Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Not Even Worthy of Carrying Her Shoes

Holly was already annoyed by Sylvia Lancaster’s pitiful act from just a moment ago. Now, hearing Sylvia’s passive-aggressive words, her temper flared up instantly.

With a CLAP, Holly slammed her chopsticks on the table, frowning at Sylvia. "Sylvia Lancaster, what do you mean by that? What do you mean I’m not dedicated?"

Sylvia trembled as if startled by Holly’s reaction. Her already pale face turned even whiter.

Seeing Sylvia’s expression, Simon’s heart sank. He turned to Holly, displeased, and said, "Sylvia is just concerned about me. What are you doing? Is there any need to get this angry? She’s pregnant. Don’t scare her."

Holly’s anger only grew upon hearing this. She glared and asked, "Simon Lancaster, what’s that supposed to mean? Didn’t you hear what she just said about me? Or do you also think I’m not doing my best?"

Seeing the situation, Elaine Hughes and Robert Lancaster quickly tried to mediate. "Holly, don’t be angry. Sylvia didn’t mean it like that."

Then, Robert Lancaster glared at Sylvia and said, "How could you say that? Apologize to your sister-in-law, now!"

Sylvia saw that Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes, who had always doted on her, were taking Holly’s side. She felt both wronged and furious.

’Why?’

’Why does this Holly Rhodes get to steal my parents and my brother?’

Seeing the warning in Robert Lancaster’s eyes, Sylvia could only bite her lower lip and say tearfully, "I’m sorry. I was just too worried about my brother. Holly, you can understand that, can’t you?"

Elaine Hughes quickly stood up to smooth things over. "Yes, Sylvia and Simon have been close since they were kids. She was just too anxious. Holly, you’re the bigger person. Don’t hold it against her."

Hearing Sylvia’s two-faced, innocent-sounding voice, Holly thought, ’This is my first time meeting Simon’s parents, after all. It wouldn’t be good to cause a huge scene.’ So, she suppressed her anger and managed a grunt.

Seeing this, Elaine Hughes and Robert Lancaster didn’t dare to continue asking Holly about her meeting with Melody Summers.

Simon looked at Sylvia’s pale face, his heart aching for her. He paid no mind to Holly, periodically placing food on Sylvia’s plate, gently wiping away her tears, and comforting her, telling her not to cry.

Watching the siblings’ actions, the suspicion that Holly had just let go of came rushing back—

’Is this how normal siblings interact?’

’They’re both in their twenties. How can they be so indiscreet?’

’Look at how worried Simon is. He looks like he wants to feed Sylvia mouth-to-mouth!’

Holly’s left hand on the table quietly clenched into a fist, her long nails digging into her palm. She couldn’t help but think—’Could it be? Was what Sophie Thorne and Melody Summers said that day all true?’

And yet, Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes sat beside them, perfectly calm, as if they didn’t find this level of intimacy between a brother and sister with no blood relation to be a transgression at all.

Holly was an only child; she didn’t know how ordinary, biological siblings interacted...

She wanted to erupt, but seeing the placid expressions on Robert and Elaine’s faces, she thought that maybe she was just overthinking things...

In any case, she finished the meal with a heavy heart, lost in thought.

After the meal, Simon and his parents had Holly sit with them on the sofa in the tea room to chat. Sylvia said she wasn’t feeling well and was going back to her room to rest.

Simon sat and chatted idly with Holly for a while, but he kept glancing upstairs, unable to sit still.

Holly watched him with a cold gaze, her suspicions growing.

Sure enough, a moment later, Simon made an excuse about needing to get something, got up, left the tea room, and went upstairs.

Not long after Simon left, Holly also made an excuse to use the restroom and left.

Holly followed the direction Simon had gone and found Sylvia’s room.

The door was ajar. Holly’s heart raced as she secretly pressed her ear to it, listening—

She heard Simon’s voice from inside the room: "Sylvia, don’t cry. You’re pregnant, and crying all the time isn’t good for the baby."

