Timothy Xavier was stopped outside the door, his face ashen.
Even though he was the president of The Xavier Group, no matter how furious he was, he couldn’t afford to lose his composure and start causing a scene at the Sinclair Family’s doorstep.
He gritted his teeth and said coldly, "I’ll just wait here! I want to see if Julian Sinclair really has the ability to hide my daughter for a lifeti!"
I followed the butler into the old ho, and the atmosphere in the living room was harmonious.
Doris was snuggled up next to Madam Sinclair, listening to her tell a story, holding a piece of pastry in her hand, savoring it joyfully.
Julian Sinclair sat on a nearby sofa, legs crossed, flipping through a finance magazine, looking leisurely and carefree.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up at , a glimr of intrigue in his eyes, and said with a half-smile, "eting again so soon."
The ambiguous entanglents in the office that afternoon flooded my mind instantly. My ears burned, and I was so embarrassed that I lowered my head, not daring to et his gaze.
Madam Sinclair looked at him in confusion, asking, "What do you an, eting again? Did you et today?"
Julian closed the magazine, speaking nonchalantly, "Nothing much, as long as Miss Ellison understands."
With that, he got up and headed to the second floor, leaving rooted awkwardly in place.
I quickly walked over to Doris, a hint of fear and reproach in my voice, "Doris, it’s so late, why didn’t you tell Mommy before running out by yourself? Do you know how worried Mommy was?"
Doris, however, shrank back into Madam Sinclair’s arms, looking at timidly with her lips pursed but saying nothing.
Madam Sinclair gently patted Doris’s back, sighed, and said to , "Don’t bla the child. She said you and her father had a fight, and she was caught in the middle, not knowing what to do. Actually, the child is suffering too."
The old lady’s words seed to give Doris courage. Her eyes reddened, and her voice choked as she said, "I heard you and Daddy talking in the bedroom. Even I know it was that bad woman who hurt you, but Daddy just won’t listen! He clearly promised to bring us ho, but now we’re still living outside while he brought the bad woman into our ho! I don’t want a Daddy like that! Daddy’s words never an anything, but Uncle Sinclair always keeps his promises!"
At the end, she lowered her head in embarrassnt, adding softly, "I don’t want to hear you two fighting anymore, I just wanted to co see Great-grandma and ask if Uncle Sinclair is willing to be my Daddy."
Though Madam Sinclair had been troubled recently by matters related to and Julian, she couldn’t help but smile at Doris’s innocence, "Silly girl, that’s a question for your mom."
Doris imdiately raised her head to look at , earnestly like a little adult, "Mommy, don’t you like Uncle Sinclair? Then just marry Uncle Sinclair and let him be my Daddy!"
She’s still too young to understand the difference between "marry" and "be married."
At this mont, a low, joyful chuckle ca from the staircase.
I quickly looked up at the second floor, surprised to find that Julian Sinclair hadn’t returned to his room yet and had heard everything Doris said.
The man’s tall figure leaned against the corner of the second floor, exuding a bright and clear air, his eyes behind his glasses filled with a hint of joy as he looked at us.
My cheeks instantly flushed red as I was about to tell Doris not to say such things, Julian Sinclair spoke up softly, "Co with for a mont."
I hesitated, but his tone carried a hint of threat, "Or would you rather I explain what happened in the office this afternoon right in front of your daughter?"
Afraid that he might really say sothing Doris shouldn’t hear, I had no choice but to quickly get up and head upstairs.
The study door closed gently, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere.
I stood awkwardly where I was, my heart racing, terrified that Julian Sinclair would act excessively like he did that afternoon.
Fortunately, he rely walked slowly to the window, standing with his back to .
The man had his hands in his trouser pockets, his silhouette appearing sowhat forlorn in the moonlight.
After a long ti, he finally spoke slowly, "I’m glad to have Doris’s trust."
I was stunned for a mont and instinctively said, "I thought... you didn’t like her. After all, her father is Timothy Xavier."
"That’s just a minor reason, small enough to be negligible. It’s not that I don’t want to get close to her, it’s that I dare not..."
Julian turned around, a bitter smile on his lips, "Because when I was young, I witnessed my mother in another man’s arms conducting disgraceful acts during her marriage. Honestly, I despise such behavior and I hate it."
He paused, his tone carrying a barely noticeable pain, "And that man was Byron Kendall, Timothy Xavier’s grandfather, who once was my mother’s ntor. While my parents’ relationship was dull and my father was long-term ill, that was never a reason for her to have an affair."
It was as if an invisible hand clenched my heart tightly, I suddenly understood.
