My CEO HUSBAND sign the divorce novel Chapter 268

Chapter 268: Part of the family

They stood there, exchanging puzzled glances.

Just then, Anna came downstairs. She stopped midway when she noticed everyone still gathered in the living room.

"Why is everyone standing?" she asked curiously.

Before anyone else could answer, I spoke.

"Everyone... please have a seat."

They looked at one another before quietly returning to their seats.

I sat down as well.

For a long moment, I simply stared at my clasped hands, trying to gather the courage I had lacked for the past two years.

Everyone waited patiently.

Taking a deep breath, I finally spoke.

"I know that ever since I came to Rosewood Town, all of you have been curious about what happened to me... and how I ended up here."

No one interrupted.

After a brief pause, I continued.

"After my father passed away... I was adopted by the Blackwood family."

"Blackwood?" Anna murmured in surprise.

Even Uncle Herbert’s expression changed slightly.

The room, however, remained silent.

All eyes were fixed on me.

I clasped my trembling hands tighter.

Then, slowly, I began telling them everything.

How I grandma decided to get us married.

How we went from strangers to husband and wife.

How we lived for two years.

How everything slowly fell apart when Alexander asked for a divorce, Lilian’s interference, and the pain that eventually drove me to leave.

I told them about how nana died and how I came to find out about them.

And about how they had unknowingly become the family that saved both my daughter and me.

By the time I finished...

Silence filled the room.

The ticking of the grandfather clock echoed clearly through the living room.

Anna’s eyes were red.

Aunt Margaret had tears glistening in hers.

Even Aunt Veronica struggled to hide her emotions.

The first to speak was Uncle Herbert.

"Then..." he asked gently.

"Does Chairman Blackwood know about Aimy?"

I nodded slowly.

"He knew I was pregnant before I left."

Everyone looked at one another.

"Then..." Aunt Veronica frowned.

"Why didn’t he mention it when he came here?"

I lowered my head.

"That’s what scares me the most."

My voice trembled.

"I don’t know what he’s thinking."

"I don’t know if he’s giving me time..."

"...or if he already has another plan."

The tears I had been holding back finally slipped down my cheeks.

"I’m scared."

My voice cracked.

"I’m terrified he’ll take Aimy away from me."

"I... I can’t lose her."

Before I realized it, Aunt Veronica had already moved beside me.

She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and gently pulled me into an embrace.

"It’s alright," she whispered softly.

"You’ve been through more than enough."

"We weren’t there when you needed us the most."

"I’m so sorry you had to carry all of that alone."

Those words broke the last of my composure.

I buried my face against her shoulder and cried.

"I can’t involve all of you," I sobbed.

"You’ve already done so much for me."

"If this turns into a fight with Alexander..."

I shook my head.

"It won’t just affect me."

"It could affect Whitemore Industries... and even Rosewood Town."

"This town gave Aimy and me a home."

After changing into my nightwear, I walked into my walk-in closet.

At the very back of the wardrobe sat a small wooden box.

The very one Grandma Roseline had given me before she passed away.

My eyes stung as I carefully lifted the lid.

Inside were the few things I treasured most.

The first was an old family photograph.

It was a picture of my father, my mother, and me.

I gently traced the faded image with my fingertips.

Dad was holding my tiny self securely in his arms while my mother stood beside us, smiling so brightly that it almost felt as though she were looking at me even now.

"I miss you..."

The words escaped in a whisper.

"I miss both of you so much."

If they were still alive...

Would any of this have happened?

Would I have ever met Alexander?

Would I still have become his wife?

Or would my life have taken a completely different path?

Perhaps I would have met Uncle Herbert and the rest of my mother’s family much sooner.

Perhaps everything would have been different.

But there was no use dwelling on the past.

The past couldn’t be rewritten.

I carefully placed the photograph aside and picked up another.

This one showed my mother standing between Uncle Herbert and Aunt Veronica.

They looked so young.

Their smiles were carefree.

Even then, the resemblance was unmistakable.

The same brown hair.

The same warm brown eyes.

Just like mine.

My fingers lingered on the photograph before I reached for the next item.

A thick envelope.

Inside were all the things Grandma had secretly prepared for me.