Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Vernon Knight is the third generation of his family, but he chose not to take over as chairperson because he wanted to provide for his wife and their future child because his siblings have their own families. He is the only one on whom the father can rely for their business.

So, it is in their law that they may not have a mistress and to love and care for their wife as the chairperson did for their mother, Josephine.

“Vernon…”

Vernon returned to his work after looking at his wife. “Hmm?”

Sharlene bit her lower lip and approached her husband, who was still at work, although it was late at night.

“I understand you’re busy, but…”

Sharlene closed her eyes because it embarrassed her about what she wanted to do because it was not her habit.

“Hmm… Do you want to do it?” asked Vernon, smirking.

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head, but Vernon smirked at him and kissed Sharlene, so Sharlene did nothing but go with the flow because she missed the warmth of her husband’s kiss.

Sharlene had just awoken when the phone rang, so she got up, but stopped when she realized it was from Vernon’s phone. She picked up the phone and answered it, but she recognized the voice.

“Vernon! I’m hungry! When are you coming back? I miss you!”

Sharlene frowned and looked at the caller, but it was just a number, and she looked at Vernon, who was hugging her while sleeping next to her.

“What the hell, Vernon! You’ve been avoiding me for days—!”

Sharlene hung up the phone and leaned against the bed’s headboard. She can’t be wrong because she is very familiar with that voice.

She thought to herself as she looked at her husband… ‘What is his connection with that woman?’

Sharlene has suspected her husband because he always comes home in the morning, and when he does, there are lipstick stains and the clothes he wears have a feminine smell that is not her perfume.

But she just let it go until her suspicions about her husband it found because they hardly ever see each other inside the mansion because she is asleep when Vernon comes home, and when she wakes up, her husband is not by her side because Vernon always going to work.

“Sharlene…”

She startled and smiled at their mother.

“Lady Josephine—mother…”

Josephine sat down next to Sharlene, smiling.

“Why do you look sluggish?”

Sharlene just smiled and shook her head at Josephine.

“Vernon…” she bit her lip. “I hardly ever see him here, and he always comes home at night, so I’m worried about him,” she said.

Josephine frowned as she observed the actions of her eldest son. She also notices that Vernon has changed.

She took Sharlene’s hand in hers, so she wouldn’t have to worry about Vernon.

“Perhaps your husband is just busy; you know how busy Knights are these days,”

Sharlene smiled and nodded. “I hope so; he’s only a little busy.”

Sharlene’s suspicions about Vernon are growing stronger after two years.

“Darling…”

Sharlene clenched her fists when Vernon didn't look at him.

“I’m tired.”

Sharlene took a step back and tried to smile at her husband, but she said nothing else because the longer she waited, the more suspicious she became of her husband.

Sharlene also noticed that something was wrong with her body, that she vomited every morning and felt dizzy, and that she was easily tired, so she went to her doctor to find out what was wrong with her.

“You’re two months pregnant, Mrs. Knight. Your dream has come true because there’s a problem with your mattress, but it’s surprising that a child is developing inside.”

Sharlene covered her mouth and burst into tears of joy at the prospect of having a child.

She would have been joy to inform the entire Knight of her pregnancy, but she discovered something else.

Vernon was kneeling in front of the chairperson, and next to him was a two-year-old girl.

“W-what’s going on?” she stammered, and the Knights turned to face her.

“S-Sharlene…”

When Sharlene approached her husband, she noticed a bruise on his body.

“Chairman, what did you do to my husband?!?” she yelled, turning to face the chairperson, who took a deep breath.

“He deserves it!” yelled the chairman. Sharlene frowned, astonished by what their father had said.

The chairman drew Vernon, who was just bowing his head as he accepted his punishment for the sin he had committed.

“You’re the eldest, Vernon, but you still committed a major sin! You broke our family’s law! You’re embarrassing!” the chairman yelled and punched Vernon in the stomach.

“Vernon!”

Sharlene approached Vernon to stop the chairperson from punishing her husband.

“Don’t defend him, Sharlene! He deserves to be punished for breaking the law! He is a major sin for the Knights, especially to you!”

Sharlene came to a halt and her eyes widened as she turned to face the chairperson in response to what he was saying to her.

“What sin did my husband commit? What law did he break?” asked Sharlene, turning to face Vernon, who was looking away.

“V-Vernon… What sin have you committed to deserve this punishment?”

Sharlene bit her lower lip and gripped the gift she was supposed to give to her husband. She also hoped Vernon’s sin would not have been serious, and that her suspicions were false.

“Let me explain…” said Vernon, but Sharlene shook her head and stood in front of Vernon to hear what Vernon had done.

“Tell me… What did you do?” asked Sharlene as her tears falling.

Josephine approached Sharlene and gave her support because she understood how the woman felt.

“The little girl in front of you is Vernon’s sin,” said Josephine.

Sharlene’s eyes widened as she turned to face the girl, staring at her innocently.

“Is she your child, Vernon?”

Sharlene just sat on the floor, holding her chest, as Vernon nodded.

“Why, why did you do this to me?”

Vernon couldn’t speak and just bowed because he was ashamed of his sin.

