Jasmine sweetly smiled, "Shall I call Uncle Jacobs now?"
Cece didn’t expect her to be so perceptive and nodded in satisfaction, sowhat expectant, "Yes, call him now and say I’m not feeling well."
While Jasmine felt a bit disdainful inside, she didn’t show it on her face. She obediently called Mason and sounded anxious, "Uncle Jacobs, I ca to see Aunt Quincy, but the mont I got here, I found her lying on the ground, looking very pale. It took quite a while for her to barely sit up. She instructed not to tell you, but I feared sothing unexpected might happen. After thinking it over, I decided I should inform you."
On the other end, Mason was looking through the Jenkins Family’s asset summary. Upon hearing this, he pushed the papers aside and frowned, "Did you call the family doctor?"
Jasmine said, "I’m not sure. Aunt Quincy was sent to the ancestral hall by Grandma Dalton the day before yesterday. Can a family doctor visit here? Who should I ask? The butler maybe?"
Only then did Mason rember the incident where Cece was ordered by his mother to stay in the ancestral hall. These days, he was busy handling Jeff Jenkins’ matters, focusing all his energy on cleaning up that fool’s ss, and hadn’t thought about Cece at all.
With this realization, a sense of guilt flashed through his heart. Cece married him, yet from the day they wed, he had been neglecting her. Although the rumors about her and Zayne Warner caused him so internal conflict, he knew that was his problem. Cece had already explained to him, and he believed Cece was innocent.
But rational belief and emotional acceptance are different.
He had a particular complex in this aspect, with a strong possessiveness over his woman, finding it hard to accept if anyone else even touched her. This was why he hadn’t reconciled with Cece.
Thinking of Cece fainting while pregnant in the ancestral hall, Mason could no longer sit still. He grabbed his coat and strode outside, contemplating: His mother previously had issues with Cece, but Cece had been in the ancestral hall for several days now. Any fury should have dissipated; his mother wasn’t unreasonable, especially since Cece was injured. He believed his mother wouldn’t interfere with him bringing Cece out of the hall.
Mason soon drove back to the villa. As soon as the car stopped, he headed straight for the ancestral hall. Upon entering, he saw Cece sitting on the ground with pillows under her and Jasmine standing by, helpless and anxious.
Seeing Mason enter, Jasmine seed to breathe a sigh of relief as if seeing her savior, "Uncle Jacobs, finally you’re here. I couldn’t help Aunt Quincy up, so I put so cushions for her. Please take her to see a doctor!"
Cece looked tearful, her autumn water eyes silently conveying everything, "Brother Mason..."
A softness welled up in Mason’s heart. He quickly went over and helped her up. Before leaving, he glanced at Jasmine with a slight frown, "What’s going on to make her look so miserable?"
Jasmine, hearing this, hesitated before saying softly after a mont’s pause, "Grandma Dalton tried to grab my black card, and I refused."
Mason’s frown deepened. He had already given his mother a black card, which had no limit. Surely, she shouldn’t be short of money. What was the point of trying to take Jasmine’s card?
He decided he would discuss this with his mother later as there might be so misunderstanding. But in front of Jasmine, he said nothing about it.
He simply nodded and left with Cece.
Cece truly looked weak. In the ancestral hall for two and a half days, she deliberately refrained from eating and drinking, appearing considerably emaciated and worn out. Her pregnant belly was already noticeable, and with the weight loss, it seed even more prominent.
Mason drove with a feeling of unease, remaining silent for a mont, then said, "I’ll speak to Mom properly. I won’t let her treat you like this again."
Cece recalled his previous words and found them amusing. She had always considered Elara Hale her rival, yet after finally marrying him with great effort, she found herself losing to his mother in the end.
Though she calculated a lot, she was also clear-minded. She knew Mason’s current promises couldn’t be counted on. The next ti she had a conflict with his mother, he would undoubtedly side entirely with Kylie Dalton.
She could no longer remain passive as before; she needed to advance by retreating. She refused to believe that given Mason’s feelings for her, he would truly want to see her tornted to death by Kylie Dalton.
Thus, hearing Mason’s promise now, Cece didn’t take the opportunity to criticize Kylie Dalton but instead gently smiled, saying, "She is the elder; I am the junior. Respecting her and making her happy is what I should do. Besides, I don’t wish to put you in a difficult position."
