Leta said, "Darling, there's something I've been discussing with your parents for the last couple of days. Zachary's death anniversary is coming up soon, and we were thinking of visiting his grave.
"Even though he wronged you back then, your parents raised him for so many years, and I've grown up with him as well.
"Most importantly, we're worried that seeing him will upset you, so we figured that it would be better if just the three of us went. Are you—"
"Go ahead. I won't be going," I interjected.
Leta couldn't help but curl her lips upward when she noticed how receptive I was. She leaned in and said, "I knew that my husband was the most understanding of all. Have a good rest at home, then."
I maintained a straight face as I smoothly evaded Leta's attempt to offer an appeasing kiss. Casually, I gave a perfunctory response. "We're out in public. Let's hurry on and get home."
I turned my face away, pretending to be embarrassed. Meanwhile, I had balled my fists up so tight that my palms had turned red. It hurt really badly, both my hands and my heart.
When I got home, I made something up to send Leta away. Then, I entered her study.
Because I trusted her without reservation, she never guarded herself against me. Just a touch of the mouse was all it needed to light up the computer screen.
What came up was a group photo of Leta, Zachary, and Anatalia as a family of three. It was such a painful sight that it made my eyes well up.
The computer was password-protected. I lowered my eyes and tapped on a few keys on the keyboard. As expected, the password was Anatalia's birthday.
The photo album was filled with photographs of their family of three, smiling brightly at the camera.
Leta had recorded every single detail of this nuclear family. She and Zachary held a first birthday celebration for Anatalia, and both of them attended a parents' meeting. There were countless photographs of them attending family activities together.
The more I scrolled, the more difficult it was for me to remain on my feet.
My lips began to tremble uncontrollably as shock and sorrow drowned me, suffocating me. This wasn't just because of Leta but also because of two other main appearances in these photographs.
I couldn't believe that my biological parents, Joseph Groff and Roselynn Barber, were part of these photographs, too!
In order to ensure Zachary's safety, everyone toyed with my life and feelings.
I suddenly remembered how Leta always ended her interviews by saying, "I love my family."
I once thought that was a subtle yet sincere expression of her love for me. But now that I thought about it, it just felt like I couldn't be more wrong.
That statement wasn't targeted at me only—it was also for Zachary and Anatalia.
I was never her only love. I let out a bitter scoff, barely holding onto my shattered heart.
I practically stumbled my way out of the study.
At that moment, my phone vibrated slightly. I froze the moment I saw the message from Zachary.
"You saw us today, didn't you? You saw how happy we are as a family of three. Not only Leta, but your biological parents funded and contributed to the opening of my jewelry design studio, too, allowing me to live a comfortable and lavish lifestyle.
"So what if you're their biological child, Harvey? So what if I almost destroyed you? At the end of the day, you are the one who isn't loved.
"It's my jewelry design studio's anniversary celebration tomorrow. Do you wanna come by and witness with your own eyes how deeply in love Leta and I are with each other?"
As it happened, Leta's voice came from behind me. "Harvey, I have to go on a business trip tomorrow. Rest early. You don't have to wait for me."
Neither did I go to Zachary's jewelry design studio, nor did I respond to his covert taunts.
Instead, I spent money on bribing the maids at Zachary's place. While everyone was out today, I seized the opportunity to sneak into the villa he currently lived in, disguised as a cleaner.
This was the best property under Quinlan Group's ownership. It was lavish in every way.
A massive family portrait was displayed right in the middle of the living room. Leta, Zachary, Anatalia, and my parents were looking at the camera, beaming with blissfulness.
Nevertheless, I wasn't able to stare at the portrait for too long before the maid, Janet Cross, yanked me away forcefully.
"This is a calligraphy piece that Mr. Joseph wrote personally when Ms. Anatalia was born. Also, that piece might look messy, but Mr. Joseph actually held Ms. Anatalia's hand and wrote every word patiently.
"You must be careful when you wipe that down. It's Mr. Joseph's prized possession. He spends a long time admiring it whenever he comes over, singing praises about Ms. Anatalia's talents!"
Tears pooled in my eyes silently as I lowered my head. Dad was a famous calligrapher.
After being acknowledged and brought back to the Groff family, I, too, requested his work in private. However, he always refused with a smile. "It's been years since I've written anything. I'm already rusty, so just forget it."
It wasn't until this moment that I realized that he wasn't out of practice. He simply wasn't willing to write something for me.
"Also, you have to remember to wash these sweaters with cold water. Mrs. Groff put in a lot of effort into knitting these by hand for Ms. Anatalia. From what I heard, she didn't even do this for her own son!" Janet said.
I did not respond to her, probably because I had been rendered speechless.
Just like a thief, I stole glimpses of someone else's happiness, yearning for the love that Janet's idle chatter revealed.
Truth be told, Zachary was right—I was the one who wasn't loved.
"Also, these group pictures are snapshots of Ms. Quinlan's family of three throughout the years. She looks at them often, so you have to wipe them down carefully. Make sure to clean the frames as well."
I glanced across each of the group photos. They pictured every stage of life, and Leta was present in every single one of them.
I, on the other hand, had nothing but a single wedding photo. Even when I asked Leta about it, she simply said that she wasn't keen on taking photos.
I hung my head low and pulled my face mask even further up, concealing the tears that had streamed down my face. But before I could come back to my senses, some noises came from the door.
"It's probably Ms. Quinlan and the others returning after their outing to the amusement park in the afternoon. I have to check on the kitchen staff to see where they're at with dinner preparation.
"Alright, take your things and get to work at the back of the house for now."
At the front door, Anatalia snuggled in Leta's arms. Something she said made Leta and Zachary burst out in laughter.
After the nanny brought Anatalia to get changed, I hid by a pillar silently, eavesdropping on the conversation between Zachary and Leta.
"Leta, I know that Anna's birth wasn't planned. I got carried away by my emotions back then when I was with you, and that was how she came about. You've also been with us and taking care of us all these years.
"But Anna is getting older. I don't want her to remain hidden forever."
Leta hesitated for quite some time. In the end, she took Zachary by his hand and buried her face in his arms. She reassured, "That won't happen as long as you don't go and stir up trouble with Harvey.
"Don't worry about anything else. I will take care of them. Just be at ease and attend Anna's birthday party happening in five days. Your parents and I have come up with our excuses. Harvey won't suspect a thing."
I widened my eyes instantly.
In the past, Leta was always brusque toward Zachary. Back then, she firmly declared her love for me, confessing deep remorse for sleeping with Zachary while drunk and pleading for my forgiveness.
More than that, she, looking absolutely disgusted, warned Zachary not to come between our relationship and said that she never wanted to see him again.
I believed her and chose to forgive her by feigning obliviousness. I never thought that those were just lies to deceive me.
As it turned out, during that year when she went abroad to expand her business, she had actually left to give birth.
Unwilling to be here any longer, I turned around and headed to the backyard, gripping tightly to the voice recorder and miniature camera in my hands. I wanted to leave after getting changed.
But to my surprise, I bumped into Leta when I came back out.
The moment I looked at that familiar face of hers, a dull ache surged through me, making it difficult for me to find my balance. I grabbed onto the railing behind me for support and lowered my head respectfully, waiting for her to walk past me.
However, she had barely taken two steps forward when she walked back all of a sudden. She looked at me with an intense gaze and asked, "Are you new? Why have I never seen you around? Also, why are you wearing a face mask?"
