?<strong>Chapter 352:</strong>


    Raelyn kept her smile in ce, her tone even as she nodded. “Yes, it’s me. Do you remember now?”


    Amara hesitated, her finger wavering mid-air as she processed Raelyn’s unexpected presence. She had never looked at Adrian with such panic before.


    “Mom?” Adrian reached out, confusion lining his features.


    “Don’t call me Mom!” Amara recoiled, shrugging off his touch. “All of you are conspiring against me!”


    “Mom, what are you talking about?”


    Amara’s eyes darted frantically before she made a sudden move, lurching forward to grasp Raelyn’s shoulders, her expression one of wild rm. “He’s my son now! You have no right toe back for him! He’s mine! Didn’t we settle this back then? Why are you here now?”


    Despite the aggressive confrontation, Raelyn remained outwardly calm, her voice steady. “I have no intention of taking him away, Amara. I came here to express my gratitude. The money you provided all those years ago helped me to invest wisely and seed in my ventures.”


    Amara’s suspicion ebbed slightly. “Then why return now?”


    “To express my gratitude,” Raelyn said, her eyes briefly meeting Adrian’s. “I owe you thanks for not just the wealth, but for the social standing you afforded me, and above all, for nurturing my son so well.”


    Joelle caught Adrian’s reaction—a mix of confusion and resentment towards Raelyn. She had her suspicions about the true nature of their rtionship. Understanding the stakes as a mother herself, Joelle was pained to think of Amara’s harsh treatment towards her own son.


    It dawned on her—perhaps Adrian was not truly Amara’s biological child. It was a shocking theory, yet not beyond the realm of possibility. Overwhelmed by the weight of her secret, Amara disclosed the truth.


    From her first encounter with Raelyn, Amara suspected malicious intentions, and now her suspicions were confirmed. She revealed that Adrian was not her biological son. After discovering her infertility following her marriage, Amara faced immense pressure from Irene, who was adamant about having a grandchild. Driven by her deep love for Adrian’s father, she resorted to arranging for Raelyn to conceive Adrian.


    Back then, in vitro fertilization technology was still primitive,pelling Amara to make a drastic decision. She arranged for her husband and Raelyn to sleep together, which eventually led to the conception and birth of Adrian. Driven by desperation to fulfill her husband’s desire for a child, Amara felt she had no other choice. After Adrian’s birth, his father gradually came to terms with the circumstances and embraced Adrian as his own son.


    However, as time passed, Amara’s initial relief turned into deep-seated resentment. Seeing Adrian regrly became a painful reminder of her own infertility.


    “Mom, what does she mean?” Adrian’s voice cracked, grappling with the implications of Raelyn’s words.


    Amara, her face stoic yet her eyes betraying tears, felt a profound sense of alienation. She had cherished her connection with Adrian’s father, but now she sensed even that was slipping away.


    In a sudden burst of emotion, she shoved Adrian forcefully, her voice ragged with despair. “Yes! She’s right! You’re not my son! How could you be?”


    Herughter was harsh and hollow, echoing her pain. “If I had a son, he’d outshine you in ambition and sess! If I were capable of having children, how could I let the Miller legacy be squandered by someone like you? Why can’t I bear children?”


    Raelyn sighed and remarked, “You truly are lost. I always sensed something was off when you approached me back then.”


    As the scene unfolded, Amara was led away by staff from the Miller family, her figure a silhouette of defeat. Leah, opting for discretion, broke the heavy silence. “Aurora and Rnd are tucked in for the night. I’ll continue with dinner preparations.”


    Raelyn, sensing the heavy mood, dismissed herself. “It seems tonight is not for hosting. I’ll leave you be.”


    Adrian stood frozen, a deep void opening within him. It was more than the shock of the revtion. It was the crumbling of trust in Amara, a bond he believed unbreakable by virtue of their kinship, now dissipating into nothingness.


    As Raelyn left, the sound of the closing door echoed, snapping Adrian back to reality. He instinctively took a step forward, his heart racing.


    “Adrian.” Joelle reached out, her voiceced with concern. “Are you okay?”


    “I need to find out the truth,” he said, the resolve in his voice firm.


    Joelle’s expression softened. “Do you want me to go with you?” The thought of Joelle delving into the murky details of his past was unbearable to Adrian. “I’ll go alone.”


    With that, he stepped out into the night, his figure swallowed by the shadows.


    Back at her home, Raelyn casually picked up a pack of cigarettes from the table. She left the door unlocked, anticipating Adrian’s arrival. Inside, the living room was shrouded in darkness, save for the moonlight streaming through therge windows, casting eerie shadows over the furniture draped in white sheets.


    When Adrian arrived, he found Raelyn standing by the window, a silhouette against the pale light. She turned slightly, exhaling smoke into the dimly lit room. “Ask whatever you want.”


    Adrian approached. “Who are you really?”


    “The one who gave birth to you.”


    Raelyn’s voice was steady as she recounted the past. “I was in dire need of money. Amara, unable to conceive, saw an opportunity in my desperation. She made me and your father sleep together until I became pregnant. After you were born, she paid me handsomely to disappear from your life forever.”


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