Chapter 66
Sandra collapsed to the floor in shock, staring up at Pamela in disbelief.
Looking down at her with utter contempt, Pamela sneered, “You shameless little… Did you really think getting pregnant by your sister’s fiancé would force your way into the Foster family? Dream on.”
Sandra’s face turned pale, a mix of humiliation and panic washing over her. She could handle Amelia’s accusations, but she couldn’t understand why the Fosters had suddenly turned on her like this.
Her relationship with Zachary had seemed tacitly accepted by both families. Every time Sandra had visited Foster Villa, Pamela had welcomed her warmly. But today, everything had changed.
Sandra got up with tears streaming down her face and went to find Zachary. He was lying in bed, nursing his injuries, looking nothing like the polished gentleman he usually was.
“Zachary, your mom wants me to get rid of the baby and leave you,” Sandra choked out between sobs, collapsing onto him and accidentally pressing against his injured ribs.
Zachary hissed in pain and pushed her away, “Watch it. That hurts.”
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry.” Sandra jumped back from the bed, wringing her hands anxiously. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her whole world was about to fall apart. “Let’s get married, Zachary,” she blurted out, desperation clear in her voice.
Zachary rolled his eyes at her. “Are you out of your mind? I’m lying here injured. How can you be talking about marriage?”
“We could just get the marriage license now,” Sandra pleaded, kneeling beside his hospital bed. She gripped his hand tightly, terrified he’d slip away if she let go. “The ceremony can wait until you’re better.”
“What’s really going on with you?” Zachary demanded, his patience wearing thin.
Fighting back tears, Sandra finally confessed about the issues with her birth certificate.
“You’re telling me you’re illegitimate?” Zachary stared at her in disbelief.
“No, that’s not it at all,” Sandra protested quickly. “I’m the Edwards family’s second lady.”
“This is such a mess,” Zachary muttered. He didn’t like Sandra, but this revelation made it worse. Having grown up with an illegitimate half-brother, he knew all too well how Pamela despised anything to do with children born out of wedlock.
Pamela had made it crystal clear in her elite social circles that Zachary’s wife could never be illegitimate. Now, ironically, the woman he’d so carefully chosen turned out to be exactly that. His actions had become a slap in the face to Pamela’s reputation.
Zachary looked at Sandra’s tear-filled eyes and sighed, “Sandra, I think you should terminate the pregnancy. This needs to end.”
“What?” Sandra froze, completely stunned. “Zachary, how can you even say something so horrible?”
“Look, Sandra, I still love you. But I only have one mother, and this means everything to her. I can’t break her heart.” While Zachary’s face displayed practiced anguish, he felt nothing but relief.
Until Elizabeth came along, Zachary had never understood the allure of an experienced woman. Now, she consumed his thoughts, day and night. Only someone like Elizabeth could give him the kind of satisfaction he’d never known before. Sandra, in comparison, seemed both dull and worthless to him.
To make matters worse, Sandra was being childish all the time, constantly making demands that he cut ties with Elizabeth. Initially, Zachary had considered marrying her for their child’s sake. But after discovering the truth about her background, he felt no remorse about walking away.
Zachary realized he’d be better off finding someone new who could actually benefit his situation. Someone who might even help him overcome his current predicament.
Chapter 661
“You’re ditching me, Zachary?” Sandra’s voice trembled with disbelief.
“I’m sorry, Sandra.” Zachary closed his eyes, his silence confirming her worst fears.
Sandra completely broke down, her hysterical screams echoing through the room.
Zachary covered his ears in disgust. “Damn woman, always with the emotional theatrics,” he thought coldly. “Does she think she’s still the precious lady of the Edwards family? Edwards Group is nothing but a subsidiary of Kingsley now. She’s nobody.”
“How could you do this to me, Zachary?” Sandra cried out, tears streaming down her face. “I love you!”
