Chapter 380: Guilt and Tenderness

Mrs. Sutton’s expression froze, and her heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"

Mrs. Zane began tentatively, "I was scrolling through my phone yesterday and stumbled upon some posts online. People were slinging mud, just fabricating malicious lies. It was all attacking Wren, and it was horrible to read. I was furious just looking at it, but I was also worried you’d be upset, so I wasn’t sure if I should tell you."

The words struck Mrs. Sutton like a bolt from the blue, igniting her fury.

"What are they saying about my daughter online?!"

She had been busy at home these past few days taking care of Owen and Nina, with no free time to scroll through her phone. She had no idea what was happening online.

Mrs. Zane said in a pained, low voice, "Someone started a rumor that the car accident on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival was an attempted murder, and that Wren is the prime suspect."

"They’re saying she’s vicious and cruel, cold and heartless, that she doesn’t care if her husband lives or dies."

Mrs. Sutton was about to explode with rage. Her chest heaved violently, and her face flushed red.

"That’s utter nonsense! How could my daughter possibly do something so heinous?"

"She’s been at the hospital every day, she’s worn herself thin from worry! How could anyone say she doesn’t care about her husband!"

The thought of her daughter suffering such immense torment while also being slandered by these rumors made Mrs. Sutton’s heart twist into a knot. The pain was so sharp she could hardly breathe.

Seeing this, Mrs. Zane quickly reached out to steady Mrs. Sutton, patting her back to comfort her.

"I know. Those people are just spouting nonsense. That girl, Wren, is so good. How could she possibly be a murderer?"

"The people who started these rumors have no conscience, just spreading malicious lies. They’ll come to a bad end. Sooner or later, they’ll get what’s coming to them. The law won’t let them get away with it either."

"At first, those posts were everywhere, just filled with malice. But then, less than an hour later, they all vanished. Someone must have scrubbed them completely."

Mrs. Sutton’s eyes filled with tears. "Really? All the posts have been removed?"

Mrs. Zane nodded. "Really. Not a single trace is left."

Hearing this, Mrs. Sutton felt a small measure of relief.

On second thought, she realized something. ’It’s not that easy to just wipe all those malicious posts off the internet. An ordinary person wouldn’t have the power or connections to do that. The only ones who could suppress all the negative public opinion and eliminate the rumors so quietly and quickly would be the Lancaster family.’

’The Lancaster family cares for Wren and didn’t want her to be disturbed by all the malicious talk, so they stepped in and handled the PR crisis with lightning speed.’

Based on Wren’s behavior when she came home yesterday, Mrs. Sutton hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

’Which means Wren probably doesn’t even know about the online rumors. The Lancasters are keeping it from her.’

In that moment, a flood of emotions washed over Mrs. Sutton.

’My daughter is already going through enough, counting the days while watching over him in the ICU. She’s lost so much weight... she can’t take any more trouble.’

’Even though those rumors have been suppressed, my daughter absolutely cannot find out about them. Not a single word.’

’I can’t give her another thing to worry about. I can’t make her suffer any more.’

She would have to hide all her anxiety and worry deep inside, never letting her daughter suspect a thing.

Her neighbor, Mrs. Zane, was still trying to console her. Mrs. Sutton forced herself to calm down and managed to pull a placid smile onto her face.

"Thank you, Mrs. Zane, for making a point to tell me this. There’s been so much going on at home lately, Mr. Sutton and I haven’t had the mind to pay attention to things online."

"Since it’s all just malicious rumors, we shouldn’t pay them any mind. You’re right, the law will punish them."

Seeing that Mrs. Sutton was no longer so agitated and had regained her composure, Mrs. Zane finally felt relieved and didn’t mention the matter again.

As she watched Mrs. Zane’s retreating figure, Mrs. Sutton stood rooted to the spot, the smile slowly fading from her face.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions churning inside her, and pretended she knew nothing.

Once she had calmed down and the redness in her eyes had faded, she walked back home with heavy steps.

「...」

After breakfast, Wren Sutton announced that she would stay home with the children today instead of going to the hospital.

Relieved smiles appeared on both Mr. and Mrs. Sutton’s faces.

Their daughter had been at the hospital for days on end. She deserved a day to rest at home and spend time with the children. It was a good thing.

"Good, good. Don’t go anywhere today, just rest at home. Tell Mom what you want to eat, and I’ll make it for you."

"Okay. Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it."

Wren Sutton got up and walked over to the crib. She leaned over, quietly watching Owen and Nina, who were still fast asleep.

As if sensing their mother’s presence, the two little ones slowly opened their eyes and smiled at her.

Meeting her children’s sweet smiles, Wren Sutton’s heart completely melted.

She reached out and gently stroked their soft little cheeks. The touch was warm and delicate. Her eyes filled with a deep, unwavering mix of guilt and tenderness.

Lately, Wren Sutton had poured all her energy into the hospital, neglecting her children far too much. Today, she was going to make it up to them.

"Did Mommy wake you up?"

"Mommy’s going to stay home and play with you today, okay?"

"Come on, sweeties, time to get up. Mommy’s going to change you into some nice, new clothes~"

Mrs. Sutton discreetly observed her daughter. She saw no sign of anything unusual, no trace of being hurt by the malicious rumors. Wren’s entire focus was on the children.

Mrs. Sutton let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed Wren truly was oblivious to what was happening online.

’That’s good. It’s better that she doesn’t know.’

