Chapter 478: Unfit to Be a Father
The man clenched his fists tightly, a hint of brutality hidden in his narrow phoenix eyes, as if he was ready to devour someone at any moment.
"Mother hid me in the cabinet... but she didn’t know that through the cracks of that cabinet, I could still see..."
"At that time, I was still young, although I knew some martial arts, I had no power to protect myself against those people, let alone protect my mother..."
The blood vessels on Adrian Law’s forehead began to swell one by one.
It was as if the scene was floating back in front of his eyes.
In the luxuriously decorated hotel lobby, the bandits burst in, taking everyone by surprise.
The guards outside had long been tied up somewhere unknown.
The faces of those men in black were covered with masks resembling respirators, making their features indistinguishable; only their tall statures could be vaguely discerned.
Yet his mother seemed to have anticipated such a situation long before, even as a woman, there was not a hint of fright; she merely took off the Purple Moon Charm necklace around her neck, stuffed it into his pocket, saying it would keep him safe.
Although more than a decade had passed, Adrian Law’s mind could still vividly sketch out Susan Roswell’s clear, fairy-like face.
Tender, loving, yet with an unwavering resoluteness.
— "My dear Adrian, stay silent in the cabinet, nothing will happen. This necklace is your mother’s talisman and will always keep you safe."
— "If anything happens, make sure to take good care of yourself, and especially take care of your sister."
...
Adrian Law didn’t know why, but looking at Susan Roswell at that time, he felt an inexplicable fear.
He wanted to grab his mother’s hem, not willing to let Susan Roswell leave.
Actually, the space inside the cabinet wasn’t small, and if Susan Roswell could squeeze in together, it would comfortably hold both of them.
But to protect him, his mother resolutely chose to draw those people away by herself, attracting their attention.
Adrian Law didn’t know what kind of mental fortitude Susan Roswell had to be able to speak and smile calmly at those masked men, with no sign of panic on her face.
Because he was hiding in the wardrobe, Adrian Law dared not breathe heavily, yet his heartbeat grew faster and faster.
At that time, Adrian Law, though young, had a mature mind, initially suspecting that the men in black were targeting the Law Family’s wealth. Yet they showed no interest in taking money or threatening Frank Law for ransom, nor did they glance at the luxurious decor in the lobby, not even any subordinate stealing the jewels on the table.
Even though they were invaluable.
Nor did it seem like they were after sex.
Adrian Law’s breathtakingly handsome face was inherited from Susan Roswell’s beauty. Such a lovely woman in front, yet those men in black showed no untoward conduct, truly unlike common ruffians.
Adrian Law hid in the wardrobe, wishing he could rush out on the spot. But he couldn’t; his mother’s instructions were still fresh in his ears. She had scolded him, saying it was better for her to rush out alone than for both of them to sacrifice in vain.
So Susan Roswell was taken away, and those men still unsatisfied, set the hotel ablaze.
Adrian Law had no way out, so when the fire was visibly growing, without any sounds from outside, he soaked the fifth-floor curtains in water and wrapped himself in them to escape.
He managed to escape.
But Susan Roswell died.
He watched helplessly as his mother was tied to a gallows and burned alive.
Those people’s cold-heartedness was like an icy blade, piercing his heart and lungs.
Adrian Law didn’t know what kind of deep hatred could lead to such cold-hearted witnessing of a beautiful, delicate woman losing her life.
The great fire raged like burning clouds, as red as endless blood.
It was Adrian Law’s first time being disgusted by a color.
Red.
So filthy, decadent, absolutely exquisite, and cruel.
He hid in the bushes, tears unknowingly streaming down.
Drop by drop, as if burning his internal organs.
It was the only time he ever cried in his life.
Even when his sister Nancy Law passed away, he didn’t cry; only the ice-cold feeling of his heart being hollowed out remained.
Hatred, sweeping through his whole body.
...
Adrian Law always knew.
No matter what his father was like, he was the apple of his mother’s eye.
So was Nancy.
Even if Frank Law fooled around outside, Susan Roswell still supported a family for them. Though Susan Roswell was an orphan with unknown origins, no one in Stellerton’s upper social circles dared to belittle her.
Masterful in business, adept at hosting social gatherings, proficient in everything.
Susan Roswell was both beautiful and charming. At that time, his sister, Nancy Law, who was only ten years old, had enrolled in a violin class, so she didn’t come with them on vacation.
Frank didn’t come.
Because his mother’s relationship with Frank Law was already at the brink of breaking down, as Frank secretly had a son with a mistress, that son being Tyson Law. For the sake of Mabel Keaton, Frank would stay out all night.
Facing such circumstances, Susan Roswell merely laughed lightly.
She had long lost her heart to this man, not divorcing him, but never shared a bed with Frank again; she found it filthy.
Regarding Frank Law keeping a mistress, Susan Roswell got Frank to sign a property transfer statement, transferring multiple company shares and several town-center villas to Adrian Law and Nancy Law.
He did not know if his father regretted when this incident happened while they vacationed here alone.
Adrian Law didn’t want to know—in his eyes, Frank Law no longer deserved the word ’regret.’
...
At that time, thinking about Nancy Law staying in Stellerton was perhaps fortune within misfortune, but who could have guessed that Nancy Law had an accident when she turned eighteen.
Adrian Law’s heart felt pierced by thousands of needles.
He hated, but the word ’hate’ was too heavy, unable to be expressed.
No one would understand him.
He never behaved like those who would mourn tearfully day and night.
...
Cecilia Vaughn saw the red bloodshade flash in Adrian Law’s eyes, her heart tightened, almost as if countless venomous snakes gnawed on her internal organs.
"Adrian... I’m sorry, I never thought that those past events were so terrible for you."
"You better not wear this red scarf; I truly apologize..."
Had she known Adrian Law’s taboo was due to his mother’s life, Cecilia Vaughn would rather have remained ignorant.
Such a wound, no matter how much time had passed, could never heal.
It’s a scar on the heart, ever freshly renewed.
...
Adrian Law lifted his eyelashes, the vulnerability in his eyes already vanished, as if it had only been Cecilia Vaughn’s illusion.
He smiled gently, shook his head at Cecilia Vaughn, and nestled in her embrace.
"Cecilia, let me hold you quietly for a while, okay? I’m a bit tired."
Cecilia Vaughn remained silent for a moment, a heavy choke rising in her throat; she dared not speak, only silently hugged him back.