"Zoe? Are you still listening?"
Mrs. Ellison’s reminder brought back to reality, and I asked, "How much business did Mason give to The Ellison Family?"
I feel like I should at least have an idea, although I’m not sure how to repay this favor?
Mrs. Ellison replied, "Actually, I’m not sure either; your dad just casually ntioned it. You should co over tomorrow and ask your dad directly; he knows better than I do."
"Okay, I’ll bring Sharon over tomorrow."
I hung up the phone, feeling slightly upset.
No wonder despite everything that’s been happening at Xavier Group, The Ellison Family hasn’t been affected at all.
The mont I consider that Julian might be involved, an inexplicable feeling starts rising within .
So many feelings and emotions seem impossible to deceive myself about any longer.
...
The next day was the Lantern Festival.
I brought Sharon to The Ellison Family.
As soon as we entered, I saw Mason sitting on the sofa in the living room.
Sharon’s eyes lit up, and she imdiately ran over to him, "Daddy!"
I was sowhat surprised and turned to look at Mrs. Ellison, who was approaching us: "Mom, why didn’t you tell President Hawthorne was here too?"
"Don’t bla Mrs. Ellison."
Mason reached out and gently ruffled Sharon’s hair, his tone tender, "I wanted to give Sharon a surprise. So, I asked them not to ntion it beforehand."
At this ti, the servant set the table, and Mrs. Ellison asked her to go upstairs and call my brother down.
Not long after, the servant returned with a troubled expression, "Madam, the young master seems to be in a bad mood. He said he doesn’t want to eat and asked you to start without him."
Mr. Ellison’s face darkened slightly, "When is he ever in a good mood?"
Mrs. Ellison quickly smoothed things over, "It’s okay, let’s eat; don’t mind him."
And so, we all took our seats.
Mrs. Ellison first gave Sharon a thick red envelope.
Sharon looked at Mason, unsure whether to accept it or not.
Mrs. Ellison smiled warmly and said, "Grandma didn’t know you were here last ti, so she wasn’t prepared. You must take this, okay?"
Mason nodded lightly, and only then did Sharon accept the red envelope, shyly smiling, "Thank you, Grandma."
During the al, Mason looked at , his tone sincere, "Miss Ellison, thank you for taking care of Sharon during this ti."
Mr. Ellison imdiately joined in, raising his glass towards Mason, "President Hawthorne, we should be the ones thanking you. If it weren’t for The Hawthorne Group giving The Ellison Family a chance, we really wouldn’t have made it through this ti."
Mason heard this, and his gaze gently swept over , his lips curving into a aningful smile, "President Ellison, you’re too kind. I was just entrusted by soone else."
My heart suddenly tightened, and my hand holding the glass paused.
’Entrusted by soone else’? The only connection between Mason and is Julian, isn’t it?
But Mrs. Ellison and Mr. Ellison didn’t think much of it; they just assud Mason was entrusted by .
At this mont, Sharon took a bite of a tangyuan, her eyes shaped like crescents, and said to Mrs. Ellison, "Grandma Ellison, these fruit-flavored tangyuan are so delicious!"
"As long as you like them."
Mrs. Ellison smiled kindly, "I made these myself. If you like them, I’ll make more next ti and deliver them to Auntie Ellison’s house for you."
Sharon nodded vigorously and started chatting with Mrs. Ellison.
The two of them got along exceptionally well; it was clear Mrs. Ellison genuinely liked this little girl.
After the al, Mason suddenly looked at Mr. Ellison, his tone calm, "President Ellison, I wonder if I could speak to Miss Ellison alone."
"Of course, of course!"
Mr. Ellison imdiately agreed, and Mrs. Ellison quickly stood up, walking towards the kitchen with Mr. Ellison.
I followed Mason into the courtyard.
I seed to know what he wanted to say to ?
So before he could speak, I asked first, "President Hawthorne, earlier you said helping The Ellison Family was ’entrusted by soone else,’ was that person President Sinclair?"
Mason raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile on his face, "So, you knew everything."
I remained silent, my heart warm yet heavy.
Julian really was silently helping The Ellison Family, but how should I repay this kindness?
Seeing silent, Mason continued, "Miss Ellison, you should know Julian isn’t soone who likes to ddle. Despite so family issues he’s been having, upon realizing Timothy was about to abandon The Ellison Family to save himself, he reached out to help. Do you know what this ans?"
I lifted my head, my tone carrying a touch of helplessness and despair, "So what does President Hawthorne want from ? Please guide , how should I repay President Sinclair?"
