Chapter 157 - 155: He’s Unworthy
Ever since Mrs. Lane met with Beatrice Lynn and saw her "proof of miscarriage" with her own eyes, the tension she’d been holding finally eased.
Walter Lane, having been busy with company matters these past few days, had temporarily put the issue out of his mind. It wasn’t until that night, right before bed, that he remembered to ask about it.
"She got rid of it?"
Walter Lane was shocked to learn that Beatrice Lynn had gotten the abortion of her own accord and had no intention of entangling herself with the Lane family.
Mrs. Lane, however, looked completely relaxed. "That’s right. I knew a girl like Beatrice was sensible. She may have been spoiled growing up, but when something serious happens, she knows how to weigh her options. I mean, she’s only a college freshman. Could she really keep the baby? Of course she knew she couldn’t."
Walter Lane frowned slightly. His wife’s words made some sense, but he still felt Beatrice Lynn’s reaction was too unusual. ’She didn’t even make any other demands?’
After a moment, he also let out a small sigh of relief.
’Perhaps he had misjudged the young woman. She was still young, after all. Maybe her motives weren’t that complicated, and she never thought of using the pregnancy to latch onto the Lane family.’
"Since that’s the case, we should still compensate her somehow," Walter Lane instructed. "Go and buy her something nice. You know what girls like."
"Of course. I won’t treat Beatrice poorly. An abortion takes a real toll on the body. I’m planning to take her to that old traditional Chinese medicine clinic I go to so she can recuperate and not have any lingering health issues."
But just as Mrs. Lane finished speaking, the bedroom door was suddenly thrown open from the outside.
The couple jumped in fright. Fortunately, they were both in their pajamas. When they saw it was their son, Shawn Lane, Walter Lane’s expression darkened and he scolded, "Have you forgotten how to knock?"
Mrs. Lane was also quite startled. She patted her chest and looked at her son reproachfully. "Shawn, why are you being so dramatic? It’s so late, why aren’t you in bed?"
Shawn Lane’s expression was tense, his eyes filled with a mixture of suppressed anger and unease. With trembling lips, he looked at his father and mother and asked, "What were you two just talking about? Who had a miscarriage? Who was pregnant?"
"Beatrice Lynn was pregnant? She was pregnant, wasn’t she?!"
Seeing his frantic state, Walter Lane let out a long sigh. Mrs. Lane, however, quickly interjected, "Oh, Shawn, don’t worry. Beatrice got rid of the baby, and she isn’t trying to make you take responsibility. She said it was just an accident."
Walter Lane then spoke up as well. "I told you not to worry about this. Your mother and I will take care of it for you."
The matter seemed to have been resolved perfectly, but deep down, Shawn Lane felt a nagging sense of unease.
’How did Mom find out she was pregnant?’
’If Beatrice Lynn was willing to get the abortion on her own, she could have done it secretly. She wouldn’t have let anyone know, right?’
’Not only did Mom know Beatrice Lynn was pregnant, but she also found out immediately that she’d had the abortion.’
’Did Beatrice Lynn tell her herself?’
’Or what?’
A pile of information and questions stacked up in his mind, overloading Shawn Lane’s already fragile nerves. ’It’s all a mess.’ He was completely unable to think about the problem normally or logically.
After a moment, as if moved by some strange impulse, he looked at his mother and asked, "Mom, does Cecilia Sterling know?"
Mrs. Lane’s expression froze, and her whole body stiffened unconsciously.
’Of course Cecilia Sterling knew. It was Cecilia who told her about it.’
’But how was she supposed to answer her son?’
But in that moment of hesitation, Shawn Lane already knew the answer.
He suddenly spun around, slammed the door shut, and rushed back to his room. A startled Mrs. Lane got up to chase after him, but Walter Lane stopped her with an outstretched arm. "Forget it. Things between him and Cecilia Sterling have to come to a head sooner or later. Let’s see what he chooses to do."
Shawn Lane returned to his room, grabbed his phone, found Beatrice Lynn on WhatsApp, and fired off a series of messages.
"You deliberately told Cecilia Sterling, didn’t you?"
"Are you getting revenge on me?"
"Beatrice Lynn!"
He sent one rapid-fire question after another, but the reply under each message was a system notification!
"This user has enabled friend verification. You are not yet their friend. Please send a friend request; you can chat once it’s accepted. [Send Friend Request]"
Beatrice Lynn had blocked him!
Shawn Lane felt like his world was collapsing. He was already consumed with guilt toward Cecilia Sterling after what happened with Beatrice Lynn when he was drunk. He felt dirty, to the point that he’d felt so inferior he wanted to hide whenever he ran into Cecilia.
But now, Cecilia Sterling even knew about Beatrice Lynn’s pregnancy.
He no longer had the face to see Cecilia Sterling, much less the right or the confidence to ask her to get back together.
He wasn’t worthy!
That night was destined to be a sleepless one for Shawn Lane, but he knew the outcome for him and Cecilia Sterling was already set in stone.
Uncharacteristically, he appeared at the breakfast table on time the next morning.
"Son, did you not sleep at all last night?"
Seeing the heavy, dark circles under her son’s eyes and his defeated expression, Mrs. Lane stepped forward and asked with concern.
Walter Lane held his newspaper and stared solemnly at his son without a word, though inwardly he was fuming at his lack of fortitude.
’Why is he acting like it’s the end of the world over such a small thing?’
But the next second, Shawn Lane looked at his father with a calm expression and said, "Dad, send me abroad."
"What?"
Before Walter Lane could speak, Mrs. Lane cried out in alarm, rejecting the idea outright. "No! Shawn, this will be the death of me! How can you go abroad all by yourself?"
"Why not?" Shawn Lane looked at his mother, his voice calm. "Isn’t it normal to study abroad? My grades aren’t bad. Why can’t I go?"
"I can’t bear to let you go! You’re my only son. How will I live if you’re not by my side?" Mrs. Lane’s eyes reddened as she spoke, and she turned to plead with Walter Lane. "Your father doesn’t agree either, right?"
Walter Lane sighed, slowly lowered his newspaper, and finally spoke. "If it’s what Shawn wants, then I support it."
He seemed to understand what his son was thinking.
’He wants to escape Lorcain. Even if it’s just burying his head in the sand, it’s the only way he can break free right now.’
’His son knew it too—if he kept tormenting himself like this, he’d be ruined.’
"What are you talking about?" Mrs. Lane’s face was a mask of disbelief. "He’s your only son, and you’re going to send him abroad?"
As if no one cared what Mrs. Lane thought, Shawn Lane looked at his father and continued, "I’ve made up my mind, Dad. You can make the arrangements. Any school is fine. I’m not picky about the major, either."
This played right into Walter Lane’s hands.
He had never wanted his son to study something like astronomy in the first place, but he hadn’t strongly objected because it was his son’s passion.
If he was willing to choose a new major by going abroad, then Finance and Management would certainly be more suitable for his future path, laying the groundwork for him to take over the company.
"Good. Dad will handle it. For now, just stay home and get ready. You don’t need to worry about things at Lorcain Tech. Once everything is arranged, we’ll send you off."
Mrs. Lane looked at her son, then at her husband. The world started to spin, and she felt so faint she almost passed out.