Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Arthur was declared comatose by the doctors, suffering from severe head trauma and multiple fractures.

“This is all your fault!”

She was frozen in place as Martha charged at her again.

“If you hadn’t been reckless, this wouldn’t have happened to Dad."

Martha wouldn’t let her go, so even the hospital staff had to intervene to separate them.

Crying, Elizabeth curled into a corner of the hallway, her body aching all over. She hadn’t even begun to recover from what had happened last night, and now Martha’s relentless hitting continued.

All she could do was sob in the corner, feeling the weight of self-blame. Once the guards finally managed to escort Martha and Catherine out, Arthur's secretary, Eldridge, approached her.

“We have a problem. Martha refuses to release any funds for Arthur.”

Elizabeth’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

Eldridge let out a heavy sigh. “The company is on the verge of bankruptcy; if they withdraw any more money, Benzone Telco won’t recover.”

“But Sir Arthur’s life is at stake!”

“I’ve told Martha that too. But she’s stubborn. She insists she knows Arthur well enough to know he’d rather die than—”

“That can’t happen.” Tears streamed down her face again. She couldn’t bear to lose the one person who had always stood by her.

“We can appeal, but there’s a strong chance the court will side with Martha. She’s Arthur’s eldest daughter and is now in control of Benzone’s operations.”

“We’ll be kicked out of the hospital if we can’t pay, Mr. Eldridge. Sir Arthur will die!”

“I thought you might consider going through with the marriage to the owner of Channing Empire,” he suggested.

Elizabeth gasped at his words.

“That’s the only way I see to secure funds for Arthur’s treatment.”

Feeling as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders, Elizabeth realized she would have to sacrifice her future for money.

The old man provided for her education, gave her a home in his mansion, and made her feel she had a father in him.

Her conscience wouldn’t allow her to let him die when she had the power to help.

So, at the age of twenty, she signed the marriage certificate, fully aware of the sacrifice it entailed.

She didn’t even bother to read what was written on it!

“She’s in tears of joy,” Eldridge remarked, noticing that her husband’s lawyer was analyzing her expression.

She averted her gaze and quickly wiped away the tears welling in her eyes.

“Mr. Channing is currently abroad and has requested his wife to stay at their mansion.”

She could only nod in response as the two men began discussing financial matters.

That evening, a car came to pick her up and drove her to her husband’s palace-like home.

SHE jolted awake when she felt her stomach churn.

For several days, she had felt unwell. Initially, she thought it was just exhaustion from spending nearly every day at the hospital. Arthur had been in a deep sleep for almost three weeks, and his condition showed no signs of improvement.

However, in the past few days, she had noticed changes in her body and her sudden pickiness with food. Elizabeth wasn’t so naïve as to ignore the possibility that she might be carrying a child.

Still emotional, she descended the grand staircase of the mansion. She was about to head straight to the kitchen when she overheard the voices of two housemaids.

“The Channing family is traditional. They don’t accept illegitimate children,” said the oldest maid.

“Why not? We’re in modern times now,” the other one replied.

“Just trust me, Jennie. No more questions. It reminds me of the old days. Chairman’s mother tormented the bastard of the family. The Channings are ruthless, especially towards those who aren’t blood-related but are eager to suck off their wealth.”

Her trembling hand instinctively rested on her flat abdomen.

A chill coursed through her feet, and her hunger and thirst vanished, replaced by an inexplicable dread.

She had heard plenty about the Channing family, and it was hardly pleasant. Being the wealthiest in the city, no one dared to challenge the name she had married into.

Pacing nervously in her room, she couldn’t quite grasp her husband’s character. But what she had heard was enough to instill fear for the child she was carrying.

“What am I going to do?” she whispered to herself.

Her gaze fell on the closed walk-in closet. Quickly, she rushed over and began packing.

She needed to protect her baby. She couldn’t bear to involve the innocent life growing inside her.

5 YEARS LATER

"Momma, Earl's being mean to me!”

Elizabeth paused arranging the roses when she heard the shrill cry of her three-year-old daughter.

"I’m not! You’re just being a bad baby!"

There was a brief moment of silence before she heard a loud smack, followed by a thud. Dropping the scissors, she rushed to the small living room.

"Lottie, what did you do?" she scolded the mischievous little girl, hurrying to comfort her twin brother, who was holding his reddened cheek.

Instead of answering, Lottie pursed her lips dramatically, looking up at her with big, pleading eyes. Her lips quivered slightly, but Elizabeth’s stern expression remained unchanged. With that, Lottie’s mouth opened wide, and she burst into loud sobs.

Elizabeth sighed in exhaustion. ‘She’s the one at fault, yet she has the nerve to cry!’

"Lottie, stop crying. You’re making our Momma tired," Earl said, sounding far more mature than his years. He crawled over to his sister and wrapped his tiny arms around her. "I’m sorry, don’t cry anymore."

Earl even kissed Lottie’s plump, rosy cheek.

"Don’t fight Lottie again, okay? I’m right, and you’re wrong."

"Okay," Earl nodded obediently as if he would agree to anything his sister said, just to stop her from crying.

Elizabeth pressed a hand to her forehead, watching her children in disbelief.

Charlotte had always been the naughty twin—the short-tempered, bratty, and overly talkative one. She always wanted things to go her way.

"Lottie, why did you do that to your brother?" Elizabeth asked calmly but firmly. "You don’t slap someone just because you’re mad at them."

Instead of answering, Lottie hid behind her twin brother. Earl immediately shielded her.

"It’s my fault, Momma. I upset her," Earl said, his voice small but protective.

Elizabeth crossed her arms and gave her son a quick glance. "Lottie, don’t hide behind your brother. I’m talking to you. Even if Earl defends you, I know you did something wrong."

With a pout, her baby slowly stepped out, fidgeting with her small fingers and keeping her head down.

"It was just because, Momma…"

"Sorry, Momma. I provoked her," Earl interrupted again, this time stretching his small arm protectively.

Elizabeth had always told them they should stand by each other no matter what. But it seemed they’d taken that lesson too much to heart. Both were unusually sharp for their age, especially Earl Kenz. He was the mature and responsible one—calm, with an endless amount of patience.

“Earl, you can’t always cover for Lottie’s mistakes. I know you’re trying to protect her, but how will she ever learn if you do that?”

“I’m sorry, Momma,” Lottie whimpered, clutching Earl’s hand tightly with each sob. "Sorry, Earl. Lottie loves you."

Elizabeth sighed again, finally sitting down on the floor and crossing her legs.

"Come here," she said, opening her arms and offering them a warm smile.

The twins immediately rushed toward her. Lottie threw herself into her mother’s arms, and Elizabeth caught her little body with ease.

“I’m sorry, Momma,” Lottie repeated with a sniffle. “Lottie’s naughty again.”

Elizabeth gently kissed her daughter on both cheeks. “You’re forgiven. But remember, you don’t slap your big brother just because he disagrees with you. Didn’t I tell you, when you two can’t agree on something, you come to me so we can sort it out together?”

“Yes, Momma. We’re sorry,” Lottie said with fluttering eyelashes and a cute pout, clearly trying to charm her way out of trouble.

Elizabeth pulled Earl onto her other lap.

“So, what were you two arguing about, hmm?”

“About our birthday,” Earl replied.

“And what about it?” Their birthday was just a week away.

"We’re turning four!" Lottie squealed excitedly; her big eyes wide with excitement. She even held up four tiny fingers and giggled.

“Lottie wants to go to the city, and I told her we can’t because we don’t have the money for that.”