Mason sneered, his tone laced with mockery, "Divorce, and then beco Julian’s woman, is it that hard? Does it wrong you? Or are you trying to hold onto the title of Mrs. Xavier while stringing Julian along? That’s not sothing a proper woman should do."
I was so angered by his words that my chest felt tight, and my voice trembled slightly, "Mr. Hawthorne, you think I don’t want a divorce? How dare you judge without experiencing my pain! Timothy doesn’t agree to the divorce; I can only apply again in six months."
Saying this, I paused, my tone becoming despondent, "Even if I’m divorced, nothing could happen between President Sinclair and ! On New Year’s Eve, his mother fell ill because of us. I know full well, it’s impossible between us."
Mason squinted his eyes, a hint of disdain in his voice, "I never said you should marry Julian, you’re overthinking it. With your relationship, marriage was never on the table. He’s interested in you, being his woman in the shadows is better than being an empty title of Mrs. Xavier. His mother is just worried you’d marry him and affect his reputation and career."
"You want to be his mistress?"
I looked at him in disbelief.
"What’s wrong with being a mistress?"
Mason didn’t refute, instead, he said, "Julian isn’t married anyway. Being his mistress, is that so beneath you?"
I gritted my teeth and asked, word by word, "Is this your idea or his?"
If this is Julian Sinclair’s idea, then I have really misjudged him!
Mason scoffed coldly, a hint of impatience in his tone, "Miss Ellison, that’s your lack of wit. In an adult’s world, there’s no need to make everything so clear. I can tell you plainly, Julian is a bachelor by choice."
He finished, looking at my unpleasant expression, clearly unsatisfied with my reaction.
Mason said coldly, "Think it over. Since you don’t want to offer anything, then stop stringing Julian along, enjoying his help. These days, I’ll be taking Sharon out. If you realize things, go find Julian. I think if you make a move, he won’t refuse."
With that, he turned to find Sharon but found the living room empty.
Mrs. Ellison ca out of the kitchen, full of confusion, "The child was just playing in the living room, said she wanted juice, I made a cup of orange juice, turned around and she’s gone?"
Though I knew Sharon must still be in the villa, she wouldn’t run out.
But the Ellison villa isn’t small, I was still a bit worried, hurriedly said, "Mom, I’ll go look."
Saying this, I walked upstairs.
Just reaching my brother’s room door, I heard his excited voice from inside, with a touch of hysteria, "The child is not Timothy’s, it’s mine! By the timing, it can’t be his!"
I stopped in my tracks, completely frozen, I quietly pressed my ear against the door.
I instinctively reached for my pocket to record, only to realize my phone was in my bag downstairs.
I suddenly felt a sense of helplessness like a eunuch visiting a brothel.
Inside the room, my brother’s voice continued, filled with so grievances and urgency, "You keep telling to wait! But if I wait any longer, you’ll be married to him! Serena Sawyer, do you have any idea how much effort and money I’ve spent on you? You promised not to abandon like an old shoe!"
I listened, my heart pounding wildly.
Turns out, the child in Serena Sawyer’s belly is my brother’s!
Imdiately, my brother’s voice softened, pleadingly, "Serena, I don’t want the Xavier Group, I don’t want anything, I only want you and the child. When are we going to co clean with Timothy? Tell , give a deadline, okay?"
Although I didn’t have my phone, couldn’t record.
But I wasn’t in a rush.
Once Serena Sawyer’s child is born and a paternity test is done, I really want to see Timothy Xavier and Sophia Kendall’s expressions, how fascinating they would be?
After a while, the room echoed with the sound of things being smashed.
My brother and Serena Sawyer must have finished their call.
Just then, Mrs. Ellison’s voice ca from downstairs, "Found her, found her! Zoe, Sharon has been found!"
I imdiately turned around and ran downstairs, worried my brother would find out.
Mrs. Ellison held Sharon’s hand, smiling and saying to , "Guess where we found her? The child ran to your old secret spot with Timothy Xavier!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Mason’s gaze fell on , with a hint of ridicule in his eyes, as if I had wronged Julian Sinclair sohow.
But none of this was my doing, ever since I t Julian Sinclair, it’s like I’ve been pushed by an invisible hand to where I am now.
...
Mason plans to stay in Veridia for a few days, so these days he would be with Sharon.
As soon as I returned ho, I started thinking about what he said to at The Ellison Family’s house.
His aning was clear, for to beco Julian Sinclair’s mistress, the kind that can’t see the light of day.
This way, my family wouldn’t know, nor would it affect Julian Sinclair in any way.
I couldn’t help but think about how Julian Sinclair has not contacted during this ti.
