Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce-Chapter 96: An Illegitimate Child Is Still of Lancaster Blood

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: An Illegitimate Child Is Still of Lancaster Blood

Old Mrs. Lancaster pointed to the drawer of the nightstand.

"Wren, dear, there’s a wooden box in the drawer. Take it out."

"Okay."

Wren Sutton pulled open the drawer. A square, exquisitely crafted Golden Rattan Wood Jewelry Box came into view.

She carefully took it out and handed it to Old Mrs. Lancaster.

Old Mrs. Lancaster opened it and took out its contents: a longevity lock inlaid with gold and jade.

Wren Sutton guessed immediately. "Grandma, this is a full moon gift for the Quinn family’s new young master, right?"

"Yes." Old Mrs. Lancaster nodded. "Take it with you when you leave."

"Alright. When I go to the Quinn family’s home the day after tomorrow, I’ll give it to Old Mrs. Quinn personally."

"Grandma knows she can count on you."

After Old Mrs. Lancaster had given all her instructions, Wren Sutton chatted with the old woman about other interesting things. The atmosphere was very warm.

「About an hour later.」

The door to the hospital room was pushed open, and Theodore Lancaster walked in.

Wren Sutton stood up and greeted him politely, calling out, "Dad."

Theodore Lancaster had a pleasant expression. "Ah, Wren, you’re here. Please, sit down. Don’t be so formal just because I’ve arrived."

Wren Sutton sat back down, neither servile nor overbearing. She listened attentively as Theodore spoke with Old Mrs. Lancaster, careful not to interrupt.

When the Quinn family’s full moon banquet came up, Theodore Lancaster agreed with his mother’s arrangement.

"Yes, let Adrian and Wren, the young couple, go. It’ll be good for them to soak up some of the happy atmosphere."

Wren Sutton was sharp enough to catch Theodore’s underlying meaning. Her expression remained neutral, and she said nothing.

Theodore had only hinted at it, and Old Mrs. Lancaster, seeing right through him, didn’t expose it, sparing Wren the embarrassment.

The atmosphere became a little awkward.

A moment later, Theodore broke the silence. "Mom, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"It’s very important to the Lancaster family, and I’m not sure what to do."

Old Mrs. Lancaster grew anxious. "Well, spit it out. Don’t keep me in suspense."

Theodore fell into a contemplative silence, his expression grave.

Wren Sutton understood in an instant.

’He’s politely asking me to leave. He doesn’t want me to hear this.’

She wasn’t one to miss a hint. She found a reasonable excuse, got up, left the hospital room, and went home.

「Now, only Old Mrs. Lancaster and Theodore were left in the hospital room.」

Mother and son faced each other.

"She’s gone. You can speak now." Old Mrs. Lancaster was a little displeased, her tone accusatory.

"Wren isn’t an outsider. Why did you have to do that? What do you think that makes the girl feel?"

Theodore Lancaster wasn’t concerned about Wren Sutton’s feelings.

His attitude toward his daughter-in-law had always been neutral. He didn’t particularly dislike her, but he didn’t particularly like her either. His satisfaction level was about fifty percent.

Not forcing her to leave the Lancaster family was, in his mind, as benevolent as he could possibly be.

"Because this is something she cannot know."

Old Mrs. Lancaster grew even more anxious. "You’ve been beating around the bush for so long. What is it? Stop stalling. If you’re not going to say it, then get out."

Theodore Lancaster just smiled, not the least bit angry.

"Mom, calm down, I’ll tell you right now. You don’t have to be envious of Old Mrs. Quinn anymore. Just like her, you’re a great-grandmother now. And I’m a grandfather."

At these words, Old Mrs. Lancaster’s eyes widened, her heart pounding with excitement.

"Really?"

"Of course. I wouldn’t dare lie to you about something this major."

Joy spread across Old Mrs. Lancaster’s face. "Thank heavens! This is wonderful! I’m finally a great-grandmother."

But then a thought struck her. ’Something’s not right.’

’If my daughter-in-law is pregnant, that’s a joyous occasion. Why would her father-in-law avoid discussing it in front of her? And why keep it from her? It doesn’t make any logical sense.’

Suspicion filled Old Mrs. Lancaster’s mind.

In a flash, an absurd "unless" crossed her mind. Unless the one who was pregnant wasn’t Wren Sutton.

"So, Mom, are you happy?" Theodore asked cheerfully.

Old Mrs. Lancaster’s expression changed. She cut straight to the point, "Who is the child’s mother?"

Theodore had no intention of hiding it. He just lowered his voice. "Maya Marshall."

"You bastard." Old Mrs. Lancaster trembled with rage.

Theodore hurried forward to placate her. "Mom, this is a good thing. Don’t be angry."

"A good thing, my ass." Old Mrs. Lancaster was deeply disappointed.

"Only a child born to Wren Sutton is a true descendant of the Lancaster family. A child from Maya Marshall is illegitimate."

Theodore naturally understood this principle, but he patiently explained to his old mother, "As long as it’s Adrian’s child, at the end of the day, it’s still Lancaster blood."

Old Mrs. Lancaster was beside herself with fury. She rarely showed such an expression, and her sheer presence overwhelmed Theodore.

"The Lancaster family does not accept illegitimate children."

"Mom, just listen to me—"

"Shut up!"

Old Mrs. Lancaster’s meaning was crystal clear: she would not acknowledge the child in Maya Marshall’s womb.

Theodore’s head throbbed. For now, he didn’t dare say anything too drastic, worried the shock would be too much for his mother’s health.

’I should have waited until after the child was born to say anything.’

"Don’t be angry. We’ll listen to you on this matter. You have the final say."

Old Mrs. Lancaster’s expression was grave. She had already decided on a plan of action.

"First, lock down the news. Don’t let a word of this get out."

"Second, contact the most professional OB/GYN and arrange for Maya Marshall to have a procedure as soon as possible. That child in her belly cannot be born."

"Third, compensate the Marshall Family after the procedure."

Theodore agreed verbally, but inside, a storm was raging. He was torn.

Old Mrs. Lancaster thought of something else and added, "And tell Adrian Lancaster he is forbidden from seeing Maya Marshall again. Otherwise, I will inform the board of directors and have him removed from his position as CEO."

...

「Amberwood Estates.」

Wren Sutton arrived home safely.

Her gaze fell upon the Golden Rattan Wood Jewelry Box on the coffee table.

Thinking of the longevity lock inside, she subconsciously touched her own belly. Her heart was a jumble of complicated emotions.

’If their marriage hadn’t fallen apart, if she had successfully given birth to her two children, Old Mrs. Lancaster would have surely prepared longevity locks for them too.’

The thought of her children made Wren press her hand to her forehead, her heart twisting in a painful struggle.

To this day, she still hadn’t made up her mind whether to keep the babies or not. Day after day, she avoided the problem, unwilling to face the choice.

Lost in thought, Wren’s eyes reddened before she even realized it. She curled up on the sofa, hugging herself.

Once her emotions had stabilized, she took out her phone and sent a text to Adrian Lancaster. She didn’t want to call him.

She informed him that they were to go to the Quinn family’s full moon banquet together at noon the day after tomorrow.

The message sent successfully, but there was no reply from his end.

Wren Sutton took it as Adrian’s silent agreement and didn’t press the matter further.