Revenge of the Adopted Child

Edeline's Guilt

After finishing his serious discussion with Mr. Valton, Almero finally left the man's office. Carrying an empty glass down the stairs, he walked into the kitchen and was startled to find Edeline there, the beautiful woman sitting enjoying chocolate ice cream. The two stared at each other for a moment before Edeline returned to her ice cream without saying a word.

Almero had just taken a sip of mineral water and then washed it to avoid disturbing the housekeeper, unaware that Edeline had been secretly watching him. He had just drained the glass and was about to leave the room, but Edeline's words stopped him.

"Did you just come out of Father's office?" she asked, noticing his expressionless face. But her unblinking gaze betrayed a deep curiosity.

"Yes, Miss," Almero replied curtly, gazing at the woman's plump, natural-colored lips. As a normal man, he wanted so badly... oh, damn, he shouldn't have thought that way.

"You should just refuse the mission Father gave you, because it's clearly dangerous and your life could be in danger," Edeline said, stirring the ice cream in her glass. A second later, she looked up and studied Almero's handsome face.

"Are you worried about me right now?" Almero asked, one eyebrow raised.

Edeline nearly choked on her own saliva when she heard Almero's words, but seconds later, she cleared her throat before speaking. "Don't get too cocky. How could I possibly worry about you?" Edeline said, not wanting Almero to misunderstand.

"Then why did Miss Edeline ask me to refuse Mr. Valton's assignment?" Almero asked with a searching gaze. He stared even more intently at the beautiful, innocent-faced woman, as if worshipping a painting of a Greek goddess.

Edeline gripped her ice cream spoon tightly, biting her tongue. Her father would only entrust important tasks to someone truly special to her. But Edeline chose not to say it, swallowing back the words that nearly escaped her throat.

"Because I don't like it when Father treats you like his own child," Edeline said with a sharp gaze.

Almero paused for a moment, Edeline's words like an arrow piercing his chest. But seconds later, Almero smiled faintly before speaking. "A child without a family like me doesn't deserve love from anyone, and I agree with what Miss Edeline just said. My parents abandoned me to an orphanage and never wanted me, so why should Mr. Valton treat me like his own child? I clearly don't deserve any of that."

Almero was quite self-aware, explaining frankly, with a slightly trembling voice that revealed a heavy burden. Deep down, he longed for genuine parental affection, and he had always hidden his pain behind the stoic facade he always displayed.

After hearing Almero's words, a pang of guilt crept into his heart. She could see a faint glimmer in Almero's eyes, as if suppressing the pain and discomfort. Edeline stared at him sadly, realizing that Almero possessed a vulnerable side that he could perfectly hide from everyone, but not her.

"But I promise I'll do my best to uncover the mastermind behind the embezzlement of Xander's company funds," Almero said, then walked away with his jaw clenched, as if he were trying to control his unstable emotions in front of Edeline.

Edeline tried to stop Almero, but he had already walked through the kitchen doorway. Damn, Edeline lost her appetite for the ice cream that was still half-empty. She cursed her own mouth for speaking without thinking; she knew Almero must have been hurt by her words.

Meanwhile, Almero was sitting on the porch, smoking a cigarette, gazing at the beautiful stars surrounding the moon tonight. He watched the darkness of the night with a bitter smile. His life was shrouded in darkness that never ended. But he would not give up. He would rise, even though he faltered, and he would move forward despite the constant challenges he faced.

Almero exhaled a puff of smoke from his cigarette, staring straight ahead. Seconds later, his reverie was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps. He watched Edeline slowly approach, her face looking awkward, as if betraying guilt.

"Am I disturbing you?" Edeline asked after stopping near him.

"No, Miss," Almero replied curtly, giving her a quick glance before returning his attention to the fountain in the center of the yard.

"May I sit here?" Edeline asked in a low, yet cautious voice.

"Of course, this is Miss Edeline's house; there's no need to ask my permission," Almero said firmly, indicating that his position in the house was limited to that of a temporary outsider.

Edeline clutched her dress after hearing Almero's words, feeling even more guilty. She sat down next to him and seconds later watched him put out his cigarette. He seemed to understand that Edeline hated the smell of cigarette smoke, and that's why her father never smoked when she was around.

“Thank you,” said Edeline. “When I was little, my father smoked near me, and not long afterward, I was rushed to the hospital because I was having trouble breathing,” Edeline recounted the incident to Almero.

“I’ll remember that,” Almero said briefly, glancing at the woman briefly. “It’s almost midnight, why are you still here? The night air isn’t good for you,” Almero said, taking off his coat and placing it around Edeline’s shoulders, as she was wearing thin pajamas.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Edeline asked. “I said something that might have hurt your feelings,” she continued, studying Almero’s face.

“I can understand why Miss Edeline would think that way,” Almero said, taking a deep breath as if trying to ease the tightness in his chest. “It’s natural for Miss Edeline to dislike my presence, since I’m just an outsider who has the audacity to take advantage of Mr. Valton’s kindness,” Almero said without looking at Edeline.

