"He promised me he'd go on the blind date.” Karen said with an eye roll. "Yeah, he did. Showed up and told the girl right off the bat that he has belonged to someone else and that he'd never love her despite the marriage. They could tie the knot only if she was cool with that. Who would marry a guy like that?" Dorothy looked down, an uncomfortable weight settling in her heart.
"I don't deserve what he's doing for me." "Kenneth thinks you do, and no one can tell him otherwise!" Karen patted her shoulder. "Hey, don't stress about it, Dorothy.
Kenneth's a grown man. Whatever choices he makes, he makes them willingly. No one's forcing his hand. And you shouldn't feel guilty. I certainly don't blame you for any of this." She was always clear about whom to love or hate! She wouldn't reproach Dorothy just because Kenneth was Kenneth.
"Do you think it'd be better if I kept my distance from him?" "No way. He was abroad before and never committed to anyone." Dorothy lifted her gaze. "That's because he was busy taking care of Langston for me. Now, he’s free from babysitting, and I'l just fade from his world." "If that were true, Kenneth probably wouldn't have agreed to go abroad! He left to help you out with Langston, right?" Karen paused, sensing something amiss. "Wait up! You said you won't need his help with Langston? Did the Lopez family find out...?" "Mhm," Dorothy nodded faintly. "They're taking the children.” "What the heck? They think they can just take them?" Karen exploded. "You gave your life to deliver the children, but what has the Lopez family ever done? They think they can just swoop in and claim them? Dream on!" "It was my decision." Karen blinked in confusion. "What?" Dorothy exhaled deeply. Her long lashes casting shadows that hid the turmoil in her eyes.
"Everett's father convinced me that the kids would be better off with the Lopez family. They'd have brighter futures, whereas I could only offer them ordinary lives. He made sense.” Besides the promise to see Everett, Dorothy was seriously considering Jonathan's words.
She knew hardship all too well. Growing up, she was always trapped by money. While other kids had their fill of good food and warm clothes, she was grateful just to have a full belly. Others could pick prestigious colleges or study abroad, while she had to settle for a second-tier school because of a measly scholarship.
Dorothy knew the kids wouldn't suffer as she had if they stayed with her, but they would still be far, far below what the Lopez family could offer.
She couldn't be that selfish.
"Better for who? Have you even told Everett? He'd never agree!" Dorothy grabbed Karen's sleeve urgently. "You mustn't tell Everett about this!" "Why not?" "Byte 7 said they could recover the surveillance disk in a month. I've got it all planned out. Once I have the video, I'll go for the public, blast it all over domestic and international media. I'll use the court of public opinion to pressure the Lopez Corporation while simultaneously filing criminal charges against his parents. The Lopez family is deeply rooted; I need to make a big scene to get a fair verdict. But..." Karen pursed her lips, and her face troubled. "You can never be with Everett if you ever get into those. Can you... can you really give him up?" After all, it was insane for a daughter-in-law, before even getting married, to plan for her mother-in-law’s sentence to death! Dorothy forced a smile but said nothing. She was at a loss for words.
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