After dinner, the two elders asked Sonny to accompany them downstairs for a walk.
Sonny agreed.
He did not have any plans that evening, so he had the time. Taking a walk with his grandparents would also give him a chance to relax.
He had been working nonstop and had not truly relaxed in a long time.
Hank also wanted to join them, but the dishes were not done yet, so he stayed with Jessica to clean up.
“Hank, you should go with them. I'll handle things here,” Jessica said thoughtfully.
"It's rare that Sonny has time to spend with you. He's leaving on another business trip soon, and then he's flying to Havenmill. Who knows when he'll be back.
"The next time he has time to go on walks with you will probably be during New Year's, but then his mother will come as well, and he'll be visiting his aunt's family to spend time with his cousins. He won't have much time then either.”
Every Christmas and New Year's, Sonny would only spend a few days with the Browns. He never had festive meals with them.
He usually stayed with Liberty. During the holidays, Liberty and her family would return from Jensburg. They were Sonny's real family. He had a father, mother, sister, and even grandparents from the Lewis family.
Although they were not related by blood, Corey and Derek had always treated him like their own grandson.
That was why Olivia and Luke always invited Sonny over for meals. They were afraid the Lewises would take their grandson away.
Sonny also had to visit the York family. He would spend a few days here and there, and before he knew it, the holidays would be over.
Thus, the fact that he had no business functions tonight and had come over for dinner was a precious opportunity for the Browns to spend time with him.
"You've also been busy in the kitchen all afternoon."
Hank's heart ached for his wife.
Their affection in their youth had not been this genuine. It was only now their relationship felt sincere.
"I'm fine. You helped too, so I wasn't doing everything alone. Washing a few dishes and tidying the kitchen isn't hard. Go on. If they get too far ahead, you won't catch up."
Jessica urged Hank to go with Sonny.
"Jess, are you sure you'll be fine alone?"
"Of course. It's not heavy work. It's just washing dishes. You go enjoy your walk. I'll have some peace and quiet at home."
Jessica quite liked being home alone.
That way, she would not have to face her in-laws.
They still had many grievances about her. No matter how well she did, they would never accept her again.
If not for Hank's insistence or her taking such good care of him, and if Sonny had not willingly provided an allowance, she would never have been able to stay in the Brown family.
She could not return to her own family either.
Jessica understood very well that if she wanted a comfortable old age, she had to treat Hank well. As long as he was alive, she could spend the rest of her life peacefully with him.
Sonny was wealthy and fair. Whenever she or Hank had health problems, Sonny always paid the medical bills.
People in the neighborhood told her that even biological children did not always treat their parents as well as Sonny did her.
She was his stepmother, and she once committed a crime that harmed Sonny, yet he still treated her with kindness.
"Your parents don't like me. As long as you're not at home, I don't get any peace in this house."
Hank said apologetically, "I'm sorry. You've suffered. It's all my fault."
It was his fault from the beginning.
If he had not been tempted by her youth and beauty, treated her well, and started flirting with her... She had only just entered the workforce and had very little life experience. How could she have resisted his relentless sweet talk and affection?
Thus, the blame had always been on him.
He had harmed both his first and second wives.
"It's okay. I can endure it. It's my only choice."
She had nowhere else to go.
If she left the Brown family, she would not even be able to find a job. At her age, it was difficult even to get hired as a cleaner. Furthermore, she had a criminal record. Many people discriminated against people like her.
No matter how harsh her in-laws' attitude toward her was, she would be fine as long as Hank continued to stand up for her.
Sonny also tried to persuade his grandparents, so the verbal abuse had lessened considerably. However, whenever Chelsea visited, Olivia would immediately start targeting her again.
Chelsea was nothing but a troublemaker.
She was the person Jessica hated the most.