Chapter 388

Serena shook her head, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "They never even married. How could they possibly divorce?"

Evelyn gasped.

Her first thought was how shockingly progressive people overseas could be. How did a couple have a child together without ever tying the knot?

"Actually, Oliver was just part of Penelope's scheme," Serena murmured, exhaling heavily.

Her gaze drifted to the window, lost in memory. She knew all this because she had once considered Penelope a friend—even pitied her.

"Scheme? He isn't Donovan's son?"

"Oh, he is. Penelope was obsessed with Donovan. Completely infatuated. She swore she'd marry him, but he barely glanced her way. So, she... engineered things. Got pregnant with his child, thinking he'd have no choice but to marry her. But Donovan? He didn’t even want the baby. She refused to terminate the pregnancy, though. Insisted on keeping him."

Serena took a sip of water, her throat dry from talking.

"Then, she showed up with Oliver, begging Donovan to reconsider. He took the boy in, gave her a hefty sum, and still refused to marry her. Years later, Oliver grew up, and suddenly, Penelope wanted to 'reconnect'—trying to play the doting mother while angling for another shot with Donovan."

She paused, shaking her head.

"Evelyn, I used to feel sorry for her. Loving someone that deeply and getting nothing in return? I thought she deserved happiness. A child needs both parents, right? But after what happened at the hospital... I finally understood why Donovan never gave her a chance."

Evelyn stayed silent, absorbing the bombshell. She’d come for dinner, not a family drama exposé.

But now, it made sense why Penelope knew nothing about Oliver’s condition.

She hadn’t raised him. Hadn’t even cared. She’d just used him as leverage to trap a man who never loved her.

Disgusting.

Their conversation lulled as Evelyn glanced around. The restaurant was eerily empty.

"Is it too early for dinner? Or... is this place not doing well? Why are we the only ones here?"

Serena laughed.

"Donovan wouldn’t take you to some failing restaurant. This place is always packed. He just... booked out the entire venue for tonight."

"What?"

"Consider it his way of thanking you. You do realize how influential he is, don’t you?"

"That’s... excessive."

Evelyn had expected a simple dinner. Not a private takeover of one of the city’s most exclusive spots.

"For Donovan? This is pocket change." Serena smirked. "Besides, you saved his son."

"True."

Just as she said it, another voice chimed in.