Eliza sneered. "For a better life for the children? Then what about my children? What about them! I put them in your hands—one died, and the other, who was only two, got lost and died too!"
Eliza’s voice trembled as she spoke.
So wounds don’t fade with ti. Instead, they embed themselves deeper, right down to the bone.
"That was just an accident. I didn’t want it to happen. Besides, you should be thanking . No matter how much you loved those two children, they were ultimately fatherless bastards. The Lockwood family was willing to accept you because of your auspicious birth date and Innis’s status, but they would never accept a woman who’d already had children. It’s better that those two are dead. It’s like they knew their place. Now you can be Madam Lockwood without any distractions..."
Before Harrison could finish, Eliza grabbed him by the shoulders and slamd him against the wall.
Her patience shattered, Eliza’s eyes were like ice. "Harrison Sutton, are you hearing the garbage coming out of your mouth?"
It’s better that those two are dead...
It’s like they knew their place...
’Is that Harrison barking like a dog?’
’No. Even dogs wouldn’t claim him as one of their own.’
"Harrison Sutton, I will only say this one last ti. It doesn’t matter where those two children ca from. I gave birth to them. They were my flesh and blood, my treasures. You killed them. And I will make the Sutton Family pay with their lives. A blood debt will be paid in blood."
Harrison lifted his head and t Eliza’s gaze.
Her eyes glinted, so cold they seed utterly devoid of warmth.
’No. In Eliza’s eyes, he was the one who wasn’t truly alive.’
Harrison shuddered.
In their twenty-three years as father and daughter, this was the first ti Harrison had ever been afraid of Eliza.
Because in that mont, Harrison felt with chilling certainty that Eliza, his own daughter, wanted him dead.
"Eliza, I’m your father!" Harrison roared, blustering to hide his terror.
"Yes, I know." Eliza released Harrison.
Once freed, Harrison could barely stand, his body trembling with fear.
Eliza pulled out a tissue and wiped her fingers.
She looked down at Harrison. "That is a very unfortunate fact. But, Mr. Sutton, I have to ask... am I really your biological daughter? If so, why would you treat like this?"
Harrison gasped, a guilty look flashing in his eyes.
But it vanished in an instant. He lowered his gaze, and no one noticed.
Then, Harrison flew into a thunderous rage. "What are you talking about? And what’s with this attitude? Is this how you treat your own father? Eliza, believe it or not, I’ll expose you! I’ll ruin your reputation so completely you won’t have a foothold left anywhere!"
Eliza raised a hand. "Be my guest, Mr. Sutton. If you need help arranging a venue and so reporters, don’t hesitate to ask. As you said, we are father and daughter, after all."
As she spoke, Eliza’s fingers relaxed, letting the tissue drift to the floor.
By coincidence, a gust of wind swept the tissue right onto Harrison’s face.
Without sparing him another glance, Eliza turned and walked away, her figure elegant in high heels.
Harrison plucked the tissue from his face, glaring furiously after Eliza’s retreating form.
’Absolutely outrageous.’
"You’re Mr. Sutton, correct? We’ll have to ask you to leave imdiately." A security guard stood to the side, eyeing Harrison nacingly.
"If you won’t leave, don’t bla us for using force."
The guard was imposing, looking as if he might throw Harrison out at any second.
Harrison had no choice but to leave.
Just as he walked out the door, he saw a security guard take out disinfectant and start spraying.
The guard announced, "Orders from above. This man is banned from Innis. Anyone who lets him in again can pack their bags and resign."
Harrison’s face twisted with rage, but there was nothing he could do.
...
Eliza returned to Seacliff Manor.
Just as she stepped out of her car, she saw a small figure hiding behind the row of bamboo in front of the villa.
The little guy was wearing a dirty outfit, hugging his knees with his face buried between them. He looked so lonely and pitiful.
Eliza walked over and called out softly, "Emtt, why are you sitting here?"
The little guy stiffened but didn’t look up.
"Why won’t you say anything? Did sothing happen to upset you? Were you bullied at school again?" Eliza’s voice was exceptionally gentle, carrying a soothing power.
Slowly, Emtt Lockwood looked up at Eliza, his eyes wide with surprise. "Mama, you recognized ? I was wearing this outfit earlier, and even Madam Zimrman mistook . She thought I was the new little brother."
Eliza smiled. "So, you wanted to see if Mama would mistake you for him, too?"
Emtt lowered his head, ashad. "Mama, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have tested you."
Eliza copied Emtt, sitting down on the ground beside him. "Can you tell Mama why you were playing this ga, Emtt?"
"I..." Emtt managed only a single word before trailing off.
He felt that no matter what he said, it would make him sound contemptible.
"My Emtt isn’t contemptible at all." Eliza put an arm around Emtt’s shoulders, pulling the little guy into a hug.
Her voice was as soft and gentle as the cotton candy Emtt had once eaten.
"You were just worried I would mix you up with the new little brother. You’re just feeling insecure. And that’s not your fault."
’When a child feels insecure, it’s never the child’s fault.’
"I’m also very happy that you’re showing you feel this way. It helps understand you better, and it makes realize I haven’t been doing enough. That’s why you feel so insecure. How about Mama apologizes to you, okay?"
"No!" Emtt exclaid, his voice loud and emotional. "It’s not Mama’s fault! It’s my fault! I was jealous of the new boy! I’m not a good kid!"
As Emtt spoke, his eyes reddened, and tears began to well up.
Eliza’s heart suddenly ached for Emtt.
’This child was so sensitive and bright, yet he had grown up without a mother, and the father he shared a bloodline with was too busy to give him much attention. That’s why he’s so attached to , the stepmother who saved his life, yet so terribly insecure.’
Eliza didn’t know how to comfort Emtt.
It wasn’t that she was bad with words, but she’d never been close to a child before and felt clumsy and awkward in this situation.
Eliza wracked her brain, then suddenly asked, "Want to go for a drive?"
"A drive?" Emtt was tempted, but he still shook his head. "Mama, you’re all over the news right now. The internet is full of stories about you, and everyone’s watching. It would be a huge problem if reporters spotted us."
’Of course, Eliza knew that. It was the whole reason she kept her other identities a secret. Good thing she had other thods.’
Eliza looked at Emtt. "I have a way to handle that. All you need to do is tell , Emtt: do you want to go or not?"
Without a second of hesitation, Emtt replied, "I do!"
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