Edeline fell silent, feeling even more guilty. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to say that. My father has always been logical, and if he considers you his own child, then you deserve it," she explained in more detail. "And believe me, I've never once felt bothered by your presence in this house."

After hearing Edeline's words, he felt a warmth spread in his chest. He realized that Edeline had a soft heart, easily pitying and feeling guilty for others. Who would have thought that a daughter of the underworld like her would have such a strong social conscience? Without even realizing it, Almero began comparing her to Abigail.

"Can Miss Edeline accept me now?" Almero asked, his eyes sad.

"I don't know, but I've never hated you," he replied ambiguously. "My mother liked you too. She always said she wanted a son, and your presence makes her happy. I can see the genuineness of her concern for you," he said, his voice slightly irritated.

"And that made Miss Edeline jealous?" Almero asked, observing her face from the side.

"I think so," Edeline answered honestly, but with a brief smile.

"You're beautiful and kind," Almero said honestly, without exaggerating his words.

Edeline suddenly felt her cheeks flush red after hearing Almero's compliment. She hadn't expected him to speak so casually, even though her heart was pounding so fast.

"Don't exaggerate; all women have a soft side," Edeline said, finally controlling her awkwardness.

Almero smiled bitterly, looking straight ahead, and then said, "Not all women are as kind as you, Miss. You know my girlfriend walked away after finding out I was only going to adopt the Greysoon family."

"Ignore a woman like her, trust me. She'll regret leaving you, and her parents certainly couldn't raise their daughter to only look at someone from her caste," Edeline said, trying to persuade Almero not to blame herself.

Almero only answered by nodding his head, he agreed with what Edeline had just said. But what Edeline doesn't know is that Abigai's two bad attitudes are inherited from her parents.

"Do you know, if I had acted like that, my mother and father would have kicked my name off the family register," Edeline said, her face filled with horror as she imagined it.

Almero couldn't help but laugh at Edeline's expression, which he found utterly adorable. Meanwhile, Edeline immediately looked away with a pout. Neither of them realized a pair of eyes were watching them with a faint smile.

Their conversation was interrupted when Valton's voice came from behind. Almero immediately stood up from his seat. Seconds later, Edeline also rose from her seat and looked at her father, who had just stopped walking nearby.

"Am I disturbing you?" Valton asked, looking at his daughter and Almero's faces in turn.

"Of course not," Edeline said, looking at Valton. "We were just talking," she said, not wanting her father to misunderstand.

"What are you talking about? Why do you seem so serious that you don't even notice me?" Valton asked with a probing gaze.

"Come on, Dad, don't tease me like that. You're so annoying," Edeline said, then hurried into the house.

Valton could only shake his head at his daughter's behavior. Meanwhile, Almero was confused as to why Edeline was so shy; her attitude was so much like a woman in love.

"She's so cute, isn't she?" Valton teased when he noticed Almero staring at his daughter's shadow.

Almero's eyes suddenly widened in surprise when he realized Mr. Valton had been watching him.

"Is there something you want to tell me, Mr. Valton?" Almero asked. He tried to change the subject, and to be honest, his heart was already beating incredibly fast.

Mr. Valton didn't answer immediately; he was silent for a moment, making the sound of the wind rustle in their ears. Edeline's departure made the atmosphere on the porch even more awkward.

"Ahem." Valton cleared his throat before speaking. "I was replaying the recording and just noticed a special sticker that was so familiar. A small VIP sticker stuck to the back of that car," Valton said to Almero with a worried expression.

"VIP sticker," Almero repeated with a frown. He hadn't noticed the sticker when he watched the video. And this discussion seemed to make the night seem even darker than before.

"Not everyone can have that VIP sticker," Valton said seriously. "Only a select few can have them; only those considered important in Xander's company have that special access," Valton said, rubbing his face irritably, as if he were already starting to have a bad feeling about the people involved in this matter.

"So what can I do to investigate this matter, sir?" Almero asked. He couldn't act rashly and had to proceed with extreme caution, so asking Mr. Valton's opinion was the right choice.

"For now, nothing. I've already had my men check every car that entered or left Xander's company today," Valton said with a soft sigh. "For now, you can take some time off, and I'll expedite your marriage to my daughter," Valton said, eyeing Almero, as if he didn't want to delay the opportunity to make the talented man before him the son-in-law of this house.

"Isn't it too soon, sir?" Almero asked, still remembering his conversation with Edeline yesterday.

"My wife's condition is deteriorating; she wants to see Edeline married," he said, massaging the back of his neck, which suddenly felt heavy when discussing his wife's condition.

"Okay, I agree," Almero said. Because this was the marriage he had been waiting for.

After marrying the daughter of the Xander family, from that moment on, he was no longer the homeless Almero. This marriage would also change his life and bring him closer to revenge.

Almero clenched his fists tightly. As long as blood flowed in his veins, those who had once called him trash would have no peace for the rest of their lives!