Julian Sinclair hates marital infidelity so much, yet here I am, still Timothy Xavier’s wife. What do the entanglents between us even an?
As if reading my thoughts, Julian Sinclair continued, "Until I t you, I both despised myself for coveting another man’s wife and yet couldn’t help my curiosity about you, my attraction to you, wanting to get close to you, to have you. But, coincidentally, our occasional intimacy was witnessed by Doris."
His eyes darkened, "I’m very afraid that one day, Doris will look at the way I looked at Byron Kendall back then. I never intended to be a great person in her eyes, but at least, I don’t want her to see as sothing sordid and ugly."
I finally understood his previous apprehensions, and realized what the old lady referred to as "childhood trauma" actually ant.
It turns out, Julian Sinclair’s seemingly cold distance was his way of protecting Doris’s childhood and shielding his own scars.
A sense of sadness washed over , I desperately wanted to embrace him, to softly comfort him.
But reason told that my current identity would only burden him, so I reluctantly stopped in my tracks.
Julian Sinclair stepped in front of , looking down at , his deep eyes filled with intense emotions, "But I can’t help it, I still lost control. Zoe Ellison, I want you. No matter whose wife you are, whose mother you are, I must have you."
Seeing my incredulous, panicked expression, he said firmly, word by word, "Unless one day, you truly don’t want anymore, then I might let go. But now, we’re both at the height of it, want to escape? Don’t even think about it!"
His words stirred up waves in my heart, and his eyes were filled with undisguised possessiveness.
I was completely unsettled.
Julian Sinclair’s gaze remained fixed on , that feeling akin to when he cornered in the office that afternoon, as if a fierce fla burned within his eyes.
I instinctively took half a step back, but he gave no chance to evade, the next mont pulling into his arms, his warm palm pressed tightly against my back with irresistible strength.
I lifted my hands to push against his chest, my voice unsteady with embarrassnt, "Don’t do this, Doris is still downstairs. If she finds out I’m here with you like this, maybe one day, I’ll beco in her eyes the way your mother is in yours."
That sentence was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the intensity in Julian Sinclair’s eyes.
His body stiffened, a flicker of pain and struggle flashed in his eyes, but ultimately he released gently.
I dared not look at his desolate expression again, lowered my head and quickly turned away, fleeing the study.
As soon as I got downstairs, I heard the old lady’s angry scolding in the living room, trembling with rage.
"Throw him out! Our Sinclair Family won’t tolerate his nonsense!"
At the entrance of the villa, Timothy Xavier stood with several bodyguards in black, his face grim as they faced off.
The maid reported with difficulty, "Madam, Timothy Xavier insists we hand over his daughter. Otherwise, he’ll post today’s events online and let the public decide who’s right."
"Him! He’s simply a rogue!"
The old lady was so furious her chest heaved violently, her breathing rapid.
I hastily handed over a glass of warm water, gently rubbing her back to help her breathe easier.
Before I could say anything, Doris erged from a room, her little face tense and her eyes full of disappointnt.
I thought that perhaps Old Mrs. Xavier didn’t want the child to see the disgraceful things between adults, so she had sent her into the room.
But unexpectedly, Doris had still seen and heard everything.
Once, Timothy Xavier was a noble and elegant figure in Doris’s heart, almost like a deity.
But now, seeing her father behaving so irrationally and without dignity, she likely felt embarrassed and estranged.
At this mont, Doris looked up at , her eyes showing a trace of helplessness.
I knew that Timothy had lost his sense, and making a scene would not only anger Old Mrs. Xavier but also embarrass Doris further.
I took a deep breath and softly instructed the servants, "Take good care of the old lady, and rember to make sure she takes her dicine on ti."
Then, holding Doris’s hand, I said to the old lady, "Grandma, I will ensure he leaves. Please don’t upset yourself."
I led Doris out of The Sinclair Family’s gate, and Timothy Xavier imdiately strode forward, reaching out to embrace Doris.
But Doris suddenly hid behind , poking her little head out and looking at him with cold eyes.
Timothy’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, his smile instantly stiffened, and he said, "Doris, do you really not want Daddy anymore? Did Julian Sinclair say sothing to you? Did he instigate you?"
Doris mustered the courage to step out from behind , her little face filled with anger as she said, "Dad, can’t you be reasonable? Uncle Sinclair is very reasonable, and he never acts like you! It’s obviously the fault of that bad woman and grandma. Why do you always say that it’s Mommy and Uncle Sinclair’s fault? You promised to make them bow and apologize to Mommy, but you still haven’t done it! You never keep your promises, but Uncle Sinclair always keeps his word!"
