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.
Realizing that Carter had come prepared, Shirley felt slightly nervous.She knew better than anyone the power of Carter's hypnosis.Sometimes, he did not even require any props; he could manipulate a person's emotions with just a look, causing the person to unwittingly lose himself in his territory.Carter vaguely caught a hint of hesitation in Shirley's eyes. The corners of his mouth faintly turned up as he brought his deep, dark eyes closer to Shirley and stared at her. “Shirley, if you really aren’t lying, then look into my eyes earnestly now.”The tone of Carter's voice had suddenly become as gentle as a spring breeze.It was a type of gentle feeling that could make people unwittingly let go of their emotions and gradually allow their imaginations to enter a state of relaxation and comfort.Shirley, who seemed to sense that Carter was attempting to hypnotize her, intuitively turned her face to avoid Carter's eyes, but he held her chin tightly. He forced her to look in
However, Carter had not even bothered to look at her. "From now on, you'll be responsible for taking care of Shirley, including her diet and daily needs. If Shirley experiences any discomfort or if the baby in her womb is harmed in any way, it’ll be on you."“… Wh… What?” Ada’s eyes widened in shock. “You want me to take care of Shirley's diet and daily needs? Wouldn't that make me her servant?”Whenever Carter was present, Ada always attempted to appear dignified and gracious, but Carter’s words instantly made her reveal her true nature.Carter glanced at Ada indifferently.“You could choose not to do it. You'll just have to be prepared that moving forward, you'll be enduring the same hardships as Shirley.”“…” Ada's face paled when she heard this. The same hardships as Shirley?Disfigured?Disabled?No way!She would not be able to endure it either!“Carter, I... I really haven't... haven't done anything harmful...”“Let's not waste my time, yeah?”“...”Impatient, C