Richest Mogul

Finn tried to explain, "I... I'm not as bad as you think. I didn't leave on purpose all those years ago. It was a coincidence. I truly got hurt in an accident..."

He realized that Janine didn't seem to be struggling as he had imagined. In fact, she seemed to be doing remarkably well. The thought made him not want her to think any worse of him. Janine didn't want to hear anymore. "It doesn't matter whether it's true or not. You don't have to explain," she interrupted, cutting him off.

Finn said, "Are you really that indifferent? Janine, I've thought about you and the kids all these years."

Janine scoffed. "Is that so?"

"If you really thought about us, why didn't you show up in the past 20 years?" she thought to herself.

Those words might fool some naïve young woman, but not her. She wasn't the naïve person she had once been.

"Of course, I just... I just couldn't bring myself to face you. I guess I wasn't brave enough." Finn sighed deeply.

Janine glanced at her watch. "I have plans with a friend today and some things to do afterward. You don't have much time, so if you have something to say, get to the point." Finn's expression froze for a moment, his face turning a little pale. He hadn't expected Janine to be so indifferent.

But he had no choice now.

"By the way, before you came to find me, did you try to contact the kids?" Janine suddenly realized something.

She felt that Finn's sudden appearance must have been prompted by something. Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown up now.

The words he had said earlier didn't convince her.noveldrama

Finn regarded Janine with new respect. Not only had her demeanor changed drastically, but she had become sharp and perceptive, able to easily read people's intentions. He had been gone for 20 years, and he couldn't help but wonder what Janine had endured during that time.

He had never cared to ask before, but now, seeing her like this, his curiosity was piqued.

"I did go see them, but they hate me for being away for 20 years. They wouldn't even give me the chance to sit down and have a meal with them," Finn said with a bitter smile. Upon hearing that Finn had tried to meet with the children, Janine's expression immediately darkened. "Why should they give you that chance?" "What?"

"You ran away from your

responsibilities as a father. You left when they were just children, and the people in the village would mock them as fatherless kids. Steven was just a kid, but he had to help me keep the family together.

"Where were you then? Let me guess, you went on to build a new family and live the life you always dreamed of-the life you used to tell me about. Now, you want to show up and act like a father? You don't deserve that."

Janine stood her ground, defending Steven and the others. Of course, they hated Finn. It was only natural.

If Finn hadn't shown up, Steven and the others would have kept their good memories of him, still believing they had a good father.

But now, after his sudden reappearance 20 years later, everything that had been a comforting memory now felt like a lie. They would surely hate him.

Finn's face flushed with

embarrassment. "I know I've

wronged them, and I've wronged you

too. But I'm not beyond redemption. Any man in my position would have made the same choice."

"Keep those words to yourself. Don't try to deceive anyone else with them. We all have common sense now." Janine sneered.

Since being with Ted, there were times when Janine wondered if she had wronged her late husband.

After all, deep down, she was a traditional woman.

But now...