Chapter 919

Mrs. Lane finally pieced together all the questions Lena had asked her and understood everything. Gabriel furrowed his brow and looked at Lena. “Is this really what you think?”

Lena stayed silent. She did have those suspicions, but seeing how her mother had reacted so strongly, she began to wonder if she had been overthinking it.

Aaron, who had already figured out the situation, looked at Lena and spoke up. “She must have misunderstood something.” And he knew it was his fault.

“She’s just an ungrateful brat! She doesn’t appreciate the kindness she’s been given and can’t stand seeing me be good to someone else,” Mrs. Lane fumed again.

Gabriel wiped away her tears gently. “Alright, maybe she was just joking with you.”

“Ask her if she was joking! Look at the things she’s been asking me—let her tell you herself!” Mrs. Lane pointed an accusing finger at Lena.

“Big Sis,” Aaron called out softly, “I’ll take Lil’ Lena out for some fresh air.” Without waiting for a reply, he reached out and pulled Lena out of the room. They didn’t get far before they heard Mrs. Lane mutter behind them, “How could she doubt that she’s my daughter? I almost lost my life giving birth to her…”

Lena froze. As an obstetrician, she knew better than anyone the pain and risks women endured during childbirth. And yet, she had asked her mother such a hurtful question. Guilt suddenly welled up inside her.

Aaron seemed to sense her emotions. He tightened his grip on her hand as he led her out of the house and into the courtyard. They walked along the roadside in silence, neither of them speaking.

After a while, Aaron finally broke the quiet. “Is this because you overheard me talking about the test last night?”

Lena stared at her toes. “I’m sorry, Uncle… I… I…” She didn’t know how to explain herself.

“I understand the reason, and I don’t blame you. Your mom does favor me, and I’m not sure how she’ll explain it, but I know why,” Aaron said, his words prompting Lena to look up at him in surprise.

It was then that she realized he wasn’t wearing a coat. The wind tugged at his thin loungewear, pressing it against his body. Somehow, she felt cold just looking at him.

Chapter 919

Before she could say anything, Aaron continued. “Do you know why your grandparents adopted me?”

Lena nodded. “Because they didn’t have a son.”

“That’s right. Thirty years ago, not having a boy in the family was a big deal. People would gossip and ridicule them. Your grandparents couldn’t hold their heads high in front of others, so they adopted me. They cherished me and treated me well because of that.”

He paused for a moment before adding, “But there’s another reason. Your mom had her own heartbreak. You actually had an older brother, but he was stillborn.”

Lena froze, stunned. She had never known this. No one had ever mentioned it to her.

“Lil’ Lena, your mom is good to me because she’s put all her unresolved grief into caring for me,” Aaron said gently, looking at her.

The wind blew again, tangling Lena’s hair and bringing a flush to her cheeks. Aaron reached out, brushing her hair back into place. “When we get back, apologize to your mom.”

Lena lowered her head, remaining silent.

“Lil’ Lena,” Aaron called softly, his gaze lingering on the top of her head. “When I find my biological parents, I might cut ties with the Aces…”

Lena snapped her head up in shock. “Why? Grandpa and Grandma have been so good to you, and so has my mom. If you do that, they’ll be heartbroken!”