Chapter 137: Similar Past
Evelyn’s mouth widened in shock, her eyes darting between Ronan and Carson wondering if he was pranking right now. But the way Ronan’s eyes held a tinge of sadness, it stopped her from questioning him. Even Caron’s jaw tightened, fear clouding his face as if he hoped for this secret to always remain in the dark. But alas, truth would always see the light, even if one tried to bury it deep in the ground. She understood all too well after William confessed to her birth secret.
"How’s that possible?" Evelyn blurted out, finding it just hard to believe. "I am sorry if I sound rude but I never this coming," she added, reasoning his shock. The worst she anticipated was for Laila to be his long-lost sister, or one taken away by someone out of vengeance. But step sister? That only meant Ronan’s mother was in an extramarital affair since Laila was three years older than them.
"Mom was in an affair with someone else, but her family didn’t approve. She realized she was pregnant and gave birth to the child before marrying Dad." Ronan explained, having heard the story from his mom herself. A few years ago she had confessed everything when she was sick and bedridden, her last wish was for him to search for his half-sister and give her the life she deserved.
"And you knew all about it before my scandal took place?" Evelyn questioned, feeling their lives getting entangled in the messiest way possible. The woman who was pretending to be William’s real daughter right now, one that wasn’t swapped at birth by the maid and didn’t die in that accident, turned out to be his sister?!
Though Evelyn was aware and accepted the truth that she was only Grace’s adopted daughter from an orphanage, she still felt bad for William as this man would stop at nothing to disclose Annabelle’s real identity unlike her who was waiting for the right opportunity. She just hoped for Ronan to treat her kindly now that Laila was carrying another life within her.
Ronan shook his head in response. "I realized it when we first met that day," he replied, heaving a small sigh.
It was because of this scandal and meeting Annabelle when he went to Vespara city to propose to Evelyn that he realized it. Laila’s true appearance, one that was almost a replica of his mom was hidden that he ignored to catch in the photos. But when they were face to face, it was hard to ignore the cruel truth.
Evelyn slowly nodded, putting the pieces together. "So that’s when you first saw her..." she murmured, but Ronan shook his head, intriguing her even more.
"My mom used to visit the orphanage where she had left Laila. She used to take me with her and I always wondered why she cared so much about one particular. Seems like it was Laila from the beginning," Ronan replied with a bitter smile. The memory was still vivid in his mind. He was twelve and didn’t like how Brianna kept adoring a girl, that he had gotten jealous. Whenever they went again, he used to try to pick on Laila but his mom stopped taking him with her.