Ch. 1361..1370

Chapter 1361 At Least We Are Not Bankrupt

"The operations of Ceci Corporation have been temporarily suspended," the secretary reported. "However, our business partners are willing to give Cecilia another chance to resolve the issues within a week." That hardly fazed Queenie. "Within a week?"

She scoffed, "I'd be genuinely impressed if she could pull that off!"

Just as she was about to relax, her phone began ringing. To her surprise, it was a call from Cecilia.

Queenie could hardly believe it. She still has the nerve to call me?

Answering the call, she spoke curtly. "Ms. Smith, how can I help you?"

"Mdm. Queenie, I believe you understand that even business rivals shouldn't resort to underhanded tactics. Sending people to steal my confidential files and vandalize my company seems a little unethical, doesn't it?" Cecilia said, revealing what she had extracted from one of the employees.

Queenie hadn't expected her to find out so quickly.

However, she remained unusually calm. "Unethical? And who are you to talk about ethics when you, Cassina, and Bailey conspired to deceive me?"

"So, that's what this is about, huh?" Cecilia replied. She had been wondering why Queenie was suddenly targeting her. "Let me be clear. I've never colluded with them to deceive you. If anything, you should blame yourself for misjudging people."

The secretary standing nearby had caught bits of the conversation and felt a surge of unease at the rising tension between the two.

Ever since Queenie had taken charge of the Jamieson family, no one dared to challenge her.

Yet, Cecilia showed no fear in standing her ground.

A flicker of emotion crossed Queenie's composed face. "Deny it all you want. I'll make sure you reap what you've sown."

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing to you." Cecilia paused momentarily, "And while you're at it, take a closer look at Stella. Are you sure she's your biological daughter?"

After finishing his words, Cecilia hung up the phone.

Queenie had never been so

infuriated. A A Cold glint flickered in

her eyes as she commanded, "I want Ceci Corporation shut down. Notify all corporations in Tudela that partner with us. They are not

hovel.

allowed to collaborate with them."

"Understood." The secretary couldn't help but think that Cecilia had truly met her match.

Meanwhile, at the Smith residence, Cecilia tossed her phone aside. "So, it really was Queenie behind this."

"How much worse can that woman get? She's taken advantage of you so many times. Just because she's rich and powerful, does she think she can act with impunity?"

Charlotte fumed, her frustratiel

evident as she thought of the blood, sweat, and tears they had poured into their work.

"Don't get upset. Her goal is to provoke us, so why let her succeed?" Lucille said calmly, trying to ease the tension.

Cecilia nodded. "Exactly. Right now, our top priority is handling the immediate issues. Some of the projects we had planned can't proceed anymore."

The confidential files had been leaked, and rival companies were already aware of their plans. Continuing would only lead to complete failure. Cutting their losses was the only sensible choice.

Charlotte let out a heavy sigh. "If that's the case, we're looking at enormous losses, easily in the billions."

"Well, at least we're not bankrupt," Cecilia replied, her voice heavy with disappointment.

She had always dreamed of building Ceci Corporation into a formidable competitor to the Jamieson family but now, she was painfully aware that some industry giants would stop at nothing to crush smaller competitors.

"Don't worry, we still have Mr. Reese's support, right? He said he could help manage the losses. As for the collaborations, the Reeses could also step in to handle them on our behalf," Madeline assured her. Cecilia knew Calvin would help her, but she hesitated to involve him in her troubles.

Besides, Calvin couldn't make decisions for the entire Reese family on his own.

That very night, Calvin faced a stern reprimand from the Reese family elders. "Why would you invest in a company with no solid foundation? Do you think you're untouchable now?"

Chapter 1362 It Must Be Emmanuel

Calvin furrowed his brows as he listened to the elders on the phone. "Since the board has entrusted me with all the overseas operations, they should trust me unconditionally!"

"Don't think we old folks are clueless about your intentions. You're doing this for that married woman! The board has unanimously decided not to provide you with any more funding unless you come back and admit your mistake. And if you can't bear to let that woman go, we'll take care of it ourselves!" The voice on the other end delivered the ultimatum before abruptly hanging up. Calvin gripped his phone tightly.

He hadn't expected that even while he was abroad, this group of stubborn elders would still find ways to interfere.

Without hesitation, he dialed Yannick's number. "Are you aware of what those old geezers are up to?"

Yannick sighed heavily. "I knew they wouldn't let you get involved with Cecilia. I warned you before."

Calvin's tone turned sharp. "Did you rat me out?"

