Chapter 135 Have You Fallen for Adeline?
"Lauren."
As the young girl was caught in an emotional storm, Bennett grabbed her hand tightly.
"Sorry, she's just really worked up."
The little guy held onto Lauren and shot Jasper a fantastic glance. "If this is really your decision, we have no right to object. After all, we're just kids with little say.
"But you better make sure Molly never shows up in front of us ever again. Otherwise, we won't acknowledge you as our father."
With that said, he took Lauren by the hand, and they both went upstairs.
Stella watched the siblings' retreating figures disappear, managing a wry smile, "Kids these days."
Jasper let out a sigh, "Do you really plan to send Molly to Europe?"
"Yes."
Stella smiled faintly, "Molly's been spoiled; she dropped out of middle school and never continued her education. Maybe we should find her a boarding school in Europe to catch up on her studies."
Jasper sighed again, "You always think things through."
The solution spared the parents' feelings, gave Molly a taste of strict discipline, and prevented any further misbehavior.
It seemed like a perfect choice.
But he couldn't help feeling sorry for the suffering Lauren and Bennett had endured.
...
"Why did you stop me, Bennett!"
Back in the children's room, Lauren's tears were falling non-stop. "It's on purpose; she's doing it on purpose! I'm going to threaten her and make her change her mind!"
"Lauren!"
The young boy's brows knit together tightly, "We've already threatened her to release Mom! Mom's at her mercy right now; we don't hold the cards here!"
Lauren was crying, biting her lip, "So we just let Molly go like that?"
"Of course not."
Bennett narrowed his eyes.
"Don't forget, once she's in Europe, she'll be on Brandon Torres's turf—our godfather's territory!"
The girl's head shot up, "Right!"
...
Evening
In a Denver jail cell
Adeline sat blankly on her bed, staring at the small skylight on the wall.
She had been brought to the interrogation room early that morning.
They grilled her all day long.
Intimidation, threats, insults.
Throughout the day, she endured a torrent of verbal abuse like she'd never experienced before.
Those people seemed to disdain physical violence, so they used their words to try to break her spirit.
For Adeline, a single day felt like an eternity.
She didn't know when she might be able to leave nor how much longer she could hold on.
One day, the pressure might become too much for her.
Either she would die or confess.
Across from her, on the other bunk, Molly was bustling about, folding her clothes and humming a tune.
She looked up, caught sight of Adeline's forlorn gaze fixed on the small window, and chuckled. "You've been staring at that little window so long, Adeline. Have you found anything interesting out there yet?"
Adeline furrowed her brows, snapping back to reality.
"I'm getting out soon. Just packing my stuff," she said.
Molly shot her a sly grin. "Surprised, aren't you?"
Adeline narrowed her eyes. "You're getting out?"
"Of course I am."
With a snicker, Molly went back to tidying her clothes with brisk movements. "Who would have thought, huh? You were the one who got me here, but now I'm the one leaving first. You're the one stuck here!" She smirked triumphantly. "Still feeling clueless?"
"And do you wonder how she got so much dirt on you?"
Molly yawned. "Stella came to see me before your parents even knew I was here. As soon as she landed in Denver and found out I was in jail, she came. We made a deal. I told her everything about you and the kids. In return, she assured me she'd get me out."
Adeline's face turned ashen.
She had struggled so hard to put Molly behind bars.
But as soon as Stella showed up, all her efforts seemed to vanish.
"I always told you you're too naive," Molly taunted.
Whistling casually, she continued. "You wiped away every trace of yourself and even refused to acknowledge you were Adeline. If you won't be Adeline, there are others who will.
"Now Stella has become Adeline, and you can't prove who you are. Doesn't that break your heart?
"All that effort to put me away, what good did it do?
"A little whisper in the right ear, and I'm walking free."
Yawning once more, she teased. "Do you think Stella was whispering sweet nothings to Jasper right after they'd hit the sheets?"
Adeline's heart clenched.
It hurt.
Yet she managed to offer a composed smile. "What does it matter if they've slept together?
"Jasper's had no shortage of women."
Molly hesitated and almost let slip that Jasper had only been with Adeline.
But then she reconsidered – why give her the satisfaction?
Shrugging nonchalantly, Molly conceded, "That's true enough. I've been with him too, you know.
"It's a shame that a guy that good in bed is off the table now."
Adeline felt a wave of nausea.
She shifted her position, giving Molly nothing but an indifferent shoulder.
Just then, the prison locks clicked.
The female guard walked in with a furrowed brow, "You're free to go."
Molly was ecstatic. "Is it me? I'm getting out, right?"
The guard cast a glance at Adeline in the distance, "Both of you, you're free to leave."
...
"Looks like those little tricks of yours actually worked."
Having changed out of their prison garb, Molly and Adeline emerged from the locker room together.
Walking down the hall, Molly sneered, "I can't believe they're letting me go with you."
She'd even had Stella grease some palms to take good care of her inside.
Adeline stared straight ahead, expressionless.
She didn't want to engage with Molly.
This Stella had come out of nowhere, throwing all her plans into disarray.
She'd even managed to use Adeline's own identity to ruin years of effort!
Now Molly was out.
Getting her to pay now might be as challenging as reaching the sky.
The thought plunged Adeline into waves of despair.
The night was hazy.
Two cars were parked outside the police station.
One belonged to Geoffrey and Helen Collins.
The other belonged to Violet and her boyfriend, Ethan Sterling.
Adeline and Molly stepped out of the station one after the other.
"Daddy! Mommy!"
As if on cue, the moment they were out, Molly threw herself at Geoffrey and Helen.
"I've missed you so much!"
Helen and Geoffrey embraced Molly from either side, "Our sweet daughter."
The family of three wept together.
Adeline watched their display of affection stone-faced.
In truth, she was part of the Collins family, too.
But at that moment, watching the distant trio, memories of a once-complete family felt distant and faded.
She should have understood long ago.
The love of family wasn't something she could expect.
As she watched them in a daze, Molly turned around and shot her a wicked smile.
"Miss Wilson, we have plenty of time ahead of us."
Helen frowned and cast a disgusted glance at Adeline before turning to pat Molly's back. "Why even bother talking to someone as heartless as her?"
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