After All The Betrayal We Chose Love

Chapter 8

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Adrian—"

"Stop!"

Jones' loud voice suddenly echoed across the hall, instantly silencing everyone.

The cheerful atmosphere disappeared within seconds as all eyes turned toward him in confusion.

The birthday party had been lavishly decorated in shades of light blue and white, matching Adrian's favorite colors. The massive hall sparkled under bright crystal lights, designed perfectly to suit a young boy's celebration. Friends, business associates, and family members filled the room, chatting happily moments earlier.

At the center of it all stood Adrian himself, dressed elegantly in a customized light blue and white suit. Startled by the sudden interruption, the twelve-year-old looked toward Jones in confusion.

Jones stepped forward slowly, his face tense.

A heavy silence settled over the hall.

Then, after what felt like endless seconds, Jennifer suddenly stepped forward from the crowd.

"Adrian…" she said shakily before raising her voice. "Adrian is my son!"

Gasps instantly spread across the room.

"What?!" several guests exclaimed in unison.

Whispers erupted everywhere as confusion and shock filled the hall.

Annabel remained perfectly still, though her eyes darkened dangerously.

Jones lowered his head slightly, pretending to look conflicted.

"Yes," he muttered in a low voice. "Annabel… years ago, there was a mistake at the hospital. We accidentally took Jennifer's child."

"What?!" Adrian exclaimed, staring at him in disbelief.

Jennifer's eyes immediately filled with fake tears as she stretched her arms toward the boy.

"Yes, sweetheart," she cried emotionally. "I'm your real mother. Not her."

She began walking toward Adrian, but the boy instantly stepped backward in fear and hid behind Annabel, clutching tightly onto her dress.

"Mom…" Adrian whispered shakily, looking up at Annabel with frightened eyes.

Annabel gently placed a protective hand on his shoulder, her expression cold and unreadable as she stared directly at Jones and Jennifer.

Then slowly…

She smiled.

And that smile alone made Jones suddenly uneasy.

"Jennifer… what exactly are you trying to say?" Annabel asked calmly, her voice steady despite the chaos erupting around her.

Before Jennifer could answer, Jones stepped forward confidently.

"What she's trying to say," he began dramatically, "is that you gave birth to a girl twelve years ago… not a boy."

The crowd immediately burst into shocked whispers.

Annabel slowly turned toward him, completely unfazed.

"I was asking Jennifer," she replied coldly. "So let her answer."

Jones' jaw tightened slightly, but he stayed silent.

Annabel shifted her gaze back to Jennifer. "Tell me then," she said calmly. "How exactly did you suddenly discover that Adrian is your son?"

By now, many guests had already pulled out their phones, eagerly recording every second of the scandal unfolding before them.

Jennifer straightened nervously before speaking.

"Our babies were accidentally switched after birth," she claimed. "Adrian belongs to me, not you."

Annabel scoffed softly.

"No," she replied immediately. "That's impossible. Adrian is my son, and nobody is taking him away from me."

Jennifer's face twisted with anger at Annabel's confidence.

" Angered and basking in the fate their plan was going to work Jones stepped forward raising a hand as though to slap Annabel.

But before she could touch her—

Adrian stepped directly in front of his mother.

"Hey!" he shouted angrily at Jones. "Don't you dare may a finger on my Mom!"

The hall fell silent again.

Adrian looked up at Jones with disappointment in his eyes.

"You taught me never to hit women," he continued firmly. "So why are you about to do the same thing you preached against" he lectured.

Jones froze in shame and slowly lowered his hand.

Then Adrian turned toward Jennifer.

"My only mother is her," he declared boldly, pointing at Annabel. "She's the only mother I've ever known."

He pointed directly at Jennifer next.

"And that woman?" he added coldly, glancing at Jones. "She's just your mistress. Nothing more."

A shocked murmur swept through the crowd again.

Annabel stared at her son in disbelief, her heart swelling with emotion and pride.

Before anyone could say another word—

"Mommy! Mommy!"

A little girl's voice suddenly echoed through the hall.

Everyone turned toward the entrance just as a young girl came running inside, clutching a teddy bear tightly in her arms.

She rushed straight toward Annabel and grabbed onto her gown tightly.

"I missed you, Mommy!" the little girl said happily.

The entire hall gasped.

"There's your real child, Annabel," Jones announced dramatically as he pointed toward the little girl standing beside Jennifer.

All eyes immediately shifted to Isabella.

"Yes," Jennifer added quickly. "Isabella eventually discovered that you're her biological mother too."

She gently pushed the weak-looking child forward before continuing her explanation.

"You know Isabella has always been sickly," Jennifer said sadly. "Her health became so bad at one point that she urgently needed blood. When the doctors tested us, I wasn't a match… but Jones was."

She paused for effect before adding,

"And since you and Jones share the same blood group, everything started making sense."

The crowd murmured again, many already convinced by the emotional story.

But Annabel remained completely still.

She could see through it all.

Every word.

Every expression.

Every tear.

It had clearly been rehearsed beforehand.

"That still doesn't prove she's my child," Annabel replied calmly, though her eyes remained fixed on Isabella. "It wasn't my blood was it? And how are you so sure we share the same blood group?"

The little girl looked painfully thin and fragile. Her face was pale, and dark circles rested beneath her tired eyes. Slowly, after Jennifer subtly nodded at her, Isabella stepped closer to Annabel.

"You're my mommy," Isabella whispered weakly, tears gathering in her eyes. "I know you are."

The hall grew quieter.

"I want to stay with you," Isabella pleaded softly. "My real mother."

Before Annabel could respond, Adrian immediately moved protectively in front of her.

"Get away from my mom!" he snapped angrily, lightly pushing Isabella back before wrapping his arms around Annabel possessively.

"She's my mother," Adrian declared boldly. "And I'm her only child."

"Adrian—" Annabel began softly, shocked by his reaction.

But the boy was already emotional and defensive.

"I don't care who anybody says you are," he continued stubbornly while glaring at Jennifer and Jones. "Nobody is taking my mom away from me."

The crowd watched the heartbreaking scene in stunned silence while Jones and Jennifer exchanged nervous glances.

For the first time that evening…

Things were no longer going according to plan