"Of course not!" Yannick replied, sounding affronted. "How could I betray you? Have you forgotten I took a beating for you back when Nathaniel's people came after you?"

Calvin paused, his suspicion easing, knowing that Yannick wasn't the type to stoop so low.

"Then it must be Emmanuel!" Calvin's voice hardened as the realization hit.

Emmanuel, his older brother and the official heir to the Reese family, had always seen Calvin as a threat to his position.

"Your brother has always been a schemer," Yannick warned. "You'd better watch your back."

"I know," Calvin replied coolly before hanging up.

Setting the phone down, Calvin tapped the desk rhythmically, frustration gnawing at him.

News of the Jamieson family's boycott of Ceci Corporation spread rapidly among major companies. Those who had promised Cecilia a week to resolve issues abruptly terminated their contracts.

The only remaining collaborators were Meredith and the initial partnership with the Reese family.

Helen, one of their partners, expressed her regret over the phone. "Ms. Cecilia, I'm truly sorry. My husband is too afraid of the consequences if we continue working with you." Cecilia's response was calm and understanding. "Don't worry, I understand. I won't hold it against you."

She knew the Jamieson family's power.

Crushing smaller businesses like Helen's husband's company or even larger entities was child's play for them.

Cecilia also reached out to Meredith to discuss terminating their agreement.

"Ceci, I'm not afraid of her. How long can that old hag even keep this up?" Meredith remarked defiantly.

Cecilia responded with measured resolve. "We still have our futures ahead of us. Let's use this time to rebuild and strengthen ourselves so that one day, we can stand against her." "All right." She chose not to argue further, knowing the weight Cecilia carried.

In truth, Meredith had her struggles. Recently divorced from Zeke of the Turner family, her position within the Seiler family was precarious. Without major businesses to fall back on, she couldn't afford; confront the Jamiesons head-on either.

Meanwhile, Zeke had quietly kept tabs on Meredith.

Upon learning about the trouble at her partner company, he couldn't resist making a call. "Meredith," his voice dripped with sarcasm, "I thought you'd accomplish

something once you left me But it

seems you're just as useless as

ever."

"If you're worried I might take revenge, you can apologize now," Zeke taunted. "I happen to have connections with the Jamieson family. Maybe I can convince them to spare the Seiler family while they're dealing with Ceci Corporation." After years of marriage, Meredith finally saw Zeke for who he truly was at that moment, and a wave of regret overwhelmed her. I wish I had divorced him sooner.

"Listen carefully, Zeke Turner. I will never bow down to you! Things have changed, and you'll regret underestimating me. Just you wait!" Meredith hung up, her frustration evident.

On the other end, Zeke stared at the disconnected call, his expression sour as he turned to Stella. "Ms. Jamieson, you heard it yourself. That woman is insufferably stubborn."

Stella, deep in thought, finally spoke.

"Mr. Turner, you should consider applying some pressure on your ex-wife. Women often rely on men when the weight becomes too

Ch. Once she can't handle the strain, she'll come running back to you for help."

Her words carried a subtle cruelty. Stella's true aim was to isolate Cecilia, cutting off all avenues of support.

 

Chapter 1363 Go To My Company

Upon hearing these words, Zeke found himself somewhat hesitant.

Stella teased him again. "Mr. Turner, you're not scared of Meredith, are you? Let me tell you, a woman really shouldn't be too domineering. Her overbearing nature is what led to the breakdown of your marriage." Zeke reflected on how Meredith had always seemed to only follow his lead. Yet, she now seemed like a completely different person. Thus, he made up his mind.

"I understand. I'll make sure this b*tch regrets it."

Deep down, he still wanted to reconcile with Meredith.

After all, when he was divorced from Meredith, he realized just how indispensable a lady of the house truly was.

Even his son, Conrad, would occasionally mention her name!

At Ceci Corporation, Cecilia terminated all collaborations. It was as if they had all returned to the very first step.

Madeline and his companions all seemed rather downcast.

Charlotte couldn't help but suggest, "Boss, why don't we go back to doing what we used to do and focus on composing music? At least that way, we can make a decent amount of money."

Cecilia, however, shook her head.

"Composing music alone isn't a long-term strategy."

Moreover, this would mean she could never avenge herself.

The humiliation she was suffering from now would continue.

"How about asking Mr. Reese for help?" suggested Madeline.

Cecilia understood Calvin's position in the Reese family. Instead of taking Madeline's suggestion, Cecilia said, "We should always rely on ourselves. From this point forward, let's start seeking investments again." At that moment, Eric knocked on the door from outside.

