Chapter 87 Sebastian’s Practical Joke
She was a mess of tears, but Robert and Michael didn’t feel a thing. They were smart men, and the only reason they never suspected her was because she was family, and they trusted her.
Now that they knew she lied about why she chose to take care of Michael and his brothers instead of having children of her own, Robert and Michael’s trust in her diminished, while the seed of doubt was sown. When Sebastian told them about the peculiarities between her and Cindy, the seed of doubt grew.
Robert respected her because he loved his first wife. Michael and Crystal’s relationship was just like his and his wife’s. They were also childhood friends who eventually fell in love and got married. Even after they had three sons, they still acted like newlyweds. And then his wife was pregnant with their fourth child.
Before his wife’s passing, he lived his days much like any other happy family. He was busy with work, but he had a soulmate and three beautiful children waiting for him at home. The very thought of his family was an endless source of strength for him. But when his wife died, half his world died with her. There was no laughter or light in his world. What was left was darkness and loneliness.
Harriet would take care of the boys frequently after that, and during one of his drunken episodes, he mistook her as his wife and had skinship with her. He could see that Harriet loved him, and the kids needed someone to take care of them. When he said he’d take responsibility and she nodded, he married her.
He didn’t like her at first and refused to let her bear his child for fear that she’d mistreat the boys if she had her own kid. But when he started having feelings for her, he took pity and hinted to her about having her own kid. She would tell him that it was already wrong of her to marry her dead sister’s husband, and she didn’t want to have a kid of her own lest her sister’s kids lose their father’s love.
She told him that caring for her nephews was the same as caring for her own child. She vowed that Michael and his brothers were her sons, and she’d treat him like they were her own. That promise was held, and she never did get pregnant with her own children. She also saw Michael and her brothers as her own. Because of that, he respected her and forbade his sons from ever disrespecting her.
But now he found out that it was all just an act. Harriet didn’t get pregnant not because she felt guilty, but because she was barren. She had been trying to treat that, but all of her efforts ended in failure. He was married to her for many years, but this was the first time he realized that the woman whom he thought was gentle was actually a scheming, lying snake. He was looking at her and having mixed feelings about it. It had been a long time since he knew and married her, but he never seemed to have truly known her before.
Michael’s feelings were more direct compared to his father. Robert might have mixed feelings about the matter, but he didn’t. His mother was irreplaceable. No matter how nice Harriet was to him, she could never compare to his own mother.
He was already a teenager when his mother died, and he could remember a lot of things from those days. Harriet might look loving, but it was just her job to do so. It was different from their mother’s love. He couldn’t ask for too much from a stepmother, so she passed the test, but only as a stepmother. Compared to their mother, the love Harriet had shown them was as shallow as a puddle of water after a rain.
He could remember how his own mother looked at him and his brothers. It was as if she was looking at the world’s most precious treasure. No matter which of them was hurt or sick, their mother would do everything to care for them. She would always panic whenever they got into any little trouble, and that love stemmed from her soul. He knew she’d take their place in any suffering if given the chance. On the other hand, Harriet only showed care and concern just so she wouldn’t be called a bad stepmother.
He always thought his mother died from an accident, but now, he knew that his mother’s death could possibly be a dark plan of his stepmother’s. Harriet’s love for their father might be why she killed her own sister. Since she was barren, marrying her own brother-in-law would give her a family. It was perfect… ly twisted of her. He was staring at Harriet, but instead of a storm brewing in his eyes, a hurricane of hatred was howling instead.
The intense hatred in his eyes spooked Harriet, and she shook her head violently. “Michael, you have to believe me. I didn’t kill your mother. She’s my own sister, and I love her. I’m no animal. I could never have killed her. Don’t listen to him. He’s lying. He’s trying to pit us against each other. This is a scheme against me. He has no evidence. You cannot trust him!”
Sebastian smiled. “I’m not the one who killed your mother. Hey, I like to tell stories, but finding evidence? Not so much. I think Mr. Wendel is very interested in the evidence part though.” he moved his hand up and reached Madeline’s shoulder. “It’s late, Maddie. The boys are asleep in my men’s arms, but the beds are always better. Why don’t we go back to our room?”
She hadn’t known him for long, but Madeline could see that Sebastian loved practical jokes. The thing he liked most was to sow chaos, and he’d always feel refreshed after that. She let him do what he did, and she shook her head in amusement, but then she nodded. “Alright. It’s time to sleep.”
Jonathan looked at Robert first, and then at his father. He whispered something to Joseph and Connor before coming over to the Hart couple. Maddie, Sebastian, I’ll take you to your room.”
Madeline smiled at Jonathan and nodded. “Thank you.”
