Chapter 563

Mia gave a firm nod. "Julian, I've thought it all through." She brushed his hand off gently and walked away without looking back. Julian stood rooted to the spot for a long while before finally turning and sitting beside Kimberly. "Mom... does it really matter so much whose daughter she is? Do you even know... Mia's sick. It's thyroid cancer. Things got worse after her last accident—her condition's taken a hit. She's sick… and we don't even know what happens next." Kimberly sat stiffly for a long moment, then slowly lifted her eyes to look at him. "I have three sons and one daughter. You've always been the one who reminds me of your father most." And it was true—Julian had inherited the best parts of Charles, without the flaws. Mothers know their sons well. Even if there were disappointments, even if her heart had grown cold, deep down she still understood him. Julian had always been the gentle one, the thoughtful one. As the oldest, he'd carried the weight of being both a brother and,