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Later, his father couldn’t bear it anymore. He took him home and lectured him about his duties as the Rivera heir and Lewis family son–in–law.
Charles clipped his own wings on that day, though everyone envied his fortune without knowing it.
Later, he became a role model in their circle–unassuming, devoted, an exemplary father and husband.
He attended every school event with his son and waited up for Margaret on late nights.
He thought he excelled at this life, even as Margaret meticulously arranged everything beforehand.
But back then, Charles couldn’t stand her, seeing only a cold–blooded witch, a nouveau riche who’d never grasp his desires.
It took years before he’d finally murmur “thank you” after Margaret rescued the Rivera family.
Margaret had barely returned when their mutual understanding faded.
With Barbara constantly on his mind, he cared less for Margaret and their child.
He openly brought Barbara before the child without hesitation,
while casually tearing down Margaret as worthless in front of both.
Barbara showed affection for the child.
Finding common ground, their intimacy spiraled uncontrollably that day.
Gradually, Charles‘ child resisted being around Margaret,
instinctively rejecting her words.
“Aunt Barbara” became the child’s catchphrase.
Margaret questioned more than once: “You’re my husband and son, yet you’re so close to an outsider. What will peo- ple think?”
That day, her eyes red, she looked at them, trembling lips saying: “I don’t even know what all my efforts over these years have amounted to.”
But Charles was utterly infatuated with Barbara then, wholly consumed by the woman who’d just returned from abroad. He never considered her feelings, coldly stating: “Barbara isn’t an outsider. To me, she matters more than you.”
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Chapter 17
To Margaret, those words felt like her world collapsing.
She stood frozen for a long while, her gaze at him hovering between disbelief and devastation.
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At that moment, he thought Margaret was pitiful, even considering reaching out to hug her. But his entire heart be- longed to Barbara. If not for Margaret, how could he have been separated from his true love?
Therefore, Charles turned away without hesitation, his disgust for Margaret intensifying even more.
Later, Margaret seemed to come to her senses, letting him spend time with Barbara freely. He felt thoroughly satisfied with this outcome.
Thinking of this, he gazed deeply at his son beside him–those eyes and brows mirroring Margaret’s–staring motion- lessly at the toy in his hands.
Margaret’s usual water bottle was nowhere to be found in the car, now crammed with Barbara’s belongings.
Somehow, he kept feeling this hollow ache inside, though things shouldn’t have turned out this way.
He didn’t return to the mansion, instead taking the child to that two–bedroom apartment downtown.
This was the very place Charles had insisted represented his ideal life during their argument–a small space for three, a home radiating cozy family atmosphere. The keys had been delivered to Charles the very next day.
Yet he couldn’t stop cursing her crude nouveau riche behavior; she truly understood nothing about love.
The apartment was impeccably arranged, down to every last spice jar in the kitchen. Clearly, Margaret was doing her best to give him everything he desired.
Moonlight streamed down as Charles cooked his first meal here with his son.
He placed freshly squeezed vegetable juice before the boy while uncorking red wine for himself.
His irritation grew steadily.
After that day, Margaret had been sent back to the villa while Charles stayed alone in the city apartment.
He refused to return, and Barbara had firmly established herself as the villa’s lady.
She indulged daily in enjoying life—
Visiting spas and boutiques, savoring delightful afternoon tea.
Or hosting garden parties with three or five friends.
Meanwhile, no one looked after Margaret.
Her essential tutoring sessions gradually ceased as Charles hadn’t renewed the payments.
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Chapter 17
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Barbara used to take him along occasionally at first. By age six, accustomed to extravagant parties, he started acting shamelessly toward female classmates.
Barbara knew but didn’t care. His rowdy friends even praised Victor with thumbs up: “Boys will be boys.”
But mistakes piled up, and teachers‘ calls grew impatient.
