Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

The two of them picked up the microphones resting on a nearby table, yet neither made a sound. Silvia simply gazed quietly at Ines. Ines felt uneasy
under her stare and couldn’t help but break the silence. “If you’ve got nothing to say, I’ll leave. I don’t have all day to waste here.”
Silvia noticed the ring on Ines’ finger and breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Ethan was doing well, that was enough. It didn’t matter anymore
whether they met or not; she didn’t want him to see her like this. “Izzy, you really haven’t changed. You always look so impatient when facing me,”
Silvia said. The corners of her mouth curled into a faint smile.
Ines didn’t respond.
“Izzy, thanks for coming to see me. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. My stubbornness and resentment led me to do a lot of things that hurt you and the
family.”
As she spoke, Silvia stood up and gave Ines a deep bow.
For some reason, Ines believed Silvia’s words were sincere. But at this point, what did it matter?
Ines remained silent, but Silvia kept her gaze fixed, as if really hoping for a response. Unable to withstand such scrutiny, Ines finally spoke, “There’s
no point in apologizing now. You’re already paying the price for your actions.”
Silvia let out a bitter laugh. “Actually, the reason I asked you to come today is to inquire about something that’s been bothering me. Why did my sister
switch those design plans all those years ago?” It was a question she had long avoided, but now was the time for answers.
“Why dig up the past now? What difference does it make?” Ines said.
“Izzy, please. This answer means a lot to me.”
Ines took another look at Silvia, and then began to recount the facts objectively. “Years ago, Russel threatened Leila with your safety. At first, your
sister didn’t give in and asked Ethan to send protection for you. But when Russel revealed your true background, threatening to expose it all to you,
your sister couldn’t bear the thought of you learning that truth. Cornered and with no other choice, she switched the design plans, not knowing it
would lead to a safety incident but thinking it would only cause a significant financial loss to the Meyer Group.”

The truth was as she had suspected. She remembered being escorted to and from school for a while. Nw she knew why.
Deep down, Silvia had her suspicions but just wanted to hear a clear answer from Ines. The smile on Silvia’s face grew wider. It was a silent laughter
that seemed to carry a trace of melancholy. Ines felt a lump in her throat and looked away, unable to watch Silvia in that state.

Silvia stared out the window. She was lost in her thoughts, and a single tear slid down her cheek. “Izzy, I’ve always longed for a pure love, to find a
man who didn’t care about my past or my origins.”
She had once believed Ethan was that man, but she had forgotten a truth. When a man doesn’t love you, such hopes are nothing but a luxury. Her
sister had been the one to love her unconditionally from the beginning, yet she had pushed her towards death.
Having said her piece, Silvia stood up and said to the officer nearby, “Take me back, please.”
Ines couldn’t shake the feeling that Silvia’s frame appeared hunched, as if something had thoroughly broken her spirit. Ines didn’t dwell on it and
returned directly to the Meyer Mansion, though a sense of unease lingered.
What Ines didn’t know was that the next day, the prison would report Silvia’s suicide. By the time Ines learned of it, years had passed. Because the
man who loved Ines most knew that even in her deepest resentment, she never wished for Silvia’s death.
Ines entered the mansion to find a bizarre scene. It was working hours, yet the whole family was gathered. They wore a somber expression yet
attempted to look fine, which made for a peculiar sight. Ines had no idea what was going on and walked towards where Ethan was sitting. It was only
then that she noticed a well-mannered little boy sitting across from her. His presence previously was blocked by the adults. The boy, about six or
seven years old, had delicate features and a faint smile that made him look like a mini-Ethan.
The idea that this child had no connection to the Meyer family seemed ludicrous.
Ines’ brows twitched involuntarily as she glanced at Ethan beside her. Ethan’s face flickered with panic, but he shook his head helplessly.
“What in the world is going on here?” Ines finally asked.
Erica gave a small cough, covering her mouth, and explained, “I met this little boy on the street today and invited him over as a guest.”
Phillip, unable to contain his complex emotions, took a deep breath and warmly asked the boy, “Little guy, how old are you this year?”
The boy held up his fingers timidly. “Six,” he whispered, though he was actually turning seven the next day.
He nodded, confirming his age, and the adults’ gazes simultaneously shot towards Ethan, who spread his hands in exasperation. “Why are you all

looking at me like he’s my son?”
Ines narrowed her eyes. Her smile was tinged with danger. “Isn’t he?”
Ethan protested, “That’s absurd! I’d know if I had a son. Just because he looks like me? It doesn’t mean anything. My brother and I were identical as
kids, and we still share a strong resemblance. Why not suspect him?”

“The idea that your brother could have fathered a six-year-old when he was convalescing for a full year seven years ago is preposterous. And you...
you were often out drinking a few years ago. Are you sure you didn’t have a moment of indiscretion?” The child’s age and Ethan’s past seemed to tell
a story that the Meyer family wasn’t ready to face.
Ethan was on edge, “That’s not fair to pin on me, Izzy. You can’t just slap a baseless accusation on my head. I know what I’ve done and haven’t
done.”
“Izzy, you gotta believe me,” he pleaded. His heart was crystal clear that Ines was the only woman in his life. A son out of nowhere? That was just
insane.
Ines felt a turmoil inside, turning her head away from Ethan.
Ethan was at a loss for words. Just then, Ashley piped up with a bold suggestion, “Grandpa, you’re casting too narrow a net. For all we know, it could
be related to my dad or Ethan’s dad. We should consider all possibilities, after all.”
With those words, all eyes turned to Trenton and Jacob, filled with curiosity and contemplation.
“Ashley, stop stirring the pot with your wild theories,” Jacob snapped, unable to contain his frustration.
Trenton’s frown deepened.
Ashley pouted, “I’m just making a logical guess. Why are you so angry?”
The little boy, who had been idly tapping his fingers on his knee, suddenly perked up, with a slight smirk on his lips. So, the astronaut dad he’d heard
about, the one who’d been to the moon, was actually the brother of the man across from him? He’d heard the brothers looked alike; that must mean
good genes ran in the family.
The adults in the room, sharp as tacks, didn’t miss the boy’s subtle cues and quickly caught on to his line of thinking. Their faces broke into knowing
smiles. It seemed a story had begun to unfold quietly in their midst before they realized it.
Ethan finally relaxed, standing up and addressing Ines, “Mrs. Meyer, let’s head out. We’ve skipped enough work. It’s time to get back and make
money.”
Ines offered a gentle smile, placing her hand in Ethan’s. Together they left the room. Sometimes love was simple. With the lover by the side, the
journey was already perfect.