Chapter 1523 So Naive

• As she spoke, her head hung even lower, her voice barely a whisper. “When I returned to my parents' room, they were in the midst of an argument. My dad had seen the missing person announcement your father had posted and wanted to contact him, to return you to him. My mother, however, disagreed. Mom raised you as if you were her own flesh and blood, pouring a great deal of love and effort into your upbringing. She felt a deep connection with you as if you were destined to be her son, and she had no intention of handing you back to your father. I liked you too... Back then, I was too young and naive about everything. All I knew was that you were my younger brother, and I didn't want you to leave my side, to be handed over to someone else. Mom cried, and I cried too. Neither of us wanted to let you go. Dad, unable to win against both of us, eventually gave up on the idea of sending you away. Later on, Dad found a way to remove the birthmark on your back...”
• Cadmus calmly asked, “Is it because that day when Mom and Dad were arguing, you took me out of the room? I overheard their conversation. You thought I still remembered what was said. So all these years, you've been distrusting me, even testing me occasionally, right?”
• “Right...” Cora gave a bitter smile. “If you've done nothing wrong, you wouldn't be scared of any accusations. But once you've done something guilty, you start to become suspicious and paranoid. That day, I overheard our parents arguing. I'm sure you did too. It's just that you were too young at the time. I consoled myself, noting that you were still too young. Even if you'd heard, you wouldn't have understood what it meant. And even if you did understand at the time, you would have forgotten it later. Even though I tried to console myself, deep down, there was a voice that whispered to me, saying you're so smart, and perhaps you understood what Mom and Dad were saying. You didn't forget. You're just waiting for the right opportunity to retaliate against me, against Mom and Dad. For instance, like that matrilocal son-in-law of Grandpa's friend, who got married while keeping a mistress and illegitimate children on the side. Then, you might swallow up the Jacinto family's fortune and leave me to die a miserable death...”