Chapter 159
Irene was convinced that she had failed as a mother.
She could not stay with her son in the days immediately following his birth, let alone give her son a complete family.
“Your father…” Sheryl began just then.
That was when Irene looked up at her mother, and saw the terrible look on her face.
She must have been crying.
“Sorry, Mom,” she said apologetically. “I should have told you sooner so that you can see Dad one last time.”
Shery did not blame her–Irene had mentioned Lionel’s condition before, but she paid not heed.
Breathing a long sigh, she said, “I’m unhappy and feel much grief against him, but he’s gone now, and it all ends with him. That’s why I’m here—I should be there to send him off as his wife.”
Then, handing Tommy’s belongings to Irene, she said, “Tommy is still very young. Take him
-I’ll go back to Spencer Mansion.”
Irene was worried. “I should go with you-
“No. Tommy is just a baby–he should not spend too much time with the dead. I’m fine on my own.” Sheryl said, her stance firm and her appearance calm.
Irene, however, knew that her mother still had feelings for Lionel, or she would not have refrained from divorcing him for so long.
Sheryl must be hurting inside now after Lionel suddenly died–she was pretending to be fine. because she did not want to worry Irene.
Still, Sheryl had been more open–minded ever since she recovered from her surgery. While she did not divorce Lionel because of lingering feelings, she also understood that Lionel hardly deserves much sentiment just for his adultery.
Her feelings were less than mere attachment, and not a far cry from dissatisfaction!
Clapping her daughter on the shoulder, she promised, “Don’t worry, Irene. I’m a changed person, and not as weak as I was before. Surviving alone made me understand many things, and I won’t allow my weakness to make you suffer again like before. I’ll never allow Samantha White to bully me, especially since I’m still your father’s legitimate wife and she’s just some cheap mistress–I’ll be the one presiding over Lionel’s funeral.”
Irene did a double take, suddenly looking upon Sheryl in a different light just then.
After recovering from her surgery, Sheryl had certainly become staunch.
Nodding, Irene said, “I’ll be there later.”
Sheryl gave Tommy a tender look then. “No, it’s fine. I know you want to spend more time with Tommy now-you were forced to part with him just after you delivered him, and it’s
been almost two months now. It’s normal for you to miss him, so just leave your father’s funeral to me, and take good care of Tommy. Remember, the living is always more important than the dead!”
Sheryl was certainly as attached to Tommy as Irene was to her own child, since she had been tending to her grandchild almost soon after his birth.
Lionel was gone anyway–caring for Tommy took priority.
“He just needs one ounce of powdered milk if he’s hungry, or he’ll belch a lot if he has too much. Also, stick to cloth diapers with airy cotton–disposable ones get stuffy no matter how good they are. I’ve brought everything he needs here, so you can use them once you get home,
Sheryl then rambled, as if worried that Irene would not take good care of Tommy.
”
Irene nodded. “Okay.”
They then split up at the train station, with Sheryl returning to Spencer Mansion while Irene brought Tommy to Isaac’s mansion.
Lulu was just about to leave, but when she saw Irene returning with Tommy, she warily looked behind before running up to give the baby a hug.
Worried that Mrs. Watson would see them, she asked, “Your mother came back?”
Irene nodded.
“But what would Isaac say if he sees Tommy here?”
Irene was looking at Tommy with a tender look. “If he knows, he knows.”
Lulu was confused. “You don’t care about him now?“!
“I may be in love, but I’m not about to hide my own child because of him. I agreed with what you said yesterday, but after seeing Tommy again, I realized that everything else – including Isaac doesn’t matter to me. I want to be with Tommy, and that’s it.”
–
Lulu was left in awe of her motherly love, and naturally did not try to talk her out of it.
“I don’t regret giving birth to Tommy, just as I won’t hide him. I was paranoid before–with a man like Isaac, he’ll eventually get sick of me even if Tommy was never born. Also, hiding my child from him would be no different from lying to him, and being irresponsible in our relationship. I love him, and therefore should show him everything about me. It’s only human nature if he can’t accept Tommy, and I won’t blame him. If he can…”
She gently brushed her finger on Tommy’s soft cheek, her heart and eyes fixed on her tiny child–her own flesh and blood.
“If he can accept Tommy as if Tommy were his own child, I’ll naturally play nice. I won’t hesitate to leave if he’s only paying lip service by saying he doesn’t mind, but treats Tommy harshly.”
Seeing that Irene had made up her mind, Lulu refrained from saying anything against it.” You’ll probably be busy with your father’s funeral, won’t you? I’ll have a few days free after finishing my work here, so I can help look after Tommy.”
Then, glancing at Tommy, she added, “His eyes actually resemble Isaac’s… Who knows? Fate may have brought them together, and you two might actually make a happy family for him.
“Boo–hoo…”
Tommy was suddenly crying.
Mrs. Watson had just arrived downstairs after cleaning the rooms upstairs, and heard Tommy’s crying.
“Why do I hear a baby crying?” she asked aloud in curiosity.
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