Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei

Hank tried to convince himself that his pain stemmed from seeing how well Sonny got along with Duncan. Sonny was his biological son, yet from now on, he'd live with Duncan. There was even a chance that Sonny might start calling Duncan "Dad."

As these thoughts spiraled, Hank felt a wetness on his face.

Raising his hand to his cheek, he realized his palm was damp with tears.

He was crying.

But why?

Deep down, Hank knew the reason. He just couldn't bring himself to admit it—not out loud, not even to himself.

Unable to process his emotions, he slumped forward, resting his head on the steering wheel, and let the tears flow freely. He sobbed, releasing the torrent of regret and sorrow that had been building inside him.

Once the tears dried, Hank pulled himself together. He had made a plan for the day, and despite the turmoil, he would stick to it. Starting his car, he left the Civil Affairs Bureau and drove toward the prison to visit Jessica.

the visitor's area, her eyes immediately landed on his swollen,

have you been crying? Your eyes

a deep grudge against Hank's mother, Mrs. Brown, and his

so much of their chaos. She had fueled the conflicts between Hank and Liberty, pushed Jessica

lacking his usual

better than to defend his mother or sister in front of Jessica. The way they had treated her in the past

her brow furrowed in confusion. "Then

family was strained, they were still her parents. The pressure of her incarceration had already taken a toll on them, both emotionally and socially. They had endured

delivered by a third party was the only connection they maintained. She later learned that her brother and sister-in-law had

had laughed bitterly when she heard

had "married well.” Her brother and sister-in-law were eager to enjoy

moment Jessica's life fell apart, she became a stain on their reputation, no longer worthy of