"Come in," said Cecilia.

Eric walked in. "I've already started reshooting the previous advertisement. With some extra hours and hard work, we can finish it on schedule."

"Thank you," said Cecilia gratefully.

Any other major celebrity would have definitely quit by now. After all, the advertisement had already been filmed, though the culprit had the audacity to destroy all the film negatives.

"It's nothing. I'm just taking it as a form of physical exercise."

After speaking, Eric looked at the other three disheartened individuals. "What's going on? A little obstacle and you're already defeated. From what I know, not many companies targeted by the Jamieson family have managed to hold out for over three days. Yet, here we are, still

surviving on the fourth day."

His charming and radiant appearance, coupled with his way of speaking, successfully made Charlotte and the others burst into laughter.

"Exactly! If the boss isn't upset, there's no need for us to worry so much. In the worst-case scenario, we'll just start from scratch, right?" "Yeah!"

Cecilia was greatly relieved that they were able to recover so quickly.

Everyone returned to their workstations.

Cecilia hadn't been working for long when Nathaniel came over. "Didn't I tell you to go home and rest?"

"I really don't need to rest."

Cecilia didn't want to leave. Even if she were to go back, she couldn't stop worrying about the company.

Nathaniel didn't give her a chance to refuse. He simply carried her and left the company.

The employees of the company cast disbelieving glances his way when they bumped into the two. Cecilia wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

"It's fine. I can walk by myself."

Nathaniel knew what was constantly

worrying her. Carrying her tightly, he said, "I take you to a place. Once you're there, you won't have

worry."

Cecilia asked in confusion, "Where?"

"You'll know once you get there."

nove

Nathaniel gently helped Cecilia into the car, then turned to the driver and said, "Take us to the office." "Understood!" The driver immediately started the car and headed toward Imminence Corporation.

Ine

Upon hearing that they were heading to Nathaniel's company, Cecilia couldn't help but feel curious. She asked, "Are you taking me to your company?"

"Yeah." Nathaniel nodded.

Cecilia waited patiently.

She had always known that Nathaniel had started new business. However, she was unaware of its location, size, and operations.

 

Chapter 1364 CEO Of Imminence Corporation

The car quickly arrived at the front gates of Imminence Corporation's headquarters. When the car came to a stop, disbelief filled Cecilia's eyes. "The company you mentioned is Imminence Corporation?"

Nathaniel didn't answer the question. "Why don't I carry you out of the car for you to take a look?"

"No need. I'll get out of the car myself."

The security guard had already come over to open the car door/ Cecilia, supporting her belly, carefully stepped out.

The sight of the massive building left her somewhat dazed.

Even after Nathaniel brought her to the CEO's office at the top floor of Imminence Corporation, she was still in a state of confusion.

Mason pushed the door open. "Mr. Rainsworth..."

Before he could finish his words, he seemed a bit taken aback upon seeing Cecilia.

He didn't realize that Nathaniel had brought Cecilia over. He continued to play along. "Mr. Rainsworth, the CEO of Imminence Corporation isn't here today. Should we come back another time?" Upon hearing that, Cecilia glanced at Nathaniel with an expression of 'I told you so'.

Nathaniel would've mentioned it if he's the CEO of Imminence Corporation. Turns out he's only here to discuss a collaboration.

Nathaniel shot Mason a pointed look. "Drop the act. I brought my wife here on purpose to show her the company. As the CEO's wife, she obviously needs to understand how the company is being run." Cecilia was stunned again.

Her mind was in a whirl at the moment. She wondered if her pregnancy had somehow made her dull-witted.

Initially, Mason thought he was being witty, but now he found himself hastily apologizing.

"I apologize, Mrs. Rainsworth. I misspoke earlier."

Cecilia shook her head. "Is this really Nathaniel's company?"

"Of course," responded Mason without hesitation.

Nathaniel looked at her. "Do you feel at ease now?"

Cecilia was far from being at ease. She was still reeling from the shock, managing only a slight nod. "May I look around?" Mason hurriedly said, "I'll show you around."

"Okay."

Cecilia was given a tour around the company by Mason.

The employees were very organized and efficient.

However, it seemed like they didn't know Mason.

A dangerous thought crept into Cecilia's mind. Could it be that Nathaniel is merely an employee at the company, but is claiming to own Imminence Corporation just to put her at ease?

Mason was unaware of Cecilia's suspicions. Otherwise, he would have clarified things with her earlier.

