Chapter 1768:
Harold’s gaze held Lucas’s. “Your marriage—right from the start—brought her more pain than joy. It left her bruised, burdened. And with a father like hers… well, it’s no wonder that what she once dreamed of now feels like a nightmare. Over time, that dream has soured into something she shies away from. She has retreated into a space where it’s safe and familiar. And stepping out of that takes more than just love; it takes healing.”
He sighed. “So no matter how steady things feel between you now, Lucas, you mustn’t push her. Let her come to it in her own time.”
Harold’s words settled heavily in the air, and for a long moment, Lucas remained silent, absorbing every bit of it.
Then he pressed his lips together and gave a slow, thoughtful nod. “You’re right,” he murmured, his voice low with remorse. “I’ve started to see it myself. I was too eager, too quick to demand something she wasn’t ready for. Belinda waited for me all those years before. The least I can do now is wait for her.”
Harold’s stern expression softened into one of quiet approval. “It’s good to hear you say that.”
Lucas smiled.
They didn’t dwell on the subject any longer. Their conversation shifted to work matters before they returned to the house.
Before long, Belinda and Lucas bid Harold farewell and left his home, making their way back together.
At Baker’s place.
Kylee sank into the plush sofa, her eyes gleaming with a mix of triumph and disbelief. “Elwood approached me today,” she announced, a spark of excitement in her voice. “He said he’d done a paternity test using our blood samples, and the results confirmed it—he’s my biological father.” A soft laugh escaped her lips, rich with satisfaction.
She then turned to Baker. “Dad, you did a great job.”
ⓣ𝓱𝓮 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.con
Baker’s grin stretched wide, pride flickering in his gaze. “Looks like Elwood has accepted the results without a second thought,” he said, his tone tinged with amusement.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have approached Kylee.
Kylee nodded, her eyes alight with appreciation. “Yes! Dad, it’s all thanks to your brilliant maneuvering. None of this would’ve worked without you.”
Baker’s smile widened as he leaned back in his chair. “Pure luck carried us through this one. Elwood walked straight into the paternity testing center where my investments hold sway, which made manipulating the results almost effortless. Had he picked any other facility, we would have faced a mountain of complications.”
“Thank goodness.” Kylee exhaled deeply, her shoulders sagging with relief. “Perhaps luck has finally decided to stand by my side after all these years.” She paused for a moment, her fingers drumming against the armrest as uncertainty flickered across her face. “The situation stands in our favor now; Elwood has embraced the belief that I am his flesh and blood. However, I’ve made it absolutely clear that this secret must remain buried for now, and he’s agreed to keep his mouth sealed.”
Holley’s brow furrowed deeply, concern etching lines across her face. “While Elwood may accept the truth now, what happens when he shares this revelation with his family members? What if they grow suspicious and insist on conducting another paternity test? Should they decide to have it performed here in Soling, how would we handle that?”
