After dropping Jenna Sutton ho, I too headed back.
On the way, my phone rang; surprisingly, it was Doris calling from her kid’s phone.
Though excited, I was equally surprised.
Doris has always maintained a distance from , even with a hint of resistance. Why is she calling now?
The little girl awkwardly explained, "The braids you did for last ti were very pretty. There’s a performance at kindergarten tomorrow; can you do it for again? Dad said you wouldn’t be coming back tonight, is that true?"
I paused montarily, and for this rare chance to foster a connection with Doris, I said, "I’ll be back soon. If you get sleepy, go to bed first; I’ll make sure to braid your hair the best tomorrow morning."
"Thank you."
Her voice was small, seemingly unaccustod to expressing gratitude.
When I returned to The Xavier Manor, Doris was already asleep.
Timothy Xavier sat in the living room, his gaze dark and brooding as he looked at , warning, "If you truly want to nd your relationship with Doris, do sothing practical on your own! Don’t just rely on Jenna Sutton’s influence to make things difficult for Serena. The Sutton Family must have spent a lot to get Ian Sterling, right?"
His words amused , and I looked him straight in the eyes and retorted, "Do I need soone’s influence to trouble Serena Sawyer?"
Timothy’s face flashed with disdain, his lips curving into a mocking smile: "Do you have that ability yourself? Serena entered the entertainnt industry at 16, and she climbed up on her own skills. Do you really think just because you’ve written a few news articles, you can dictate terms in the entertainnt circle?"
Looking at his confident eyes, I found it amusing.
Turns out, he had no idea that the drama Serena Sawyer had been pestering to act in was originally written by ; nor did he know that I had already invested in the show "Long Road to Marriage."
I pulled at the corners of my mouth, calmly saying: "Whether I have the ability isn’t up to your few words to decide! Just watch!"
After saying that, I no longer looked at his gloomy face and headed towards the guest room.
There’s no point talking if it’s going nowhere; if it weren’t for braiding Doris’s hair, I wouldn’t have co back at all tonight.
Luckily, today the biggest issue with "Long Road to Marriage" was resolved, and I could finally get a good night’s sleep.
...
The next morning, I helped Doris braid her hair in the dressing room.
In the mirror, the little girl’s face was expressionless, her gaze carrying a gloominess strikingly similar to Timothy Xavier’s.
Thinking about the psychologist’s suggestion, isn’t now the perfect opportunity?
As long as I get a sample of Doris’s hair, the truth will be revealed.
At this mont, I don’t even know whether I hope she is my biological daughter or not.
Just as I was about to act, Doris suddenly spoke up: "Do you know why I wanted you to co back? Do you really think I just want you to braid my hair?"
Instinctively, I withdrew my hand.
Her gaze was filled with resentnt as she said with hatred, "I’m here to watch you for my mom! So you don’t seduce my dad! My dad can only belong to my mom!"
My heart skipped a beat, shocked by her gaze.
Then, quietly, I reached into my pocket and hit the record button on my phone.
"Doris, who taught you to say these things?"
I tried to keep my voice steady, "Did your mom ask you to watch for her?"
"I thought of it myself!"
Doris said angrily, with her neck stiff, "You always make my mom cry and don’t let her stay at ho. If you dare bully her again, I’ll definitely avenge her! I’ll make my dad kill you!"
The last few words pierced my heart like an ice pick; looking at her flushed angry little face, a chill climbed from my feet.
How much twisted ideas had Serena Sawyer instilled in her?
I took a deep breath, suppressing my surging emotions, and said word by word, "Doris, Serena Sawyer is not your mother!"
"You’re lying!"
She scread back, and in the next instant burst into loud sobs, the sharp cries seemingly tearing through the roof.
I hadn’t even reacted when the door slamd open; Timothy Xavier strode in, brow furrowed.
The next mont, he pushed aside, directly picking up Doris.
I lost my balance, my elbow hitting the corner of the table, sending a sharp stab of pain.
He didn’t spare a glance and instead asked his daughter tenderly, "Tell daddy, what happened?"