Wren Sutton personally changed Owen and Nina’s diapers, washed their hands and faces, dressed them in clean new clothes, and fed them their formula.

After all that, she carried the babies to a soft mat laid out in the living room.

"Sweeties, Mommy’s going to play a game with you."

Wren Sutton picked up a yellow ducky rattle. With a gentle shake, a clear bell inside went JINGLE.

Owen and Nina immediately started kicking their short legs excitedly, babbling and cooing.

Owen reached out to grab it, but his grip was too weak, and he couldn’t hold on. His little face turned red with frustration.

Nina stared at the rattle curiously, her little head turning back and forth to follow the sound.

Smiling, Wren Sutton placed the rattle into her daughter’s and son’s tiny palms, helping them grasp it firmly. She gave it another gentle shake, making the two little ones break into giggles.

After playing for a while, she picked up a colorful cloth storybook, sat cross-legged, and gathered both children into her arms.

"Mommy’s going to tell you a story."

Her voice was soft and soothing as she slowly turned the pages one by one.

"Once upon a time, there were two cute little bunnies. One was named Flopsy, and the other was named Mopsy..."

She spoke very slowly in a gentle tone, occasionally tapping the pictures in the book with her fingertip.

Nina reached out a tiny hand and gently poked the little rabbit on the cloth book, as if trying to figure out what it was.

Wren Sutton took her daughter’s little hand, guiding it to touch the picture again and again as she explained in a soft voice.

Owen didn’t want to move. He just leaned lazily against his mother’s chest, listening quietly, his little eyes following his mother’s finger.

After the story, Wren Sutton started reciting nursery rhymes, her voice soft and light, like a warm breeze.

"Little star, shining bright, baby sleeps and blinks its eyes. The wind is still, the trees don’t sway, not a sound from the birds today..."

As she recited, she gently patted both babies on the back in a slow, steady rhythm.

Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the mother and her two children in its warmth. It was a rare, tender moment that no one would dare to interrupt.

「As noon approached.」

Wren Sutton gently patted Owen and Nina’s soft little tummies and chuckled.

"Are you getting a little hungry? How about Mommy makes you some baby food?"

She didn’t hand the children over to her parents. Instead, she placed Owen and Nina in their stroller one by one, then pushed the stroller to the kitchen doorway, parking it where she could see them just by looking up.

"Owen, Nina, Mommy is making you something yummy. You watch quietly now, no fussing."

She wanted to watch her children every second, and she wanted them to be able to see her whenever they looked up. She didn’t want to be separated from them for even a moment.

At more than five months old, nearly half a year, a baby’s digestive system is delicate. Their first foods had to be the finest, mildest purées.

While carefully washing vegetables and putting them on the stove to steam, Wren Sutton would glance back at the children in the stroller from time to time, gently calling their names and talking to them.

When the time was up, she used a small spoon to mash the steamed vegetables into a fine, soft purée.

Owen and Nina sat in their stroller, their dark, glistening eyes fixed on their mother, perfectly quiet and content.

Once the baby food was ready, Wren Sutton pushed the stroller back to the living room and moved Owen and Nina into their high chairs.

She sat in front of the high chairs, picked up a small bowl and a small spoon.

"Sweeties, come on, try the food Mommy made. Let’s see if you like it."

Wren Sutton scooped up a small spoonful, blew on it gently to make sure the temperature was just right, and then brought it to her child’s mouth.

Nina opened her little mouth and obediently ate the spoonful. Her little brow furrowed slightly as if she were savoring the taste, and then she gave Wren Sutton a sweet smile, as if to say that Mommy’s food was delicious.

Owen was a little mischievous. He held the spoon in his mouth, refusing to let go, his bright eyes darting around to look at his mother, which made Wren Sutton let out a soft laugh.

Patiently, Wren Sutton fed them spoonful after spoonful, occasionally using a tissue to gently wipe the purée from the corners of their mouths with delicate, careful movements.

"Sweeties, we’re just starting to introduce solid foods. We have to let your tummies get used to it slowly, so you can’t eat too much at once."

"This is enough for today. Mommy will make more for you another day."

Owen and Nina babbled in response to their mother.

Wren Sutton lifted the children out of their high chairs and sat on the sofa with one in each arm. The three of them watched SpongeBob SquarePants together.

After a little while, the two little ones got sleepy and fell asleep in their mother’s arms.

Wren Sutton didn’t move from her position. She looked down, her expression full of tenderness as she watched her children.

It wasn’t until Mr. and Mrs. Sutton had finished making lunch and it was time to eat that Wren Sutton reluctantly placed Owen and Nina back in their crib.

On the dining table, the dishes were steaming hot, beautifully presented, and wonderfully fragrant.

Mrs. Sutton had specially made a nourishing soup, ladling a large bowl for her daughter. The other dishes were all Wren Sutton’s usual favorites.

"Wren, eat more. No matter what, don’t neglect yourself. You have to take care of your own body so you have the energy to look after the children and wait for Adrian."

"I know, Mom," Wren Sutton replied. She picked up her chopsticks and spoon, warming up completely as she ate her food and drank the soup.

The family of three was enjoying a warm, pleasant meal.

Just then, DING-DONG, DING-DONG.

The sudden ringing of the doorbell shattered the tranquility in the house.

"Who is it?" Mr. Sutton put down his chopsticks, about to get up and open the door.

But Wren Sutton stood up first. "Dad, you stay seated. I’ll go see who it is."