Chapter 342

Julian Valdemar's face darkened instantly. He remained silent for a long moment before speaking in a hoarse voice.

"They never cared about these things..."

His parents only had eyes for each other. If not for his mother's unexpected pregnancy and fear of harming her health, this celestial couple wouldn't have kept their burden of a child.

Had Patriarch Valdemar not visited by chance, he would have died at the hands of that wicked nanny.

The number of times he'd seen his parents in all these years could be counted on ten fingers.

Jasmine Keane keenly sensed his emotional turmoil and unconsciously softened her voice.

"Don't be sad, Julian. You still have me."

Julian tightened his arms around her, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Mm."

The conversation ended abruptly.

But behind his back, a shadow of gloom flickered across Jasmine's face.

Elsewhere, after being rejected by Sophia Laurent, Ethan Winston tossed and turned before finally knocking on the doors of Valdemar Sanatorium.

"Patriarch Valdemar, you look even healthier than last time."

The Winstons and Valdemars were related by marriage - Ethan's mother and Alexander Valdemar's mother were sisters.

The old patriarch fixed him with piercing eyes. "Get to the point."

Under that gaze, Ethan's palms grew damp with sweat.

"Truthfully, it's about Sophia."

He took a deep breath. "We were in love for three years and about to get engaged when she suddenly married someone else. She must have been coerced by her family."

The patriarch tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest. "Oh?"

"The Lowells always favored their adopted daughter Emily. She was originally the one engaged to Alexander." Ethan spoke hurriedly. "But the moment something happened to him, they pushed Sophia forward as replacement. This is clearly—"

The patriarch suddenly chuckled. "And?"

Ethan was caught off guard. "You...don't mind?"

"Mind what?" The old man narrowed his eyes. "We believe in free love these days. You're the one being old-fashioned."

"But this is deception!" Ethan clenched his fists. "Sophia is a victim too. She never wanted to marry into the Valdemar family!"

The room temperature seemed to plummet.

The patriarch slowly set down his teacup. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Ethan's back was drenched in sweat, but he persisted. "For my mother's sake, I beg you to let Sophia go."

A soft laugh escaped the old man. "She married into the Valdemars. What business is it of yours?"