was supposed to die, too, but since Violet couldn't have children of her own, Gladys wouldn't let her lay a finger on me."

At that moment, I truly understood that human lives were cheap in the eyes of the wealthy. It was all about benefits and schemes.

I said, "And Kathy..."

"Violet adopted Kathy before she brought me back to the Larson family." Mark's voice carried a hint of irony, "Violet went to an orphanage and picked the child who looked most like Neil."

Neil was his father. Violet was the middle-aged woman who had been hitting him earlier in the chapel.

"No wonder... you don't want anything to do with the Larson family." I fell silent and then curiously asked, "Kathy mentioned that you took care of Lloyd yesterday?"

"I intended to rescue you." There was a touch of melancholy and helpless amusement in his eyes. "I was too late. But when I arrived, I ran into your uncle coming out. He mentioned Lloyd had been bullying you."

He probably meant to say Lloyd had stepped on my face with his shoes. But to spare my feelings, he didn't say it outright.

I bit my lip, "So you hit him?"