?Chapter 696:


    Demi quickly covered her wrist, her face flushing with shame.


    “There’s no need to conceal it; I’ve been hit too,” Ellie said in a tone that was both calm and detached, leaving Demi taken aback.


    “Abuse can be a one-time event or a recurring nightmare. If he couldy a hand on you, what’s stopping him from doing the same to me?” Ellie added, “And being younger made me an easier target.”


    “How can that be…” Demi couldn’t believe it, convinced Ellie was lying to her.


    “Demi, growing up in this family would have been a nightmare for you,” Ellie said, having epted her painful past as nothing more than a memory now. “Though you’ve unveiled my secrets, you weren’t exactly dishonest, so I won’t hold it against you. But remember, this is thest time. I don’t want to cross paths with you again.” Ellie stood up before adding, “And do me a favor, pass a message to Houston. It doesn’t matter if I forgive you or not, he and I are finished. He should stop hoping to use me to reach Kaiden!”


    “You’re not mad at me?” Demi was taken aback. “Ellie, I almost ruined your reputation! Are you just putting on a show of kindness?”


    “I had every intention of not letting you off the hook, but then, all of a sudden, I felt generous and changed my mind.”


    Seeing that Demi too had suffered under Houston’s hand sparked a sense of sympathy in Ellie. After all, had Demi note back to the Gordons, escaping that mess would have been much harder for Ellie.


    Today, she didn’t see Litzy; she thought Litzy might have been in a bad ce too. She’d decided to forgive Demi, but she knew Houston wouldn’t, and that was going to hit Litzy hard.


    Demi’s eyes briefly welled up with tears, feeling as though she’d been granted a new lease on life. Ellie’s forgiveness signified that Houston might refrain from hitting her again. However, it also implied that Houston wouldn’t make her life any easier.


    Ellie walked back, linking arms with Kaiden, and said, “Let’s head back!”


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    “Ellie!” Houston called out. He still had something to say.


    Kaiden stood protectively by Ellie and said, “Mr. Gordon, my wife has severed ties with your family. Isn’t that clear enough?”


    Houston let out a forcedugh, his gaze lingering on Ellie. “How can the ties bepletely severed? Ellie might not be my flesh and blood, but I brought her up. The debt of raising her isn’t any less significant than that of giving birth. How can she just cut it off like that?”


    Without Kaiden there, he might havebeled Ellie as ungrateful.


    Kaiden just watched Houston silently. His gaze carried a silent warning that seemed to pressure Houston into admitting his wrongdoing, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.


    Houston’s lips parted then shut, as if he wanted to speak, but suddenly found himself voiceless.


    “It looks like even you know your statement is not reasonable,” Kaiden said. “With that in mind, I’d appreciate it if you left my wife alone.” Kaiden led Ellie back to their car.


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