Chapter 178

Joanna stormed out of the Everett mansion, her face flushed with anger. She knew calling the police was futile; the Everett family's close ties to the Greyport governor ensured any investigation would favor them. Taking the children away was impossible. Back in her car, she wept uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, the two little boys, forcibly returned to their rooms, cried and protested.

"Mommy! We want Mommy! We want to go home with Mommy!"

"Young sir, this is your home!"

"This isn't our home, you bad guys!"

"You're not allowed to bully my Mommy! If any of you dare, I won't let you off!"

"Boohoo Mommy! I want my Mommy"

The servants' attempts to soothe them failed. After reporting to Margaret, she arrived in her wheelchair. "Hey, kiddos, why are you crying?"

Davian stood. "We want to find Mommy. We want to go home with Mommy!"

The generational gap between Margaret and her grandsons was proving insurmountable. Faced with their distress, however, she softened. "Boys, come here."

"From now on, this will be your home. You are descendants of the Everett family! Davian will be called Charlie Everett, and Irvin will be called Luke Everett."

"I'm not Charlie Everett. I'm Irvin Haynes!"

"We don't want to change our names. We want to go home with Mommy!"

Margaret's smile faltered. "Your Mommy won't be taking you back for now."

Irvin erupted in tears. "Boohoo I don't want to stay here. I want to go home with Mommy! You're a bad old lady! You can't separate us from Mommy! You old witch. I don't like you at all"

Bruce's face darkened. "Shut up! Don't be rude to your great-grandma!" He'd never dared to speak to his grandmother that way.

"Bruce, don't scare them! They're young. They'll be fine."

"Go get Mr. Jameson. We're preparing for a lawsuit."

Bruce frowned. "Grandma"

Margaret cut him off. "No matter the cost, we're fighting for custody."

"Yes, grandma."

The next day, Joanna sat listlessly by Lilia's hospital bed. Lilia, recovering well, asked, "Mommy, why didn't Daddy come today?"

Joanna forced a smile. "Lilia, Daddy's busy with work. He donated bone marrow, and now he has to return to work. After you recover, we'll go home."

Lilia blinked. "Mommy, can we go to Daddy's house after I'm discharged?"

"Lilia, Daddy's house is his house. It's not our house."

Lilia's head drooped. "Mommy, can't you be with Daddy? I want you both together! Can you remarry?"

Joanna's heart ached. "Lilia, you're too young to understand. You'll know when you're older." Tears welled in her eyes.

"Okay, Mommy, don't cry. I love you most!"

"Good girl."

Three days later, the doctor announced Lilia's imminent discharge. Joanna was relieved.

Joanna hadn't been to the company in almost a month. Her daughter's illness had consumed her. It was time to return to work.

The next workday, Joanna arrived at the Haynes Group promptly at 8:00 a.m. She proceeded to the conference room.

"Miss Haynes, good morning!"

"Hello, everyone!" Reports were presented and a board meeting scheduled.

Gossip filled the office: "I heard Miss Haynes's three children are really Mr. Everett's!"

"Mr. Everett even donated bone marrow to his daughter!"

"They have a chance to reconcile!"

"Miss Haynes has three golden chips!"

"We'll do well working for her, with Mr. Everett's support!"

"Will they remarry?"

"Very likely!"

"Quiet! Back to work!"

A phone call interrupted. It was Roxanne calling Bruce.

"Bruce, where are you? You haven't been home in ages. When are you coming back?"

Bruce was startled; he'd forgotten Roxanne was still at Sherane Bay Villa.

"I'll be back tonight."

"I'll cook!"

At 8:00 p.m., Bruce returned. Roxanne acted normally, even gentler than usual. She served him a soup she'd drugged with a sleeping pill.

Bruce soon felt drowsy. Roxanne helped him to his room. He fell asleep quickly.

Roxanne, seeing Bruce asleep, sneered. She took out instruments for artificial insemination. Since Joanna had won his heart with children, so could she. She collected his semen.

"Bruce, you like children, don't you? Joanna had them, I can too! With this much sperm, I can have many children for you."

At daybreak, Bruce awoke naked in bed beside Roxanne, also naked.

"Bruce, are you awake?"

Bruce's head swam. He remembered nothing.

"Last night" Roxanne began coyly.

"We"

"We're almost married, this is normal, right?"

Bruce stared in shock. He knew he hadn't slept with her, but her words implied otherwise. He chose not to argue; after six years of dating, no one would believe him.