Sandra was in hysterics when a sudden pain shot through her abdomen. Her face drained of color as she clutched her stomach. “Zachary, something’s wrong with the baby,” she pleaded. “I need to get to the hospital now.”
“Here we go again.” Zachary didn’t buy it for a second. Sandra was always crying wolf about pregnancy complications, but the baby had been fine every time. Besides, given the current situation, losing the baby would actually solve his problems. It would give Sandra no reason to keep clinging to him.
A warm trickle ran down her leg, and Sandra shuddered. “Zachary, I’m serious this time. Please, I need to go to the hospital.”
“I can’t drive like this. I’ll have my driver take you.” Zachary called for his driver, but once Sandra was out of earshot, he muttered to him, “Get rid of the baby. Handle it however you see fit.”
As dusk settled, Amelia returned home with Diana’s gift of roses and headed straight for the bedroom. “Landon?”
“You’re back?” Landon looked up, setting down his phone. His face remained expressionless, characteristically distant.
Yet today, Amelia found him particularly captivating. “Landon, thank you.” She trimmed the roses and placed them in a vase on the nightstand. “I met Diana today. She told me everything about my mother.”
Landon remained noncommittal. It was an interesting twist of fate. While investigating Lanny, he’d come up empty-handed but instead discovered that Diana had been Debra’s neighbor during her time in Pinecrest. He’d decided to use this coincidence to do Amelia a favor.
“This is the first time I’ve truly felt that I had a mom,” Amelia said earnestly. “Landon, you’re such a wonderful person. I’ll work my hardest for you from now on.”
“Massage,” Landon said, closing his eyes expectantly. Though he had professionals giving him muscle treatments daily, he didn’t care for them. Something about Amelia’s touch just felt more comfortable.
“Of course,” Amelia replied gratefully, rolling up her sleeves and getting to work.
“What did Diana tell you?” Landon asked.
“Haven’t you two talked about it?” Amelia asked, surprised.
“I’m not particularly interested in your affairs,” Landon said dismissively. “I just happen to know she’s acquainted with Debra.”
“Oh.” Amelia recounted everything Diana had told her. “My mother’s background is a mystery, but according to Diana, she was most likely a wealthy heiress who suffered from mental illness.”
She bit her lip and continued, “Walter was afraid of what would happen if my mom regained her sanity and discovered his affair with Melissa. So he…” She swallowed hard. “I believe he killed her, and I intend to find proof.”
Landon’s eyebrows furrowed, surprised by her candid confession.
“An eye for an eye,” Amelia muttered, her fingers unconsciously tightening their grip. Landon winced at the sudden pain. In response, he raised his left hand and firmly gripped her face between his fingers.
Chapter 66
“Hey, that hurts,” Amelia protested.
Landon glanced down at his leg. “That actually hurts.”
Amelia’s fingers were digging into his thigh with surprising force, as if she were strangling an enemy.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Amelia quickly withdrew her hands, looking embarrassed. “I tend to lose control of my strength when I’m angry.”
“Humph,” Landon finally released his own grip. “Remember for next time. I’m your husband, not your arch-nemesis.”
“Right, right. And my boss too,” Amelia responded with a playful smile, her mood visibly lighter.
Landon felt himself relax as well, thinking. “I guess this means the cold war is finally over?”
“You could have told me your old friend was an elderly lady,” Amelia groaned. “I’ve just embarrassed myself by showing up with bags full of maternity…”
“Why would you bring maternity supplies to anyone? What were you thinking?” Landon asked, bewildered by her behavior.
“…your baby’s mother.” Amelia ducked her head, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Gosh, this makes it look like I’m some… I thought she was a jealous wife, she thought, which I’m definitely not. Really, I’m not.”
Landon studied her and couldn’t hide the amusement in his eyes. He finally understood, Amelia had jumped to conclusions about the pregnancy test. “Women,” he mused to himself. “Why can’t they just speak their mind instead of giving the silent treatment? I’ve only known Amelia in these past few years!”
“Are you jealous, Amelia?” Landon asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.