Doris cried hysterically, "Daddy! Auntie pulled my hair, it hurts so much..."
Timothy’s gaze instantly turned sharp, glaring at .
I couldn’t have imagined that a child so young would have such cunning.
Even the ploy was precisely like Serena Sawyer!
But clearly, I did nothing!
Just then, the maid spoke from outside, "Sir, Miss Sawyer is here."
Before Timothy could respond, Serena Sawyer rushed in, "Why is Doris crying like this?"
Doris pointed at , choked, "She pulled my hair and said she wanted to be my mom!"
Timothy’s gaze, cold as ice, locked on , "Zoe Ellison, I gave you a chance. I even considered starting over with you. But what have you done?"
Enduring the pain in my elbow, I pulled out my phone and played the recording, "Listen to what your daughter just said."
Doris’s voice played from the phone, startling the little girl, her face showing a hint of guilt.
Yet, Timothy’s expression remained unchanged, as if he planned to offer no bla.
Serena Sawyer said, "Miss Ellison, isn’t using recordings a bit overboard, especially on a child? Doris is spoiled by and Timothy; she speaks carelessly, but she ans no harm. You can’t take a child’s words seriously, only soone like you who hasn’t raised kids would hold it against her!"
Then she turned to Timothy, "Timothy, I should just take Doris away! I can’t be at ease with Miss Ellison treating Doris this way!"
Doris clung to Serena, saying, "Mommy, don’t go, I won’t either! The one who should leave is that howrecker!"
The hopes I’d harbored for so long suddenly shattered.
How could a child like this be mine?
She must not be!
Yet Timothy didn’t imdiately agree with his daughter, instead, he approached , "Apologize to Doris. I’ll find a way to have her forgive you."
I suddenly laughed, the smile spreading from my lips to my eyes, carrying a sense of complete liberation. "No need, I have a clear conscience, why need her forgiveness?"
At this point, I seriously looked at him, saying each word clearly, "That’s that, Timothy Xavier. I believe it now, Doris is not my daughter! Please sign the divorce agreent as soon as possible, I won’t ask for the daughter, and I can leave with nothing. Whatever conditions you set for the divorce, I’ll comply."
The living room fell silent.
I glanced over Timothy’s cold face, no longer feeling any attachnt.
Pushing the door open, the winter chill hit my face, bringing unprecedented clarity and relief.
On the way to the company, I received a call from The Ellison Family.
Turns out my brother was bailed ho last night, and Mrs. Ellison said, "It was late yesterday, I didn’t want to disturb your rest, so I didn’t ntion it."
"It’s good he’s back."
Thankfully, this ti, Timothy didn’t shift our conflicts onto The Ellison Family.
Mrs. Ellison paused and said, "Why don’t you co ho with Timothy for a al at noon? This ti, he was gracious enough to forgive your brother, and I want to thank him."
"There’s nothing to thank. He almost bankrupted The Ellison Family," I decided not to hide it from my parents anymore, "Besides, I’m about to divorce him. In the future, I won’t bring him to The Ellison Family again. If there are business dealings, you and Dad can invite him yourselves."
Mrs. Ellison sighed wistfully, "Will you co then? I was too harsh on you last ti, and the more I think about it, the guiltier I feel."
I happened to have sothing to discuss with my brother, so I agreed, "Okay, I’ll co over at noon after work."
...
The Ellison Family.
My brother seed rather disoriented, probably frightened from being in detention.
Mrs. Ellison reminded, "Aren’t you going to thank Zoe? If it weren’t for him pleading with Timothy, do you think you’d have been released so smoothly?"
My brother glanced at , murmuring, "Thanks!"
I sternly said, "Brother, in the future, no matter who asks you to do illegal things, it’s best to reconsider if you should. I’m about to divorce Timothy, and if it happens again, I won’t be able to save you."
"Hmph, so this is about stealing secrets from your husband’s company, and you’re taking his side?"