At the time, Imminence Corporation had numerous adversaries. For the safety of Nathaniel's family, as well as other considerations, the

company's lower-level en net

were kept in the dark about

Nathaniel's identity as the

nove

company's CEO. This was a secret known only to a few high-level executives.

After a while of strolling around, Cecilia began to feel a bit weary. "That's enough for now. I'm a little tired and would like to rest for a bit." "Okay. Shall I escort you back to the office?"

"Sure, thanks for the trouble."

Cecilia was taken back to the office.

Seeing her return so quickly, Nathaniel asked Mason to leave first. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing. Let's head back. I'm a bit tired and I'd like to go home and lie down." "Okay."

In reality, Cecilia didn't want to put Nathaniel in an awkward position. She was concerned that she was attracting attention by being outside. If Nathaniel was just a subordinate or business partner, it would be

quite embarrassing for others to find

out.

On the ride home, Cecilia rested her head on Nathaniel's shoulder.

"Nathaniel, the truth is, regardless of whether you own a large company or not, you're still the father of our child. You're still my... ex-husband." She was trying to tell him not to lie.

What caught Nathaniel's attention was the term 'ex-husband'.

"When are we going to get back together?"

He was filled with regret now. He questioned why he had chosen to divorce in the first place. Trying to remarry now seemed like an uphill battle.

He even considered finding someone to replace Cecilia and secretly retrieve the certificate. However, he feared that Cecilia would be upset and the whole plan would backfire.

When Cecilia heard him mention getting back together, she hesitated for a good while before saying, "Let's wait until the child is born."

 

Chapter 1365 Gossiping At Home

Finally receiving a definitive answer, Nathaniel felt relieved.

"Okay, you must keep your word."

Unaware, Cecilia found herself questioning him, "When have I ever lied to you?"

She realized that the current Nathaniel was just like a child.

Nathaniel held her even tighter. "I know that you're always true to your word."

Cecilia wriggled out of his embrace. "It's too cramped and hot."

As she pulled away from Nathaniel, he felt disappointed.

Finally, they arrived at the Smith residence and got out of the car.

Today, Zachary, Jonathan, and Vivian had all come over. Jonathan and Elliot were tucked away in a room, up to something unknown.

"Queenie, that old witch, is bullying our mom again," said Elliot, fuming with anger.

Jonathan was also seething with anger, recalling how he had almost died at the hands of Queenie.

"Elliot, are we completely helpless against her?"

Jonathan clenched his fists. "It's a shame we're too young."

Elliot sighed again.

"However, we can teach her a slight lesson. I've already found out where this woman lives. I know how to get in," said Jonathan.

"Really? That's great! Let's hurry then." Elliot was eager to see Queenie have a tough time.

Jonathan, however, shook his head. "You're not well. I can go on my own."

"No, I have to go now!" insisted Elliot stubbornly. "Elliot, every time something happens, you're always the one leading us. I'm about to have surgery soon. This time, I want to stand with you to protect Mommy." Elliot didn't want to end up as a good-for-nothing who was incapable of anything.

Seeing the determination etched on Elliot's face, Jonathan knew that any attempt to dissuade him would be futile.

"Then let's find a chance to sneak out."

"Okay."

Elliot kept nodding, his heart brimming with excitement.

Outside, Cecilia and Zachary were engrossed in conversation.

Vivian had also heard about the situation at Cecilia's company. "Why does the Jamieson family always target you? That's just not fair."

"Well, Stella is now Queenie's daughter," said Cecilia.

After hearing this, Vivian was at a

loss for words. "I don't understand. How did Stella end up being her

daughter? Was she med?"

"I'm not sure."

Things were in chaos at her company, so Cecilia had no time to look into matters concerning Stella.

At this moment, Zachary said,

"Cecilia, invest in your company.

Don't worry. If one party's going

down, it'll definitely be the Jamieson

"

family and not your company. "

He did have the funds to invest.

Cecilia had already changed her opinion about him. "It's fine, the company is currently out of major trouble. Thanks!"

Nathaniel also said, "I'm here too."

After hearing that, Zachary couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah! With Nathaniel around, the Jamieson family is nothing."

He was well aware of how powerful Imminence Corporation was.

It was rare for Vivian to be there, so she invited Cecilia and Lucille to prepare some delicious food and chat over coffee.

As Zachary was forcibly arranged by George to be with Vivian at all times, he had no choice but to stay.

"Nathaniel, I heard from Darren that Calvin's here too."

"Yeah, at Cecilia's company," responded Nathaniel.

