Ada, who was listening to their conversation behind the door, was frightened by Carter’s furious questioning, and her face turned pale.‘If Shirley told the truth, how would I explain myself?’ She anxiously thought. Suddenly, she realized that the study room had become unusually quiet.Feeling uneasy and curious, Ada leaned closer to the door, her ears practically pressing against it.She heard a soft “click,” and the door abruptly swung open.Carter was standing right in front of Ada, and she turned rigid, unsure of what to do. After a few seconds, she regained her composure and adopted an awkward demeanor; her face also feigned a gentle smile.“Carter, I… I was just worried about you. I wasn’t eavesdropping.” Ada smiled forcefully as she tried to explain, but she noticed Carter's unusually dark expression at the moment.She intended to peep into the study room to see what was happening with Shirley, but her gaze was met by Carter's cold, icy stare.“Car… Carter?”“It seems
"Are you going to leave just like that?”Ada abruptly stopped in her tracks. She felt awfully uneasy, but she still turned around, feigning innocence and a wounded expression on her face.She saw Shirley, who was seated in her wheelchair, approached the doorway slowly.“Ms. Brown, you’ve won. I don't want to stay and be humiliated."“I’ve won?” Shirley was confused when she heard this. Carter had intentionally kept his voice down during his conversation with Ada, especially when he had spoken those few sentences. He had not wanted Shirley to hear them.As a result, Shirley was not aware of how important she was to Carter. Now, she merely found Ada’s words amusing. “Mrs. Gray, do I look like a winner to you? My legs are crippled, and my face is disfigured. I’ll be useless for the rest of my life. How am I a winner? Should I be honored that you did all of this personally?”“…”Sure enough, Shirley revealed it! Ada flinched and immediately denied, “Ms. Brown, what do you m
The slap resounded loud and clear. Further, she had deliberately hit the side of Shirley’s injured face.The scene had unfolded too suddenly. Camille and Cathy had not expected it, while Ada's mother was satisfied with her "feat,” and Ada was secretly delighted.However, Ada could only enjoy the moment briefly before she similarly received a hard slap across her right cheek.“Ouch!” Ada shouted in pain as Carter slapped Ada so hard that she could barely stand up. She also tasted the blood trickling from the corners of her mouth.Ada and her mother froze, eyes widened. They had not expected Carter to make such a move.He had actually slapped Ada! Shirley too had not anticipated that. The burning pain on her cheek seemed to have immediately subsided. Was Carter trying to protect her?“How dare you slap my daughter, Carter?!” Ada’s mother demanded anxiously.Carter appeared impassive, but his gaze was icy. "I hit your daughter because you slapped my woman. It's only fair."“
“It's best not to offend Carter. There are other ways for him to obtain the right of succession. You’re merely a stepping stone, at best. Don't confuse your position with your value. Otherwise, your family won’t come to a good end.”Camille finished speaking coldly before patting Cathy on the shoulder.“Miss Jordan, I believe that Carter and Shirley have more to discuss. Let's take a seat downstairs in the meantime.”Cathy too did not want to stay with Ada and her mother, so Cathy followed Camille downstairs.Ada held her burning cheek that Carter had slapped. She gritted her teeth with extreme displeasure.After Ada returned to her room, she clenched her fists at the sight of the swelling on her cheek and the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. “He actually hit me for that stinky beggar!” Ada gritted her teeth. “I can’t let this go. Mom, what should I do now? Would Carter really disfigure my face and break my legs if I went against him?”“He wouldn’t dare!” Ada's
Carter thought he had a hearing problem, but Shirley did, in fact, say those words.“This isn't your child? Shirley, do you even know what you’re saying?” Carter asked with restrained anger.Shirley remained indifferent as she smiled and responded, “Aren’t you forgetful at times, Carter? Earlier in the study room, I had clearly said that the baby was just a bargaining chip in exchange for the anti-toxoid test reagent formula. Just a bargaining chip. Do you understand?”“You…”For the first time in his life, Carter was tongue-tied because he was too furious.While he was distracted, Shirley took the opportunity to grab the box from his hands Having been jolted out of his daze, Carter found Shirley grasping the box firmly.He found that ridiculous. She would not even get a chance to touch it if he had no intention of giving it to her.“Shirley, now that you’re here at the Gray Manor, don't think about leaving. You can develop the anti-toxoid test reagent if you want. You'll fi
At first, Cathy had assumed that Shirley decided to stay because Shirley still had feelings for Carter. She had not expected Shirley's decision to be predicated on such considerations.Nevertheless, Cathy remained concerned.“But if you don’t go home, Adam will not see you and be worried.”Hearing Cathy's words, Shirley raised her head and looked ahead. There was a gust of fresh spring breeze, and the corner of Shirley’s lips seemed to quirk up.An unusually gentle smile adorned her face."I know he's actually very worried about me. He always had a soft heart and had looked after me without letting me know. But I must pay the price for my sins. It's time to stop troubling my brother."When Shirley spoke, her tone was peaceful, as opposed to the hostility she had when facing Adam.At this point, Cathy began to feel that Shirley was not a cold-hearted person. In fact, Shirley cared.“You don’t have to tell Adam anything. Just let him assume I sneaked out by myself.”“Why won’t
Camille’s expression darkened upon hearing those sudden words. Displeased, she raised her eyes and saw Ada's mother walking arrogantly toward Shirley.“If you don't want this incident to blow up, Shirley, then get out of here right now. Don't think you can become a member of this family just because you're pregnant with that vile spawn in your womb.”Ada's mother narrowed her eyes, directing her piercing gaze at Shirley. “I’m telling you. If you dare to steal my daughter’s husband, not only will you be crippled, but your entire body will be paralyzed as well!"Shirley was unfazed by such blatant intimidation.What else could she fear at this point?Camille, however, stepped in to defend her before Shirley could speak.Camille, her expression grave, looked at Ada's mother and warned her.“I suggest that you do not act irrationally. Carter's attitude was evident earlier. If anything happens to Shirley, Ada won't live comfortably as well.”Naturally, Ada's mother did not relent.
Dr. Lane was a family doctor of the Gray family who specialized in all fields.Following Camille's instruction, he gave Shirley a thorough body checkup.At first, Shirley had assumed Camille requested an examination because Camille did not believe Shirley to be pregnant. However, Shirley had not expected Camille to request the doctor to inspect her legs and her facial wound.Dr. Lane was an excellent general practitioner, but after studying Shirley's leg injury and facial wound, hesitation showed on his face.Despite this, Shirley did not feel unsettled; she was well aware of the circumstances.Furthermore, even though she could not be certain of the condition of her legs, she was confident that Adam could handle the wound on her face.Camille noticed Dr. Lane's reluctance. Keeping Shirley’s emotions in mind, Camille deliberately requested to speak with the doctor at the entrance of the room instead.At this moment, Carter came over and saw Camille and Dr. Lane in a discussion.