Chapter 239

Chapter 239
Dylan’s POV

 

When I arrived in the living room of the Hudson Family Manor, Allen was curled up in the corner of the sofa, his knees pulled to his chest, his head buried in his arms, his thin shoulders shaking with every sob.

 

Gloria sat nearby, attempting to reach out and touch his head, but he recoiled violently. Gloria’s hand froze in mid-air, and she eventually sighed in defeat, letting her hand drop.

 

I walked in, hurried over to him, crouched down, and whispered his name. He didn't respond.

 

"Allen?" I called again. That was when he slowly raised his head.

 

His eyes were bloodshot, the tip of his nose red, and tears hung on his long lashes. But his expression had changed; it wasn't just simple crying anymore, but a fractured, complex sort of scrutiny.

 

"Dad, everything online… is it true?" Allen’s voice was hoarse, thick with congestion.

 

I crouched before him, looking him in the eye, instinctively shaking my head. "No. The people online are just talking nonsense."

 

Allen stared at me, then asked, "Then you and Hazel… are you really not in that kind of relationship?"

 

I fell silent. In that second of stillness, every excuse felt hollow.

 

"No."

 

Allen bit his lip. "Then why are you and Mom getting a divorce?"

 

I reached out to touch his head, but he flinched instinctively.

 

My throat tightened, and I could only force an explanation. "These aregrown-up issues; it’s nothing for a child to worry about. But I promise you, regardless of whether Mom and Dad divorce, Allen will always be the child we treasure most. That will never change."

 

Allen looked at me, the light in his eyes dimming bit by bit, as if the candle in his heart had been blown out.

 

"You're lying to me." His voice wasn't loud, but every word felt squeezed through gritted teeth.

 

"There are photos online, with dates. Hazel was with you five years ago, when Mom was still pregnant with me. You're lying to me, you're both lying to me!"

 

His voice grew louder, until he was almost hysterical.

 

I opened my mouth, trying to explain, but even I felt how powerless the words were.

 

Suddenly, Allen stood up and shoved me hard. I was already crouching, so I lost my balance and tumbled sideways, my palm slamming onto the hardwood floor with a painful jar.

 

Allen stood over me, tears streaming down his face again. "I want Mom! I want to go to Mom right now!"

 

I pushed myself up from the floor, looking at his tear-stained face, and shakily pulled out my phone to dial Vivian’s number.

 

Thankfully, she answered.

 

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. "Allen is very unstable. I… can I bring him to you?"

 

Vivian was silent for half a second. "Okay."

 

After hanging up, I looked at Allen. "I’m taking you to Mom’s."

 

 

 

Vivian’s POV

 

I returned to Wilson Manor.

 

As I opened the door, a small, thin figure slammed into my arms. Allen hugged my waist tightly, burying his face in my chest and sobbing. His shoulders shook violently, and his tears instantly soaked through my coat, the damp warmth seeping through to my skin, chilling me to the core.

 

"Mom, I’m sorry…" he choked out, his voice shattered.

 

I was startled, and I crouched down to his level. His eyes were red and swollen, and the intense guilt in them caused me a momentary daze. "I used to yell at you, call you a bad mom, and throw away your gifts." He gripped my sleeve tightly. "I didn't know Dad was lying to me. Mom, can you forgive me?"

 

Tears hit the back of my hand, scalding hot. The ice deep in my heart shattered at that moment, even if the melted water remained piercingly cold—this was the maternal love I had longed for, yet it arrived in such a tragic way only after I had been betrayed by the whole world.

 

I wiped away his tears awkwardly. "Mom doesn't blame you."

 

He cried harder, clamping his arms around my neck, his knuckles turning white, as if he feared I would disappear the next second. I carried him to the sofa, and though he was exhausted, his fingers remained clutched to the hem of my coat, as if holding onto his only lifeline.

 

I patted his back until he finally calmed down. "It’s okay now, everything is in the past," I whispered soothingly.

 

Allen looked up tentatively, his eyes anxious. "Mom, will you still want me in the future?"

 

I looked at him, suppressing five years of grievances and detachment, and offered a gentle smile. "Of course I will."

 

He finally felt at ease, burying his face back in my chest and drifting into a deep sleep. Feeling his weight in my arms, my nerves, which had been tight for so long, finally completely relaxed.