Her words were magnanimous and calm, yet the trace of bitterness at the corner of her mouth was caught by Mason.
Cece raised a smile to him again, saying, "Brother Mason, don’t mind my poor complexion now; honestly, Mom has been quite attentive to these days. She hasn’t missed three als a day; it’s just who couldn’t adapt to those als and couldn’t eat them."
Mason naturally asked, "What als did she send you?"
Cece’s eyes showed so difficulty, then she purposefully lightly chuckled, "Just so ho-cooked dishes, the usual stuff everyone eats."
Mason noticed sothing amiss and pressed further, "What exactly did you eat?"
"...Rat at." Cece was silent for a long ti before speaking up.
She wasn’t lying about this. Kylie Dalton, the old crone, indeed fed her rat at; sotis skinned, whole rats, and sotis in soups or stews.
Overall, it was horrifying and disgusting; she couldn’t eat a single bite.
These days, she had survived just on snacks and water.
She deliberately let herself beco this weak to pour out these grievances in front of Mason.
Listening to Cece’s words, Mason remained silent, though the anger on his face betrayed his emotions.
That was exactly what Cece wanted.
Soon, they arrived at the hospital, and after the examination, the doctor gave instructions with a serious expression, "Young man, your wife is pregnant. It’s crucial to consu supplents, and also find ways to encourage her to eat more nutritious foods. Both the fetus and mother are severely malnourished, along with severe anemia. Without tily intervention, there might not be a day of birth."
Mason agreed to everything, though the anger in his eyes grew increasingly evident.
Returning from the hospital, as soon as they entered the house, Kylie Dalton saw Cece and imdiately frowned, "What’s the matter with you? Didn’t I tell you to stay in the ancestral hall for a month? Who gave you the audacity to co out after just a few days? Do you acknowledge as your mother?"
Cece clung to Mason, instinctively flinching, which Mason noticed growing more impatient inside.
He instructed Cece, "You head upstairs first."
Cece hesitated but went upstairs.
Mason looked at Kylie Dalton, suppressing his dissatisfaction, and spoke, "Mom, she collapsed from acute hypoglycemia today, nearly resulted in a double fatality. The doctor explained that if it continues like this, neither she nor the child will last until the due date."
Kylie Dalton shouted, "Then you should let her eat! Every al I sent over and was returned untouched! I thought she had so backbone but in the end, she just sneaks behind to you to confront , shaless!"
"Mom," Mason controlled his temper, looking at her, saying, "Cece is pregnant, don’t tornt her. She’s not Elara Hale; she can’t manage heavy work, just a few servants, Jacobs Family can afford it. Let’s consider it for the child she carries, alright?"
Kylie Dalton couldn’t believe it, glaring at him, "Mason, what do you an? You think I’m deliberately bullying her? You’re my son; just throw so words around, and you’re swayed by her to turn against ?"
Mason Jacobs didn’t know how to respond, after a while he said, "Mom, at least wait until the baby is born."
Kylie Dalton could see he was backing down. Though she was still displeased, she didn’t want things to get too ugly with her son, so she reluctantly agreed.
Mason Jacobs breathed a sigh of relief and went upstairs to see Cece.
A sinister glint flashed in Kylie Dalton’s eyes. Cece was afraid to co out of the ancestral hall; she didn’t have a phone, so how did she contact Mason?
Just then, Jasmine ca in from outside. Kylie Dalton thought for a mont and imdiately grabbed her collar, clutching her neck, saying, "Was it you? Did you help that little bitch?"
Jasmine was startled and struggled quickly, but she had been violently beaten by Kylie Dalton previously. Her body was aching all over, and she was weak, not able to escape swiftly like before.
"Let go of , you old hag!" Jasmine glared at her and cursed, "You old ghost, are you trying to kill soone? Killing is against the law!"
Kylie Dalton’s fierce expression turned into a strange smile upon hearing this.
Her gaze gradually grew cold, making one’s blood run cold, then she said word by word, "It’s just killing soone, don’t you think I haven’t done it before?"
Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat, terrified beyond words!
What did she an by that? Had she... really killed soone?
It couldn’t be, in a society governed by law, no matter how wealthy you are, you can’t treat life as a ga, right?
But the expression on this old woman’s face was so realistic, as if she had truly killed soone with her own hands.