“Ha… Ha… Ha…!”

Sharlene bowed and clenched her fist because she was unable to release all her rage by punching the floor.

“So, my suspicion was right. Is that why you’re never here? Is that why you don’t have time for me, huh? Because you’re in a relationship with another woman?!?”

Carlito helped her in standing while her hand was bleeding.

“Damn it, Vernon! Instead of expressing sympathy with me, you chose to deceived me! Are you the only one who gets hurt every time the outcome is negative?!? Are you the only one who may it hurt?!? Huh?!?”

Sharlene pushed Carlito away from her husband.

“I’m the one who hurts the most out of the two of us because I’m the woman! It hurts me we might never have a child! You’re so shameless! I trusted you!”

Sharlene gripped her chest and bit her lip as the gift fell to the floor, supposedly good news for her husband. They came to a halt when Carter picked up the stuff that had dropped to the floor and handed them to Sharlene.

“Aunt Sharlene, you’re pregnant.”

They came to a halt in front of Sharlene, who smiled and caressed Carter’s cheek, but Carter knelt in front of her and held her stomach.

“I will protect this child for the rest of my life.”

Sharlene smiled.

“Thank you so much, Carter.”

Carter smiled and reached out to touch Sharlene’s stomach again when her mother grabbed him.

“Carter!”

Carina looked at Sharlene. “He's still young, Sharlene… sorry,” said Carina, to which Sharlene smiled and sighed.

“I’d be happy to tell you I’m pregnant, but I’m uncertain if you still have the right to my child,” said Sharlene, hugging her stomach.

Everyone came to a halt and looked at each other, surprised by Sharlene's words, so Vernon turned to face his wife.

“Are you pregnant?”

Sharlene nodded and wiped her tears away firmly.

“My pregnancy was a miracle because of a mattress issue, but my doctor it surprised that a baby was developing.”

Sharlene stood and turned to face the chairperson, who was staring at his stomach.

“Chairman, you don’t have to punish Vernon; I’ll accept his daughter and consider her my own because I don’t want my child to despise her father,” she said as she went up to their room.

The chairman could do nothing but follow Sharlene because he handled the protection of his youngest grandchild.

It overjoyed the Knights to learn that Sharlene is pregnant, but they are also concerned that Sharlene and Vernon’s child will be the fourth generation of their family, including the eldest grandson.

Sharlene never imagined that she would be a mother.

“I will take care of you, child; I will never leave you, and I will do anything to protect you, even if it means sacrificing my life…”

*** END OF FLASHBACK

Sharlene wiped away her tears as she remembered everything.

Even after twenty-eight years, Vernon’s sin still enraged her.

The pain remains because whoever she trusted completely will destroy her.

“Sharlene…”

She didn’t look Vernon in the eyes and clenched her fists.

“Do you know how I felt when I found out the whole truth from Scarlett that her husband had also betrayed her?” Sharlene laughed, looking up to keep the tears from falling again. “Because that’s how I felt when you betrayed me, and it’s how I felt when I found out you had another child with Soledad!”

She glared at Vernon. “You said you no longer have feelings for that woman and that you ended your relationship a long time ago!”

“That’s correct; my relationship with Soledad has been over for a long time since I married you,” said Vernon. “I don’t love her, and I’m not certain how she was with me that night; yes, I made a mistake, but I regret everything.” He hugged Sharlene, who was hitting him.

“I will accept the punishment I deserve just to suffer for my sins…”

Sharlene smiled and shook her head at her husband.

“It’s too late, Vernon. Scarlett already knows everything, and it’s your fault! I said I don’t want to see your face! Get out of here!” Sharlene yelled, hit Vernon.

“S-Sharlene…”

Sharlene pointed to the door. “Get out of here! I don’t need you. I can protect my child.”

Vernon’s fists clenched, but he sighed and exited the room.

He understands his wife’s rage, so they should keep their distance from each other.

Vernon came to a halt when he saw his father. He bowed to it until he was in front of his father, but the chairman gave him a look.

“Fix your mess, Vernon. Fix it before it’s too late; he’s back. Scarlett needs you as her father.”

Vernon frowned and turned to face the chairman. “What are you saying, father?”

The chairman smiled. “You can still do the right thing; you and Scarlett are the hope of the entire clan; show them who is more powerful.”

Chairman patted him on the back and proceeded to his room.

Vernon frowned at his father, confused by his father’s words, but sighed because he didn’t know what to do.

When he went downstairs, he noticed his mother Josephine’s large portrait in their living room.

He stared at the picture.

“What am I going to do, Mother? I have a bad feeling about Scarlett; it’s as if I don’t know my daughter anymore, as you told me…”

‘Scarlett is the one I want to replace your father, so take care of your daughter because you don’t know what she can do.’ ‘Take care of her and love her.’

“What exactly do you mean?”

He couldn’t understand what his mother was saying to him, either.

Vernon wishes for him and his family to get along and rebuild like before, but in the current situation, it seems like he will have a difficult time.

“What are you planning, Scarlett Venice?”

***

“Are you prepared?”

The woman smirked as she turned around.

“I’m always prepared.”