Chapter 529

“Do you… have any news of Norton?”
Mrs. Stapleton had said she had a question, but Penelope never would have imagined it would be about Norton. But Norton…
The mere thought of that boy brought a sharp pain to her heart, a pain that hadn’t lessened over the years.
And yet, the person responsible for it all didn’t even know he was dead. She was living her life with a clear conscience, perhaps only remembering his existence on a whim and deciding to ask about him.
Penelope took a deep breath. “I don’t have any news of him.”
Mrs. Stapleton looked skeptical.
“He used to be close to you. I thought he might have kept in contact.”
“He didn’t.”
“You’re probably just unwilling to tell me, or he asked you to keep it a secret. But please, I need you to tell me. I have my reasons for finding him.”
Penelope paused. “Why are you looking for him?”
Mrs. Stapleton frowned. “That’s between a mother and her son. I don’t wish to discuss it with an outsider.”
“He doesn’t want to see you.”
“And I’m not particularly eager to see him.”
“Then it’s best you don’t meet.”
“Penelope, I just want to know where Norton is. Just tell me. All you have to do is tell me, why are you making this so complicated!”
Penelope stared at Mrs. Stapleton for a long moment, then inhaled deeply. “I truly do not know where he is.”
“I don’t believe you. He wouldn’t just vanish without a trace,” Mrs. Stapleton insisted stubbornly.
“Have you ever looked for him?”
Mrs. Stapleton fell silent. “Where he went, how he’s doing… I don’t really care.”
“He’s your son!”
“I never should have given birth to him!”
“It wasn’t his fault!”
“The fault was mine. I admit it!”
“Then why did you make him carry the burden for your sins?”
“What are you talking about?”
Penelope’s eyes reddened, and she quickly turned her head away. She grieved for Norton and was furious that even now, Mrs. Stapleton could say such heartless things. But it was all pointless. Norton was dead.
“Fine, I’ll tell you why I’m looking for him.” Mrs. Stapleton took a sip of hot water before looking back at Penelope. “I admit I failed to fulfilt my duties as a father to him. Kéven blamed him for Lorraine’s death. But he was innocent. He was forcibly brought into this world by me. I… wronged him. I want to find him and make it up to him. That’s all.”
The words made Penelope’s heart ache even more.
Norton had always craved his mother’s approval and love, so much so that it fed him to extreme measures that ultimately destroyed him. He never received it while he was alive, and now that Mrs Stapleton was willing to give it, it was too late.
Still, she wanted to ask one question on Norton’s behalf.
“How do you plan to make it up to him?”
“I’ll give him shares in Zenith Group, I’ll give him property, I’ll give him money!”
“Is that all?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“That was never what he wanted. He wanted you… for you to love him!”
Mrs. Stapleton shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
Penelope stood up abruptly. She never should have agreed to this meeting. Or she should have walked out the moment Norton’s name was mentioned.
“Stop looking for him. He probably doesn’t want to see you either.”
Ignoring Mrs. Stapleton’s rising anger, Penelope strode out of the coffee shop. She sat in her car for a long while, waiting for her composure to return.
That evening, Timothy returned after visiting Julian at the Stapleton residence.
“He got a shot at the hospital and his fever’s gone. He even had the energy to ask me for some gossip.”
“What did he ask you?”
Thinking of Julian’s question, Timothy shook his head and smiled. “He said you’re a good person and that he could reluctantly accept you as his aunt. He told me shouldn’t just focus on work and should consider my personal life, and marry you as soon as possible.