My brother sneered, "Don’t forget, it was The Ellison Family that raised you, what does Timothy have to do with it? I did it to expand The Ellison Family! I refuse to be under Timothy forever, why don’t any of you understand ?"
At the end, he roared crazily, no longer showing any hint of his forr self.
I watched him quietly and said, "So, to step over Timothy Xavier, you and Serena Sawyer worked together inside and out, right? Your thod to surpass Timothy was to steal his achievents. You used to be so upright, who turned you into this?"
My brother shouted, "I’ll say it again! I am responsible for my own actions, it has nothing to do with anyone else!"
I took out my phone, opened Monts, and said, "This is what Serena just posted, take a look. Soon Timothy and I will be divorced, and she will beco Mrs. Xavier. Brother, no matter how much you give to her, you’re just a tool to her. You have no chance!"
This was posted by Serena ten minutes ago in her Monts. In the nine-grid photo, she doesn’t show her face, but Doris, Timothy, and Sophia are all visible, seeming especially harmonious.
The caption above the photo reads, "Our family is finally together again! Leaving this afternoon, the whole family is going to the Azure Isles!"
My brother looked at Monts, his eyes bloodshot, tightly clenching his fists, as if restraining sothing.
Even Mrs. Ellison noticed sothing was wrong, "Declan, you... you’re not really with Serena..."
Mr. Ellison was even more furious: "Tell the truth, how did you steal such confidential information from Xavier Group this ti?"
We all waited for my brother to tell the truth.
But in the next mont, he flipped the table and angrily said, "I said it again! I don’t know any Serena Sawyer! If you don’t want to eat, then don’t damn eat!"
The floor was a ss.
Mrs. Ellison broke down, and Mr. Ellison was so angry he hurriedly took several fast-acting heart pills.
I couldn’t believe my brother had beco so unreasonable.
In the past, although impulsive, he was very filial, occasionally rebellious, but never defiant.
He left us and walked straight upstairs.
Mrs. Ellison seed like her world was collapsing, "How could it be like this? Serena’s so dirty, if your brother really has sothing with her, what do we do?"
Mr. Ellison remained calm for a long ti, then said word by word, "From today on, I will have soone keep an eye on him every step of the way! If he really dares to have anything with Serena, then I don’t have him as a son!"
Mrs. Ellison cried uncontrollably, unable to accept my brother’s change.
I comforted them for a long ti, and only left The Ellison Family when it was almost ti for work.
However, on the way to work, the sky was overcast with clouds, waves of black clouds unusually layered.
I thought it was going to rain heavily soon, so I accelerated.
Just then, the steering wheel suddenly shook violently in my hands, the dashboard needles unsettlingly swayed back and forth, and the car fragrance wobbled along.
The phone screen popped up with an earthquake warning, and I imdiately pulled over.
Soon after, the car radio intermittently transferred into my ears with static noise: "According to the latest news from the earthquake bureau, Silverstream experienced a magnitude 7 earthquake at 14:25 today, with a significant tremor felt throughout our city..."
The broadcast abruptly stopped, replaced by continuous alarm sounds.
Silverstream and Veridia are neighboring cities, very close in distance.
So ten minutes ago, there was an earthquake in Silverstream, and Veridia also felt the tremor.
People had already started running out of buildings, and the streets were filled with people.
Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck, and the first person I thought of was my mom.
She’s alone in the hospital, if the earthquake wave reaches Veridia, what should we do?
Even though the radio started broadcasting "Please remain calm and stay away from tall buildings," I still drove towards the hospital and took leave from work in the anti.
Fortunately, the tremor was just for a mont.
When I arrived at the hospital, my mom was lying safely in bed, everything had returned to peace.
I breathed a sigh of relief and took the towel from the caregiver to help my mom wash up.
Uneasy, I stayed with her for a while at the hospital.
Seeing ssages popping up one by one in the work group chat, I really couldn’t rest any longer and went to the company.
As soon as I arrived at the office, I felt the oppressive atmosphere.
The editor-in-chief stood sternly in the center.
