After All The Betrayal We Chose Love

chapter 9

How about a DNA test?" Jones immediately proposed

"Let's do it" Isabella said suddenly, her weak voice filled with determination as she stepped forward. "I'll prove that she's my mother."she added sounding rehearsed

Jennifer immediately nodded dramatically. "Yes, that's a good idea," she agreed. "A DNA test will settle everything.

Adrian turned toward Annabel with hopeful eyes.

"If the test proves you're really my mother…" he whispered softly, "then I want you to divorce him."

He pointed directly at Jones.

The hall fell silent again.

Annabel stared at the him for a long moment before finally speaking calmly.

"Yes," she replied firmly. "If the truth comes out, I promise you—I will divorce him."

Jones' expression darkened slightly.

Annabel slowly adjusted her gown before looking directly at Jones, Jennifer, and Isabella.

"I'll see all three of you at the hospital next week," she announced confidently. "Monday. Ten a.m."

Her gaze sharpened dangerously.

"And don't be late."

Then, after a brief pause, she added coldly,

"Oh, and before I forget… I'll also begin with the preparation of the divorce papers."

Gasps erupted throughout the hall once more.

Without waiting for a response, Annabel reached for Adrian's hand and turned to leave.

But before walking away completely, she stopped and glanced over her shoulder.

"One more thing," she said coolly. "The DNA test will be done at D-Tech Labs. They have the best specialists in the country… and they are unfazed by bribes."

Jennifer's face stiffened instantly.

Annabel smirked faintly.

"The party's over," she announced. "Everyone may leave."

One by one, the guests slowly began exiting the hall, whispering excitedly among themselves after witnessing the shocking drama unfold.

Soon, only Jones, Jennifer and Isabella remained.

Jennifer immediately wrapped her arms around Jones comfortingly.

"Don't worry, baby," she whispered softly. "Adrian is ours. I know he is."

Jones forced himself to nod.

"Yes," he muttered, though uncertainty flickered briefly across his face. "I believe that too."

Jennifer gently touched Isabella's shoulder.

"Come on" she said softly. "Let's go home."

Then she smiled warmly at the little girl.

"Be a good girl today, alright? Tell me anything you want, and I'll get it for you."

Isabella nodded weakly before leaving with Jennifer and Jones.

The moment they entered the house, Annabel immediately pulled Adrian tight into her arms as broke down crying.

Andrian stared at his mother confused but deeply worried about her

"No one has ever defended me like that before," Annabel cried against his hair. "Not since Grandpa died… and Derek left"

Annabel's eyes filled with tears as she hugged him tighter.

"Mommy…" Adrian whispered shakily. "Are you okay?"

Annabel gently cupped his face and kissed his forehead lovingly.

"I'm okay, sweetheart," she whispered softly despite the tears in her eyes.

Then Adrian looked at her with fierce determination and said quietly,

"I'll always protect you."

Moments pass Adrian suddenly looked up at her,"Mom… who's Derek?" Adrian asked curiously, staring at Annabel with confusion after overhearing the name earlier on.

Annabel paused for a brief moment before forcing a soft smile.

"Don't worry about that right now," she replied gently. "I'll tell you later, okay?"

Then she quickly changed the subject and grabbed his hands playfully.

"Don't you want to open your birthday presents first?"

Adrian's eyes immediately lit up again.

"Yes, Mom!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Let's go!"

Annabel smiled warmly and allowed him to pull her away, though the mention of Derek's name still lingered quietly in her mind.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in England—

"Derek, you won't believe what I just saw online!"

Blake suddenly burst into Derek's study holding his phone excitedly.

Derek, who had been focused on work, slowly removed his reading glasses and looked up from his computer screen with annoyance.

"What now?" he asked tiredly.

Blake walked closer and shoved the phone toward him.

"It's Annabel," he blurted out. "And her son."

Derek froze instantly.

"Annabel has a child?" he asked quietly, his expression tightening.

"Yeah. Look."

The moment Derek grabbed the phone and watched the viral video from the birthday party, his entire body stiffened.

The footage showed Adrian standing protectively in front of Annabel while defending her against Jennifer and Jones.

"That boy really stood up for her," Blake commented quietly as the video continued playing.

Derek remained silent.

His eyes stayed fixed on the screen, emotions flickering across his face one after another — shock, confusion, pain… and something deeper.

The video then showed Annabel standing calm and composed despite the scandal unfolding around her.

"She handled that situation incredibly well," Blake admitted. "Honestly… judging from everything that happened, it looks like she foresaw everything"

Derek slowly handed the phone back, his jaw tightening painfully.

"I guess she never truly loved him," Blake continued carefully. "Maybe things weren't what we thought."

Immediately, Derek's expression hardened.

"I don't care about her anymore," he said coldly. "And I know exactly what you're trying to do, Blake, but it's not going to work."

He stood up abruptly and walked toward the window.

"She left me," Derek said quietly, his voice heavy with old pain. "She abandoned me without even fighting for us."

A bitter smile crossed his lips.

"And she's not coming back."

"You told me she only did all of that because of her father," Blake said firmly, trying once again to make Derek understand. "Man,she was trapped between two impossible choices — her dying father and the man she loved."

Derek remained silent, staring blankly at the city lights outside his office window.

"Her father had heart failure, Derek," Blake continued more gently. "The man was literally dying. Annabel couldn't bring herself to go against him during such a difficult time."

Derek's jaw tightened, he knew Blake was saying the truth which he had known for twelve years,but he still said nothing.

Blake sighed heavily before adding,

"And deep down, you know she loved you. Maybe she still does."

Derek finally turned around sharply.

"That was a long time ago," he replied coldly. "People move on, Blake."

His eyes drifted briefly toward the paused video of Annabel and Adrian still displayed on the laptop screen.

"She has a twelve-year-old son now," he added quietly, almost as though he were trying to convince himself more than Blake.

Meanwhile, back in New York—

"I heard the DNA test between You, Adrian, and Jones is tomorrow?"

Mr. Walter's deep voice broke the silence across the dining room.

Annabel sat elegantly at the head of the table, a cup of steaming jasmine tea resting before her. Across from her sat Mr. Walter — Jone's father — a money rooted businessman whose sharp eyes carefully studied every movement she made.

"Yes, Mr. Walter," Annabel replied calmly as she lifted the teacup gracefully. "And I've already filed for divorce as well. Once the results are released, Jones will receive the papers."

Mr. Walter leaned back slowly in his chair.

"So you truly intend to end your marriage," he observed carefully.

"Yes," Annabel answered without hesitation. "I do."

A tense silence followed.

Then Mr. Walter spoke again, his tone heavier this time.

"Remember… Jones is still Adrian's father."

Annabel's expression remained unreadable as she slowly sipped her tea.

"We'll see about that," she replied calmly.

Mr. Walter narrowed his eyes slightly.

Annabel gently placed the teacup back onto the saucer before finally speaking again.

"I only married Jones because of my father," she admitted quietly. "If my father hadn't forced that marriage, none of this would've happened."

The room grew still.

Mr. Walter continued staring at her intensely while Annabel calmly avoided his piercing gaze, though beneath her composed exterior, her mind was already several steps ahead of everyone else once again.