Divorced and Pregnant My New Life with a Billionaire Drives My Ex Crazy novel Chapter 361

Over the past ten years, Annette had slowly found her way out of pain and fear, but she couldn't deny the truth. The choices she'd made back then had only pushed her kids farther away. Every time she came home, Alice either acted like she didn't even know her, or if she did recognize her, she stayed distant, colder than she was even with Donna. Sometimes she wouldn't even let Annette through the door to her room. She’d call her “Mom,” but it felt less familiar than the way she spoke to a favorite maid.

But just now, Annette had felt it again, that tiny spark of dependence from Alice. She was the one who noticed these changes the most. How could she not be emotional? Tears welled up in her eyes. “Yes, of course, sweetheart. Mommy would love to. I’ll stay with you for as long as you want me to,” she promised.

She followed Alice into her room and was surprised to see artwork everywhere. Paintings covered the walls, paints and brushes scattered across the floor. Even the walls themselves had streaks of color. Annette’s curiosity got the best of her. “Alice, do you really love painting this much? Did you make all of these?”

Alice nodded so hard her hair bounced, her face bright. “Yes, Mommy! I did! This one, and this one, and that one over there... Wiona taught me how to paint them. And this one, Conrad said Sophie painted it. It’s a big tiger! I love this tiger the most. She looks lonely, but she’s still so strong. Do you like it, Mommy?”

Alice’s pride was impossible to miss as she showed off her work. For the first time, Annette found herself really looking at Wiona’s paintings. She’d heard the rumors since coming back here. Wiona was the mysterious artist everyone called W. Alice was obsessed with W. That was why Conrad went through so much trouble to track Wiona down and bring her to Hawthorne Hall. Annette could practically picture her son using every trick in the book, offering deals and opportunities he knew Wiona couldn’t turn down. Without that, Wiona could never have moved into this place.

It all felt like fate. And then, because of the kids, Wiona and Conrad’s lives were tied together even more. Looking at it now, it just made sense that someone as talented as W would catch Conrad’s eye. The fact that this mysterious artist—whose name, age, and even gender were a huge secret—was now her daughter-in-law, made Annette secretly proud.

Now, as she took in Wiona’s art, Annette felt a new wave of emotion. Had Wiona always been so lonely?

Meanwhile, Wiona and Conrad finished their meal, talking easily about everything from their childhood memories to funny stories from their teen years, and what Wiona had been up to that day. Eventually Conrad asked, “Do you want me to step in and help?”

Wiona shook her head with a smile. “I can handle it myself for now. When I need you, I promise I won’t hold back.”

She sounded confident, but deep down she still wasn’t used to leaning on someone else. Part of her wanted to prove she could stand on her own two feet. She didn’t want Conrad to think she was weak.

But Conrad’s answer was steady. “Whenever you need anything, just say the word. I’m your husband. You can always ask me for help, and you never have to feel bad about it. That’s what marriage is supposed to be.”

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