Chapter 76
But that was just about their love.
This time, with Lily involved, he couldn't imagine what would happen to Edward if he were hurt or betrayed again.
"You have a record. I can't trust you." He said bluntly.
Adeline's gaze remained fixed on Lily. "You don't need to worry. For Lily's sake, I would never let anything happen to Edward."
"Who knows if you're planning to take the money and disappear with your daughter?"
Adeline knew he was mocking her.
They'd been friends for a long time. Aaron knew she would never do such a thing.
"You don't need to be sarcastic. I told you, for Lily's sake, I won't hurt Edward."
"I heard you gave Edward custody?" He suddenly changed the subject.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Something felt off to him. He knew how much Adeline cared about Lily, he had seen it at the hospital. He truly thought Adeline might kill Alicia that day.
He'd just seen Alicia a few days ago.
Her forehead was still swollen.
"Better life, better future, better medical care," Adeline replied frankly. "I don't want anything for myself right now. I only know I'm a mother, and I want the best future for my daughter."
"Even if that better future doesn't include you."
"Yes, even without me."
As long as Lily had a good life, nothing else mattered.
Besides...
Adeline lowered her head, her eyes dimming. Her phone rang in her pocket—it was her therapist calling.
She glanced at it and hung up.
"Why didn't you answer? Is it because I'm here and it's inconvenient?" Aaron instinctively felt that her every move was part of some scheme.
"Unknown number."
Adeline offered no further explanation. Edward and Lily were coming out with the finished cake, and Olivia had returned with the gift.
"Looks like my present has arrived." Aaron stood to receive it.
He was eager to show his gift to everyone.
"This painting cost me a fortune from a master artist. I think it's perfect for you all."
He methodically tore off the wrapping paper, gradually revealing the painting.
It was an oil painting.
In the image, harsh sunlight beat down on a man standing at the edge of a cliff, admiring the magnificent ocean view.
The wind caught the hem of his crisp white shirt and tousled his hair.
The man stood tall, his dress pants perfectly pressed, poised at the precipice.
Looking just at the man, it appeared to be a scenic portrait, and incredibly lifelike—a testament to the artist's extraordinary skill.
But the scene continued behind him.
Just behind the man was a pair of woman's hands.
Pale-skinned, with fingertips painted in a gentle shade of polish.
They rested gently, almost lovingly, against the back of his pristine shirt.
But it wasn't an embrace.
The fingertips were slightly curved, positioned precisely at his spine.
Just the slightest push, the man would plummet into the abyss.
Olivia spoke first, "What kind of gift is this? It's not pretty at all."
Aaron admired the painting's content.
"Not pretty? I think it's quite good. These hands are the masterpiece of the entire painting. They symbolize that in places we can't see, danger exists—and this danger often comes from seemingly insignificant things, or people."
As he said this, his gaze was fixed on the painting.
But his implication was crystal clear.
Edward said coolly, "How tedious."
Aaron smiled. "How can you call it tedious? I searched high and low for this painting. I think it's especially fitting for you."
"Then you have quite the eye."
Olivia ground her back teeth.
Had Aaron come here just to cause trouble?
Aaron smiled. "Thank you for the compliment."
Lily had been staring at the painting for a while. "This painting isn't nice."
Aaron asked gently, "What's not nice about it?"
He glanced at Adeline.
If even Lily could see the malicious intent behind those painted hands, that would be interesting.
"The man in the painting is standing in such a dangerous place, which means he must be aware of the danger he's facing!"
Lily didn't understand complex theories.
But she understood one thing.
"Whenever I walk along the edge of a flower bed, I'm always super careful because I know I could fall. If a hand reached out to me, my first reaction would be to grab it so I wouldn't fall."
After hearing the child's earnest analysis,
Everyone fell silent.
The same event, the same painting—but viewed from different angles, it held different meanings.
Olivia snorted. "People with dirty minds see dirty meanings. Our Lily has a pure heart without all those complicated thoughts, so of course, she sees hope."
In an instant, those hands transformed from danger to hope.
"So why do you think the painting isn't nice?" Aaron persisted.
"I don't know. It just isn't."
Lily could spout profound wisdom but was equally capable of being stubbornly unreasonable.
Aaron fell silent.
Lily looked at Aaron again. "Your taste isn't that great. Why would you give a gift like this? Today is my mom's birthday. You should have given her something that symbolizes long life. I've seen it on TV—on birthdays, you're supposed to wish people health and happiness."
Such a straightforward gift.
Olivia nearly burst out laughing. She quickly pulled a necklace from her pocket.
"Mine promotes longevity."
The necklace had a small cross pendant.
"Here's to my best friend. Happy birthday! May you have many more just like this one, year after year."
Adeline held the cross, feeling content.
"Thank you."
Next, Lily presented her gift—a pocket watch.
Inside was the photo of the three of them taken at the amusement park.
"Mommy, keep this as a memento."
Adeline accepted it. "Thank you, Lily."
Finally, only Edward remained.
Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Isn't our big CEO going to give something decent? Don't tell me you think a bowl of pasta is enough?"
Edward took out a rectangular box from his pocket. Inside was a shimmering silver bracelet with a four-leaf clover charm.
A four-leaf clover stood for luck.
"Nice symbolism," Olivia muttered, unhesitatingly taking the bracelet and putting it on her friend's wrist.
Adeline didn't want to spoil the mood and accepted all gifts graciously.
"Thank you, everyone, for the presents. Let's eat before everything gets cold."
She discreetly frowned.
Everyone sat down to eat. Adeline stood up. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
Once inside, she braced herself against the sink, head down, breathing heavily.
Those ugly memories she'd desperately suppressed finally engulfed her like a tidal wave.
She remembered everything.