Maxwell felt awkward. "I can't do that. I don't hit women."Hugo scoffed. "Hmph, and that's why you got tricked by Rachel for five years and even helped me raise a son!""You're one to talk!" Maxwell retorted. "Weren't you also played by her? You were bedridden for five years!""You!" Hugo raised his fist, and Maxwell prepared to fight back.But just as they were about to throw punches, Hugo held back. He hadn't come here to fight today. He had more important business. So Hugo lowered his fist and sat on the couch. "I heard your mother's back. As her in-law, I figured I should meet her."Maxwell knew Hugo was up to no good. Though Camila had gone too far, she was still his mother, and he had to protect her. Maxwell muttered coldly, "My mother prefers peace and doesn't enjoy meeting strangers. I know she wronged Jennifer, and I've spoken to her about it. Once I bring Jennifer back, we'll move out."Hugo sneered. "Move out? My sister hasn't done anything wrong. Why should she be th
Maxwell could no longer suppress the confusion and anxiety boiling inside him. He grabbed Hugo by the collar and demanded, "Speak! How do you know my mother? I want to hear it from you!"Hugo pushed his hand away and sneered. "The woman who broke up my parents' marriage and handed my sister over to human traffickers is none other than the woman you call your mother!"Camila nearly lost her footing. She wanted to retort but couldn't find the right words.Maxwell's heart sank and his temple throbbed. He turned to Camila, his eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and sorrow. "Is what he said true?"Hugo snorted and added, "If you don't believe me, I can show you our family album. She was my father's favorite for years!"Maxwell's eyes turned bloodshot. He clenched his fists and stared at Camila, waiting for an explanation.After a few seconds of silence, Camila suddenly yelled, "Yes! I am the woman he's talking about! So what? I did it, and I stand by it. But would I have done this if
Years of hatred and bitterness left Hugo as he watched the scene. He snorted and muttered solemnly, "If it weren't for the fact that she's Jennifer's mother-in-law, I would have killed her already! But I'll leave her to you and let you decide what to do. Think about it. What has my sister gained since marrying you other than humiliation and suffering?"Maxwell took a deep breath and asked, "Does Jennifer know about all of this?"Hugo glanced at him. "I was planning to tell my sister everything and let her know that the man she loves is the son of her enemy! I didn't want her to suffer in your family. But, since my sister loves you, I've kept this to myself, for her sake. How long I can keep it, though, is another story! I'll tell her if you don't handle this properly! She might never forgive you when that happens."Maxwell finally realized he had underestimated Hugo. No wonder Jennifer came to accept him as her brother despite her initial dislike for Hugo. It turned out Hugo was a m
Every man for himself, and the devil took the hindmost.Given the current situation, Camila had to lower herself and admit her mistakes to regain Maxwell's trust and sympathy. She had lived a life of luxury as Nicholas' wife, and she couldn't bear the thought of hardship.So, Camila sobbed, "Maxwell, it was my fault. I know I've wronged you and Jennifer. But I was a victim too. Lorraine destroyed our family! If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't have left home, I wouldn't have been robbed, and I wouldn't have lost everything. If Nicholas hadn't saved me, I might have died! I was also a victim! How about this? I admit my wrongs. Bring Jennifer back, and I'll apologize to her. After that, let's live together happily as a family, okay?"Maxwell sneered at her. "Apologize? Live together happily? Do you think a simple apology can erase what you've done?"Camila's expression shifted. "What else do you want from me? You can easily kill me! Do you intend to kill your mother?"Maxwell fina
Hugo was not well-versed in medical jargon. He stared at the numbers on the test result, confused."What... What is this?: Hugo tossed the report in front of Jennifer. "All these numbers and arrows… What does any of this mean?"Annoyed by his questioning and not wanting to hide the truth anymore, Jennifer answered, "I went to the hospital to check if I'm pregnant."She ran her hand through her hair and sighed. "I don't even know what to do anymore."Hugo suddenly laughed, "That's what this is all about?"Jennifer, feeling he didn't take her situation seriously, glared at him and snapped, "Get out! I want to be alone."But Hugo was large and wasn't moved easily. He stood there with his arms crossed, smiling. "Maybe you wouldn't be the one who left home if you showed this kind of attitude to Maxwell and his mom."Seeing Jennifer on the verge of tears, Hugo finally stopped joking and said confidently, "Just wait. Maxwell will come begging you to go back."Jennifer lowered her head
Jennifer looked at Maxwell in bewilderment. "You finally found your mother, yet you're abandoning her? You promised that all the hardships were over. But I'm still not happy even after marrying you!"Maxwell recalled all the harm Camila had caused in the past and felt extremely guilty. Thankfully, Hugo hadn't revealed everything to Jennifer, or he wouldn't dare to ask for forgiveness on his mother's behalf.He mumbled remorsefully, "I've sent my mom to the countryside. She won't be coming back. She'll pay for what she's done! Jennifer, believe me, all the suffering is behind us now. I won't let anyone hurt you again."Jennifer was surprised. She found it hard to believe that Maxwell had sent Camila away. Did this mean she and the children were still the most important to him?Reflecting on everything that had happened since Camila's return, Jennifer realized that Maxwell had always stood by her side. Camila had gone too far this time, but Maxwell never wanted this either.At the t
Despite everything, Jennifer still felt uneasy. Her expression grew solemn.Maxwell seemed to notice and said, "Jennifer, I know you've suffered a lot. Please, don't be upset. We will live happily as a family from now on."Jennifer sighed and looked at him. "Why does your mother hate me so much? I'm not a saint. She kept sending women your way, trying to ruin our relationship. I don't want to live with her. But I know how hard it was for you to find her. Doesn't this decision hurt you? Aren't you conflicted?"Maxwell hadn't expected Jennifer to be looking out for him. What had Camila done in return? She has caused Jennifer harm since she was a child. Even now, she couldn't leave Jennifer alone.Guilt overwhelmed Maxwell. All of Jennifer's suffering had been caused by Camila. He had no right to ask for her forgiveness.Maxwell pulled her into his arms. "I'm sad that I didn't protect you. As for my mom... I don't want to talk about her anymore. Let's just pretend she doesn't exist."
Camila had enough. "I won't do it! I've lived a life of luxury. I've never had to cook, let alone feed pigs! Go back and tell Maxwell that he can have his wife back! I'll even play along. But if he's serious about this, then he's an ungrateful, heartless brat who mistreats his mother!"Michael scoffed. "Do you think Mr. Lance is toying with you? Play along? If it weren't for the fact that you're his mother, you'd already be rotting in a prison cell.""Then send me to prison!" Camila gritted her teeth. "Don't forget, no matter how much he hates me, I'm still his mother, the grandmother of his children. If I end up in jail, how will his two children live down having a grandmother behind bars? The heirs of the Lance family, descended from a criminal? Maxwell isn't that foolish!"Although Michael remained stoic on the surface, he couldn't help but pity Maxwell. First, there was Zachary, and now Camila. He was also entangled with Rachel for so many years… It was a wonder he was still s