Old Zhou rubbed his hands and mumbled, "My old back just had a plaster applied last week, the doctor said no jostling or strain. If it snaps again, I won’t be able to deal with the frontline dical personnel’s trouble."
Before his words fell, Lin across my workstation cried painfully, "Editor-in-chief, I really can’t go! My mom was admitted to the hospital yesterday, if I leave, there won’t be anyone to hand her water, and if she worries again sothing might happen..."
Colleagues continued giving reasons one after another: "I, it’s not that I don’t want to go, but my partner was just diagnosed pregnant last week. If I leave, she’s alone at ho and I can’t be at ease..."
The office instantly fell silent, only the sound of the air conditioner remained, everyone lowered their heads, either tapping at keyboards or pretending to organize docunts, no one dared to make eye contact with the editor-in-chief.
At this mont, Victoria Monroe, who hadn’t said anything, suddenly spoke up: "I’ll go!"
The editor-in-chief’s eyes lit up and asked, "Are you sure?"
Victoria paused for a mont, then nodded, "I’m single, with no family, I can go."
I stared at her blankly, inevitably feeling heartache.
Because I knew she had family.
But her family doesn’t love her.
The editor-in-chief frowned and said, "Even if you’re willing, you alone can’t handle such a huge workload!"
I thought for a long ti, finally speaking up, "Editor-in-chief, I’ll go with Victoria Monroe." The editor-in-chief looked at incredulously.
After all, I’m a probationary employee, not required to take on such tasks.
Thus, the editor-in-chief hadn’t considered earlier.
Now, with my voluntary request, the editor-in-chief’s eyes were red, and he said to , "Zoe, are you... really willing? If you go, when you co back, I’ll make you permanent imdiately."
Due to the urgent situation, we journalists must obtain firsthand materials, so after confirming the personnel, Victoria Monroe and I each went back to pack for a trip to the quake-hit area.
At ho, I kept the TV on, following the situation in the earthquake zone while packing so simple things.
Even without being there in person, just seeing the aerial footage of the aftermath was shocking.
At that mont, my phone rang, it was Timothy Xavier.
I answered, his voice, usually cool, was slightly tense: "Where are you?"
I replied perfunctorily with three words: "Outside."
Timothy said, "Send your location, I’ll have soone pick you up. The villa can withstand an eighth magnitude earthquake."
Obviously, he also received the news, Silverstream experienced an earthquake, and Veridia isn’t safe now.
I retorted, "Then where are you?"
Timothy paused for a long ti and in a low voice said, "Doris wanted to go to the Azure Isles to relax, we’re not in the country now."
"Well, then enjoy relaxing, no need for pretending to be concerned with ."
After speaking, I hung up directly.
...
anwhile, at the Azure Isles.
Sophia, upon hearing the news of the earthquake, said with relief, "Lucky we went out, truly blessed by heaven! Otherwise, how dangerous this would be!"
Serena affectionately linked arms with her and said, "Yeah, Mom. Doris is really a little lucky star; if not for her suddenly suggesting the family outing today, we might be stuck at ho anxiety-ridden."
Timothy listened to the conversation between his mother and Serena, feeling inexplicably agitated, and walked into the room.
He sat on the sofa, gazing at the clear sky outside, his fingers moving faster over the Buddha Beads, worry like thin frost filling his eyes.
His phone hadn’t received any ssage from Zoe Ellison, let alone a location.
His thin lips pressed tightly, dialing Zoe Ellison once more.
But it was already powered off.
He could only leave a voice ssage: "Zoe Ellison, now is a matter of life and death, not ti for sulking! Our issues, let’s properly resolve them when I return. If you see the call, respond imdiately!"
Sadly, the ssage seed to vanish into thin air.
"Click."
The sudden crisp cracking sound tightened his heart, the Buddha Beads fell, clattering on the ground.
Timothy stood up abruptly, called Jack Sullivan: "Send soone to find Zoe Ellison. In half an hour, I need to know if she’s safe!"
Soon, Jack replied to him, "President Xavier, it’s bad, madam... she’s gone to Silverstream! She’s now in the earthquake center there!"
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