So, did he do it on purpose, to force to make a decision?
But I know, I won’t agree to be his mistress.
His status and background are worlds apart from mine, I’m not worthy of him, so I won’t delude myself into thinking there could be an outco between us? But I also won’t let myself fall!
Although Mason didn’t clearly say if this was Julian Sinclair’s idea, just thinking that Julian Sinclair might have this thought shatters my perception of him.
So, this is why he’s never married at this age?
For whichever woman he takes interest in, he expresses favor, letting others beco his mistresses?
One after another, and now, he has started to have an interest in married won?
I don’t want to think about it anymore, feeling a bit disappointed.
At that mont, my phone rang. It was Doris.
After I picked up, the little girl asked cautiously, "Is Sharon there?"
"What’s up? Do you have sothing you want to ask her?" I inquired.
Doris hesitated, "Not really, just... want to play with her. Can I... co to your place tomorrow and play with her?"
I’m already used to her stubbornness.
Glancing at the ti, I asked, "Are you ho alone now?"
Doris was silent for a while before saying dejectedly, "Not really alone. Nanny Lowell and the others are here. Dad... went on a business trip again. Mom is at Grandma’s, and Grandma won’t let see her."
Thinking of Serena made furious.
Pregnant with my brother’s child, and still throwing her weight around at The Xavier Family, treating Doris like this.
Then she started asking , "What does ’Heavenly Killer Star’ an?"
"What?"
I couldn’t quite understand.
The little girl murmured, "Grandma said I am a Heavenly Killer Star, that I will cause harm to Mom’s unborn child. If that’s true, I’ll never get to see Mom again. Why does a Heavenly Killer Star cause harm to people?"
I was both angry and heartbroken, telling Doris, "Don’t listen to her nonsense; you are not a Heavenly Killer Star. As long as you’re a kind child, you won’t harm anyone."
"Oh..." Doris sighed and asked, "So, can I go to your place tomorrow to find Sharon and play?"
I said, "Her father took her away; she won’t be around these days."
Doris paused and asked, "Then can I... never mind, I’ll sleep now, bye."
She hung up.
I think she wanted to ask if she could co find , but felt embarrassed to ask directly.
Though in her heart, Timothy is still the first.
But now, with Timothy on a business trip, leaving her alone at ho, she’d certainly prefer having soone accompany her.
After hanging up, I rembered everything I heard at The Ellison Family, opened my phone, and started researching when a paternity test could be done for a fetus.
After what they’ve done to Doris, I can’t wait for Serena’s child to be born to expose her true colors.
The information I found said that a paternity test can be done for an unborn fetus after eight weeks.
Calculating the ti, Serena’s child should reach the needed stage in a few days.
...
The next day, near the end of work, I received a call from Mason saying he needed to return to Silverstream unexpectedly due to urgent matters at his company.
So he asked to pick up Sharon from kindergarten.
After I agreed, he didn’t say anything else and hung up the phone.
At the kindergarten, Sharon was holding Doris’s hand, and they ca out together.
Doris pouted resentfully, "Why did you lie to ?"
"What did I lie to you about?"
I looked at her, a bit puzzled.
Doris said, "Clearly Sharon’s dad didn’t take her back, and here you are picking her up to go ho. Why did you lie to that she wasn’t around? Do you also not want to deal with ? Are you afraid I’m a Heavenly Killer Star, afraid I’ll harm you, aren’t you?"
Unexpectedly, Sophia brainwashed Doris so thoroughly.
Feeling heartbroken, I explained to her, "Sharon’s dad decided last minute to return, so he sent her back early. If you don’t believe , ask her."
Sharon nodded repeatedly, saying, "That’s exactly how it is. Doris, you misunderstood Auntie Ellison! And didn’t we agree earlier to go to Auntie Ellison’s house to play?"
I crouched down, gently touched Doris’s soft cheek, and said, "Rember, you are not a Heavenly Killer Star, and you won’t harm anyone. Next ti soone says that to you, just tell them they’re full of crap! Got it?"
Doris nodded and asked worriedly, "If I call Grandma that, would Dad be angry?"
"Then you can curse him along with your dad!" I responded, "Does your dad know your grandma says such things to you?"
Doris shook her head, saying, "I don’t even know if Dad knows."
I sighed and said, "Then next ti, tell him what your grandma says to you. If he doesn’t stand up for you, curse him along with her, okay?"
Doris tucked her neck timidly and said, "I... I don’t dare."
I gave a cold snort and said, "You used to curse without a problem, rember!"