With each criticism of Timothy Xavier, she would contrast it with a praise for Julian Sinclair.
Timothy’s expression grew increasingly sullen, and his hands clenched into tight fists.
Then, he suddenly turned his gaze to , his voice cold and mocking, "Zoe Ellison, you’ve educated my daughter to speak up for the Sinclairs, to call them Dad. You’ve really done a fine job!"
I t his gaze and retorted coldly, "Doris has never called anyone else Daddy, but this father, indeed, makes her feel ashad. Look at yourself now; don’t you feel any sha?"
Timothy’s expression froze instantly, his lips moved as if to argue.
But Doris suddenly lifted her head, as if summoning all her courage, and said, "Daddy, you should divorce Mommy!"
"What did you say?"
Timothy looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, staring at Doris blankly with a tremor in his voice, "You want to divorce your mother? Doris, who taught you this? Do you even understand what divorce ans?"
"No one taught !"
Doris sniffed, her voice choked with tears, "Before, at kindergarten, so friends’ parents got divorced, and divorce ans they don’t live together anymore. Then the kids don’t have a ho!"
Timothy’s eyes were full of hurt and redness. He crouched down to et Doris’s gaze and said, "You know that if Daddy and Mommy divorce, you won’t have a ho. And yet you still ask for this?"
Doris, as if pushed to extres, let her tears fall like peas and said, "Of course I hope Daddy and Mommy can be together. But Daddy, whenever you co to see Mommy, she gets very unhappy. Why is Mommy so unhappy every ti she sees you?"
The tender voice echoed in the air, without complex embellishnts, but it cut like a sharp sword.
...
Timothy stood frozen, his daughter’s words reverberating repeatedly in his mind.
Yes, when did it start that Zoe Ellison no longer showed him the kind of happy and pure smile she once did, only the coldness and alienation that now remained?
He looked at his tear-stained daughter before turning his gaze to his coldly indifferent wife. Timothy could no longer speak, stumbling into his car.
The night was as dark as ink.
The quiet of The Xavier Manor was shattered by a series of chaotic footsteps.
Timothy Xavier, reeking of alcohol, stumbled drunkenly through the door, his expensive suit crumpled against his body, the usual aloof dignity gone.
He staggered to the center of the living room, his daughter’s words echoing in his mind.
The little girl who once relied on him like a mountain, whose eyes were full of admiration, now spoke so disparagingly of him.
If before, Zoe Ellison refused to forgive him, he still held a glimr of hope that the affection of so many years could be salvaged.
Until even his daughter stood by Julian Sinclair, his world ca crashing down in an instant.
"Serena Sawyer, co down here!" Timothy Xavier suddenly loosened his tie, shouting upstairs in anger.
The voice was hoarse and filled with overwhelming rage, echoing in the spacious living room.
Upstairs, Serena and Sophia were still awake.
Serena was in her room, admiring herself in the mirror in a low-cut lace nightgown.
anwhile, Sophia sat in her room, full of regret, cursing herself for her stupidity in inviting the wolf into the house and letting Serena into The Xavier Family.
Upon hearing the shouting from downstairs, both were startled and hurried out of their rooms, quickly coming down the stairs.
Serena looked at Timothy Xavier, who was too drunk to stand steadily, a flash of delight in her eyes.
She hadn’t anticipated that Timothy, who seldom drank or smoked before, now got dead drunk every few days.
She secretly congratulated herself on choosing the right outfit tonight, just in ti to tempt him again while he was drunk.
Sophia and Nanny Lowell could see through her intentions and cast disdainful glances at her.
Sophia secretly cursed in her heart: Shaless woman!
Serena sashayed towards Timothy, pretending to be gentle as she tried to support him, her voice coquettish, "Timmy, why have you drunk so much again? Co, let help you back to your room to rest, okay?"
However, the next mont, Timothy suddenly pulled his hand back with enough force to push Serena onto the ground.
Serena fell heavily on the cold floor, stunned.
She looked at Timothy, full of rage, in disbelief, her eyes filled with shock.
Sophia stood on the side, inwardly thrilled: Little bitch, serves you right! Why didn’t it break your neck?
Serena awkwardly crawled up from the ground, her eyes instantly red, tears welling up as she looked pitifully at Timothy, "Timmy, what’s wrong? It’s , Serena!"
She might have better kept silent, for as soon as she spoke, Timothy, like a triggered explosive, rushed forward, grabbing her wrist and jerking her harshly towards him.
He stared coldly into her eyes, his voice fierce as he questioned, "Why did you do it? Why make Zoe Ellison find out about us? That phone call, you deliberately made it to her, didn’t you!"
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