Then came Sylvia’s choked, sobbing voice: "Brother, I think Sister-in-law hates me. What should I do?"

Outside the door, Holly’s brow furrowed at her words. ’That Sylvia! Playing the victim and bad-mouthing me behind my back!’

Holly forced herself to calm down, straining to hear what Simon would say.

She heard Simon say, "Sigh, that’s just her temper. She never cares about other people’s feelings. Just ignore her. Don’t take what she says to heart."

Outside, Holly’s breath hitched, and her eyes widened in disbelief. Simon had been so good to her recently, acting so deeply in love. To think he would talk about her like this behind her back!

Inside, Sylvia continued, "Brother, now that you have Sister-in-law, will you only care about her from now on? Will you stop caring about Sylvia?"

Simon answered firmly, "Never! In my heart, Sylvia will always be the most important. No other woman can compare to you. That Holly Rhodes isn’t even worthy of carrying your shoes."

Then, unable to control himself, he pulled Sylvia into a hug, gently wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with his long, slender fingers. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Outside, Holly froze. She stared blankly through the crack in the door, watching the two siblings embrace. She couldn’t believe it. This man was the same gentle, considerate boyfriend she had.

Held in Simon’s arms, Sylvia felt the warmth of his embrace and couldn’t help but feel a little smug. ’So what if Holly Rhodes is Simon’s girlfriend? The one Simon cares about most is still me.’

On top of that, Ethan Sutton hadn’t been coming home much lately, and Mr. and Mrs. Sutton wouldn’t let her leave the house. She didn’t even have a chance to go out and see Flynn Adler. Being held by Simon now, she felt a rare moment of comfort.

Sylvia looked at Simon coyly and asked in a small voice, "Really? I see Mom and Dad really like Sister-in-law. I feel like after she marries into the family, they won’t care about me anymore."

Looking at Sylvia’s worried gaze, Simon’s heart trembled. He immediately promised, "Sylvia, don’t worry. No matter who I or Xiao Yuan marry in the future, we will never let them surpass you in importance."

Simon thought for a moment and added, "Honestly, I don’t like Holly Rhodes at all. If it weren’t for her father, with her looks and temper, I wouldn’t even give her the time of day."

Seeing Sylvia’s coy expression, he lost control for a moment. He boldly took her hand, pressed it against his own chest, and pledged his loyalty, "You’re the only one in my heart. I’m just using Holly Rhodes. As soon as I use her father to get a firm footing in the Rhodes Corporation, I’ll kick her to the curb and avenge you!"

Outside the door, Holly couldn’t listen anymore. She felt something inside her head snap. She threw the door open and shouted, "Simon Lancaster!"

Holly’s entrance startled the two siblings, who were hugging each other tightly. Simon froze for a second, then hurriedly pushed Sylvia away.

Sylvia, who was also startled, was pushed by Simon. Losing her balance, she fell directly onto the floor.

Sylvia felt a piercing pain and couldn’t help but cry out, "AHHH! My stomach hurts!"

Blood trickled down Sylvia’s leg, staining her dress red. The bright red blood was exceptionally conspicuous on her cream-colored dress.

Simon rushed forward to help her up, staring in panic at the blood on the floor. He said, at a loss, "Sylvia! Sylvia, are you okay? I’m taking you to the hospital right now!"

With that, he paid Holly no mind, picked Sylvia up, and ran downstairs.

Holly watched their retreating backs, Simon’s words still ringing in her mind. She closed her eyes, but all she could see was the image of the two of them locked in a tight embrace.

When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with hatred. She quickly calmed herself and hurried downstairs.

Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes didn’t know what had happened upstairs; they only knew that Simon had rushed Sylvia to the hospital.

Holly walked up to them and said, "Simon’s sister just had an accidental fall. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster, we should go to the hospital to check on them, too."

Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes nodded hastily and went with Holly, following Simon to the hospital.