Just want to be a supporting role

The Seventeenth Step

The Hall Family’s house

Tina's mother stared at the young woman standing opposite her with bulging eyes, her pregnant belly prominent, almost as young as Verna. The woman clung to Bruce Hall, addressing Tina's mother with a triumphant look and saying, "Sister."

This "sister" almost made Tina's mother faint. Her well-maintained face contorted, and her shrill voice pierced the ceiling: "Bruce! You... you...!"

She raised her hand to slap Tina's father, but he pushed her hand away with a grim expression.

"Sister... "Auntie, don't blame Bruce," Estella said with a light smile. Her young and charming face showed no fear of Tina's mother. "I'm sorry. Since you don't like me calling you sister, I'll have to call you Auntie instead."

"I'm eight months pregnant," Estella supported her back with one hand. At first, I didn't want to keep the baby, but Bruce insisted that I should. He loves me so much, so I'm sorry, Auntie."

"Miss Hall knows about this too," Estella said, smiling as she looked at Verna beside her.

"Wh-what?" Tina's mother's neck cracked as she turned towards Verna. Did her beloved daughter know about this too?

"Mom! Let me explain!" Verna cursed inwardly. She had indeed known about Estella's existence and had thought about getting rid of her, but that would have made Bruce detest her, which wasn't worth it. It would be better to use this situation to make Bruce treat her better.

She could find an opportunity later to get rid of Estella without anyone knowing.

But she hadn't expected Estella to suddenly show up tonight.

"You've been unwell lately, and I was worried that telling you would be too much for you..."

Estella raised her voice: "Miss Hall, don't forget that several times, it was you who provided the opportunities for Bruce and me to meet."

"Shut up!" Verna walked towards her, raising her hand.

Estella, holding her belly, said, "Miss Hall, do I need to remind you that you're just the Hall family's adopted daughter, while the baby in my belly is Bruce's flesh and blood? It's okay if you hurt me, but if you hurt the baby..."

Bruce said in a deep voice, "Verna, this doesn't concern you. Go away."

As he spoke, he carefully helped Estella sit down. When he looked up again, he exuded the dignity and coldness of the patriarch of the family.

"Now that you know, I won't hide it from you," he said to Tina's mother."I don't care whether you accept it or not. I want the baby in Estella's belly. You'd better not make a fuss. If you do, you'll only hurt yourself."

Tina's mother felt that these words sounded familiar. Not long ago, she had said something similar in almost the same tone to her biological daughter, whom she didn't like.

One doesn't know pain until the knife is on oneself.

Tina's mother trembled with rage, and her blood pressure rose. Her life had been very smooth. When she was young, she married Bruce, who doted on her. Who didn't envy her for marrying into a wealthy family?

When her biological daughter went missing, the appearance of Verna made her pour all her guilt and love onto her, making up for the pain in her heart.

Later, she gave birth to Jason, having both a daughter and a son, and was loved by her husband. In the circle of wealthy ladies, she had always been the envy of others.

Now, Estella's existence had slapped her hard. The simultaneous betrayal of her husband and daughter made her feel suffocated, and a stabbing pain began to appear in her chest.

The angrier she got, the more it hurt, and the more it hurt, the more she thought of the words she had said to Tina. For the first time, Tina's mother wondered if she had been too biased and too loving towards Verna.

She even began to think that if Tina had known about Bruce's affair, she would have told her without hesitation instead of conspiring with Bruce to deceive her.

After returning to his room, Jason didn't go to sleep. He sent several messages to Tina, but she didn't reply. When he called her, she didn't answer. Finally, he irritably played games. As he played, he heard arguing downstairs. Could it be that Tina had come back?

Curiosity got the better of Jason, and he sat up in bed, muttering, "I'll just go down and take a look..."

If Tina was being scolded too badly, he would kindly rescue her.

Jason, having made up his mind, put on his shoes and went out. Then he realized that Tina hadn't come back. There was an additional pregnant woman in the house. After eavesdropping for a while, he understood the situation -

His father had had an affair and was supporting a mistress. The mistress had come to declare her sovereignty with a big belly. His father was helping the mistress instead of his mother. His sister knew about his father's mistress and had helped his father conceal it from his mother...

This was too much information!

The thirteen-year-old boy stared with wide eyes, thinking that the adult world was so complicated!

Logically, he should rush down to protect his mother, stand up for her, and yell at his father. But this young boy obviously had a different way of thinking. He turned around and rushed upstairs, quickly sending MSN messages to Tina:

[You don't have to come back!]

[Something big has happened at home!]

[Mom and Dad are too busy to care about you!]

He thought he was being kind. Otherwise, when Tina came back, she would definitely be scolded by her parents and have to apologize to her sister. Although it wasn't intentional, she had also caused her sister to be scolded and trended on social media. Apologizing wouldn't be a problem.

But she would definitely feel uncomfortable.

So it was best not to come back. She wouldn't get scolded or have to apologize.

The boy thought he was so "mature"!

Then, he received a reply from Tina: [Open the door, I'm here.]

Jason: "..."

•

When Tina entered the room with three boys, the Hall family, who were in a stagnant atmosphere, stood there in a daze.

"Dad, Mom, I brought three friends home," Tina said. Seeing Jason peeking down the stairs, she added, "Jason, take my friends upstairs to rest."