When I returned home, Grandma Ravenna already knew what had happened today.
She held my hand, her eyes red with pain for me.
“There are only two days left before the divorce papers are done.”
“Natalie, you’ve suffered.”
I sniffed and forced a small smile. “I’m okay.”
Grandma Ravenna sighed and muttered, “Tomorrow is your grandpa’s 80th birthday.”
“He doesn’t have much time left. Could you… at least for these last two days, let him feel at ease?”
I still agreed.
Grandpa Kale’s birthday gathering was held at the old house.
Ravenna and I arrived first.
Grandpa Kale sat in the main hall’s armchair. His energy wasn’t good, yet he still pushed himself upright. When he saw me walk in, he nodded.
He looked toward the doorway and couldn’t help sighing.
“Where’s that brat? On a day like this, he still refuses to show up.”
Clearly, he wasn’t unaware of Zion’s recent behavior.
I only gave a faint smile and didn’t reply.
Soon after, there was movement at the entrance.
Zion walked in with Maeve trailing right behind him.
In that instant, the air in the hall froze on the spot.
Grandpa Kale’s expression turned dark right away. His cane struck the ground with a heavy hit.
“You still dare bring some shameless girl here?!”
The next moment, the cane was already swinging down.
“You brat!”
Zion stumbled back a step, his face tight, but he didn’t fight back. And Maeve suddenly rushed forward.
She lifted her arms, blocking in front of Zion, tears spilling right away.
“Grandpa, don’t hit Brother Zion…”
“It’s all because of me.”
“It’s because I’m not good enough, because I’m pregnant with Zion’s baby, that he brought me back.”
“I understand I come from nothing, that I don’t deserve to stand in a place like this…”
She bit her lip, then added softly, “But the baby is innocent…”
Baby?
I stared at Maeve, unable to believe it.
Zion’s face changed slightly. He reached out and pulled Maeve into his arms.
“Maeve is pregnant. It’s my child. I need to take responsibility.”
He paused, then, almost as if giving himself courage, said, “And also, Maeve’s baby is a boy. Natalie’s baby is a girl.”
“Grandpa, I’m doing this for the family line.”
For the family line.
Those words were like an old, dull knife pushed straight into my chest.
A family like the Payne family had known the gender of my baby the moment I had prenatal tests.
But whether it was Ravenna, Kale, or Zion’s parents abroad, not one of them ever cared.