Chapter 195

Roxanne's tears streamed down her cheeks. Her thin lips trembled, making her look like an injured rabbit. She carefully placed her hand on her abdomen, as if bracing for a blow.

Margaret, fearing for Roxanne’s baby, immediately scolded Bruce.

“Bruce, are you out of your mind? Do you know what you’re saying? Roxy is pregnant. How can you say such things to provoke her?”

Bruce’s thick brows furrowed. “Grandma, you wanted clarity. Ten years ago, I nearly drowned. I mistakenly believed Roxanne saved me; that’s why I loved her. Now I know it was Joanna. If Roxanne hadn’t pretended to be Joanna, I never would have dated her.”

Roxanne sobbed uncontrollably. “Bruce, how can you say this? Is our relationship a lie? I don’t believe you don’t love me! Did my sister force you to say this? I can’t live without you! My children and I can’t live without you!” She clutched his sleeve, pleading for pity.

Annoyed, Bruce shook her off. “Enough! Let go!”

Roxanne cried out in grief.

Margaret, even angrier, comforted Roxanne. “Roxy, stop crying! Be careful of the baby! Bruce, coax her! I won’t forgive you if anything happens to Roxy or the children!”

“Grandma, can you stop interrogating me…?”

Margaret, agitated, began to cough violently. “Cough! Cough! Cough! You brat! You won’t even listen to me? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

Her face turned purple, and she gasped for breath.

“Mrs. Everett!” Brice cried out, his face paling.

“Grandma!”

The nurse quickly administered a cardiac stimulant.

“Get the doctor!”

“Alright!”

Bruce knelt beside Margaret, rubbing her back. “Grandma, don’t be so agitated! I was wrong. I’ll listen to you!”

After the injection, Margaret slowly calmed down. The doctor arrived and examined her. Margaret waved him off, signaling she was alright.

“Bruce, I know you’re focused on Joanna, but you can’t be irresponsible. You’ve gotten Roxy pregnant; you can’t leave her. The Everett family won’t tolerate irresponsibility.”

Margaret, a traditional woman, was fiercely protective of the family's reputation. She'd always been strict with Bruce's moral education. Though he was a wealthy tycoon, he still possessed a strong moral compass. Seeing his grandmother's distress, he subdued his anger.

“Grandma is right. Don’t be angry. I’ll listen to you.”

Margaret brightened slightly. “I’ll give you two choices: cut ties with Joanna completely, or cut ties with me completely!”

Bruce disliked both options. Margaret turned to Joanna. “Joanna, let me warn you. You and Bruce are divorced. You two sisters have already damaged our family’s reputation. I don’t care about your emotional entanglement with Bruce, but keep your distance! Ask for whatever compensation you want, but don’t be ambiguous with him!”

Joanna, though angry, remained respectful of Margaret’s age. “Mrs. Everett, don’t worry. I have no intention of being entangled with Mr. Everett.”

“Good. Keep your word. As for the children’s custody, let the court decide next week.”

Joanna took a deep breath and left.

Margaret then turned to Bruce. “Bruce, hold Roxy’s hand!”

Bruce hesitated, concerned about Joanna. He knew Joanna, with her impulsive nature, would be discharged immediately.

“Grandma, I don’t need you to take care of me here.”

Bruce immediately changed his tack. “Okay, okay. I’ll go back with Grandma.” He called Andy. “Andy, stay here and take care of Joanna. Don’t let her leave until she’s fully recovered.”

“Alright, Mr. Everett!”

“Grandma, let’s go home!”

Back at the Everett mansion:

“Mrs. Everett, it’s time for your physical therapy.”

“Oh, okay! You two be good. Don’t quarrel!”

Bruce hugged Roxanne and said, “Grandma, don’t worry! I’m taking Roxy to Sherane Bay Villa to get something, then I’ll come back.”

“What are you going to take?” Margaret asked warily.

“Grandma, don’t worry. I’ll pack some personal belongings and move in with Roxy.”

Margaret sighed in relief.

“Alright then! Go and come back quickly! Don’t quarrel.”

“Grandma, don’t worry!”

Bruce turned to Roxanne, but Roxanne noticed the gloom in his eyes. A bad feeling washed over her.

“Bruce, why don’t…you go alone? I’m a little tired.”

“No. I want you to come with me!”

Roxanne, uneasy, got into the car. The car drove away from the Everett mansion.

Halfway there, Roxanne asked, “Bruce, this isn’t the way to Sherane Bay Villa. Where are we going?”

“To the hospital.” His voice was icy.

“Bruce, didn’t we just leave the hospital? Didn’t you promise Grandma you wouldn’t see my sister again?”

Bruce sneered, finally turning to look at Roxanne. “I’m not going to see Joanna.”

“Then why are we going to the hospital?”

“You’ll know when we get there!”

“Bruce, tell me! Why are you taking me to the hospital?”

Bruce sneered, pulling a medical record from the glove compartment and slapping it onto Roxanne’s face. “Take a good look at this!”

It was Roxanne’s artificial insemination record. Despite paying the doctor for discretion, Bruce had found out.

“Bruce…” Roxanne’s face paled.

Bruce said coldly, “Do you really think I’m a fool?”

Roxanne trembled. “Bruce, I had no choice! I can’t live without you!”

“I’m taking you to get an abortion.”

Roxanne felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. She clung to his sleeve. “No! I won’t abort the children! Grandma likes children! If she knew…”

“Don’t worry about Grandma. I’ll say you fell and lost the baby. Abort the children if you want to stay with me.”

Roxanne’s tears stopped. “No! No! Don’t! Driver, stop the car! I want to get out!”