Chapter 7 A Tenderness Forged in Steel

• Just as Hadden was about to explain, Vanessa snapped, "Shut up!"
• "Mommy, I'm hungry!"
• Anya's voice came at just the right moment.
• Hearing that, Vanessa turned to Andrew. "Dad, let's start dinner."
• Andrew held little sway in the Smiths due to his perceived incompetence, but Vanessa was highly regarded by the family's head because of her outstanding abilities.
• The family's current achievement was entirely dependent on Vanessa. As a result, she had a significant influence on the household, except when it came to matters of marriage, where Andrew and Rebecca were forcefully opinionated.
• Given that Lucas, the wealthiest man in Jerton, had shown up with his luxury car and lavish gifts, even Bill didn't dare to boast any longer. Without even eating, he found an excuse and left.
• By 5 PM, all the relatives had gone, leaving Rebecca to turn to Vivian and say, "Vivi, take Anya to her room for a bit."
• Vivian understood that Rebecca wanted to have a word with Hadden, and she glanced at him with a gleeful, mocking smile before taking Anya away. "Anya, come play hide and seek with Aunt Vivian."
• Though Anya wanted to stay with Hadden, the thought of playing a game with her aunt excited her. She happily grabbed Vivian's hand and left.
• Now only Andrew, Rebecca, Vanessa, and Hadden remained in the living room.
• "Hadden, since you're back, we need to have a serious talk," Rebecca said, clearing her throat. Her tone was no longer as sharp as it had been when Hadden first arrived.
• Hadden nodded and said respectfully, "Say whatever you need to, Rebecca."
• Rebecca finally spoke, "You know very well that five years ago, you and Vana were framed, which led to your marriage. But there was no real emotional foundation between you two. Then you left without a word after the wedding, and over the years, Vanessa has had to play the roles of both mother and father, enduring countless hardships and hurtful rumors. You can't even imagine what she's been through, and she even lost control of the Trinity Group she founded; it's all thanks to you."
• Hadden's heart ached. He knew Rebecca wasn't exaggerating. Everything she said was true.
• He had been gone for five years, and Vanessa had been pregnant during that time. He could only imagine the terrible things people must have said about her.
• Vanessa's eyes were red, and she bit down on her lip, trying to hold back tears.
• "I understand everything you're saying, and you're right. But I've come back this time to make it up to Vanessa and Anya. I won't let any of you down again," Hadden said sincerely, his face full of determination.
• He wasn't sure what else to say, so he relied on his genuine intention to express his feelings.
• "You dare talk to us about the future, huh?"
• At that moment, Andrew jumped up, his face filled with rage. "Do you think my daughter is some kind of commodity? Something you can take when you want and discard when you don't?"
• As he spoke, he pointed to the pile of gold and silver jewelry on the coffee table. "Look at what other people are willing to give just to marry my daughter! And what about you? You're a worthless nobody. Do you really think that after five years in the military, you can give my daughter the happiness she deserves? Vivianne has wasted five years because of you. Tomorrow morning, you two will go and get a divorce."
• Rebecca was moved by Andrew's words and started crying as well. "Andrew is right. You two need to divorce tomorrow. There are plenty of men lining up to marry Vanessa, but instead, she's stuck with you, a good-for-nothing. If you really love her, you should divorce her and let her move on."
• Hadden's face was filled with sorrow. No matter what his in-laws said to him or how they cursed him, he felt he deserved it. The thought of Vanessa enduring so much alone for the past five years only deepened his pain.
• He had left five years ago because he didn't feel worthy of Vanessa. He thought joining the military would be the only way to carve out a place for himself, to become someone deserving of her. But what he didn't know at the time was that she had become pregnant after their one night together.
• Vanessa's face was already covered in tears. After suffering alone for so many years, she had become incredibly strong. Even now, though her tears flowed freely, she refused to make a sound, not letting herself sob.
• Seeing Vanessa in such agony made Hadden's heart ache even more.
• Now, even if Vanessa desired the moon itself, he would reach for it and bring it back to her.
• The only question was—would she even accept them? It was only at this moment that he realized he had been fooling himself all along. He had liked Vanessa long before the incident five years ago, but she had never looked at him that way. Even after they were framed and forced into marriage for the family's honor, as Rebecca had said, they had no emotional foundation.
• Hadden had naively thought that if he could just become worthy of her, he could make her happy.
• But at that moment, he realized how wrong he had been.
• He had been wrong for five whole years.
• Bang!
• Hadden suddenly stood up and walked over to where Andrew and Rebecca were sitting. He knelt down with a loud thud, the impact causing the entire room to shudder.
• "Please accept my apologies!" Hadden's expression was both serious and reverent.
• Bang!
• His head bowed deeply, his forehead struck the hard marble floor with a resounding crack.
• "Hadden, what are you doing?"
• Seeing the blood trickling from Hadden's forehead, Rebecca cried out in alarm.
• "You think you can use this cheap trick to get Vanessa's forgiveness?"
• Andrew was equally shocked, but he quickly turned to his tearful daughter. "Vanessa, don't be fooled by this pathetic act. Never forgive a worthless man like him."
• Bang!
• As if he heard nothing, Hadden knocked his head to the floor again.
• "Another bow to thank you both for taking care of Vanessa and Anya all these years."
• Bang!
• "Over the last five years, I failed to fulfill my duties as a husband and father. I let Vanessa face endless rumors and allowed Anya to grow up without a father. I've wronged both of you, but even more so, I've wronged Vanessa and Anya!"
• Bang! Bang! Bang!
• With each bow, Hadden slammed his head against the ground with all his strength as if the pain in his heart could only be eased by the physical blows.
• After dozens of bows, his forehead was already bleeding profusely.
• Vanessa, standing nearby, was weeping uncontrollably.
• At last, Hadden stood up. He felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. Walking over to the sobbing Vanessa, he spoke softly, "Vana, let's get a divorce."