"Why is this man so shameless?

She's almost a mother of four. Can't he find someone else? Darren also mentioned that he's been spending a lot of time with Madeline lately."

When it came to gossiping, Zachary was no different from a woman.

Nathaniel stood up and patted Zachary's shoulder. "You need to focus more on your medical studies, work harder, and stop being so free."

 

Chapter 1366 Deceived Menoveldrama

At the Jamieson residence, Queenie had already obtained the new DNA test results.

Her eyes were filled with iciness. Caliste, standing next to her, was also in disbelief. "Stella's audacity is unbelievable. She actually dared to falsify a DNA test!"

Clutching the DNA test that confirmed they were not mother and daughter, Queenie felt none of the initial shock she experienced when she first discovered Cassina's deception. With a calm expression, she said, "I've always trusted Dr. Longman. Why would he assist Stella?"

Fraser was Queenie's personal doctor, assisting with medical assessments.

A few days ago, he solemnly presented the DNA test results to Queenie and said that the results confirmed her mother-daughter relationship with Stella. However, everything had changed. Queenie was always generous with her subordinates. She didn't believe that Fraser could have been bribed by Stella.

"I'll call him right now to come over," said Caliste.

"Okay. When you call him, don't tell him what's going on. Just let him know I'm not feeling quite well," reminded Queenie, not wanting to alert the enemy. "Got it."

Caliste stepped out to make a call to Fraser.

Without anyone noticing, two children had somehow managed to slip in.

"Is this the place?" asked Elliot, his large eyes scanning the surroundings.

""Yes. Be careful."

Jonathan had already figured out how to deal with the surveillance cameras here. Within a short time, he had disabled all the cameras.

The two children quickly located where Queenie lived. From a distance, they could see her sighing heavily on the couch and looking gloomy. "Where on earth are you? Are you unwilling to come out and acknowledge me because you hate me, your mom?"

Queenie had a sense that her daughter was right by her side.

Elliot watched her, puzzled. "What is she mumbling about?"

"I don't know."

Jonathan was contemplating how to give Queenie a taste of her own medicine.

The two children simply couldn't match up to a typical adult in terms of physique, strength, or any other aspect.

"Elliot, I'll head to the study later to hack the files in her computer. I'll use her own methods against her. Just wait for me here," said Jonathan. "Okay," agreed Elliot readily.

Jonathan once again urged him to be careful before leaving.

Elliot stood alone, his mind filled

with anxiety. He thought about how Jonathan could easily hack into Queenie's computer, while he was helpless and unable to do anything.

en

He also wanted to teach this old witch a lesson, but he hadn't yet figured out how to do it.

As Elliot was deep in thought, Caliste hurriedly arrived with Fraser.

He quickly hid.

Observing Fraser's frantic

demeanor, Elliot initially thought that

Queenie had contracted a serious

illness. Once the two of them

entered the room, he stealthily

followed behind.

en

As Caliste and Fraser were both rather anxious, they didn't notice Elliot following them.

"Mdm. Queenie, are you feeling unwell?" asked Fraser hurriedly upon entering.

Queenie was seated on the couch. Upon seeing Fraser, she didn't waste any time on small talk and immediately tossed the DNA test results in front of him.

"Dr. Longman, haven't I treated you well? How could you deceive me on such a crucial matter?" asked Queenie.

Fraser took the DNA test results with a puzzled look. Upon reading it, he was completely taken aback.

"It can't be!" exclaimed Fraser in shock.

"How could this be? The results I

obtained clearly indicated a

mother-daughter relationship

and Stella are indeed mother and daughter," he continued.

Queenie's gaze was cold as she pulled out the test results from several hospitals. "Tell me. Should I trust you, or should I trust the majority of the results?"

 

Chapter 1367 Completely Confused

After examining the diagnostic results from several other hospitals, Fraser was even more baffled.

He never imagined such a mix-up could occur.

"Mdm. Queenie, there must certainly be some kind of misunderstanding here," Fraser hurriedly said.

Having spent so much time with Fraser, Queenie still held some trust in him. "Can you explain to me what the misunderstanding is?" she asked. "How could Stella easily impersonate my daughter, even passing a DNA test without any issues?"

After some thought, Fraser suddenly remembered something. He immediately relayed to Queenie the circumstances of the DNA test conducted that day.

"Mdm. Queenie," the speaker began, "on the day of the DNA test, Ms. Evans suddenly came to me, informing me that the sample was switched. I then handed it over to my medical team for testing. I can assure you, they would never dare to tamper with the results." Queenie was taken aback.

