Chapter 3381
“-Marco responded, ‘Not yet. I asked Kathryn to call Mom, but she hasn’t given us an answer. She probably won’t be back anytime soon.'”
Upon hearing that Clarissa wouldn’t return shortly, Holden visibly relaxed.
Living with his son, he also felt a sense of longing for Clarissa, worried that the harsh old woman would return and create chaos in his life.
Holden himself was an elderly man, a few years older than Clarissa.
He sighed and remarked, “It’s not our responsibility to manage your mom’s affairs. If she wants us to know when she’s returning, she will inform us. If she chooses not to share that information, we won’t be able to find out. It’s best not to ask; otherwise, she’ll suspect you have ulterior motives.”
“Your mom and I have been married for decades, but we’ve ended up like this. Thankfully, you were born. She doesn’t have real feelings for me, but she maintains a mother-son bond with you. Your mom spared my life for your sake, but I’m just trying to survive.”
He had suffered significant physical and emotional blows. He knew Clarissa was domineering and highly possessive.
For years, he had the desire but lacked the courage to act; he never dared to pursue other women.
This year, however, he felt emboldened, believing that Clarissa was preoccupied with the Farrell family matters and the discovery of the previous head of the family’s descendants. He thought she had lost interest in him.
While Clarissa was in Wiltspoon, he could no longer control his urges.
After decades of restraint, he occasionally cheated and was caught in the act.
He felt unfortunate for ending up in this situation. He often wondered what had happened to the beautiful girl he once kept.
Holden didn’t dare to inquire.
He suspected that the woman he had been with likely did not meet a good fate and might have suffered greatly.
It wasn’t Clarissa who committed the murder; it was the financial backer behind her. How could he allow her to live after knowing she had betrayed him?
“Dad, we will find a way to make Mom forgive you and let you move back to the Farrell family mansion for your retirement,” Marco assured Holden, who could only offer comfort.
Who said they lacked the ability to stand up to their mother?
Marco had considered building his reputation and then persuading their mother to change the rules of the Farrell family so he could assume a prominent position. He believed he was no less capable than Kathryn.
When Shiloh was merely his sister by name, Marco and his two brothers had little ambition, knowing it was a family rule in the Farrell household. They adored Shiloh deeply; after all, she was their only sister, and they couldn’t help but cherish her. Additionally, Shiloh had been groomed as the successor by Clarissa since childhood, receiving more attention and better treatment than her three brothers.
They simply wished to maintain a strong bond with Shiloh, their younger sister, believing that when she gained power, they would benefit as her brothers. This was the primary motivation for Marco and his siblings.
Like the previous matriarch, their sister would provide them with numerous advantages. Clarissa had no brothers, and all her sisters had passed away, but her husband’s family managed to reap some benefits from her position.
“We have never dared to inquire about Mom’s whereabouts. If we want to ask, it would be better for Kathryn to do it, as Mom seems to favor her more these days.”
When she first returned, Mom often belittled her and scolded her for being worthless. In retrospect, I realize that this was all an act to manipulate us; it was nothing but lies and superficial behavior. In truth, Mom has always favored Kathryn, and Shiloh was just another pawn for her.
At the mention of Shiloh, Holden’s eyes reflected a mix of sorrow and anger.
He genuinely loved Shiloh. That was the child he had raised and cared for, but now he was being forced to let go.