Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce

Chapter 260: Chapter 260: Tears, Surging and Complex

A mountain breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees swept over the newly built stone steps.

Mrs. Sutton walked at the very front, her steps slow and heavy, her gaze lingering on every mountain scene that was at once familiar and strange.

Mr. Sutton carried a basket of offerings, silently following half a step behind her.

Behind him followed Wren Sutton and Adrian Lancaster, each holding a child in their arms.

The two little ones seemed to sense the exceptionally quiet atmosphere. They didn’t cry or fuss, only blinking their dark, clear eyes from time to time as they looked around curiously.

"This mountain path is much easier to walk on now."

Mrs. Sutton stopped at a gentle bend and looked back at her family. Her gaze rested on the two children for a moment, her eyes swirling with emotion.

"If your grandmother could see this today, I don’t know how happy she would be. She always used to say that no matter how far you go, your roots and your heart are always here."

Adrian Lancaster nodded slightly, his expression sincere and full of respect.

It was his first time on this path, his first time visiting Wren Sutton’s grandmother.

Everything around him was unfamiliar, yet his steps were steady, and his arms held the child securely.

Adrian glanced sideways at Wren. She was looking down, gently cooing to their daughter, her profile appearing especially soft under the sparse shadows of the trees.

After passing a dense bamboo forest, a meticulously cared-for, sun-facing slope suddenly appeared before them.

The grass was neat, and several verdant pines and cypresses stood around it.

Wren Sutton’s grandmother’s headstone stood quietly in the center, the bluestone material glowing with a gentle luster in the sunlight.

In front of the stone, besides the slightly withered chrysanthemums from the Qingming Festival, lay a small bouquet. It was clearly a recent addition—a simple but tidy bunch of wild lilies and daisies, still carrying the scent of mountain dew.

Mrs. Sutton stopped abruptly, as if she were nailed to the spot.

She stared at the fresh flowers that weren’t from her family, her lips trembling violently. Before she could speak, tears began to stream down her face, large drops rolling down and soaking the front of her shirt.

This time, the tears were torrential and complex.

"Mom..." she called out, her voice breaking. She summoned all her strength to step forward and collapse before the headstone, her trembling hand stroking the cold stone face.

"Your daughter has been unfilial, waiting so long to come back and see you. Wren and her father are back too. Your grandson-in-law is here, and so are your two little great-grandchildren. We’ve all come to see you."

Mr. Sutton set down the basket, took out a soft cloth, and began to wipe the headstone without a word.

His movements were slow and deliberate. He carefully wiped every inch from the top to the base, tracing every character and line, as if trying to make up for years of missed companionship and longing through this single act.

He had been a poor boy back then, with no money or influence, but his mother-in-law’s family had never looked down on him.

The encouragement and support from his mother-in-law and father-in-law were still vivid in his memory; he would never forget their kindness as long as he lived.

"Mom, thank you for letting me marry Yuna back then, for giving me a complete family."

Wren Sutton’s eyes were red-rimmed. She temporarily handed the child in her arms to Adrian Lancaster beside her.

Adrian adjusted his posture, securely holding both children in the crook of his arms.

His back was ramrod straight, his calm gaze fixed on the headstone, engraved with the name of a relative he had never met but who was so critically important.

Wren squatted down and, together with her mother, began to arrange the offerings one by one.

Delicate pastries, fresh fruit, and warmed sake.

With each item she placed, Mrs. Sutton would whisper, "Mom, these are the mung bean cakes you liked," and, "These are the apples you liked."

Once the offerings were arranged, Mrs. Sutton lit the incense sticks.

She held the incense first, closing her eyes in silent prayer for a long while before placing it in the censer. Mr. Sutton followed, then Wren Sutton.

Wren turned and looked at Adrian. He was holding both children and couldn’t take the incense.

He took a step forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Wren, facing the headstone.

Wren took their daughter from him and then carefully passed an incense stick to Adrian.

Adrian solemnly took the thin stick of incense with his free right hand.

As his fingertips touched the warm incense, he felt a strange sense of solemnity spread from his fingers through his entire body.

He lifted his eyes and gazed at the headstone once more.

The mountain breeze seemed to die down at that moment. It was exceptionally quiet, with only the faint red glow of the incense tip flickering as a thin wisp of smoke rose straight up.

Adrian took a shallow breath. Then, holding the incense, he bowed deeply and piously toward the headstone.

His movements were unhurried, carrying the ritualistic gravity of a first meeting—a bit unfamiliar, yet incredibly earnest.

"Grandma, I’m Wren’s husband, Adrian Lancaster."

"Today, I’ve come with Wren, Mom, and Dad to see you."

"I’m so sorry it took me this long to come, and... thank you."

He paused. His gaze swept over the bouquet of flowers from a kind neighbor before returning to the headstone, as if he could see through the stone to the old woman who had given Wren’s mother life and warmth.

"Thank you for raising Wren’s mother, so that I could have Wren. Thank you for teaching her so well."

As Adrian spoke, he glanced at his wife beside him, her face now streaked with tears. His gaze was gentle yet firm.

"Please rest assured. I will take good care of Wren and our children. We will live a good life, and we will remember to come back and visit you often."

After saying this, he bowed deeply once more.

This time, he bent lower and held the bow for longer.

Only then did he step forward and place the incense stick in the censer, in the spot meant for him.

Three wisps of blue smoke curled and converged, drifting gently on the wind.

Wren Sutton’s vision was already blurred by tears. As Adrian spoke and as he bowed so solemnly, an indescribable mix of poignant sorrow and searing warmth swirled in her heart, nearly overwhelming her.

Mrs. Sutton was sobbing uncontrollably, leaning on Mr. Sutton’s shoulder.

Mr. Sutton put his arm around his wife, his eyes filled with deep emotion and gratification as he watched his daughter and son-in-law.

The mountain breeze picked up again, but this time, it seemed exceptionally gentle.

It brushed past the tips of their hair and the corners of their clothes.

It brushed past the quietly burning incense before the headstone.

It brushed past the dewy bouquet of wildflowers, and it brushed past the two babies’ tender cheeks.

Like a long, drawn-out sigh and a blessing from the depths of time.

...

The journey down the mountain felt lighter than the climb up. By the time they returned to the small courtyard, the sun was already beginning to set in the west.

The driver had been efficient, already having put away their luggage. The beds in the bedroom had been made with clean, soft linens.

On the stone table in the courtyard, there was a pile of melons, fruits, nuts, and various traditional pastries, all gifts from the neighbors.

A note with simple, unadorned handwriting was placed on top.

"Yuna, bring the whole family over to Granny’s for dinner tonight. There’ll be more than enough food. Signed, Granny Foster."

Mr. and Mrs. Sutton looked at the table laden with gifts and then at each other, smiling, their eyes filled with warmth.

"Let’s rest for a bit, then we’ll go over and help Granny Foster."

"Okay."

Mrs. Sutton turned back to look at her daughter.

"Wren, you and Adrian don’t need to come help. You two stay here and look after the children. I’ll call you when dinner is ready."

Just then, Owen and Nina were already getting drowsy, and they really did need someone to stay with them.

Wren Sutton nodded. "Alright. We’ll head over once the kids wake up."