What does he mean by a switched sample?

"Are you sure?"

"I'm certain!" Fraser hesitated for a moment before adding, "Actually, Ms. Evans approached me privately. She suggested that if there were any issues with the analysis results, I should help alter the results, but I flatly refused."

Fraser had sincerity written all over his face. "I've been with you for so many years," he assured, "I will never forget the support you've given me. I will never betray you."

After hearing this, Queenie seemed deep in thought.

"Are you saying that Cassandra asked you to alter the results to show no blood relation?"

Fraser didn't nod in agreement. Instead, he stated, "Even when I was asked to alter the results, I refused. Once the results were out, she didn't bring up the alteration again. I refrained from telling you all this while, fearing it might strain your mother-daughter relationship." Upon hearing his words, Queenie pondered for a moment. Given Cassandra's personality, she indeed wouldn't have wanted Queenie to find her biological daughter.

But why did she change the sample? Could it be possible that this sample isn't Stella's? Could it be a stroke of luck, that the fake sample Cassandra provided just happened to match that of my biological daughter?

The more Queenie thought about it, the more terrified and shocked she felt.

If that was truly the case, then everything seemed a bit too coincidental.

"I hope you haven't deceived me. Go home now. You can't tell anyone about why I called for you today. Do you understand?"

Fraser nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I understand."

At that moment, hiding behind a chair, Elliot felt as if he had heard a piece of shocking news.

So it turns out that wicked woman Stella isn't the old witch's biological daughter at all. What a relief! The old witch didn't manage to find her real daughter either.

Once Fraser had left, Queenie let out a sigh, then asked her secretary, "What's your take on this matter?"

"I was equally baffled. If Fraser

wasn't lying, then the identification results were accurate, and Stella was indeed your biological daughter! However I had several hospitals conduct the same identification tests simultaneously, without letting anyone know who the subject was. Why are the results entirely different?" The secretary was also confused.

With a helpless shake of her head, Queenie said, "There's no doubt that the results from the hospitals you consulted are accurate. The issue lies with the sample that Cassandra re-submitted to Fraser."

After Queenie made her point, the secretary had an epiphany. "Could it be that Ms. Evans knew who your daughter is?"

Upon hearing these words, Queenie gazed at her in astonishment.

The secretary glanced at the time. "Mdm. Queenie, judging by the time, Stella and Ms. Evans should be returning soon. Should we ask Stella to leave?" Stella accompanied Cassandra for her treatment.

Queenie shook her head, "No, just

pretend you don't know anything. Let

her continue to be the second young

lady of the Jamieson family, and

then secretly assign someone to keep an eye on her and Cassandra!"

"Okay."

Elliot was listening from the side, although he was somewhat confused, he knew he had heard something of great significance.

I have to tell my brother and Mommy about this quickly!

 

Chapter 1368 Two Children

Just as Elliot was about to sneak away, unfortunately, a housekeeper arrived and spotted him.

"Whose child are you? Why are you here?" the housekeeper asked.

Queenie and her secretary simultaneously turned their gazes in that direction, only to see Elliot standing at the entrance, being stopped by a housekeeper. "Why does this child look so familiar?" asked Queenie.

Elliot was still contemplating making a forceful escape, but given his petite stature, how could he possibly manage to run away?

Swiftly, he was apprehended by the housekeepers, lifted up and brought before Queenie.

"Let me go, you villains, you monsters!" Elliot struggled and roared.

His struggles and screams were nothing more than a tickle to the housekeepers and Queenie.

Queenie recognized him too. "Are you Elliot?"

She remembered Jonathan and Elliot.

Elliot looked at her with a cold gaze, feigning calmness. "Yep, that's me. I advise you to let me go quickly, or I won't be so polite to you," he warned. Not so polite?

Queenie, initially in a gloomy mood, found herself unexpectedly amused. "What can a little one like you do to me?"

Elliot choked up.

"Let me go now," Elliot said, "and in eighteen years, you'll realize what I'm truly capable of."

"Given what you've just said, there's no way I could possibly let you go now!"

Queenie playfully teased him.

In his heart, Elliot felt a silent sorrow. He hadn't expected that at such a tender age, he would meet his end here.

Well, lucky that Mommy still has Jon and the baby brother or sister who's about to be born.

"Go on. Why did you come to my house?" Queenie asked again.

The idea of such a small child showing up at his own home was truly beyond belief.

Elliot turned his head away. "I just accidentally took a wrong turn. How was I supposed to know this was your place?"

