Chapter 266: Take Care of You

“Mom, I’m fine,” Jared replied, plastering on a smile.

Dinner was a silent, awkward affair. No one spoke throughout the meal.

Afraid his parents would sense something was wrong, Jared quickly ate and excused himself.

Once he left, Hannah and Gary exchanged a knowing glance and sighed heavily.

“Sooner or later, we’ll have to tell him the truth,” Gary said quietly.

Hannah’s eyes reddened. “All these years, I’ve considered Jared my son. I’d forgotten we adopted him. Why did Benedict have to say anything…? Judging by his mood, he must know. We can’t hide it anymore.”

“Jared’s not a child. He has a right to know. We can’t be selfish,” Gary said, sitting beside Hannah and pulling her into a hug.

“But I’m afraid he’ll leave us if he knows the truth. What if he searches for his birth parents? I can’t live without him…” She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him after all these years.

“Looking for his birth parents is his choice. Even if he leaves, I’ll spend the rest of my life with you,” Gary said, his words heartfelt.

Hannah leaned against him, sobbing. After a while, she wiped her tears and stood. “Could you ask Jared to come out?”

Gary nodded, went to Jared’s room, and knocked. “Jared, please come out. Your mom and I need to talk to you.”

Jared’s heart skipped a beat. He suspected what they were going to say. He felt conflicted; he didn’t want to admit they weren’t his birth parents, yet he longed to know about them.

After hesitating, he went to the living room, where Gary and Hannah waited on the couch. The atmosphere was tense. A small, ornate wooden box sat on the table in front of Hannah.

“Dad, Mom…” Jared said.

“Sit down,” Gary said, taking a long drag of his cigarette. He hesitated. “Jared, you’re not a child anymore. There’s something we need to tell you.”

He stopped, glancing at Hannah, who averted her gaze, unwilling to break the news. Silence fell.

“Dad, Mom, no matter what, you’re still my parents. I’ll never abandon you. I’ll take care of you when you’re old, and give you as many grandchildren as you want.” He knelt before them.

Hannah burst into tears. She helped him up and hugged him. “You’ll always be my son!”

“Mom, please don’t cry. Even if we’re not related by blood, you’ve always been my mom. You raised me. I remember you carrying me to the clinic in the rain when I was five,” Jared said, wiping her tears.

Hannah finally spoke. “Jared, I’m not your birth mother. I was infertile. One winter day, your dad found you by the roadside as a baby, shivering in the cold.”

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