Mrs. Lockwood’s face broke into a kind smile as she watched Eliza wheeling Shane down herself. "Eliza, you’ve worked so hard. Here, take these earrings. They’re for you."
Looking at Mrs. Lockwood’s earnest, encouraging expression, Eliza felt as if the earrings were burning her hands.
By the ti they arrived at the main residence, Master Lockwood and the second branch of the family were already there.
Aunt Florence Young, dressed in lavish attire, spoke up the mont she saw them. "Things are certainly different now that her son is awake. Look at this, arriving even later than Master Lockwood. What grand airs you’re putting on."
Mrs. Lockwood said faintly, "Whatever are you talking about, Sister-in-law? With Father here, how could we of the younger generation dare to put on airs? Not like you. I hear people saying the Lockwood family will have to rely on you in the future."
Florence Young’s expression changed drastically. ’She can’t fool ,’ she thought. ’Mrs. Lockwood is trying to kill with praise.’
’For the great Lockwood family to rely on a woman like her—what would that make of the rest of the family? And where would that leave Master Lockwood?’
"Sister-in-law, how can you say such a thing? I was rely concerned that Master Lockwood, at his age, was going hungry while waiting for us, the younger generation. If you think I’m speaking out of turn, then I’ll just shut my mouth."
Mrs. Lockwood simply lowered her head and conceded, "Father, I’m sorry. We’re late."
"Enough. So much bickering first thing in the morning. Are we eating or not?"
The mont Master Lockwood spoke, Florence Young didn’t dare pester them further. She stood up and began to dote on the old master, acting for all the world as if she were the true matriarch of the Lockwood family.
A shadow passed over Mrs. Lockwood’s face.
"Please, have so soup. You need to eat a proper breakfast, so that Mr. Lockwood... so that Shane won’t worry about you."
Hearing Eliza ntion Shane, Mrs. Lockwood’s spirits lifted. ’That’s right. Her son was awake now. The first branch of the family was no longer just a defenseless mother and son.’
Florence Young’s expression faltered as well. As elders of the family, they knew better than anyone what kind of man Shane Lockwood was.
Sure enough, the other Lockwood relatives had already switched to fawning over Shane Lockwood.
Shane Lockwood paid them no mind, simply addressing his grandfather. "Grandfather," he said, "I’m sorry for making you worry. I have been a poor grandson."
"If you know you’ve been a poor grandson, then you’d better start acting like it. If you ever dare to be so reckless again, I, your grandfather, will throw you out of this house. Do you hear ?"
When breakfast ended, Shane Lockwood was summoned to the study by Master Lockwood, while Mrs. Lockwood was sward by relatives. But Eliza was left alone. As the bride who had only been married into the family to ward off bad luck, no one thought she was worth their ti.
In the eyes of the Lockwood family, she could be thrown out at any mont, so there was no point in trying to curry favor with her.
As Eliza was about to head back to Green Bamboo Garden, the residence of the first branch, Fabian Lockwood blocked her path.
Eliza looked at Fabian Lockwood’s slick hair and pasty face, a wave of disgust washing over her.
She coolly addressed him as "Cousin."
"Sister-in-law, you don’t have to be so formal. We’re family. Just relax."
Eliza nodded and turned to leave.
"Don’t go," Fabian said, reaching for her arm. "You’re being so cold, you’re hurting my feelings." But Eliza sidestepped his grasp.
Eliza’s expression hardened. "Fabian Lockwood, if you get handsy with again, don’t bla for what I do next!"
"Sister-in-law, your coldness wounds . I’m the only one in this family who actually has your best interests at heart."
Eliza raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Fabian pressed on. "You saw the sway my cousin holds today. If you don’t co up with a plan, there’ll be no place for you in this family."
"And?"
"You must have heard about my cousin’s condition from Doctor Shepherd. He’s going to be a cripple for the rest of his life. That kid, Emtt, is his only heir, and he’s already attached to you. All you have to do is arrange for so traffickers to kidnap him, or, you know, just get rid of him. Then we can have a child of our own...
Grandfather prizes the Lockwood bloodline above all else. No matter how angry he gets, he’ll protect the child."
Eliza’s expression instantly darkened. She raised her voice and called out, "Shane Lockwood, did you hear that? Your cousin wants to murder Emtt and then have bear *his* child!"
Fabian chuckled. "Sister-in-law, you can only pull a cheap trick like that once. I’m not an idiot; I’m not falling for it again. You might as well just give in to ."
"Give in to ? How about I give in to you, too?"
"Forget it. Who the hell do you think you are? Who’d want you?" Fabian waved his hand dismissively. Then it dawned on him, and his expression froze.
"Fabian Lockwood."
Hearing the voice, Fabian turned around slowly, his expression instantly shifting to one of fawning sycophancy.
"C-Cousin... what are you doing out here by yourself? If you need soone to push your wheelchair, you should give a chance to be of service."
"A chance to be of service? You an a chance to murder my son and cuckold ?"
Fabian bowed his head, laughing nervously. "Cousin, you’ve misunderstood. I was just kidding. That’s right, just a joke..."
"Is that so? Well, I’m not laughing. Eliza, do you find it funny?"
Eliza hadn’t expected Shane Lockwood to use her na so familiarly. She froze for a second. His gaze swept over to her—it felt light as a feather, yet it was laden with nacing intent.
Eliza jolted. "Not funny. Not funny at all. If you ask , anyone who says sothing like that has a truly wicked heart. At the very least, he should be deprived of the... tools of the trade. That’s the only way he’ll learn to behave."
As she spoke, both her gaze and Shane Lockwood’s fell to the space between Fabian Lockwood’s legs.
Fabian instinctively clapped his hands over his crotch, so scared he nearly wet himself.
"Cousin, Sister-in-law, I-I’m sorry! I have sowhere to be, I’ll be going now!"
Fabian’s face was pale as he fled, looking as if he were being chased by a ghost.
"Tsk." Eliza sneered. "And a gutless mouse like that dares to plot murder for financial gain."
"Weren’t you tempted, though?"
"What?"
"Killing Emtt, getting pregnant with Fabian’s child, and taking control of the entire Lockwood family. Becoming a figure everyone reveres."
Eliza said, "My mother didn’t skimp on when I was born."
Seeing Shane Lockwood’s confused look, Eliza added earnestly, "I was born with a brain."
’Leaving aside the fact that Fabian’s idiotic plan is completely unrealistic,’ she thought, ’even if Master Lockwood had a complete lapse in judgnt, he would only keep the child and discard the mother.’
"Besides, I’m very fond of Emtt."
Shane Lockwood laughed, clearly unconvinced. He pulled out his phone and made a call. "Make sure Fabian Lockwood has a chance to clear his head."
Not long after Eliza got back to Green Bamboo Garden, she heard the servants gossiping.
"Has the Second Young Master lost his mind? Skinny-dipping in the lake in broad daylight! How shaless."
"I know! Master Lockwood is furious. He ordered him to get out, but who would’ve thought? The Second Young Master just said the water felt nice and cool, and that he’d like to stay in."
Eliza paused for a mont, then went upstairs.
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