As Nina spoke, a chill ran through her body. She had considered every possibility, even the idea that someone might have broken into their home to harm Gemma while they were out. But never, not even once, had she suspected a six-year-old child.Yet here she was, holding the evidence that this very child had nearly killed her daughter."What?" Nash was equally stunned. But with the bottle in his hand, there was no denying the reality right in front of him.Compared to the adults, Orion reacted even more strongly. He stormed down the stairs with Gemma’s toy in hand and shoved Hope hard enough to knock her over. She scraped her hand on the floor and began to cry in pain and frustration."How dare you cry?" Orion’s voice was thick with anger. "My sister’s suffering is way worse than a scraped hand. She’s so little, with tubes all over her, and it’s all because of you. Why did you do it?"He couldn’t understand. Hadn’t they treated Hope well enough? Even if they weren’t perfect, did th
Alongside his anger, Orion felt a sharp pang of guilt. His parents had once suggested sending Hope to a welfare home, but he had wanted to keep her because he liked her as a sister. But what he had brought into their home wasn’t a sister, it was someone who could kill.“Get out! Go far away. I never want to see you again!” he shouted, pushing her away when she tried to grab his sleeve. She fell to the ground, landing heavily.Mrs. Watson stepped out of the kitchen holding a cake, and when she saw the scene, she started to go over to help Hope. But before she could get too close, she heard Orion snap, “Stop pretending to be pitiful. You’re so fake and disgusting. You poisoned my sister, and you think I’d feel sorry for you?”Mrs. Watson froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.Poison?She looked at Hope, unable to connect the idea of poisoning with this small child who barely came up to her waist. How could someone so young do something so cruel?Then, out of the corner of her eye
Although she was young, Hope knew the difference between comfort and hardship. In this home, even though they weren’t her blood relatives, everyone treated her kindly. She felt safe here. She could play in the garden without constantly preparing to flee with her family. If they sent her back, she would be alone, wandering the streets. She would never see her family again, especially since she hadn’t completed her mission.As despair sank in, Hope pleaded, “I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again, I swear. Please, let me stay here. I promise I won’t hurt anyone.”She could even accept that Orion might never play with her again, as long as she could stay.“It’s too late for that. I don’t believe you,” Orion said, moving closer to Nina. Last time, he had pleaded on Hope’s behalf. This time, it was the opposite. He shook his head at his parents. “Mom, Dad, please don’t let her stay. I’m afraid she’ll hurt my sister again.”This had happened once, and it could easily happen again.
Quincy’s hand hung in midair, hesitant to reach for Lydia, fearing he might hurt her. “Please, don’t leave. I swear, I’ll never go back there again, no matter what they say or do. I just want to be with you.”“And what about our child?” Lydia grabbed his hand, placing it on her stomach, which was flat and empty.The pain in Quincy’s eyes deepened. Lydia’s heart ached, but she forced herself to continue. “Tell me, where is our child? Can you bring them back? If you could, I wouldn’t care about anything else, not who you’re with or what you do. I’d just want my child back.”For a woman, a child was her life. She would rather face any harm herself than let her child suffer even the slightest misfortune.“Lydia, please don’t talk like this. I only love you. If you’re angry, you can hit me, yell at me or anything. Just don’t say things like that.” Quincy knew that these words wounded her as much as they did him. Lydia had already endured the physical pain of losing a child, and now sh
Mrs. Clinton offered an awkward smile, knowing it wasn’t her place to interfere. After all, this was a matter between husband and wife, and as an outsider, she could only go so far in either encouraging reconciliation or separation. All she could do was fret in silence.“Lydia.” Quincy strode to the doorway. “Maybe some time away will be good for you. When you’re ready to come back, just let me know, and I’ll come get you.”“Are you just dense, or do you think I’m a fool?” Lydia laughed bitterly. “I said I’m leaving for good. I’m not just taking a little break to come back and play house with you. Dream on!”For her, they were done. There was no going back, just like the child they had lost, it was beyond repair.Lydia walked downstairs, dragging her suitcase. Quincy wanted to help, but his hand only grazed the edge of her coat, and in an instant, it slipped away from him. All he could do was watch as Lydia got into a car and drove away, vanishing from his sight.Mrs. Clinton tr
“It’s not happening. Lydia is the only woman I’ll ever have as my wife. I won’t look at anyone else,” Quincy asserted firmly.He hoped that by making his stance clear, his parents might finally back off. He also thought Tiffany would have the decency to realize she was unwelcome.But he had misjudged her.Tiffany kept her eyes glued to him. “Quincy, I don’t mind if you can’t let go of her right now. We’re both young and have plenty of time. I believe that, sooner or later, you’ll come around.“And if anything, the fact that you can’t forget her shows your loyalty. When you finally accept me, I know you’ll be just as devoted to me. We’ll have a great life together.”Her words struck a chord with Mrs. Perez, who took Tiffany’s hand, beaming with approval. Lydia might be a wealthy heiress, but the Perez family wasn’t so desperate that they needed to sell their son’s happiness for money. She wanted Quincy to find someone who truly loved him, someone who would make him happy in a stabl
If Quincy kept listening to his parents, he would be a fool. He would not give them another chance to damage his relationship with Lydia. “Mrs. Clinton, see them out,” he ordered firmly.“Quincy! I’m your mother. How can you just throw me out like this?” Mrs. Perez’s face turned pale with shock and anger.Tiffany’s eyes filled with tears as she played the victim. “If you don’t want to see me, I’ll go. But please don’t take it out on your parents. They really love and care about you, or else they wouldn’t be so involved in your life.”Which parent doesn’t love their child? Quincy had never denied this before. But after drinking that drugged tea, his perspective shifted. Yes, they loved him, but not enough. Their love was overshadowed by their desire to control him and dictate his life. Otherwise, how could they have been so ruthless?“Mrs. Clinton, I won’t say it again. See them out.” With that, Quincy turned and walked back into the house, leaving Mrs. Clinton to face the three
If Tiffany and Quincy had engaged in a romantic encounter, Mrs. Perez was confident she could pressure him into marriage. After all, Quincy had just lost a child. If Tiffany were to get pregnant now, how could he remain indifferent? And even if she didn’t conceive, they could always pay off a doctor to forge a pregnancy test. By the time Quincy discovered the truth, the marriage would already be sealed. Would he really divorce her over it?“No,” Tiffany replied, biting her lip and shaking her head. Despite the effects of the drug, she had tried everything and still couldn’t seduce him. Quincy’s heart was clearly set on Lydia. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have resisted so steadfastly, refusing even to touch her.Mrs. Perez’s expression darkened. “I used a heavy dose. There’s no way it didn’t have any effect. What on earth happened between you two?”Tiffany flushed and briefly recounted what transpired. Mrs. Perez sucked in a sharp breath.Lydia had clearly bewitched him to the point