Jasmine nervously swallowed saliva, feigning bravado, "If you’ve got guts, let go!"
"Do you know what you look like to ?" Kylie Dalton snarled, clutching her, "Like a filthy rat. As long as you stay with the Jacobs Family, I can’t feel at ease."
A chill ran down Jasmine’s spine, a bad premonition flashed in her mind. Before she could react to why she felt this way, Kylie Dalton had already squeezed her neck tightly, raised her other hand, and suddenly brought it down hard, with a slap, Jasmine’s head was knocked to the side...
She had never been trampled on like this, even in the orphanage, she existed like a boss. But now, in Kylie Dalton’s hands, she was completely powerless to resist.
The main issue was, she hadn’t thought Kylie Dalton would dare to lay a hand on her in the villa, so at the start of the assault, she was completely unguarded.
At this mont, being choked, being beaten, she didn’t even have the strength to fight back. Kylie Dalton was rciless, slapped her countless tis, Jasmine’s face went numb, even opening her mouth was difficult.
Kylie Dalton, originally born of hooligans, had been unhappy with Jasmine for days. Seizing this opportunity, how could she easily let it go?
When Jasmine was half-strangled and half-dead, Kylie Dalton casually threw her to the ground, grabbed a stool, and hit Jasmine’s head twice.
Still not satisfied, she viciously kicked Jasmine’s waist.
Jasmine had long since passed out, lying on the floor like a dead body.
Mason Jacobs heard the commotion, opened the door, and saw this scene.
In an instant, he felt like he was back there three years ago, his face changed slightly, he quickly went downstairs, snatched the stool from Kylie Dalton’s hand, his voice trembling, angrily scolding, "Mom, are you insane!"
He tossed the stool aside, knelt down to check on Jasmine, luckily, she was still breathing.
He quickly picked up Jasmine from the floor and ran out.
Elara Hale and Zion Fitzwilliam brought Joanne Carter for a dical examination today.
Joanne Carter’s school is already arranged, it’s the school district linked to Zion Fitzwilliam’s property. Though not the top school in Northgarde, it has a good reputation, and the principal treats Joanne quite well, even proactively offering a scholarship.
But Elara Hale politely declined. Joanne Carter is being funded by her now, no need to waste that spot. There must be many students in need in school, Joanne shouldn’t take away soone else’s hope.
Tomorrow, Joanne can officially start classes. As the school requires, Elara Hale brought her for a health check today.
The examination was tedious, but with Zion Fitzwilliam helping out, and his quick-thinking ways to maximize ti usage, in just one morning, they completed the examination.
Two other children having the examination at the sa ti hadn’t even completed half.
Having accomplished this major task, the three walked downstairs, chatting and laughing, mainly Elara Hale and Zion Fitzwilliam talking, Joanne still didn’t dare speak much.
This poor child, had mustered great courage to change the course of her life, but in reality, she was still worried all of this could vanish at any mont hence didn’t dare say much, fearing to trigger disdain.
But as they passed the corner, she suddenly froze, not caring if she’d be disliked, pointed behind, bewildered, "Aunt Hale, Uncle Fitzwilliam, that looks like Jasmine!"
Elara Hale heard this, instinctively turned her head, then froze, "It is Jasmine..."
Only... why is Jasmine lying on a stretcher, motionless?
And looking at the bruises on her face and body, was she beaten up?
What kind of person would hit a kid so harshly?
Fortunately, not long afterward, Jasmine was brought into the ward. Elara Hale averted her gaze, ready to leave when she heard a familiar voice behind her, "Elara?"
Elara Hale stopped, turned around, seeing Mason Jacobs, who had sohow walked up behind her, she forced a grin, "Mr. Jacobs, do you need sothing from ?"
Next to her, Zion Fitzwilliam, upon seeing Mason Jacobs, imdiately wrapped his arm around Elara Hale, pulling her into his embrace, a gesture of complete possession.
At the sa ti, he couldn’t help feeling a bit disdainful of himself, this subconscious action, isn’t it childish?
But he quickly rationalized, childish is fine, seeing Mason Jacobs truly made him anxious, this sense of crisis ca from being the one Elara first fell in love with, they even had a marriage of two years. He knew Mason Jacobs too well, as a man, he understood, this is the pace of soone unwilling to be part of the past.
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