Chapter 238 Guilt

Chapter 238 Guilt

These past few days, online public opinion has been heating up, spiraling out of control.

At first it was just that wedding photo, but then someone started digging up photos of Maggie and Luke appearing at the same events over the years, one after another.

Industry conferences, charity galas, golf courses, hospitals, restaurants...

There were even several taken at airports, showing the two walking side by side, Maggie's hand linked through Luke's arm in an intimate pose.

The earliest photo had a timestamp from five years ago.

Five years ago was right after Evelyn and Luke got married, and it was also the year Evelyn was pregnant with Andy.

From that point on, the comments section sided with Evelyn.

[Five years ago when Evelyn was still pregnant, Maggie was already going after her husband. If that's not a homewrecker, what is?]

[Five years, a whole five years. This woman is way too calculating.]

[Luke's no good either, messing around with another woman while his wife was pregnant. Total scumbag.]

[Evelyn really had it rough, putting up with this for so many years before divorcing.]

[My heart breaks for Evelyn, and for the child.]

The comments kept coming, and the share count broke seven digits within half a day.

Luke stood in front of his office's floor-to-ceiling windows, his phone screen filled with those overwhelming comments.

He looked at them for a while, locked the screen, and gripped the phone in his palm.

His assistant knocked and came in. "Mr. Miller, the PR department is asking if we need to issue a statement."

Luke was silent for a few seconds, then said, "No need."

What worried him most right now was Andy.

He picked up his phone and called home.

Grace answered.

"Mom, how's Andy doing?" Luke's voice was tight.

Grace immediately launched into a scolding, her voice filled with barely suppressed anger:

"You still know to ask about Andy? Do you know he cried all morning, crying and calling for his mom, and I couldn't calm him down no matter what! This is all your fault. If you hadn't been so indulgent with Maggie, we wouldn't be in this mess today. Anyway, you deal with it yourself now. I can't handle this anymore!"

The phone abruptly disconnected.

Luke grabbed his coat and quickly walked out of the office.

In the Miller Manor's living room, Andy sat on the sofa, knees drawn up, face buried in his arms, shoulders shaking.

Grace sat beside him, reaching out to touch his head, but he immediately pulled away.

Grace's hand hung in mid-air. She sighed and withdrew it.

Luke pushed through the door, walked over and crouched in front of him, calling his name. He didn't respond.

"Andy?" Luke called again. Only then did Andy slowly lift his head.

His eyes were red, his nose was red, tears still hung on his lashes, but his expression was different from before.

"Dad, is what those people online are saying true?" Andy's voice was hoarse from crying.

Luke crouched in front of him, looking at him, and shook his head. "No, those people online are talking nonsense."

Andy stared at him and asked again, "Then you and Maggie... are you two in that kind of relationship?"

Luke was silent for a second, then said, "No."

Andy bit his lip and asked a more direct question: "Then why did you and Mom get divorced?"

Luke reached out to touch his head, but Andy shrank back.

Luke had to explain: "This is an adult problem, kids shouldn't worry about it. But I can promise you, even though Mom and Dad are divorced, Andy is still our precious child. That will never change."

Andy looked at him, the light in his eyes dimming bit by bit, like someone was blowing out a lamp inside.

"You're lying to me." His voice wasn't loud, each word seemed squeezed out through clenched teeth.

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

His voice grew louder and louder, the last part almost shouted.

Luke opened his mouth to explain, but even he found those explanations weak and powerless.

Andy suddenly stood up and pushed him.

Luke, crouching, lost his balance, fell to the side, his palm hitting the floor.

Andy stood in front of him, tears falling again.

"I want Mom! I want to go find Mom!"

Luke stood up from the floor, looking at Andy's tear-stained face, and picked up his phone to call Evelyn.

Fortunately, this time the call went through.

He took a deep breath and said, "Andy's very unstable emotionally. Can I bring him to you now?"

Evelyn was silent for a second. "Yes."

Luke hung up and looked at Andy. "I'll take you to Mom's in a bit."

Andy's tears were still falling, but he stopped making a fuss.

Evelyn came home from work to the Thomas Manor.

As soon as she pushed open the door, a small figure rushed over from the living room, threw himself into her arms, hugged her waist tightly, buried his face in her chest, and burst into tears.

Evelyn froze for a moment, looked down at him. His shoulders were shaking, he was crying so hard he could barely breathe, his tears soaking a large patch of her coat.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

His voice was broken, choked with sobs, repeating just these few words over and over.

Evelyn was stunned.

Evelyn crouched down, looking into his eyes at eye level. "What's wrong? Why are you apologizing out of nowhere?"

Andy's eyes were red from crying, his expression filled with indescribable guilt.

"Before... before I yelled at you, said you were a bad mom, said I didn't want you. I also... threw away the gifts you gave me."

"I didn't know Maggie was that kind of person. I didn't know Dad was lying to me too. Mom, I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

His tears fell again, big drops landing on Evelyn's hand, burning hot.

Evelyn looked at him, unable to describe what she was feeling.

Deep in her heart, it was like there was a block of ice that had slowly melted a little, but the ice water was still bone-chillingly cold.

She reached out and wiped the tears from Andy's face. "Mom doesn't blame you."

But Andy cried even harder, hugging her neck and refusing to let go.

Evelyn picked him up, walked into the living room, and sat down on the sofa.

Sophia poked her head out from the kitchen, glanced over, sighed, and didn't interfere.

Andy cried for a long time. When he was tired from crying, he leaned against Evelyn, still hiccupping with sobs.

His fingers clutched tightly at the corner of her clothes, as if afraid she would run away.

Evelyn patted his back, and when he finally quieted down, she said, "It's okay now. Everything's fine."

Andy sniffled and responded softly.

"Mom, will you still want me in the future?" Andy's voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Evelyn was silent for a moment, smiled, and said, "I will."

Only then did Andy bury his face in her arms and nod.