Chapter 696: The More You Hope, the More You Fear Disappointment

But now that she has grown up, those other emotions of Cecilia have disappeared, leaving only deep longing.

Even if they are familiar with each other and dependent on one another, she is not Wendy Sutton, and cannot replace Wendy Sutton in making her choices.

There used to be some comments on Weibo saying that there are usually only two possibilities for a woman who cannot leave a man who has harmed her and has committed a fundamental error.

First, she is psychologically dependent on him.

Second, she is economically dependent on him.

Wendy Sutton is undoubtedly the former.

People who don’t understand the ins and outs might say that it’s Gregory Vaughn who handles everything at home and runs Radiant Group.

But little do they know that it was the grandfather’s empire, and Wendy Sutton was just too gentle a character without the sharp business acumen, but not to the point of being foolish.

Perhaps she can’t make Radiant Group flourish, but she is definitely not the kind of wastrel who would squander the family fortune completely.

In Cecilia’s opinion, they might as well invest in real estate, sell the company’s shares, and be able to live a life without material worries for herself and Evan Vaughn, possibly even enjoying a middle-class life.

...

But Wendy Sutton just loved Gregory Vaughn too much, blindly believing that following a man would eventually result in endless humiliation and sorrow.

To be used by her own husband as a socialite in the business world, even if it was just accompanying drinks, wouldn’t she feel humiliated?

This is where Cecilia most sympathizes with Wendy Sutton.

If only her mother had been stronger and more independent, they wouldn’t have to live so cautiously.

There is no resentment; this is unworthy of her mother.

Evan Vaughn feels the same way.

Destroying all your happiness to maintain a broken family is the saddest thing of all.

Even if you never find a perfect partner, you can live a stable life with the children.

She and Evan Vaughn are not the kind of misbehaving kids that cause trouble everywhere.

Their grandmother had long said that as long as Wendy Sutton was willing to divorce, she could help take care of the children.

What, then, makes Wendy Sutton unable to leave Gregory Vaughn?

This is what Cecilia still can’t understand today.

Gregory Vaughn is indeed quite handsome, but back then, when Wendy Sutton was called the No. 1 socialite in Stellerton, can her looks be described as merely pretty?

Some even commented that while Cecilia is pretty, she doesn’t match Wendy Sutton’s beauty, which is like a frail willow in the wind yet with an elegant and dignified bearing, akin to a lady in ancient paintings, making people feel protective, without even arousing jealousy among other women.

Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful or wealthy, it’s useless to someone like Gregory Vaughn, who always thinks what he gains outside the family is better.

A woman who can humble herself to please him is always better than a proud daughter of noble birth at home.

He doesn’t want people to say he started from his father-in-law, even if it’s the truth, he doesn’t like it.

...

Cecilia, because of this matter, later studied some psychology, and some ridiculous cases she still remembers vividly.

There was a real case of a man who climbed up to a wealthy and beautiful daughter from a leader’s family for his career, becoming successful, and life getting better. However, during an assignment to a remote village, he got involved with a forty-something widow there.

The woman couldn’t compare to the man’s twenty-something, fresh and pretty wife, but the man was stubbornly obsessed.

There was no other reason except that no matter how beautiful the home flower was, it did not captivate him like the wildflower did, nor did the wildflower pretend to be gentle and attentive.

Having initially chosen a marriage for money and power, there remained a dissatisfaction in his heart.

Eventually, even to the point of divorcing his wife, he wanted to be with the other.

Cecilia was dumbfounded when she saw this case. In this light, although Florence Warner came from a foot massage parlor and didn’t have a clean background, at least Gregory Vaughn had an eye for beauty. Even if Florence Warner wasn’t as stunning as Wendy Sutton, she was still more beautiful than average with some dressing up.

This kind of thing doesn’t only happen to men.

Some women also can’t distinguish clearly, even if they marry a husband who excels in every aspect, they might seek someone online who is much lesser than their husband because he is too busy to care for the family, resulting in chaos and eventually crying to leave with their so-called "true love".

Is there really so much true love in this world? Where is the notion that the unloved one is always the other?

When you chose someone to spend a lifetime with, even if one day your goals or ideals no longer align, you should part amicably, rather than let a third party trample on the relationship you once had.

...

Even stones erode over time; nothing stays young forever.

Cecilia sighed, nestling despondently in Adrian Law’s embrace, her heart heavy.

"Adrian, if one day, you don’t like me anymore, please promise to tell me, alright? I won’t cling on, but please don’t hurt me with someone else. At the very least, before we part, don’t get entangled with others. Whatever happens after we separate, it’s up to you."

"Cecilia, are you running a fever?"

Adrian Law was taken aback by his wife’s sudden talk of a third party, and he couldn’t help but laugh as he touched Cecilia’s forehead.

Her temperature was indeed normal.

Cecilia, lost in thought, clung to his shoulder.

"Adrian, excuse my outburst, but just now, I think I saw my mother. Back then, my parents were considered a perfect couple, though Gregory Vaughn was poor, he was ambitious, well-educated, and capable. Both also had good looks, but it still ended in tragedy."

"..."

Adrian Law straightforwardly ignored the latter part of Cecilia’s words, focusing precisely on her sighting.

"Cecilia, are you sure? Wasn’t your mother... many years ago..."

"Actually, the police never recovered my mother’s body, but the vast sea, everyone thinks she might have been eaten by sharks or something."

Cecilia choked up slightly.

Adrian Law narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Did you see her on that boat just now?"

"I’m not certain, but from a distance, there was a sixty or seventy percent resemblance, though not enough to be conclusive."

"Alright, Cecilia, if that boat isn’t appearing here for the first time, perhaps someone nearby has seen it."

"Cecilia, quickly sketch a portrait of your mother for us to inquire of the passers-by here."

Adrian Law is a man of action. Though Cecilia was fearful in her heart of finding nothing, in the end, her hope prevailed.

...

Cecilia quickly followed Adrian Law’s suggestion, purchasing a set of art tools from a nearby artist and swiftly sketching her mother’s likeness on paper.

In truth, her heart was nervous.

After all, having not seen her mother in ten years, her appearance would surely have changed significantly.

If she hadn’t taken care of herself, the differences would be even more pronounced.

But there was no time to worry about such things now.