It was clear that he was lying. The Jamieson residence had a security system in place. Could a child really have entered so easily? "Is your Mommy here?" asked Queenie.

After suspecting it was the work of Cecilia, a cold glint appeared in her eyes. She immediately turned to her secretary and ordered, "Go check and see if anyone else has intruded!"

"Okay!"

The secretary hastily called for the security personnel of the mansion.

The security personnel only then

realized that the surveillance system within the mansion had been

hacked. It took them quite a while to rectify the situation.

At the same time, Jonathan had also completed her task. She stepped out of the study, ready to go find Elliot.

However, he hadn't gotten far before he was detected by surveillance and apprehended by security.

Jonathan was also brought before Queenie by the security personnel. "Mdm. Queenie, we've caught a kid." Queenie couldn't help but frown as she looked at the two identical children.

"Where's the adult?"

The head of security shook his head. "Aside from them, there was no one else."

"How could this be?" Queenie looked at the two children. "How did these two kids manage to get into the Jamieson residence without an adult? What kind of security measures have you been

implementing?"

The security personnel all lined up uniformly, lowering their heads in silence, daring not to utter a word.

Elliot looked at Jonathan with excitement. "Jon, how did you end up getting caught too?"

Jonathan gave him a reassuring look. "It's okay, don't worry."

"Okay."

The security within the mansion had been mobilized, yet they still couldn't find anyone else.

Jonathan looked at Queenie. "Don't waste your effort, my brother and I merely got lost unintentionally. No one brought us here." Queenie had no choice but to give up.

At that moment, Cassandra and Stella had also returned. They found it odd that Elliot and Jonathan were there. "Mom, why are they both here?" Cassandra asked.

 

Chapter 1369 Teach Them A Lesson

Upon seeing the profound look in Cassandra and Stella's eyes, Queenie confessed, "I'm not entirely sure. They claimed to have stumbled in here after getting lost."

"Lost? Our place is at least several kilometers away from their preschool, isn't it? It's even further from the Smith residence. How could they gotten lost and ended up here?" Cassandra slowly approached the two children. "Tell me, did your mommy send you to harm us?" After hearing what was said, Jonathan spat in her face.

"Ah!" Cassandra screamed, raising her hand to strike Jonathan.

The latter had fast reflexes and a sharp-tongue. Just as Cassandra's hand was about to strike his cheek, he swiftly grabbed hold of it.

"Ah!" Cassandra cried out in pain once again. "You little rascal, let go of me now!"

She gasped in pain, yet Jonathan only applied more pressure.

From the side, Elliot said, "Apologize to my brother, and there's a chance he might let you go."

However, there was no way Cassandra apologize to a child. Instead, she was ready to strike with her other hand.

Immediately, Elliot stepped in to help.

"What are you waiting for?" Queenie said to the onlookers who were still enjoying the spectacle.

With that, the bodyguards hastily separated Jonathan and Elliot.

Cassandra's hands were dripping with blood, clearly indicating that Jonathan had gone all out.

"Lock these two brats up!"

She was determined to teach the two clueless fools a lesson.

The bodyguards were about to step forward when Queenie stopped them. "That's enough, Cassandra. They're just kids. Don't get too worked up, as you're pregnant."

Although she doted on Cassandra, she could not stand by and watch her, an adult, hit two children.

"Mom! Look at my hand," Cassandra said, feeling particularly indignant.

She glared fiercely at Jonathan and Elliot, wishing she could tear them both apart.

However, the two little ones remained defiant, glaring back with equal intensity.

Stella stepped forward. "Cassandra, let's find a doctor to bandage your wound first."

"Alright." Cassandra immediately instructed a servant to call for a phone. She added, "Ask if there's a need for a rabies vaccine."

This was essentially a deliberate insult, implying that the two children were dogs.

Meanwhile, at the Smith residence, Cecilia and the others had finished their tasks and were about to have their meal when they realized the two children were missing

The nanny also found it odd. "Eli and Jon were playing in the room all this time. I never saw them come out."

Upon hearing this, Cecilia immediately went to look in the room, but there was absolutely no one there.

At that moment, Charlotte noticed something. "Boss, it seems like Jon wrote this."

Upon receiving the note, Cecilia took a look and recognized Jonathan's handwriting: Mom, Eli and I are going out to play. We'll be back a little later. Don't worry about us, okay?

Going out to play? Why didn't they just inform me directly, instead of sneaking out and leaving a note behind?

