"Who? Are you talking about Serena Sawyer?"
I confird in disbelief.
Mrs. Ellison nodded and said, "Yes, your brother keeps things tight-lipped. I’ve heard they’ve been together for a long ti. But because she’s a celebrity, your brother kept it from us to avoid bringing her trouble."
Mr. Ellison also smiled and said, "No wonder that kid hasn’t had a woman by his side for years, nor has he ntioned marriage. We even thought there was sothing wrong with him. Turns out, he’s had soone in mind all along!"
Their words were completely overturning what I believed.
Serena Sawyer and Timothy Xavier already have a three-year-old child, and she can still keep my brother hanging?
Moreover, she’s now with Timothy Xavier in Aethel. What role does my brother play?
When did they even start?
A multitude of questions made my face look displeased. Mrs. Ellison asked concernedly, "Zoe, what’s wrong?"
I took a mont to gather my words, intending to expose Serena Sawyer’s true colors. But when I saw both Mrs. and Mr. Ellison so pleased with this future daughter-in-law, I decided to feel them out first.
"Mom, Dad, did you see Serena Sawyer’s scandal a while ago? She also has a benefactor, and that person’s back doesn’t look like my brother."
When I finished speaking, Mrs. Ellison imdiately looked unhappy.
She frowned and said, "You actually believe those tabloids saring Serena’s reputation? And you’re an entertainnt reporter! How can you not see through those tricks?"
Mr. Ellison nodded and said, "I saw that news. The face of the man in the video was all blurred; you couldn’t see anything. To slander a young girl’s reputation based on that isn’t right, is it?"
Watching my parents being kept in the dark, I almost wanted to expose Serena Sawyer right then and show them the high-definition photos I purchased for a million dollars.
More so, I could even bring them to my house to let them see what kind of person their future daughter-in-law really is.
But as those words reached the tip of my tongue, I abruptly changed and asked, "Has my brother brought her ho to et you? Or have both families t?"
ntioning this, Mrs. Ellison smilingly said, "We’re anxious too, but your brother said since she’s a celebrity, the paparazzi are fixated on her, so he’s arranging it. At the latest, he’ll bring her ho for us to et next week!"
Feeling startled inside, I calmly responded to my parents, "Mom, let know when my brother’s bringing her next week. I’d also like to et my future sister-in-law. A big celebrity, soone you usually only see on TV."
Mrs. Ellison chuckled and said, "Sure, bring Timothy along too, so the whole family can have a nice al together."
"Definitely,"
I promised earnestly, how could Timothy miss such a good show?
But I couldn’t quite understand; Serena Sawyer already has Timothy Xavier’s child, and Timothy adores her so much, perhaps she’ll soon secure her place as Mrs. Xavier.
So why is she still stringing my brother along?
Thinking of this, I was afraid of alerting them and reminded, "Oh, Mom, don’t tell my brother I’ll be back that day. Just say it’ll be you and Dad eting the future sister-in-law alone."
"Why is that?"
Mrs. Ellison looked at puzzled.
I smiled slightly and said, "Think about it, Miss Sawyer is a big star, everything has to be cautious. Plus, if she knew her sister-in-law is an entertainnt reporter, with my sensitive identity, would she still dare co to our house with my brother? Maybe she’d be too scared to even marry in!"
Mrs. Ellison got visibly tense upon hearing this, afraid the future daughter-in-law would be scared away.
She said, "You’re right, you’re so considerate. Let’s keep it from your brother for now, lest Serena feels awkward knowing so many people are watching her."
...
After lunch, Mrs. Ellison said since Timothy Xavier was on a business trip, I should stay at my parents’ house for a few days.
However, in the afternoon, I received a call from a dia company for an interview, asking to co in the next afternoon.
This dia company was newly established, requiring extensive hiring.
It’s a good opportunity for .
All my clothes are at ho; I need to go back to match them and take this interview seriously.
In the evening, I returned to The Xavier Manor.
I originally thought Timothy wouldn’t be back for a few more days until Serena’s dog was cured.
But when I got ho, they had already returned.
The three of them appeared like the happiest family trio, walking the dog in the courtyard.
Seeing return, whether intentionally or not, Doris let go of the dog’s leash.
The white Labrador suddenly barked and sprang towards .
Terrified, I widened my eyes. Having been afraid of dogs since childhood, I scread and backed away.
Behind was the swimming pool.
Just like that, I misstepped and fell in, causing splashes of water everywhere.
In the deep autumn night, the water in the pool was bone-chilling cold.
Though I could swim, I was still soaked through and through when I climbed out, my thin dress clinging to , pathetically showing up in front of Timothy and his lover.
Through it all, Timothy showed no reaction, only slightly frowned as he looked at .
Doris clapped her hands happily, laughing and shouting, "Haha, wet chicken! Wet chicken!"
Seeing I’d been humiliated enough, Serena lightly reproached her daughter, "Doris."
Only then did Doris stop, but the smug look on her face remained unhidden.
I stared at this vile little girl, wishing I could push her into the pool, letting her feel what it’s like to be affronted.
But I couldn’t bring myself to act against a child.
