"I've thought about it. Since we agreed to adopt, Adam is now my son. From now on, he'll live with us here."
"But didn't you say you don't like kids?"
"That was before. When I saw Adam today, I found him quite charming. Why not raise him here with us? Do you want him to go to school and get teased for not having parents? He's already been through enough. We can't deny him love. It's settled."
"You think you'll send him off to your parent's place and then live happily ever after with that wretched woman and your son behind my back? Dream on!"
This time, I'm keeping this little brat close, and I'll hold everyone's fate in my hands.
By noon, I hadn't seen the boy, and Valeria called in a hurry.
"Why aren't you here yet? Your father and I made a big meal and we've been waiting for you!"
Rowan hesitated. He pretended to be considerate in front of me. He said, "Lainey said she really likes Adam, so he'll stay with us for now. I'll bring him over to see you on the weekend."
As Rowan spoke, he moved toward the balcony with the phone, lowering his voice. He had no idea that the kitchen window was connected to the balcony, so I could hear everything.
"There's nothing I can do. She insisted on keeping Adam here.
"It won't last. I know her too well. In a few days, she'll be tired of him and beg me to send Adam over to you. Just wait."
Naturally, Valeria was anxious about not seeing her grandson. In my past life, I was so blind and foolish. I didn't realize what was happening.
They protected Adam in every way, spoiling him rotten. If he so much as scraped his finger, they'd wail and cry as if the world was ending.
Valeria, who had always been stingy, somehow managed to spend ten thousand dollars on a model for Adam, saying he had the makings of an architect.
I should have realized it sooner. How could these backward, old-fashioned people go to such lengths to spoil a child who wasn't even blood-related?
Rowan spent all his time running to his parents' place, sometimes not even coming home at night. I never questioned it, thinking it was harmless. Little did I know, it was the perfect hideaway for their little family reunions.
For years, I was busy with my career, pouring all my energy into work. By the time Adam turned eighteen, I had climbed the ranks to general manager. And it was on the very day of my promotion that the car accident happened.
Everything happened so conveniently.