Chapter 268: Chapter 266: Responsible for a Lifetime? (17)

Nora Ainsworth spun around resentfully and ran back to her room.

She bolted the door shut from the inside before finally lying down on the bed.

Then she sat up again. She scanned the room but couldn’t find any self-defense weapons, only an unopened packet of instant noodle seasoning.

She tucked it under her pillow and finally fell asleep, feeling a bit more secure.

She slept soundly until evening.

Nora Ainsworth put on her shoes and went out to eat.

When she returned, she found Quentin Grant sitting on the edge of the bed with an incredibly pitiful look on his face. She placed the food tray on the table. "Walsh asked me to bring this for you."

"Hurry up and eat."

Nora Ainsworth walked over. "Scoot over. Your bed is over there. Don’t sit on mine."

He threw himself into her arms, nuzzling against her. "Nora, I’m all yours. Isn’t it only natural for me to sit here?"

Goosebumps erupted all over Nora Ainsworth’s skin, and she shoved him away.

"The video might show us arriving together, but in my mind, I don’t know you at all. So please, have some self-respect!"

Quentin Grant looked embarrassed. He picked up the tray and started eating.

"Nora, it gets pretty cold at night. How about I warm up the bed for you? I’m strong, tall, and powerful. I can be your personal heater and protect you. Why wouldn’t you want that?"

Nora Ainsworth snorted. "You’re the biggest threat to my safety!"

A wide smile bloomed on Quentin Grant’s face. "It’s good that you know. Your man is adored by so many women, so of course it’s dangerous. You’d better keep a close eye on me. Otherwise, I won’t be responsible if you end up crying about it."

Nora Ainsworth felt that talking to him was completely pointless. She decided to just shut her mouth, recline on the bed, and read her book in silence.

*

Bianca Rhodes had been tied up by Zoe Ellsworth.

For the past few days, she was watched by people assigned to the task, so she wouldn’t be appearing before Herman Hawthorne anytime soon.

But soon enough, Bianca Rhodes’s family reported her missing to the police, who then opened an investigation.

Zoe Ellsworth had no choice but to have her men release Bianca Rhodes.

That evening, she had the kitchen prepare dinner and waited at home for Herman Hawthorne to return, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Zoe Ellsworth quickly tried calling him, but the call wouldn’t go through.

She had a bad feeling, so she grabbed her car keys and immediately drove off to find him.

She drove to the taekwondo studio where he handled business. Just as she reached the main entrance, she saw Jasmine Walsh standing there. Upon seeing her, Jasmine smiled unexpectedly. "Mrs. Hawthorne, you’re here."

Zoe Ellsworth raised an eyebrow. "How have you not been fired and kicked out yet?"

Jasmine Walsh’s smile stiffened. Her eyes darted around for a moment before she smiled again. "Mrs. Hawthorne, you should hurry inside. I’m sure you’ll be much more annoyed by who you find in there than by seeing me."

"She’s just another snake from the same pit as you. Nothing to be surprised about."

With that, she held her head high and strode inside on her high heels.

Jasmine Walsh snorted and muttered under her breath, "Just wait. You’ll be crying soon enough! Don’t celebrate too early!"

She quickly followed, eager to watch the show. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

By this point, Zoe Ellsworth had already prepared herself mentally.

’Even if I know my husband might be in a room talking with his ex-girlfriend, as the rightful wife, I absolutely cannot get angry or throw an unreasonable tantrum. I can’t just make a scene without understanding the situation. A smart woman would never do something so brainless in front of her husband.’

’No matter how furious I am inside!’

’I have to teach my husband a lesson my own way!’

So, when Zoe Ellsworth stood before Herman Hawthorne’s office door, she waited until she was perfectly calm, not a single ripple of emotion showing, before pushing the door open.

Bianca Rhodes was there, just as she’d expected.

’There are cuts on her face... where did those come from? I only had her locked up for a few days. I didn’t lay a hand on her, did I?’

Herman Hawthorne’s expression was grim. Zoe Ellsworth could see it at a glance.

’An ex-girlfriend shows up after he’s married, and one he was deeply in love with at that.’

’What man would be in a good mood?’

"Zoe Ellsworth!" Bianca Rhodes shot to her feet, glaring. "How dare you show your face in front of me! If it weren’t for you, would I be injured? You even had me imprisoned for days!"

"Miss, this is the 21st century, isn’t it? Don’t you go making baseless accusations. Who do you think you are, yelling at me like that? We’re in my husband’s office, and you have the nerve to say I’m showing my face ’in front of you’? Get your facts straight, please." ’If she admitted to it, she wouldn’t be Zoe Ellsworth!’

"Still denying it? Herman must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to marry you!"

Zoe Ellsworth gave a placid smile. "And what business is that of yours?"

Bianca Rhodes looked at Herman Hawthorne, her eyes welling with tears. "Herman, didn’t you once say you’d never let anyone bully me in front of you?"

The implication was clear: now that Zoe Ellsworth was bullying her, was he going to do anything about it?

He, who had been still until now, slowly stood up, stepped away from his chair, and walked toward Bianca Rhodes. An invisible pressure made her take a step back.

"Why did you come back?!" he demanded.

"I missed you," she said as a tear slid down her cheek.

He growled, "Didn’t you say you would never set foot in Alveria again?! I’m asking you, why did you come back!"

"I told you, I missed you," she repeated.

Standing to the side, Zoe Ellsworth suddenly felt that the two of them were the main characters of this story, and she was just a supporting role.

"You missed me? Who gave you permission?" His hand suddenly clamped around her neck. Bianca Rhodes’s face instantly turned a deep, liver-like red as she struggled to breathe.

"I told you that if you ever dared to appear before me again, I would kill you with my own two hands."

"You... won’t... do... it!" she answered, one word at a time, tears in her eyes.

His hand tightened, his grip on her neck growing stronger and stronger.

"Herman, I’m pregnant! Three months along!"

Those words were a time bomb that had just detonated in the room.

Zoe Ellsworth staggered back a step, catching herself on the desk.

His hand released her. Bianca Rhodes’s body went limp.

She gasped for air in huge gulps.

Herman Hawthorne turned his head to look at Zoe Ellsworth, his wife.

Her face, still holding the last traces of youthful innocence, was deathly pale. She stood there like a sapling that any strong gust of wind could snap in two.

Zoe Ellsworth suddenly laughed, a terribly ugly sound. She straightened up, walked over to Bianca Rhodes, and looked down at her. "Pregnant? Are you sure it’s my husband’s?"

Bianca Rhodes looked up. "Of course!"

"Ohhh~ Then there’s only one solution." Zoe Ellsworth’s gaze snapped to Herman Hawthorne. "Get rid of it. Don’t think for a second that I’m going to make way for you, letting you use a child to climb the ladder so quickly!"

Her smile vanished, replaced by a murderous expression. She roared toward the door, "Someone get in here!"

The door flew open instantly, revealing a line of subordinates.

"Take this woman to Dr. Hughes and have the child in her belly removed!"

Herman Hawthorne raised a hand. "Stop!"

The group of subordinates looked at each other, unsure whose orders to follow.

Zoe Ellsworth sneered. "Your men will naturally listen to you. But I... will absolutely... pay any price to make this woman understand just who she’s messing with!"