As she watched him walk away, Andrea reflected on her decision to send Valentine Anderson away, fearing that abandoning Pete's father would create a void in Pete's life, especially since Pete had recently experienced fatherly love from Lucas.\n\n'Val, please wait,' Andrea called out, then briskly approached him.\n\nValentine Anderson halted, his lips pursed. He had considered the idea of walking away, but hadn't expected it to unfold this way.\n\nThe smile on his face swiftly faded into remorse and guilt as he turned away, his eyes cast down, brimming with tears as he looked up at Andrea with a forlorn expression.\n\nAndrea was taken aback by his reaction, yet she maintained a smile and said, 'I'm sorry for what I said earlier; I didn't mean it. I'm just worried about you. If you continue like this, you might not win Pete's heart, and I doubt Pete will forgive you.'\n\nValentine managed a few teardrops before responding in a broken voice, 'I know, Andrea. I'm such a failure.'\n\nAndrea felt her heart soften. She immediately stopped him, comforting him. 'Val, you're not a failure. You're a wonderful man—any woman would want you as a husband, and every child would want you as a father.'\n\nValentine's tear-filled eyes brightened as he asked eagerly, 'Really?'\n\nAndrea was surprised by his sudden change in demeanor, but she nodded nonetheless. Valentine Anderson then dropped to one knee and produced a ring box from his pocket.\n\nAndrea stood before him, utterly dumbfounded, pondering his intentions. As he opened the ring box, she snapped out of her shock, her lips trembling. She wanted to speak, but no words came out.\n\n'Andrea, the greatest regret of my life is that I didn't stand at the altar and take vows with you, promising to live by your side until we grow old, and to love you in health and sickness, in good times and bad,' Valentine Anderson confessed, pouring out his heart as he locked eyes with Andrea.\n\nAndrea was too shocked to respond, standing there unsure of what to say. Her lips trembled as she began, 'Val—'\n\nBefore she could continue, Valentine interjected sorrowfully, 'Andrea, you don't want to marry me? I understand. I'm such a failure.'\n\nValentine began to retract his hand holding the ring, but Andrea quickly said, 'No, it's not that. I'm just scared of another disaster happening. I don't mean—'\n\nAndrea continued to explain anxiously when Valentine smiled and interjected, 'That won't happen again. We'll be very careful this time. The wedding will be in three days. Anyone with a plan won't be able to rearrange anything before that, and we'll make it public the night before the wedding.'\n\nAndrea responded anxiously, 'That's too soon.'\n\nBlinking, Valentine said, 'Can you at least let me slip the ring onto your finger?'\n\nThough Andrea hesitated, she extended her hand, watching as Valentine slipped the ring onto her finger.\n\nShe didn't move to tears or even jump with joy as someone might when being proposed to.\n\nValentine stood up and embraced her tightly, planting soft kisses on her lips. 'I love you, Andrea. I love you,' he whispered.\n\nAndrea awkwardly pulled away from his embrace, feeling uncomfortable seeing that Valentine wasn't happy. She quickly said, 'We should hurry and replace the playground before Pete gets back from school.'\n\nAt that moment, Valentine considered the suggestion and quickly replied to Andrea, 'You don't have to worry. I'll build a better playground for Pete.'\n\nHe turned and got into his car, then drove out of the mansion.\n\nAndrea stared at the ring on her finger, then at the car leaving the mansion. Her mood was solemn as she lowered her head and walked back into the mansion.\n\nUpon entering the living room, Andrea encountered Housekeeper Win returning from the kitchen, looking unhappy. 'Ma'am Andrea, are you really going to marry Sir Valentine?' she asked.\n\nAndrea touched her forehead, feeling frustrated and confused. She replied helplessly, 'Mrs. Win, I don't know. I've been through so many weddings, and I'm starting to get tired of it.'\n\nHousekeeper Win's eyes lit up as she said, 'Ma'am Andrea, does that mean you're not going to agree to the wedding?'\n\nHousekeeper Win thought that if Andrea didn't proceed with the planned wedding, she would still be married to Lucas, Valentine's younger brother.\n\nBut Andrea didn't answer her question. Instead, she pressed her forehead with her thumb in frustration; she had never been in such a dilemma before.\n\n'Win, I'm tired,' Andrea said, then stood up and took the stairs to her bedroom.\n\nHousekeeper Win didn't say another word. She understood Andrea's feelings—she was in a difficult situation, torn between being a good mother by marrying Pete's father and being selfish by holding on to Lucas Anderson, whom she had fallen in love with.\n\nAs Housekeeper Win worried about Andrea, a sudden commotion arose outside the house. She went out to see that Valentine Anderson had returned with plans to build a new playground.\n\nMrs. Anderson checked the time and realized it was time for Pete to leave school. She took the car keys, not wanting to trouble Andrea by having her pick Pete up.\n\nShe drove to Pete's school and, upon arrival, heard the ringing of the bell signaling the end of the day.\n\nPete emerged from his classroom listlessly, carrying his schoolbag. When Housekeeper Win saw him, she smiled warmly and approached. 'Young master, how was class today?' she asked.\n\nPete looked at her sadly and asked, 'When will my dad pick me up from school as usual?'\n\nAlthough Housekeeper Win knew he was referring to Lucas, who always took him to school and brought him back home when he left, she pretended not to know and replied, 'Your dad is preparing a surprise for you today. Tomorrow, he'll drive you to school.'\n\nPete clenched his fists and retorted in dissatisfaction, 'I'm not referring to the man in our house. He will never be my father. I don't like him.'\n\nHousekeeper Win panicked and responded, 'Don't say such things. Sir Valentine is your father. Don't ruin your relationship with your biological father.'