She bowed her head, embarrassed, and said, "I won’t do that anymore."
I stood up, holding one hand of each of them, and walked toward the car.
At that mont, a familiar yet annoying voice called out, "Doris!"
Looking in the direction of the sound, a few nannies helped Serena out of the car.
As soon as Doris saw her, she imdiately broke away from and ran to Serena, "Mom!"
The servant beside Serena imdiately stopped Doris, saying, "Miss Doris, be careful not to bump into your mom’s belly."
Doris restrained her excitent and asked, "Mom, why did you personally co to pick up? Didn’t you say I might hurt the little brother in your belly?"
"Of course, it’s because Mom misses you."
Serena said, "Even if Mom has a little brother in her belly, you’re still Mom’s precious baby. Co on, let’s go back together."
Saying this, she deliberately stroked her belly and looked in my direction, as if she was flaunting sothing.
Sharon suddenly spoke up, "Doris, weren’t you going to co back with us? We were going to play together!"
Doris happily waved her hand at us, saying, "My mom ca to pick up! I’m not going to play anymore!"
Serena seed to rember sothing at this mont and said, "Doris, you get in the car first, I’ll go say a few words to Miss Ellison."
Doris obediently got into the car.
And Serena ca over to , with a faint smile, she said, "Miss Ellison, did you see that? Raising Doris for these years wasn’t in vain. No matter what you do, as long as I crook my finger, Doris will co to imdiately."
To avoid alerting her, I forcefully restrained my impulse to expose her, saying, "Since Doris trusts you so much, I hope you treat her well and stop using that ’Heavenly Killer Star’ nonsense and excuses to leave her alone at ho."
Serena sneered, touched her belly, and said, "Well, I can’t help it either; my mother-in-law is very anxious about this pregnancy in my belly, after all, she says it concerns the future of the Xavier Group. I’ve tried to persuade her, but she wouldn’t listen!"
I marveled at her boldness.
Knowing full well that the child in her belly isn’t Timothy Xavier’s, how can she be so brazen?
Is she really not afraid of The Xavier Family doing a paternity test?
Seeing my silence, she was triumphant, surrounded by nannies, she said, "Miss Ellison, I’ll leave first, my mother-in-law is worried about staying outside too long."
With that, she walked toward her RV.
Sharon angrily stared at her back, saying, "That woman, why does she always bully you? Saying such inexplicable things!"
"Because she’s crazy."
I didn’t bother to explain anything, holding Sharon’s hand and we went into the car.
...
The next day, I was woken up by a ringing phone.
Jenna Sutton’s voice was especially excited, "Zoe, you know what? Serena had a miscarriage!"
"What?"
I imdiately sat up from the bed, wide awake: "How do you know?"
Jenna Sutton breathlessly said, "I went to give breakfast to Ezra Payne this morning, saw it with my own eyes! Sophia Kendall was pale, and Serena was lying on the bed covered in blood. Ezra Payne asked colleagues and found out she fell down the stairs, and the baby was gone!"
I was dumbfounded, feeling it was too coincidental.
My brother had just spoken with her, and now the baby is miscarried?
Jenna Sutton was still chattering on the other end: "Zoe, do you think this is karma? Heaven must be watching! You should have seen Sophia Kendall’s expression, as if she was the one miscarrying, crying uncontrollably! I wasn’t prepared; if I had known, I should’ve recorded a video for you. It was so satisfying!"
"This is too strange..."
I mumbled, ten to one, Serena might fear exposure of the truth, so she got herself miscarried.
Hence, I wasn’t that happy.
During the day at work, thinking about the incident, I lanted Serena’s cruelty.
Everything can be done.
But for so reason, my right eyelid kept twitching, making restless all day.
It wasn’t until the evening when I went to the kindergarten to pick up Sharon that she said, "Doris didn’t co to kindergarten today."
My mind beca alert; I finally understood what I was worried about.
I imdiately called Jenna Sutton, asking, "Did Doris call in sick today?"
Jenna Sutton dismissively said, "Serena miscarried, their family is in chaos, who has ti to report her sick leave!"
"She didn’t co to kindergarten, why didn’t you tell ?"
My tone was a bit urgent.
Jenna Sutton said, "Isn’t that normal? Probably the family situation will be sorted in a few days, then she’ll co."
I had no ti to explain to Jenna Sutton, hung up the phone, and imdiately called Nanny Lowell.
"Is Doris at ho?" I asked.
Nanny Lowell said, "She didn’t co back last night, seems she was taken to The Kendall Family. What’s the matter?"
It finally dawned on why Serena personally ca to pick up Doris yesterday.
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