The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 537

“You haven’t even set foot back in the Lee family home, and you’re already so worried we might prefer sons over daughters?” Geoffrey’s frown deepened, unmistakable disapproval in his voice. “I won’t lie to you—I did favor sons. But your mother didn’t. When she got pregnant with you, she was so desperate to keep you safe, she didn’t dare tell a soul. She planned to have you in secret. Somehow it got out, everything spiraled, and I—ashamed, not wanting a scandal—kept it all under wraps. We never told anyone.”

“Because we hid it, it made it so much harder for your mother to find you. Otherwise, we could have brought you home years ago. I know it isn’t fair, but the attitude you’re showing now—it’s breaking your mother’s heart. Do you really want her to live the rest of her life consumed by guilt and regret?”

As Geoffrey’s words trailed off, Adela couldn’t hold back any longer. She broke down, sobbing openly.

From where they stood on their supposed moral high ground, Catherine’s refusal to reconcile seemed cold, ungrateful—even callous. After all, coming back as the Lee family’s long-lost daughter would shoot her status straight up, promise a life so much better than what she had now. It didn’t matter what Catherine wanted; what mattered was the Lees wanted her, and Adela had never managed to let her go.

Catherine took a breath, her tone shifting. “Honestly, I’m just afraid I’ll bring shame to the Lee family. I had a child out of wedlock. The father… is unknown.”

Adela’s crying hitched to a startled pause. “Unknown?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Geoffrey said, brushing it aside with a wave. “No one in Eldervale would dare gossip about our family. But since, one day, you’ll want to get married, we’ve come up with a plan—if you’re willing to hear it.”

Catherine stared at the floor, masking her reaction. “What plan?”

Geoffrey lowered his voice, leaning in. “Your brother’s wife gave birth the same day you did. We can have your child adopted by your brother—he’ll still be raised as a Lee, still entitled to the family inheritance. And you’ll be the Lee family’s treasured daughter. You can marry a suitable man and have a family of your own. We’ll make sure you never suffer again.”

“How generous,” Catherine murmured, a thread of sarcasm tugging at her lips. They were so concerned for her as their daughter, yet not a single one of them cared about what her life had been like—how she’d come to have a child without a father, or whether she’d been hurt in the process.

“Don’t worry,” Adela hurried to add, “your brother will love the child like his own. We’ll all live under one roof. You’ll get to see your son every day. I won’t let you go through the pain I did—I won’t let you and your child be separated.”

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