Warming

Chapter 38

Lucille narrowed her eyes at Lila’s words. Lila and Jane knew each other? She’d never heard her mother, Jane Monroe, mention anything about it, though.

Lila could tell from the look on Lucille’s face that the latter remembered nothing about this. She said, “It’s not surprising that you don’t remember anything. You were only about two years old at the time.”

Lucille didn’t say anything. She genuinely didn’t remember anything that had happened when she was two years old; she probably only knew how to sleep, eat, and cry at the time.

Lila pulled an old, yellowing photo album from the drawer beside her. It had been kept in James‘ suite all these years.

Lucille glanced at it curiously and asked, “What’s this?”

Lila handed it to her. “Take a look for yourself.”

Lucille took it. When she opened it, the first thing she saw was a chubby little naked boy. He looked

adorable.

As she kept flipping through the album, the chubby little boy grew into a handsome little kid. His face became vaguely familiar to her.

Lila glanced at her and whispered conspiratorially, “Yep, that’s what your husband looked like at the age

of four.”

Lucille faltered. This was Spencer? So, the first photo of him…

God, she’d seen Spencer’s naked body!

Before she could process that, Lila said, “Go on, Lucy. There’s more.”

Lucille was curious to see what Spencer had been like growing up, so she continued flipping. After two pages, she saw a photo of Spencer sitting on a carpet with a baby in his arms. The baby was probably still a newborn because of how tiny it looked.

She knew Spencer had a younger brother, so she thought the baby was Seth. She asked, “Is this Seth?”

Lila smiled and said, “No.”

Lucille looked at her in confusion. Lila continued, “That’s you.”

Lucille was stunned. She was the baby? Spencer was holding her? How was that possible?

Lila said, “Look at the environment in the photo. Isn’t it familiar to you?”

Lucille scrutinized the photo at her words. It was indeed familiar–certain scenes flashed in her mind.

“Continue flipping.”

Lucille did as told. She saw many photos of a young Spencer holding a baby. There were also photos of him holding toys and playing with the baby as the baby lay in its cot.

The environment… It looked like her nursery at the Johnson residence.

Lila said, “Your mother and I were friends. I got robbed while studying abroad, and Jane helped me get my

18

purse back.

+15 BONUS

“That’s how we met each other and became friends. Later, I returned to the country and married Eric.

“Your mother wasn’t from Whiteloop City, though, so we didn’t see each other after graduation. But for whatever reason, she appeared in Whiteloop City four years later and even married William.”

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Lucille had no idea Jane and Lila knew each other in the past. She listened quietly as Lila continued, Jane only contacted me after she’d given birth to you. It was then that I learned she’d married William.

“One thing has always struck me as odd, though–Jane and I knew each other for years, but she’d never mentioned her family to me. She’d always been alone.” 1

She paused, then continued, “Jane wasn’t just a pretty face. She was smart, wise, and independent. I couldn’t understand why she’d married someone like William. She deserved so much better.”

Lucille only had five years‘ worth of memories of Jane, starting at the age of five. She remembered Jane had been beautiful, gentle, and elegant but knew nothing else about her.

And it was as Lila had said–Lucille had never heard Jane mention anything about her own family, either.

Lila saw Lucille’s reaction and changed the subject. “Alright, let’s not talk about that anymore. From now on, I’ll be your mother. I’ll love you and care for you on Jane’s behalf.”

To tell the truth, Lila’s words moved Lucille greatly. She hadn’t experienced a mother’s love for close to two decades. Heck, she hadn’t experienced a father’s love, either.

That was why the warmth and care the Laytons had given her had warmed her. This was what it felt like to have a home.

She smiled and said from the heart, “Thanks, Mom.“.

Lila didn’t think they could continue with such emotional topics anymore. She quickly dragged things back on track. “Aren’t you curious to know why Spencer wanted to marry you after only meeting you twice, Lucy?

“James set him up on plenty of blind dates in the past, but none of the women caught his eye, and he’d never cared for them.” She wiggled her eyebrows mysteriously.

Lucille thought about the photos she’d just seen but couldn’t link them to what Lila was saying. Were they even related?

Lila sighed to herself when she saw the dazed look on Lucille’s face. It looked like it would be up to her to make Lucille realize the truth. She said, “The brat’s been interested in you since he was a child.”

Lucille’s eyes widened in disbelief. Lila said, “You didn’t hear me wrong. He’s been like this since he was a child.”

Lucille was lost for words.

Lucille fell deep into thought after leaving Layton Manor. Spencer thought she had been acting a little strange after her conversation with Lila.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and asked, “What did Mom say to you?”

+15 BONUS

His voice dragged her out of her reverie. She turned to look at him and parted her lips. She hesitated a few times before telling him what she’d learned,

The next thing she knew, Spencer slammed the brakes, making them screech as the car skidded to a stop on the empty road.