Chapter 918

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Aaron’s answer echoed in Lena’s ears, leaving her restless and unable to sleep.

The next day, Mrs. Lane arrived with chicken soup for Aaron and a bag full of fresh produce. “These vegetables are from a village I visited. They’re all organic, no chemical fertilizers,” she gushed proudly.

Lena’s gaze followed her mother’s every move, scrutinizing her intently. Wherever she went, Lena’s eyes followed, making her incredibly uncomfortable.

“What are you staring at me for? It’s creepy,” Mrs. Lane said.

“Mom, why are you so good to my uncle?” Lena finally asked.

“He’s my brother. Isn’t it normal for me to care for him? You think everyone’s as heartless as you?” Mrs. Lane scolded her, throwing in an insult for good measure.

Lena didn’t retaliate to the insult. Instead, she pressed further, “It’s normal, sure, but the way you care for him doesn’t feel like how you’d treat a brother. It feels more like…”

She paused before continuing, “Like how you’d treat your own son.”

Mrs. Lane was busy sorting vegetables into the fridge, her hands never stopping. “Exactly,” she replied nonchalantly.

Her candidness startled Lena. Mrs. Lane picked up an eggplant and gestured with it. “When he was brought home, he was this small. I didn’t even dare hold him. I was already in my twenties at the time. If I’d married young, you’d probably be older than him now.”

“Your grandparents had to work to earn a living, and your grandmother had a bad back. So, most of the time, I was the one holding him. Sometimes, when he cried at night, I’d take him to sleep in my room,” Mrs. Lane said, her voice softening as she sank into her memories.

Her expression was so natural, without a trace of guilt or unease.

“Mom, was Dad your first love?” Lena abruptly changed the subject.

Mrs. Lane snapped out of her reverie and glanced toward the living room, where Gabriel was playing chess with Aaron. She withdrew her gaze and replied calmly, “No.”

Lena’s heart sank. “Did you and your first love ever… have a relationship?”

Before she finished the sentence, Mrs. Lane shot her a look and tossed a handful of vegetables at her. “You nosy brat! You’re gossiping about your own parents now, huh?”

Lena caught the vegetables with quick hands. “I’m just asking. You’re avoiding the question and getting all flustered, which means it’s true.”

“Shut your mouth and stop talking nonsense. Back in our day, men and women were much more traditional. We didn’t even dare hold hands, unlike you lot now, who hug and kiss in public like it’s nothing,” Mrs. Lane retorted, full of disdain.

Lena wasn’t deterred. She continued pressing for answers. “So, Dad was your first man then?”

“You little brat! Are you done yet?” Mrs. Lane raised her hand as if to hit her again.

Lena blocked her. “It’s a simple yes or no. Why are you so worked up?”

“Of course, he was! Why are you asking all these weird questions? You’ve been acting strange all day,” Mrs. Lane said, narrowing her eyes as she studied Lena.

Lena allowed her to stare. “Mom, I suspect Uncle is actually your biological son.”

Mrs. Lane froze, then widened her eyes in disbelief. Finally, she smacked Lena twice, lightly but firmly. “No wonder you’ve been giving me those strange looks ever since I arrived! You’ve been letting your imagination run wild. Why don’t you go ahead and suspect that you’re not even my child?”

“I already have,” Lena replied without missing a beat, further irritating Mrs. Lane.

“Great! No wonder you don’t come home when I call you, and you don’t bother to call us for months at a time. Turns out you’ve been harboring these thoughts. Fine! Go find your real parents right now!” Mrs. Lane’s voice rose as tears welled up in her eyes.

Their argument became so loud that it attracted the attention of the two men playing chess in the living room. Gabriel and Aaron both came over to see what was happening.

Seeing one of them wiping tears and the other lowering her head, Gabriel grabbed a tissue and walked to Mrs. Lane. “What’s going on here?” he asked gently.

“Ask your wonderful daughter!” Mrs. Lane pointed at Lena angrily. “No, wait—she’s not your daughter. She just said she isn’t ours and accused me of having an affair!”