She hesitated for a while, then heard the doorbell ring.
She quickly went over to open it and saw Hugo Quinn and Chloe’s mom coming back together.
Jane Shaw had a smile on her face, nodding politely,
"I met Mr. Quinn at the door. Is Chloe still here? She came over to play and didn’t expect to stay so long."
Seeing the two of them standing at the door together, Eleanor Hollis felt uneasy, but she still smiled and spoke up.
"Yes, she’s asleep on the sofa. I was just debating whether to carry her upstairs to sleep."
Hugo Quinn was already changing his shoes at the entrance and compliantly took out a pair, placing them in front of Jane Shaw.
Jane Shaw bent down politely, "Thank you."
Seeing their actions, Eleanor felt even more uneasy, but thinking this was Hugo offering hospitality as a host, she dismissed her thoughts.
Once they changed their shoes, they walked over to the sofa.
Chloe was indeed sleeping deeply, her little head leaning to one side.
Jane Shaw smiled, bent down to pick up the child, holding her affectionately.
"I won’t disturb you any longer, Eleanor. Thank you for the hospitality. I’ll invite you over to my place on another day."
Eleanor really wanted to decline, but thought it wouldn’t be polite to outright refuse, so she just gave an awkward smile.
"It’s fine, I’m happy that the kids can play together."
Jane Shaw carried the child out of the villa, just as she placed Chloe in the car, the child woke up.
Chloe rubbed her eyes and obediently sat in the passenger seat.
"Uncle’s house is so big, much bigger than ours. Mommy, I really like that kind of house."
Jane Shaw already pressed the gas pedal and turned to look at the child.
"If you like it, then help mommy. When mommy marries the uncle, that house will be ours. Your uncle is a very powerful person. It won’t just be the house. At that time, Chloe will become the most cherished little princess, and no one will dare say you’re a fatherless child."
When Chloe first started school, she was always told she came from a single-parent family, while other kids had both parents. But in her family, she only saw her mom and didn’t even know who her father was.
"Mommy, I understand. I’ll try my best."
Jane Shaw curved her lips, her heart without much fluctuation.
When she unexpectedly became pregnant with this child, she knew her future would be tough. But to get rid of the child just like that felt too cruel to an unborn life.
After much deliberation, she still decided to have the child. Over the years, she’s climbed from a small employee to now being a general manager, each step taken over others’ backs.
She did all this to raise her daughter.
In Serenford, a place where land is as valuable as gold, buying a house is not easy; many people work hard for half their lives and still can’t afford a bathroom here, but she managed to buy one. Although it’s only a bit over a hundred square feet, she’s already very satisfied.
At least she and her daughter have a home.
Jane Shaw began to think deeply, always feeling he resembled the man from that night, yet she couldn’t quite pinpoint the resemblance, given that she never really saw that man’s face clearly, as she was dragged into darkness immediately after.
When she saw Hugo Quinn at school for the first time, she felt a strange familiarity, one that made her heart race.
So she let Chloe get close to Marcus Quinn, hoping to dig out more secrets.
"Mommy, Marcus is really nice. I enjoy being friends with him, even though he speaks harshly, he cares about me."
Chloe said while looking out the window, a trace of confusion in her eyes.
It seemed like Aunt Eleanor and Uncle had a good relationship. Would her mommy be happy if she broke that?
Chloe always knew her mommy worked so hard for her. That day at school, she noticed her mommy kept staring at Uncle, realizing mommy probably liked him. In all these years, mommy had never shown interest in any man. Uncle Quinn was the first.
She hoped someone would become mommy’s support, standing behind her so she wouldn’t be so tired.
So even if this was wrong, for mommy’s sake, she would strive for it.
When they got home, Jane Shaw placed Chloe on the bed, taking off her shoes and socks.
"Be good, rest well."
Jane Shaw left a kiss on her forehead, speaking gently.
But Chloe reached out and grabbed her sleeve, "Mommy, you never told me about my daddy. Is he dead or missing? Did he abandon us?"
Jane Shaw froze, unsure how to answer this.
Should she tell this child that what happened back then wasn’t her wish, but she was forced by a strong man? When she awoke, the man was gone, and having no experience from her first encounter, she forgot to take precautions, resulting in this child, whom she decided to keep.
"Did daddy abandon us?"
Chloe’s eyes reddened, wondering why other kids had fathers, but she didn’t...
Jane Shaw sighed, reaching out to rub her head.
"It’s not what you think, Chloe. Your daddy... he’s already dead, which is why I hadn’t told you. It’s hard for me too, but you have to trust mommy. Even if it’s just me, I’ll still raise you healthily."
Chloe’s eyes held a hint of disappointment, sullenly covering her head with a blanket.
So daddy really was already dead...
"Mommy, I’m sorry, I understand now. I won’t ask anymore, please rest soon."
Jane Shaw pulled the blanket down, covering her up to her neck.
After leaving the room, Jane Shaw gently closed the door, the smile on her face slowly fading away.
She wasn’t even sure if that man was dead. When she first saw Hugo Quinn, she even thought he was that man.
So she must investigate this clearly. If Chloe really was Hugo Quinn’s child, Hugo and Eleanor couldn’t get married,
Hugo didn’t know about her dilemma, as he held Eleanor in his arms, one hand typing on the keyboard.
While Eleanor was wearing headphones watching a show.
"Have you ever felt that Chloe resembles you a bit?"
She wanted to ask this question long ago, especially today, after observing Chloe’s appearance closely, feeling it was more curious.
Hugo Quinn’s hand froze, his mouth twitching.
"What on earth are you thinking about all day long? She’s not my child."
Eleanor snorted softly, looking at him with a calm gaze. Newest update provıded by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚫𝙣𝙚𝙩
"Maybe she’s your old flame’s child, someone who couldn’t let go of you and decided to have the baby."
Hugo’s frown deepened. He never had an old flame; before meeting Eleanor, he wasn’t interested in anyone else.