never intended to hurt Adrien,â Emmeline said. âIf he really is the father of the triplets, I would have been engaged to him by now and eventually married. But who would have known that it was all part of Alanaâs scheme?â
âItâs not too late to realize it now,â Julianna said. âItâs better to avoid marrying Adrien and having three children that are not his. We donât want to raise someone elseâs grandchildren, do we?â
âYouâre right, Aunt Julianna,â Abel said. âItâs better to clear the air now and avoid any resentment between us.â
âWhat makes me sad is that,â Julianna sobbed, âI was so angry that I got a heart attack. Adrien is always at the Imperial Palace, indulging in wine and women. He doesnât even come home anymore. Why did I have to raise such a troublesome son?â
Emmeline lowered her head, feeling somewhat guilty even though it was Adrienâs own fault.
She couldnât help but wonder what would have happened if she had married him and he turned out to be the tripletsâ daddy.
Emmeline couldnât help but wonder if Adrien would really change for the better or if he would just fall back into his old habits within two years.
The thought made her break out in a cold sweat.
âEmmeline,â Julianna said, âcan you do me a favor? Will you help me?â
âWhat is it?â Emmeline asked. âJust tell me, Iâll do everything I can to help.â
âPlease talk to Adrien for me,â Julianna said tearfully. âIf he continues like this, heâll ruin himself.â
Emmeline lowered her eyes.
âI know itâs difficult for you,â Julianna said, âbut Adrien only listens to you. I have no other options left.â
Emmeline felt uneasy about it all.
She had always felt uncomfortable around Adrien.
âEmmeline, please,â Julianna said. âDonât you want to see Adrien turn his life around?â
âIâ¦â Emmeline looked up at Abel.
He took her cool hand in his and said softly, âIâll support you no matter what you decide. Donât worry.â
Emmeline pursed her lips and nodded. âIâll give it a try,â she said to Julianna. âBut I canât guarantee anything.â
âJust promise me youâll talk to him,â Julianna said. âIâve spoiled Adrien for too long, and it wonât be easy to change him overnight.â
âIâll call him later,â Emmeline said. âBut first, your health is more important.â
Iâve been really sick this time,â Julianna said. âI had a heart attack, and the doctors say even if I leave the hospital, my heart wonât be the same.â
Emmeline bit her lip and tried to reassure her. âDonât worry, the doctors will have a good plan for you.â
âThank you for coming to see me,â Julianna cried again, âIâm not meant to have any luck with my three grandsons, and the Meriwether Mansion is just not their destiny.â
As they left the hospital, Abel drove while Emmeline sat in the passenger seat.
âEmma,â Abel said, âif youâre really going to try and talk to Adrien, let Luca come with you.â
Emmeline thought for a moment, then nodded. âThatâs a good idea.â
âThen Luca will be with you for these two days, ready at any time,â Abel said.
âThat wonât do,â Lin Shuang objected. âLuca is your most trusted assistant, and I wonât feel at ease without him by your side.â
âMy thoughts exactly,â Abel agreed. âIâll only feel at ease with Luca by your side.â
Emmeline was about to suggest Sam and Daisy, who were technically her workers but also acted as her bodyguards, but she held her tongue. Their skills were far beyond average.
But she could bring it up with Abel later on when the time was right.
Including her true identity, it was not something that could be explained in just a few words.
Before heading back to the company, Abel fulfilled Emmelineâs request and dropped her off at the coffee shop.
For the past few days, Sam had been the only one working at the shop.
Emmeline felt the need to come to check on the âbusiness situation.â
âIâll have Luca come by later,â Abel kissed Emmelineâs forehead. âRemember to call me if you need anything.â
âSure thing,â Emmeline nodded. âYou can trust me, Iâm not a child.â
âYouâre my babyâs mommy and my one and only love,â Abel said tenderly Abel gazed at Emmeline with a tender expression. âTo me, you are priceless.â
âSmooth talker!â Emmeline blushed, âI suddenly feel like you and Adrien are really two brothers.â
âHow can he compare to me?â Abel whispered in her ear, âI got four in one shot.â
âGet out of here!â Emmeline blushed even deeper, âYouâre becoming more and more ridiculous!â