Mary looked at the medicine in her hands. The liquid exuded a pungent bitterness, but that bitterness


    couldn’tpare to the chill in her heart at this


    moment.


    1


    She lowered her head again and looked at her t abdomen.


    Not even three months had passed, so her belly had always remained inconspicuous.


    Yet in these three months, she had gradually be ustomed to its presence, instinctively


    protecting her belly when someone approached.


    She had even dreamed several times, dreaming of meeting this adorable child.


    Dreaming that it might be half like Ellis, half like


    herself…


    Now, she ultimately still couldn’t protect the baby…


    Mary’s eyes gradually moistened, and she felt a pervasive sense of utter despair and mncholy.


    She looked at Ellis once more.


    She didn’t know whether she should me him… or how much to me him.


    3


    After all, during those past few years, she indeed lived in a daze, dragged out by her uncle to drink and


    to socialize. In the eyes of others, she had long beenbeled a notorious girl involved inpensated


    dating…


    Mary lowered her head and let out a bitterugh.


    Suddenly, she said, “Ellis, don’t do the DNA test.”


    Ellis was startled.


    She looked down, not speaking, just quietly staring


    ahead.


    Her refusal to request a DNA test seemed to confirm even more that the child wasn’t his.


    But for some reason, he felt a panic deep within.


    Mary’s tears fell,nding in the bowl of medicine. She said softly, “Don’t do it. I’ll set you free.”


    With the child gone, going through with the DNA test would be the ultimate cruelty to Ellis, wouldn’t it?


    She had been angry just a moment ago, wanting to let


    08 22


    him know the truth in a fit of rage..


    But just now, she had decided to let it go.


    She forced a smile, picked up the bowl of medicine, and was about to drink it.


    But in the next moment, her wrist was grasped.


    Mary was taken aback and looked up, only to see Ellis staring at her intently, his eyes filled with


    confusion.


    He didn’t even understand what he was doing…


    Nor did he understand why he suddenly stopped her…


    Once he came to his senses, Ellis let go of her hand and took a step back.


    Mary didn’t speak but picked up the bowl again.


    Just then, a voice came from the doorway. “Mary!”


    Mary looked up instinctively


    She saw Keira and Lewis rush in, with Keira holding a man whose face was bruised and swollen-it was


    Austin!


    The Olsen family’s butler followed them, also a bit disheveled. As soon as he entered, he immediately


    apologized “In Olgen M Ellic Corr


    we couldn’t


    III


    <


    <


    stop them…”


    James immediately widened his eyes. “Keera, you, you’ve gone too far! You actually, you actually…”


    He pointed at Lewis.


    It was bad enough that she associated with Uncle Olsen, but she even brought that gigolo over!


    It was just outrageous!


    But before he could finish his usation, he heard Uncle Olsen say in a cool, detached voice. “Let it be


    known, from now on, Miss…


    Uncle Olsen hesitated for a moment, then pointed decisively at Keira. “Remember her. Whenever she


    comes, let her in without question!”


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Whether she was Keira or Keera, she was still his


    daughter!


    The butler, not understanding why, nevertheless nodded immediately. “Yes!”


    It was then that Uncle Olsen approached Keira. “How did you get here?”


    But Keira was looking at Mary, and at the same time,


    she saw the medicine in her hands. She rushed over


    immediately, snatched the bowl away, and demanded,


    “What is this?”


    No one in the room spoke.


    Keira red at Ellis and demanded again, “What is


    this!”


    Ellis’s face was stern. “An abortion drug.”


    Keira was so angry her fingers were trembling.


    She nced at Mary, seeing her in a pathetic state, trapped on the sofa without any chance of leaving.


    With her eyes reddening, she turned to the other people in the room and shouted angrily, “He made a


    foolish mistake, but didn’t any of you think to stop


    him?!”


    Mr. and Mother Olsen had tried to intervene, but to no avail; upon hearing this, they could only let out a


    helpless sigh.


    James looked toward Uncle Olsen.


    In front of so many people, this Keera had rebuked them all. Surely Uncle wouldn’t indulge her, right?


    Unexpectedly, Uncle Olsen just opened his mouth as if


    he wanted to exin something, but in the end, he. didn’t speak.


    Even Ellis, with a sullen mood, remained silent.


    Unable to contain himself, James burst out. “Keera, who do you think you are? It’s not your ce to


    meddle in our family’s affairs. You…”


    Before he could finish, Keira ignored him and looked at Ellis. “Just because of some rumors outside,


    you suspect her? Have you ever asked Austin?”


    Ellis’s icy gaze swept over Austin.


    Upon the ground, Austin stiffened.


    Ellis didn’t borate further, nor mention thatst


    time he had almost beaten a man to death who had


    insisted, all the while, that he indeed slept with Mary.


    Without a word from him, Keira’s chest heaved with


    anger.


    She turned back and kicked the bound Austin,


    demanding, “Speak! What exactly happened between you and Mary?!”


    Austin’s nose was bruised, and his face was swollen from being beaten.


    Looking at Keira, his eyes were fraught with panic and fear. His gaze shifted briefly toward Lewis, and


    upon seeing the man’s chilling stare, Austin shuddered all


    over.


    Who could have imagined that while he was drinking in a bar, some ferocious people would suddenly


    barge in, pick him up, and, presenting that document, demand whether he was the one behind the


    scheme.


    Austin had initially underestimated them and nodded. “Yes, Mary slept with me. So what? Is she daring


    to do but not to admit it?”


    When Keira struck him, he stubbornly denied


    everything.


    Not until the man beside her suddenly stopped her, asking for half an hour’s time.


    Then, during the following half hour, Austin underwent the most terrifying experience of his life!


    That seemingly tall and frail gigolo had methods that were exceedingly cruel. He soaked several sheets


    of paper andid them one by one on Austin’s face.


    Austin thought that as a member of the Gill family, no


    one would dore low hands on him


    So, he initially kept denying everything until whenever he fell silent, the other man showed no intention


    of removing the paper!


    The feeling of suffocation, of nearly dying, was too horrifying.


    It was so terrifying that just thinking about it made him shudder all over.


    He knew if he didn’t tell the truth, the man would really kill him!


    Even in front of Ellis, Austin knew that out of respect for the five major families, Ellis would spare his


    life, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to exin to the Gill family.


    But facing this man…


    Austin swallowed hard.


    Ellis had already begun to speak slowly. “I’ve asked him already, and he won’te forward to rify


    it… Keera, all this you’re doing is pointless.”


    Almost as soon as these words were uttered, they were followed by Austin’s cries, wailing like a


    howling wolf. “I’ll rify it! Who says I won’t? Why are you