But now, I only felt that all my previous efforts were utterly laughable.
I realized that I should have prioritized myself first, before being their wife and mother.
Chapter 13
7:15 PM
The game ended, and Hank walked toward me, his gaze fixed solely on me, nothing else mattered.
Suddenly, he knelt down on one knee, pulling a ring out of his pocket.
A camellia–shaped ring, with a pink diamond that shimmered and sparkled.
His eyes were red, his expression sincere, and his voice soft. “Adrienne, I know I was wrong before. You asked for a divorce, but it’s okay. I can propose to you again.
“This is your favorite camellia, the ring I personally designed and made for you.”
He waited for me to reach out my hand.
A staff member suddenly interjected, “Ms. Cooper, just accept it. Hank has been staying up every night making this ring. It’s painful to watch.”
At these words, the others began to cheer.
Alex even grinned, turning to Jesse beside me, mocking, “This is my mom. She loves me the most. I won’t let her hang out with you anymore!”
I looked at Jesse, his eyes were slightly red, his porcelain face wrinkled with sad. I even felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Meanwhile, Hank was trying to slip the ring onto my finger.
I sneered, pulled my hand back, and interrupted him. “Actually, I have something I want to give you.”
“What is it?” He smiled, his eyes full of affection. “If it’s something from Adrienne, I’ll take it.”
I lowered my gaze to mask my sarcasm, reaching into my bag to pull out a stack of papers and handing them to him.
“Sign it.”
Hank’s hand trembled as he dropped the stack of divorce papers onto the floor.
His face turned pale, and he demanded, “What is this supposed to mean?!”
“Didn’t you say you’d accept anything I give you? Sign it.”
I didn’t hesitate, sneering as I stared at his face, now drained of color.
Meanwhile, Alex had already reddened around the eyes, shouting in grievance, “Mom, why can’t you forgive us? Dad and I know we were wrong. We’ve already changed!”
At his words, I turned to look at him, as I always had, rubbing his head but with a distant tone. “Alex, this is the last lesson I’ll teach you.
“Not every mistake can be forgiven.”
With that, I ignored their pleas and left the chaotic recording set.
Behind me, I heard Aaron’s voice, sharp with coldness.
He said, “Hank, you don’t even understand Adrienne. Her least favorite flower is the camellia. It’s you and Suzanne who like it!”
I paused in my steps, frozen for a moment.
The barrage of comments kept rolling in.
[Does Hank really think all Adrienne’s fans are gone? She doesn’t like camellias, she doesn’t like black, and everything he just said was wrong! And he dares to claim he knows her? How disgusting!]
(Does he think we don’t know? Not only did he betray her, but now he’s pretending to be all romantic. What a scumbag.]
Hank sat on the around staring at the barrage of comments utterly defeated.
7:15 PM J
<
[Does Hank really think all Adrienne’s fans are gone? She doesn’t like camellias, she doesn’t like black, and everything he just said was wrong! And he dares to claim he knows her? How disgusting!]
[Does he think we don’t know? Not only did he betray her, but now he’s pretending to be all romantic. What a scumbag.]
Hank sat on the ground, staring at the barrage of comments, utterly defeated.
Chapter 14
Among the barrage of comments at that time, there was one that everyone overlooked but was confirmed six months later.
[I always feel like Aaron likes Adrienne. He’s her silent guardian knight. I ship them so hard!]
I looked down at Jesse, who was clinging to my leg, demanding a hamburger. I smiled helplessly. “I’m not taking you. Go ask your brother”
“But, Mom, he needs you to agree first.”
Aaron shrugged, his deep eyes filled with laughter and affection. “Exactly. You’re the head of the family, after all.”
“Alright.” I sighed.
But I didn’t expect to run into Alex at the restaurant.
He was sitting alone in the corner, staring at me intently.
“Mom!”
He screamed and rushed toward me, his voice choked. “Mom, I finally found you.”
Jesse stepped forward, blocking him. He spoke sharply. “She’s not your mom.
“You’re so annoying! You didn’t cherish her back then,” Jesse said, raising his brow and mimicking an adult’s challenge. “I should thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have such a great Ms. Cooper.”
Alex’s eyes reddened, his expression fierce as he insisted, “No, no, that’s not true.”
Just as the tension escalated, Hank showed up.
He looked disheveled, noticeably thinner, and when he saw me, his eyes widened unconsciously.
“Adrienne…” he murmured softly.
But I didn’t want to engage with them anymore. After placing my order, I simply walked away.
After my divorce from Hank on the variety show, his reputation, along with Suzanne’s, crumbled.
Previous partnerships were quickly terminated, and the comment section was flooded with so much hate that they had to shut it down. Eventually, they withdrew from the public eye.
As for me, my popularity skyrocketed because of it.
Taking away his most cherished thing was the best lesson for him!
Aaron walked ahead, holding Jesse’s hand. But it didn’t take long before Jesse broke free from him and turned to run toward me.
“Ms. Cooper, hurry up!” he urged. “We still have to watch a movie together!”
I nodded, smiling lightly as I agreed.
And with that, the morning glow painted the sky in hues of red, filling the previously hidden colors of secret love, and the sunlight shone even brighter.