Cecilia felt there was more to the situation than met the eye, a sense of urgency creeping in. "Quickly check the surveillance footage," she ordered. "We need to find out where they've gone."

Nathaniel also came over, instructing his bodyguards to search for the two children.

If Jonathan and Elliot were headed to the Jamieson residence, they would inevitably need a ride.

Hence, it didn't take long for Nathaniel's men to locate the two children.

Zachary and Vivian also went along, all the while filled with concern. "I hope they're really just going out to play and that nothing bad has happened." Meanwhile, at the Zheng's residence, Cassandra still yearned for revenge even after her hand was bandaged.

She approached the two children. "Kneel down now, or I will make you regret it."

The brothers turned their heads away, stubbornly refusing to apologize.

"Fine!" Cassandra ignored what Queenie had said, instructing her men, "Teach them a lesson!"

 

Chapter 1370 You Are Not Allowed To Lie

Queenie was in the midst of resting with her eyes closed when she heard a commotion. Opening her eyes, she saw her bodyguards had successfully restrained the two children. By then, Cassandra's hand had already landed on Elliot's face.

Upon impact, Elliot felt his head buzzing incessantly.

"Eli!" Jonathan was frantic, wanting to intervene, but he was no match for the bodyguard. "If you've got the guts, come at me!"

Cassandra had used all her strength to hit Elliot, her palm still tingling slightly from the impact.

When she saw Jonathan yelling back defiantly, she raised her hand to slap him next.

Suddenly, a clamor from outside.

While Cassandra was lost in her thoughts, Cecilia, Nathaniel, and the others had already barged in.

"Jon, Eli!"

Upon seeing the two youngsters restrained by the bodyguards, Cecilia, despite her heavily pregnant belly, hurried over to them.

However, the bodyguards who were holding the children didn't show any signs of releasing them.

Nathaniel's expression turned grim as his bodyguards stepped forward. In the blink of an eye, they took down the men who were restraining the children, leaving them sprawled on the ground. Cecilia swiftly went on to embrace them.

"Are you alright?"

Her eyes were filled with concern.

Elliot was still reeling from the slap, yet in order not to worry Cecilia, he endured it in silence, refraining from voicing his discomfort.

"Don't worry, Mommy," he said, sounding somewhat weak.

Jonathan also reassured his mother, "Yeah, we're fine."

Upon hearing that the two children were unharmed, Cecilia breathed a sigh of relief. She then turned her attention to Queenie and Cassandra. "Mdm. Queenie, I can't believe that you would stoop so low as to have children beaten."

Faced with Cecilia's accusation, Queenie responded with a snigger. "Ms. Smith, why don't you ask your two sons what are they doing in my home?" Upon hearing this, Cecilia turned to look at the children.

Both of them lowered their heads in unison. "Sorry, Mommy, we went out to play and got lost."

Got lost...

Cecilia was not a fool and knew very well that they were lying.

"Jon, Eli, didn't I teach you both not to lie? Have you forgotten about it?"

Upon hearing this, the two children blushed even more and lowered their heads in embarrassment.

At that moment, Cassandra stepped forward, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Cecilia, you can't even take care of the kids properly. How can you let them run around to other people's homes. And now you've even brought your men and barge into the Jamieson residence. How are you going to clean up this mess?"

Nathaniel came forward and stood in front of Cecilia and her two children.

"What do you want?"

His icy voice left Cecilia at a loss for words momentarily.

Nathaniel looked at the two c

again. "It's good that they're unharmed today. But if something had happened, your entire family would have been in trouble.

"You're quite full of yourself," Cassandra muttered, yet deep down, she harbored a certain wariness toward Nathaniel. Zachary and Vivian also came over. "Thank goodness they're alright."

"Mommy, let's head back," Elliot said, feeling increasingly unwell, afraid he might not be able to hold on much longer.

Although Cecilia was somewhat upset that the two children had sneaked out, her prevailing emotion was her concern for them. "Alright, let's go."

As she was leaving with the two children, she turned to Queenie and said, "I apologize if the kids have been a bother. I hope you can forgive them, Mdm. Queenie." Cecilia didn't say this out of fear for Queenie, but rather, she wanted to ensure her children's safety.

What she didn't know was, due to Cassandra's slap, Eli's condition had significantly worsened.

On the way home, Cecilia found herself questioning the two children, wanting to know exactly what was going on. She was curious as to why they had to sneak out and even head toward the Jamieson residence.

"This time, there are no outsiders present. You are not allowed to lie." Cecilia's expression was serious.