No wonder his mother hadn't put up much of a fight when she allowed him to be with Maggie.

It wasn't genuine acceptance. It was a carefully calculated strategy.

Sanford released his grip on Jaelyn, a profound sadness washing over him.

At that moment, his thoughts turned to Brian.

He had previously thought that he was luckier than Brian.

His mother's conditions for accepting Maggie into the family were not overly demanding, and she hadn't resorted to emotional manipulation or threats of suicide.

However, it was becoming clear that his mother's methods were even more insidious than Brian's mother's.

His mother knew that Jaelyn still occupied a place in his heart, and she orchestrated this whole plan to destroy his relationship with Maggie.

As a man, Sanford might not have changed his mind initially, but the mere presence of Jaelyn could have created a rift between him and Maggie.

Over time, that rift might have grown, causing their relationship to wither and eventually break apart.

By then, his mother's goal would have been achieved.

This strategy was not just devious. It was downright despicable.

“Sanford.."

Jaelyn coughed, covering her neck, her voice weak and pleading. She watched Sanford rise from his seat, tears streaming down her face as she slid off the sofa. Slowly, she crawled to his feet and pulled his trousers.

“Sanford, I didn't want to deceive you, but I miss you terribly. I wanted to come back and reconcile with you. That's why I agreed when your mother asked me to come back and win you over.

Sanford, deep down, you still love me, right? Can we start over? I promise I won't ever lie to you again, even if your mother threatens me."

Her voice had grown hoarse from the earlier strangulation, and she looked weaker than before.

Sanford used to be powerless against her when she was Like this.

Whenever she cried, he would give in to her every whim.

But now, the pity he had once felt turned to hatred.