"Sigh." Joanna sighed after hearing the story. "If she did anything wrong, it’s targeting Stacy. What does Dad think?"

"At first, Dad wanted to plead for her, but now he has changed his mind."

"Ashton Heath, can I ask you a question, and can you answer me honestly?"

"Hm?" Ashton smiled, looking down at the girl beside him, rubbing the top of her head with his big hand. "What do you want to ask? I’ve never lied to you."

"It’s nothing really. I’m just curious, aren’t you bothered by Dad caring about Diana and her mother?"

It was obvious that Darren had feelings for both Diana and the late Mia.

If back then, he hadn’t already married Lady Octavia, if he was single at the time, he probably would have married Mia, right?

Later, when he left, it wasn’t because he no longer had feelings but because of responsibility.

He had to be responsible to Lady Octavia.

And also to the entire Heath family.

In the face of too much responsibility, feelings can often be set aside.

Darren still cared about Mia – this was something even Joanna could see, so Ashton must have noticed too.

But he didn’t seem to care much about it.

"Is this what you want to ask?"

"Yes, can you answer? If not, just pretend I never asked."

"There’s nothing I can’t answer. You asked if I minded, and my answer is I don’t."

"You don’t mind? Why?" After all, most people would be bothered by something like this, right?

Bothered by their father having another woman in his heart.

And moreover, suddenly having a half-sister.

Joanna imagined if this had happened to her, she didn’t think she could be completely unbothered.

Even back when Mrs. Madelyn Lawrence passed away and Benjamin married Rose Liall, Joanna still harbored some resentment over it.

"What’s there to mind?" Ashton smiled, patiently explaining to Joanna. "Mia has already passed away. Even if Dad still has her in his heart, there’s nothing more he can do. We cannot compare Mia to those other women who break up families, because when she met Dad, she didn’t know he was already married."

"Strictly speaking, it was Dad who deceived and wronged her."

"Dad was with her because he liked her, and he left not because he stopped liking her but because he had to. He loved Mia, who saved his life, and when he chose to leave, she didn’t cling to him. Now knowing that Mia gave birth to a daughter for him..."

"He’s always felt guilty about leaving Mia, and now with Diana’s situation, he’ll only feel even more indebted to her. In his life, he’ll never forget Mia."

At this point, Ashton’s deep eyes looked towards Joanna, filled with tenderness: "Perhaps in the past, I wouldn’t have understood his feelings, but now, I think I can."

As he stared at her, his gaze was focused and affectionate, and Joanna felt her heartbeat quickening: "Why can you understand now?"

"Because now I also have a woman I deeply love and know what it feels like to love someone." Ashton’s eyes were profound, her reflection filling the depths of his dark eyes, his words lingering and affectionate.

Joanna’s heart raced.

Even though she was asking about Darren’s situation, it had somehow become Ashton confessing his feelings to her.