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.

area, her eyes immediately landed on his swollen, red-rimmed

have you been crying? Your eyes are all puffy. Did

of concern and curiosity, though the latter had a darker edge. Jessica still harbored a deep grudge against Hank's mother, Mrs. Brown, and his sister, Chelsea. The two women had caused her nothing but misery. In fact, Jessica sometimes fantasized about something terrible happening to them, especially Mrs.

that chaotic confrontation. Chelsea had been the puppet master behind so much of their

low and calm, lacking his usual

in front of Jessica. The way they had treated her in the past was indefensible, and even he felt ashamed of their

tilted her head, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Then why are you

relationship with her family was strained, they were still her parents. The pressure of her incarceration had already taken

over time, their visits stopped. The occasional package delivered by a third party was the only connection they maintained. She later learned that her brother and sister-in-law had forbidden her parents from

laughed bitterly when she heard the news. How quickly things

her. Her parents proudly boasted about their capable daughter who had "married well.” Her brother and sister-in-law were eager to enjoy the benefits of her city lifestyle-cars,

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