Until Serena, with a hypocritical smile, ca over and apologized, "Miss Ellison, I’m sorry. Doris likes to prank; it’s just a child’s nature. Don’t..."
Before she could finish, I suddenly grabbed her hand and flung her into the swimming pool.
"Ah!"
She splashed around and shouted, "Timothy, save , save ... help!"
Doris saw this scene, glared at fiercely, and hurriedly urged Timothy Xavier, "Dad, go save mom! She will drown!"
Just now, when I fell into the water, Timothy Xavier stood by coldly, but at this mont he handed the Buddha Beads to Doris and jumped directly into the pool to rescue Serena Sawyer.
I quietly watched this scene of a hero saving a beauty.
A dense, sharp pain surged in my heart.
When he brought Serena Sawyer up, he was soaking wet, yet soone who always cared about his image didn’t mind at all at this mont.
Serena Sawyer looked as if she was on the brink of death in his arms.
"Mom, don’t die! Boo hoo!"
While crying, Doris yelled at , "You dare bully my mom! I will avenge my mom!"
After saying that, she commanded the dog next to her, "Snowy, go bite that bad woman who bullied my mom to death!"
The dog, as if it could understand human commands, suddenly bared its teeth fiercely at and lunged at again.
I looked in horror at the ferociously gleaming dog, my heart in my throat.
Just as the dog was about to pounce on , Timothy Xavier’s cold and clear order made it instantly wilt.
"Snowy, go back to your kennel!"
After he spoke, the dog imdiately stopped and then obediently retreated step by step toward its kennel.
Doris, seeing this, pouted in dissatisfaction and said, "Dad, this maid bullied my mom, why don’t you punish her?"
Heh, I was mistakenly thought to be the maid by this child.
The concept Timothy Xavier imparted to Doris must be that Serena Sawyer is the true mistress here.
At this mont, Serena Sawyer coughed weakly a few tis in Timothy Xavier’s arms and said softly, "Timothy, I feel so uncomfortable..."
Timothy Xavier picked her up horizontally, his cold, deep gaze landing on , and said, "The shrine is finished. Go kneel."
After saying that, he had the driver prepare the car, intending to take Serena Sawyer to the hospital.
This huge sense of disparity and unwarranted favoritism made feel wronged and angry, and I couldn’t help but curse at his back, "Timothy Xavier, you bastard!"
He turned around, his already icy gaze as if carrying a knife, as if with one more word, that knife would pierce .
I said, "You love her so much, haven’t you watched her movie from when she just started out? She played a swimming coach with great skills, all without a stand-in, her real performance. With the depth of this pool, forget about soone who can swim, even those who can’t won’t drown."
I didn’t want him to see my unworthy tears, so I turned and dragged my drenched body, step by step, back to the villa.
Even after I exposed her, Serena Sawyer was still personally cared for by Timothy Xavier, and the last piece of ginger in the fridge was taken to make ginger tea for her.
I suddenly realized that Timothy Xavier might know all of Serena Sawyer’s little tricks.
With such a smart man, who could manipulate in the business world, how could he not see through Serena Sawyer’s sches?
But he doesn’t care who’s right or wrong, just because it’s Serena Sawyer, he can tolerate everything endlessly.
...
The next day I woke up with a slight fever, but thinking of the interview in the afternoon, I forced myself to perk up.
Ever since I left the master bedroom, I moved all my clothes to the guest room wardrobe.
But after searching for a long ti in the wardrobe, I couldn’t find the small suit I bought last year for formal occasions.
It must have accidentally been left in the walk-in closet.
I had no choice but to go to the second-floor walk-in closet to find that outfit.
Just as I reached the closet door, I saw Serena Sawyer walking towards the master bedroom with several scarves and sweaters.
I vaguely heard her say, "Timothy, are these your things? They really don’t match your taste and wearing them would lower your class. Otherwise, I’ll throw them away!"
"Handle it as you see fit."
Timothy Xavier’s tone was as casual as if discussing what’s for dinner tonight.
My heart tightened; those things were hand-knitted by for Timothy Xavier.
Because after he started college, he once ntioned to that his friend’s girlfriend loved knitting various sweaters and gloves, and such gifts were very thoughtful.
In high school at the ti, after class I’d go to the store to buy yarn and use the evening self-study ti to learn knitting from the shop owner.
During that period, my grades plumted, dropping from top three in the grade to below the fiftieth place.
Because of this, the teacher even called my parents.
But because I rembered his words, every year on his birthday, I’d personally knit sothing for him.
Even though I rarely saw him wear them, I would just comfort myself, thinking he had too many clothes and accessories to wear them all.
Until now, I saw all the things I gave him tucked away in a very inconspicuous corner.
I realized that he had stopped caring a long ti ago.
Or maybe, he never cared at all.
And this walk-in closet, originally belonging to him and , had turned into one for him and Serena Sawyer.
Just then, Serena Sawyer returned to the closet with the scarves.
Seeing , she smiled and said, "Miss Ellison, haven’t you moved your clothes and luggage to the guest room?"
The implication was, why was I appearing in a place that belonged to her and Timothy Xavier?
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