Chapter 101 Chapter 101

Chapter 101 Chapter 101
"The Prince found Cinderella because of a glass slipper, and they also lived happily ever after. Is there any other story you want to hear so I can tell it now?"

Tony asked, but heard no response. He turned to look and saw that Adele had fallen into a deep sleep after a long day, exhausted by intense waves of emotion. Her breathing was steady, and her brow had relaxed.

Tony pulled the blanket up over her chest and leaned down to press a gentle kiss on the forehead of the girl he loved. "Sleep well, my lovely little rabbit," he said with all the affection and protection he could muster.

Tony reached out to turn off the night light, and the room sank into silent darkness, leaving only the sound of rain pattering against the window. He lay down beside her, feeling the warmth of the one he loved.

No matter the circumstances, no matter how dim the future looked or how filled with unforeseen partings it might be, tonight they had created the most beautiful, purest memories for themselves. Tony closed his eyes, praying that the "happily ever after" endings in the stories he had just told would truly resonate with their own love.

At the hospital.

Mr. Caleb held a comb, gently brushing through Mrs. Briona’s hair.

Mrs. Briona gazed out the window, lost in thought. "Did they really say that?"

Mr. Caleb stopped brushing and smiled to reassure her. "Yes, they support us getting married. Vince and Serenity have grown up more than we ever expected."

Mrs. Briona turned back and took his hand. "What I worry about most is your mother. How are we to tell her? And then there is Serenity and Vince. Can they really be together when they are legally siblings in the same house?"

"It will be all right. I don’t think things are that bad. True love always has its own way out, as long as we do not let go."

The door opened, and Vince’s grandmother entered. Both of them hurriedly stood up to greet her.

"Mother," Mrs. Briona said, somewhat surprised by her sudden arrival.

"Are you here to visit Briona, Mother. Please, have a seat," Mr. Caleb quickly pulled out a chair.

His grandmother looked at Mrs. Briona in the hospital bed and asked with concern, "What happened to Briona. What did the doctor say?"

"Do not worry too much, Mother. The doctor said everything will be fine after a few days of rest."

Mr. Caleb took this opportunity to grip his mother’s shoulders and proudly announced, "Mother, I am going to be a father soon. You are about to have another grandchild to hold."

Vince’s grandmother approached and took her daughter-in-law’s hand, her voice filled with reproach. "You are so careless. You didn’t even know you were pregnant. I think you need to be taken care of from now on."

Mrs. Briona was moved, but the guilt over the secret of the two young people made it impossible for her to stay silent any longer. She choked back tears. "Mother, I do not know what to do to earn your forgiveness."

"Why, is it because you were careless?"

"It is because my daughter, Serenity, and Caleb’s son, Vince… have fallen in love. I sincerely apologize to you for this."

Vince’s grandmother let go of Briona’s hand, her face darkening. Mr. Caleb quickly spoke up. "But I believe they are not wrong, Mother. Love can never be a sin. They are only seeking happiness, and they have truly found it. Happiness is already rare as it is. Are we really going to be heartless enough to tear them apart just because of the names in a family tree?"

His grandmother looked at her son, her voice cold. "So you think your stepchildren can love each other, and even marry as husband and wife."

"Mother, if there is anything wrong, it is that their choices did not meet our expectations, but as long as they are happy," Mr. Caleb insisted.

Mrs. Briona could not suppress her emotions; she slid off the bed and knelt before her mother-in-law. "Mother, if you have allowed me to call you Mother, then I beg you to accept their love. I beg you."

"Briona, you are a daughter-in-law of this family; you cannot be this weak. Stand up, or you will affect my grandchild," his grandmother scolded softly.

But Mrs. Briona remained there, her eyes streaming with tears. "I know, by your standards, we are being too selfish. But I truly beg you to accept them. Vince and Serenity had to be very brave to speak this truth. I do not want to tear apart such a beautiful love just because of the imposed thoughts of adults. In the eyes of others, this may be a complex and messy relationship. But true love has never listened to anyone’s will."

Vince’s grandmother stood up and looked down at her daughter-in-law. "So, to achieve what you consider the happiness you desire, you need to prove yourself capable of standing higher than me."
Mr. Caleb took his mother’s hand, his voice pleading. "Mother, Briona, and I do not care at all about what others think. But I do not disregard your point of view. Your thoughts will decide whether our family remains whole or falls apart."

His grandmother turned away and muttered a bitter sentence. "Then you should fall apart."

"Mother, if I do not have your blessing, what meaning is there in any of this?" Mr. Caleb asked desperately.

His grandmother paused at the door, glancing back slightly, her lips curling into a mysterious smile. "Is my blessing truly that important. You, a father who is outdone by his own son."

Mr. Caleb was confused. "What do you mean by that, Mother?"

"Vince came to visit me yesterday afternoon. Do you think your son would listen to me? He has already staked his life and his future on that girl. Like father, like son; you are all a bunch of stubborn fools."

His grandmother began to recount the meeting from yesterday afternoon. Her gaze became distant, as if she were turning the pages of memories about her courageous grandson.

The Past.

"Grandmother, I have found someone I like. I know you will not accept her, but I do not care. The person I like is…"

His grandmother interrupted. "Serenity, isn’t it?"

Vince was startled, but his eyes did not waver. "You already knew."

"More accurately, I suspected it, which is the reason I arranged the meeting between you and Charmaine. And I also tried to remind Briona to keep an eye on you and Serenity."

"And what about now?"