Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 230
Jeff, who prided himself on being the most objective among the Bertrand family, found the whole situation laughable nonsense. Including Emma, the Bertrand familyās sense of ethics was absurdly low and abysmal.
While the family worried that Shaneās obsession might one day harm Adeline, Jeff was certain that Shane, no matter how furious he became, would never harm so much as a single strand of hair on her head. Even if he lashed out in anger, heād harm himself before heād ever let Adeline see him in a sorry state.
āSo why were you happy about the child, then?ā
āBecause the child will make it harder for her to leave me. Theyāll tie us even more perfectly together.ā
āā¦ā¦ā
āJeff, I have never loved anyone but Adeline.ā
āā¦ā¦ā
āPeople, for the most part, are stupid, disgusting, and revolting. When someone is too stupid, it bothers me that Iām of the same species as them. If Iām talking and theyāre barking, I start thinking Iād rather be training a dog.ā
Is this guy being too honest with me right now?
Jeff felt a peculiar and unpleasant irritation bubbling up inside him.
āEven for people who do resemble humans, itās the same. Including myself, I honestly donāt know what makes humans any different from monsters.ā
So, of course, he couldnāt love them.
The only exception was Adeline.
āIām sure I can cherish a part of Adeline, her child. But I donāt think Iāll be able to love them the way Adeline expects me to. Not truly.ā
āHow do you know that? You love everything related to Adeline.ā
āIf thatās the case, Jeff, then I should love you, too.ā
Loving the child just because half of them came from Adeline didnāt make sense to Shane. By that logic, Patrick and Jeff, who shared the same āingredientsā as Adeline, should evoke the same feelings.
āDamn it, stop saying disgusting things. Youāre making my skin crawl.ā
āDonāt worry. That will never happen, even if I die.ā
For once, Shane looked genuinely uneasy.
What had initially been excitement at the thought of a deeper connection with Adeline had turned into apprehension. He seemed increasingly worried that he might fall short of her expectations.
He wasnāt concerned about whether he could love the child or feel guilty about it. No, Shane was anxious about disappointing Adeline or failing to live up to her hopes.
āCan someone like this even be a father?ā
Jeff didnāt have a solution either. Though not as extreme as Shane, Jeff shared a misanthropic outlook.
The only difference was that Jeff was capable of loving his family and a few close friends. Even so, he found it difficult to truly love someone.
Loving others was hard enough, but loving them in the way they wanted to be loved was even harder.
Now, Jeff had come to love Rachel as a friend, but he knew he couldnāt give her the kind of love she desired.
In the end, all he could offer was the usual platitude.
āYouāll probably feel differently once the child is born.ā
Maybe.
*
And so, the child was born.
Shane had been a nervous wreck, nearly losing his mind every time he heard a scream from beyond the door.
For all his composure, the moment the midwife told him he could enter, he rushed inside to Adelineās side.
Throughout the ordeal, Shane had been trembling with fear that Adeline might die.
When the newborn let out its first feeble cries, Shane hardly paid attention.
Instead, he knelt beside Adelineās bed, pressing his forehead against her limp hand.
āIām sorry, Adeline. Iām so sorry. This is my faultā¦ā
āWhat are you⦠Why are you crying againā¦?ā
Iām the one who did all the hard work.
āItās a beautiful baby girl, Your Grace. Would you like to hold her?ā
Shane hesitated, reluctant to let go of Adelineās hand. Slowly, he raised his head. Jeff noticed a trace of resentment flicker in Shaneās blue eyes.
Why is he resenting the poor baby for something thatās clearly his fault?
The baby was tiny.
Wrapped snugly in soft, clean cloth, she was red and wrinkled, her eyes still closed. Her little mouth opened and closed as though something was bothering her.
Jeff, who had resolved to snatch the baby away if Shane so much as looked at her wrong, watched as Shane cautiously took the child into his arms.
And then, Jeff chuckled softly.
āAh, I see.ā
All his worries had been for nothing.
Jeff had just witnessed the moment a man fell in love.
Emma whispered softly to her son,
āWhat are we going to do with my granddaughterā¦?ā
āExactly. What are we supposed to do with my nieceā¦?ā
Honestly, what could they do?