Chapter 22
“Could you… could you tell Harry for me that we’re cutting ties? I don’t want his money; I only have this child. He’s wealthy now and won’t have any trouble finding women to bear his children. If you don’t help me, I really don’t know how I’ll get rid of the Rhys family. Both my child and I will end up dead at their hands!” Grace said.
“Okay, wait for me,” Ella responded.
“Thank you, thank you!” Grace kept bowing deeply, overflowing with gratitude.
Ella entered the room later and handed clothes to Jaden. “Wait here for me, don’t wander off, I’ll be back soon.”
Jaden had overheard their conversation. Over the years, he had hardened his heart and wouldn’t be swayed by anyone. In this world, he trusted only himself.
He didn’t trust Grace. Therefore, he couldn’t help but subtly caution Ella. “Where are you going? Will it be safe? Will those people bully you?”
“I’ll be fine. Unless I want it, no one can bully me! Just wait here for me,” Ella said.
Jaden couldn’t delve deeper into it; after all, he was considered “a fool” now.
“Then remember to come find me later.” He hesitated for a moment but decided not to stop her. Some lessons had to be learned the hard way. Of course, he hoped she wouldn’t stumble.
Ella followed Grace downstairs. When they reached the stairwell, Grace suddenly gripped her hand tightly, halting her descent.
“What’s wrong?” Ella looked at Grace in confusion.
“I’m scared, Grace replied.
“Don’t be scared…” Ella started to comfort her, but Grace’s expression changed abruptly from pleading to something sinister and malicious, a look Ella had never seen before.
“I’m afraid that this time, I won’t be able to crush you underfoot! Ella, I hate you. Your family is doomed, you will have a miserable death, you will be stuck in the gutter for the rest of your life!”
“Go! Die!” Grace’s words were deliberate and sharp, and a chilling smile crept across her lips.
In the next moment, she grabbed Ella’s hand and pushed it against her own chest.
Ella hadn’t exerted any force, but her hand seemed to push Grace back, as if she had caused her to fall. Standing above, Ella watched as Grace screamed in agony and tumbled down.
Instantly, all eyes in the vicinity were drawn to the scene.
“Ah–my stomach hurts so much, my child, my child…” Grace sobbed.
“What’s going on?” Lucy and Harry rushed over immediately.
Grace’s face was deathly pale as she clutched her stomach, black blood spreading beneath her and staining the ground.
“It was Ella. She pushed me, I know I’ve wronged her, but she’s married now. I thought this was all in the past…” Grace said.
“I tried to make amends with her, begged her to forgive me, even let her slap me! I admit I was wrong, but why did she harm my child…” Her anguished cries echoed upstairs towards Ella.
Cold and indifferent gazes were cast their way.
“Regardless of how arrogant she might be, this is too much! Attacking a pregnant woman!”
“Yes, the baby in her belly is innocent. How could she be so heartless?”
Someone started taking pictures, others recorded videos.
Ella’s mind was slow to react, forgetting to evade, forgetting to explain. Now, all words seemed futile. Just then, a warm, reassuring hand tightly gripped hers. Only then did she turn and see.
Jaden was looking at her. His gaze remained calm, unruffled. Though he hadn’t spoken a word, standing beside her now gave her an immense sense of security.
Soon, Grace was rushed to the hospital, and Ella went along. She only wanted to know about the baby. When the doctor came out and shook his head, Ella’s heart sank.
“I’m sorry, we couldn’t save the child. She’s lost a lot of blood, and her brain is in shock; we’re trying to stabilize her,” the doctor said.
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Chapter 22
“Ella, you bitch! What have you done to Grace!” Lucy now spat out these words like venom, charging forward like an enraged beast.
But Jaden immediately stepped in front of her.
Lucy tore at him, pulling at his clothes, yanking his hair, embrace.
Lucy’s curses were harsh, but he ignored them all. Until…
oving and pushing relentlessly. But he stood firm as a rock, holding her tightly in his
“You bring bad luck wherever you go! You’ve killed your parents, made Devin seriously ill, and now you’ve jinxed my grandson! Your family is cursed for generations! Do you want my family to suffer the same fate?” Lucy cursed.
Ella’s head was spinning; she didn’t know what she had done. When she finally reacted, Jaden had been pulled behind her. Lucy fell to the ground. She had pushed Lucy, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
Lucy didn’t fall hard; at first, she hesitated, then started crying and cursing Ella loudly on the ground. More and more strangers gathered in the corridor, filming with their phones.
“This is the surgical area, what are you all doing here? We’re trying to save lives inside…” Medical staff tried to shoo people away, but it was futile.
Just then, Finn arrived.
“Go back.” Finn led the way with his bodyguards.
“You can’t leave, you have to pay for my grandson’s life!” Lucy continued.
The bodyguards blocked Lucy.
“Is there no justice left? Murderers should be put in jail! There’s no law anymore!” Lucy’s voice faded as she was led away.
Ella got into the car, shivering from the cold. Jaden stayed by her side.
They returned to the villa. Finn frowned, holding a tablet. “This incident has caused a stir on all major social platforms. Tomorrow, Willow Group’s stock price is bound to fluctuate. The board has already held an emergency meeting; decisions will likely be made soon.”
“I’ll try to control the public opinion, but this time, the opposition is fierce and caught us off guard. You shouldn’t appear in public anymore; leave it to me and wait for the board’s decision,” Finn continued.
Seeing her pale and absent–minded, Finn wanted to comfort her, even hug her, but he restrained himself considering his status.
He could only look at Jaden. “Can you take care of her?” His voice held doubt.
“I can,” Jaden responded calmly, without even glancing at him.
Finn felt a pang, thinking, ‘Despite being perceived as a fool, why does he give off such an oppressive feeling?‘
Finn left. Ella logged onto the internet and saw numerous high–definition videos circulating, filled with insults directed at herself.
Now, whether Grace was a mistress was no longer important. What mattered was that Ella had pushed a pregnant woman downstairs, a despicable act. With malicious individuals exacerbating the situation, things were spiraling out of control.
Unable to bear it any longer, she powered off her phone.
“I want to be alone for a while. She staggered back to the bedroom, forgetting to close the door or notice if Jaden followed.
Entering the bathroom, she stood still against the cold glass.
Jaden regretted it. People had to suffer to grow up. But he could protect Ella from suffering and growing up forever, always remaining an innocent and carefree girl.
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