Chapter 289: Monica's Hidden Affair

The room fell silent, everyone stunned by the swiftness of Monien's actions. Her sudden drop to her knees seemed absurd, almost comical. I wondered if she was crazy. It appeared she was begging, but her aggressive rush toward me suggested she was about to stab me again. After all, the lingering effects of my previous wound were still present. It felt as though everyone wanted to hurt me. Only Carter understood my reflexive reaction, showing me a touch of tenderness. He patted my back gently, reassuring me, "It's okay. You're safe."

Once I calmed down, Monica continued, "Zoey, I'm to blame for all of this. It's my fault for not raising Sadie properly, leading to today's events. I'll take responsibility, but Sadie is still young. If you need to punish someone, punish me. Let me kneel instead." I sneered. Since Sadie had already knelt for so long, I knew Monica was trying to manipulate Bill's sympathy. In my past life, I might have felt pity. But after being stabbed and witnessing people's deceit, I was as cold as the blade that had injured me.

"Fine. You're her mother, so it makes sense that you take responsibility," I replied without hesitation. Monica was surprised by my quick agreement. She probably thought I wouldn't allow her, an elder, to take Sadie's place, but I wasn't the weak Zoey I used to be. I smirked. "If you want to kneel, go do it outside. It's cold out there, so it won't bother anyone."

She glanced at my mother. "Philippa..." Her eyes lingered on my mother's stomach. The last time we had dinner, my mother had thrown up and gone to the hospital. Since it was the Boltons' private hospital, Carter had ensured Monica didn't find out about my mother's pregnancy. My mother, struggling with morning sickness and her patience depleted, simply said, "Get lost."

I thought Monica would beg Bill, but instead, she slowly stood up, looking pitiful. "Yes, I'll go kneel now to atone for my actions." She did seem lonely and sad. But Bill's focus was entirely on my mother and the babies she was carrying. He didn't care about Monica anymore, especially since he had never loved her, and she had lost her youthful beauty. The only person he cared about was Sadie. He ordered the maids to bring Sadie in to treat her injuries, visibly relaxing when he saw I didn't argue. I still needed Sadie for my plan.

Sadie, spoiled for years, found kneeling for half an hour in the cold unbearable. She cried, shivering, and Bill looked at her with sympathy. "Zoey, are you happy now? Sadie is injured like this," he complained. I was furious and ready to argue, but realized it wasn't worth the energy. He might not love Monica, but he genuinely cared for Sadie, just as I had once been hurt by the Sanders. He thought about me and defended me. I understood his inability to cut ties, but I couldn't accept that his family bonds came at the cost of another mother and daughter. My mother should divorce him. The more Sadie suffered, the more Bill would care about her and push my mother further away.

I didn't answer Bill, instead looking at my mother. Her expression was blank, as if she had given up. After twenty years of disappointment, she seemed to have stopped expecting anything from him. She probably had known his true nature all along and had no hope left to feel disappointed. "Mom, why don't you go rest upstairs for a bit?" I asked. "Okay," she replied.

Although the mess had been cleaned up, the living room still felt empty. Bill never considered the consequences of my mother being frightened or hurt by Sadie. He kept promising he would change, but old habits die hard. I helped my mother upstairs, feeling sorry for her. "Mom, you've been wronged." She smiled gently. "How could I be wronged? With you by my side, and the two little ones with me, I'm already happy. It's you who shouldn't waste your efforts on people who don't matter." Seeing her so calm and gentle, I was more determined. "Mom, I'll figure out a way to get you divorced." "Okay, I'm a bit tired." "Then rest for a while. I'll stay with you."

She looked at me with a steady gaze that seemed to see right through me. "Why are you looking at me like that, Mom?" I asked, feeling uneasy. She sighed, as if she was holding something back. "It's nothing." Then, she closed her eyes, and I covered her with a blanket. She took my hand in hers. "Zoey," she whispered. I held her hand back. She didn't respond after that, and I felt a sense of unease. Did she sense something? She shouldn't have—who would think of something as crazy as rebirth?

After she fell asleep, I quietly left the room, aware that as the door closed, tears began to slide down her cheeks. Sadie's hand was wrapped in a bandage, her body warming as she leaned against Bill, sipping warm soup. When she saw me approach, she gave me a smug look. Bill glanced at his watch. "It's been forty minutes. Zoey, don't you think that's enough? New Year's is almost here. If she dies from kneeling, we won't have a peaceful one."

I didn't feel like arguing anymore and casually said, "If you think it's enough, go ahead." He immediately left. Sadie walked toward me slowly, her smile full of arrogance. She whispered, "See? Dad still cares about us. If Mom managed to win him over once, she can do it again. Want to guess how long it'll take for Dad to come back this time? Three months? One month? Doesn't matter if you take my property. As long as Dad recognizes me as his daughter, his wealth is still mine."

I gave her a cold stare. "You probably won't live long enough to see that happen." "You bitch! How dare you curse me!" she spat, her voice full of rage. With no one else in the living room, she didn't bother with her image. I chuckled lightly. "With your low intelligence, you won't even see how it ends. I won't save you next time. You're on your own."

"Zoey, you won't be happy for long. Dad will come back to us soon." "Then I wish you good luck in advance." I turned and headed back to my room. Carter was sitting in a wheelchair, talking on the phone, so I left him in peace. Through the window, I could see Monica crying as she clung to Bill, but he seemed cold and distant, pushing her away. The glass muffled the sound, so I could only guess what they were saying by watching their lips. Bill's back was turned to me, and he radiated coldness. As Monica begged and cried, he had the bodyguards escort her out, sending her off with Sadie. It was like watching a silent, dramatic scene unfold. The electric curtains closed automatically. Once they were fully drawn, Carter, who had finished his call, wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"Chloe, I can feel your sadness." "I'm just thinking about how Bill can't let go of anyone. If he truly loves someone, how can he make room for others?" "He doesn't love your mom enough. If you're feeling down, I can share something interesting." I turned to face him and wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling at peace in his embrace. "What is it?" Carter gently brushed my cheek and smiled slightly. "Monica has a secret lover."

"What?" I couldn't hide my excitement. That was huge news! Carter raised an eyebrow. "His flight just landed. If we hurry, we could catch the action. Want to go see?"