Chapter 11
“What?” Thomas immediately drove back to the Ford residence when he heard what Grace said.
As soon as he entered the house, he nervously asked, “What were you talking about in the call earlier, Mom? What agreement? Shannon loves Chris dearly–how could she give him up?”
Grace shot Thomas a strange look. She then pulled out the agreement and handed it to him. “Take a look for yourself. It’s written clearly on it. Shannon willingly gave up custody of Christopher.”
Upon receiving the agreement, he was completely stunned. Thomas had been clinging onto the hope that Shannon would never leave Christopher. He hadn’t expected her to give Christopher up too.
She had taken care of Christopher ever since he was born. She cared for him more than she ever cared for herself.
Thomas couldn’t believe that such a dedicated mother would choose to give up custody of Christopher. He couldn’t think of any reason she would, unless she had become completely disappointed in them.
He suddenly recalled the incident during the annual party. Shannon must have been upset about what happened that night. That was why she left and signed this agreement out of spite.
Thomas grew more certain of his assumptions the more he thought about it.
Meanwhile, Grace continued to scold him. “This is your mess- choice.”
you deal with it. Either you marry Laura or you cut ties with her completely. It’s your
“Weren’t you always against me being with Laura, Mom? What changed?” Thomas asked.
Grace’s voice was tinged with disappointment when she replied, “What else can I do? You were head over heels for her five years ago, and you still are. With the rumors blowing up, how are we supposed to clear the Ford family’s reputation if you don’t
marry her?”
Thomas stumbled backward, drained of strength. He couldn’t possibly marry Laura.
He had completely gotten used to Shannon’s presence in the past five years, as well as calling her the mother of his child.
To let go of that now felt harder than quitting drinking or smoking.
Laura had once been Thomas‘ first love and youthful obsession. His infatuation for her ran so deep that even after she reappeared, his first instinct had been to get close to her without hesitation.
But deep down, he knew that it was merely an obsession. Whatever love he had for her had long since faded, and all that remained was the bitterness of being left behind.
Grace saw how Thomas was hesitating over a woman. She snapped, “If I’d known this is how things would turn out, I never would’ve spent all that money to sign that damn contract for you.
“The past five years have all been a waste! You went right back under Laura’s spell the moment she returned!”
Thomas immediately grasped the keyword. He frowned and asked, “What agreement?”
Grace realized she had let it slip. But with Shannon gone, she figured it was time he finally knew the truth.
She took out the agreement from the drawer and placed it on the desk. “You were a complete mess after Laura left you back then. I had no choice but to bring Shannon in to help you get out of your slump.“”
Grace had handpicked Shannon right from the start. She saw potential in Shannon, who had a bright future ahead.
So, when Thomas hit rock bottom because of Laura, Grace immediately thought of Shannon.
It just happened that Shannon’s father was gravely ill and urgently needed money for surgery. She ended up agreeing to it without hesitation.
ا
For five years, she took care of Thomas meticulously. Grace even thought that he had finally moved on moment she returned.
Shannon also reminded Grace that their agreement had expired.
but he was completely captivated by Laura the
Grace was about to continue, but Thomas‘ eyes were trained on the agreement. He read it carefully, not wanting to miss a single detail.
The agreement laid out everything Shannon was expected to do over the five years.
Thomas lost it when he saw the final section of the contract.
It clearly defined every duty that was part of Shannon’s responsibilities within the five–year term, including bearing a child.
Which meant that even Christopher, whom they’d raised together, was part of the agreement.
Shannon’s care and obedience to Thomas for the past five years had all been because of the agreement–she had never loved him. He had been clinging on to hope, refusing to believe it,
it, yet the truth was now undeniably staring right at him.
Thomas‘ fingers turned pale as they tightened around the agreement, crumpling it into a ball. He suddenly stared at the ball of paper and burst into laughter, tears eventually stipping down.
His laughter soon faded as he slammed his fist hard against the solid round table. He injured his hand, blood streaming down his knuckles.
