Chapter 49 Cecily Learnt Rowan Was Her Child
Ophelia bit her lip, stung by Cecily's accuracy.
Of course, she was feeling secure. Although Darian agreed to an engagement, it was solely because he thought he had slept with her all those years ago.
But someone else had been with her.
That wasn’t even the crucial issue.
The real problem was that Ophelia could feel that Darian didn't love her.
The more she realized this, the more unsettled she became.
Especially now that Cecily was back in town.
Rowan was like a ticking time bomb at Darian's side.
Her fears and insecurity were only natural.
Cecily raised an eyebrow as a mocking smile crossed her face.
Ophelia gritted her teeth. "I will be Darian's wife, you'll see."
"What am I waiting for? If you want to be his wife, go ahead."
Having said her piece, Cecily turned to leave, deliberately brushing her hand against her pocket, causing a photograph to slip out.
In the photograph was Griffin.
With feigned unawareness, Cecily strode forward, her heart pounding to its limits.
Cecily was gambling. If the child truly looked identical to Griffin, the sight of this photo would surely prompt Ophelia to call out to her, demanding an explanation.
She was desperate to know if this child was hers; she had to take the risk.
Ophelia narrowed her eyes as she watched the photo fall from Cecily's pocket. She stepped forward, picked it up, and looked at it briefly before asking point-blank, "How come you have a picture of Rowan?"
It felt like someone shot her chest.
Cecily was struck dumb, her body frozen in place.
For a full few seconds, her face remained expressionless. Then, a wave of relief she had never felt before washed over her.
Rowan!
The child raised by Darian, who was the spitting image of Griffin was really her son. She hadn't been mistaken that day. It truly was her child!
The child she once thought had died.
Her child. He was her son!
Struggling to contain her overwhelming emotions, Cecily found her racing heartbeat impossible to calm.
She took several deep breaths, burying her emotions deep within, and when she turned around, her eyes were a serene pool of clarity.
She stepped toward Ophelia, reclaimed the photograph from her grasp, and addressed her, "Why are you surprised that I have a picture of my own son?"
"So, you still remember that Rowan is your son, do you?"
Despite already knowing, Cecily's heart jolted at the remark.
Arms crossed, Ophelia moved a couple of steps closer, her eyes a mix of scorn and pity as she gazed at Cecily.
"Cecily, when it comes to being cunning, you still take the lead. You sent your child to the Fitzgerald family, then faked your death to elicit Darian's sympathy, exploiting his guilt to keep the child close. That way, it would be easier for you to come back into Darian's life later, right?"
"Cecily, you're truly wicked. To think you'd use your own child to achieve your ambitions."
Cecily's expression grew darker. She had never planned to use her child for personal gain.
The day she learned of her child's death was her most painful moment; she couldn't fathom how the child had ended up with Darian.
Ophelia noticed Cecily's grim face and felt a surge of satisfaction. "Hit a nerve, didn't I? But your little scheme is doomed, Cecily. That child isn't Darian's at all. He's nothing more than a pet to Darian. He doesn't care about him; in fact, he can't stand him. Do you know why Rowan is sick in the hospital right now?"
Uncertain if Ophelia spoke the truth, Cecily's face turned ashen.
Smirking at the shift in Cecily's countenance, Ophelia went on, "Rowan made a mistake last night. Darian punished him and left him outside, not allowing him to come home. Can you imagine? In this freezing weather, the child spent the whole night alone in the bushes, only to be rushed to the hospital today with a high fever."
"You really are heartless," Ophelia taunted, her laugh piercing.
Cecily's fingers clenched tightly as a wave of pain flooded her chest.
"Cecily, you must understand; the only reason Darian keeps him around is because I haven't given him a child of our own yet. Once Darian and I are married and we have our own kids, your bastard will be worthless."
Ophelia reveled in Cecily's tormented expression. She didn't care about the truth; her aim was to inflict pain, to make Cecily believe Darian was abusing the child. The more anguish Cecily suffered; the happier Ophelia became.
Cecily took a deep breath and fixed her gaze on Ophelia, "Rowan is Darian's child."
Despite what anyone said, that night, Cecily was certain. Darian with her that night.
As for why Darian ended up believing it wasn't the case and was convinced that the child Ophelia carried was his, Cecily guessed Ophelia must have done something sneaky.
A furrow appeared between Ophelia's brows, her eyes shining with a mischievous glint. "You think it's that simple? Darian has already taken a paternity test with Rowan. The results? They're not related by blood."
"That can't be." Cecily narrowed her shrewd eyes, "You've tampered with it, haven't you?"
Ophelia let out a cold laugh. She certainly wasn't foolish enough to admit it. "It is what it is. What could I possibly do?"
Cecily knew all too well that Ophelia would never confess to her schemes, further discussion was futile.
Her thoughts should now turn to how she could reclaim her child.
She wasn't sure if Darian would be harsh to the child, but there was one thing she was sure of: Ophelia would show no mercy to her offspring. The child's life within the Fitzgerald family would be anything but comfortable.
She could not let her child suffer any longer.
As for settling scores with Darian and Ophelia, that could wait.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
