Ch. 1371..1380

Chapter 1371 Not Alerting The Enemy

Elliot and Jonathan exchanged glances.

Jonathan began to explain slowly, "Mom, we saw the news, we know the Jamieson family has been treating you poorly. We wanted to stand up for you." After hearing this, Cecilia couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

She knew very well that the two children were sensible and wouldn't lie without reason.

"Silly child, you're still so young, yet you're already standing up for me."

Elliot was in hurry to add, "Mom, Jon and I aren't three-year-old kids anymore. I have to tell you, I heard a huge secret today."

Cecilia couldn't help but feel puzzled. "What kind of earth-shattering secret is it?"

"Stella is not Queenie's biological daughter," Elliot stated earnestly. "Furthermore, Queenie is already aware of it."

Finding the news hard to believe, Cecilia took a while to gather her thoughts. "How do you know?" she asked.

"I was hiding behind the table when I heard it," Elliot said, before going on to recount the earlier events.

Cecilia found it somewhat mind blowing. If that was the case, why was Stella behaving as if everything was just fine at the Jamieson residence earlier?

Elliot was afraid he might have missed out on some details, so he tried his best to recall, "Right, they also mentioned something about not alerting... something." "Not alerting the enemy?" Cecilia asked.

"Right, that's it," Elliot exclaimed in excitement.

At that moment, he could no longer hold back his nosebleed, and fresh blood dripped down steadily.

Upon seeing his nosebleed, Cecilia panicked. "Eli..."

"Quick, driver, head for the hospital right away!"

She immediately instructed the driver to change course.

Only then did Jonathan remember that Cassandra didn't hold back when hitting Elliot earlier.

""Eli..."

Elliot was in unbearable pain. He looked at Cecilia, then turned his gaze toward the anxious Nathaniel, "Mom, Dad, please take care of yourselves..." "What are you blabbering about?" Cecilia's eyes were rimmed with red.

Nathaniel was surprisingly calm. As

f

the hospital came into view, he scooped up Elliot in his arms. Turning to Cecilia, he reassured, "Don't worry, I'll take Eli inside. You and Jon can follow at your own pace."

After speaking, he turned to Jonathan with a worried expression. "Take good care of mom."

"Sure." Jonathan nodded seriously.

The car came to a halt. Nathaniel, cradling Elliot in his arms, flung open the car door and rushed off into the hospital.

Cecilia was starting to feel weak in her legs, but Jonathan supported her. "Mom, don't worry," he reassured her. "Eli will be fine." Cecilia didn't want to panic, yet she was terribly anxious, deeply fearful that something might happen to her son. "Right. I know."

In front of Jonathan, Cecilia could only put on a brave face.

Fortunately, Zachary and Vivian's car were following from behind.

When Cecilia stumbled while getting out of the car, Vivian swiftly caught her. "Cecilia, what happened?" she asked anxiously.

"Eli is having a relapse," Cecilia responded.

"How did this happen?" Vivian also began to panic.

He was fine during the day, so how did he suddenly...

Jonathan came to a quick realization. "It must be because of that wicked woman, Cassandra!"

"What do you mean?" Vivian asked.

"Before you guys arrived, she slapped Eli." With a face full of guilt, Jonathan confessed, "It was all my fault. I failed to protect him.

belongs to en.

Upon hearing this, Cecilia was undeniably shocked.

I can't believe Cassandra could bring herself to harm a child when she herself is pregnant!

This wasn't the time to hold Cassandra accountable, so she comforted Jonathan, "Jon, this isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself."

Jonathan and Elliot were of the

and Ellic

same age, the only difference being

one was born a few moments

earlier. They were both just children, so it would have be impossible for Jonathan to protect his brother.

 

Chapter 1372 She Is Despicable For Using The Childrennoveldrama

Despite his mother's words, Jonathan was still filled with self-reproach, for he had failed to protect his younger brother.

The group could only wait outside the operating room, deeply worried that something might happen to Elliot.

At this moment, the Jamieson residence was in an uproar.

Queenie quickly realized that her study had been tampered with; all her files had vanished into thin air.

"What happened?"

The secretary gazed at the office that was in complete disarray, her face etched with confusion. "How did this happen? Could it have been those two kids?"

In her heart, Queenie was certain of it.

She went to check the computer first since it contained many important files and documents.

Thankfully, the laptop seems to be undamaged. Those two was just children after all, only knowing how to wreck havoc on documents and have no idea on how to ruin a computer. When Queenie was feeling relieved, she turned on her computer.

The system was usually quick to start up, but this time, the display took an unusually long time to appear.

The image on the screen was far from ordinary. Soon, an edited, black and white photo of Queenie appeared on the display.

The message scrawled on it read: Drop dead!

Queenie's brow instantly furrowed.

The secretary also caught sight of the black and white photo and couldn't help but express her annoyance. "That darn brat!"

"That kid looked to be around four or five years old. There's no way he is capable of doing this, right?" As Queenie spoke, she check through her files.

While doing so, she discovered that all the files and documents on her computer had turned into black and white photos of herself.

Upon witnessing the situation, Queenie was struck by a dizzy spell.

"Quick, get me an IT specialist."

"Right away."

With that, the secretary hastily left.

Cassandra and Stella were outside. Upon hearing the commotion within, they couldn't help but to enter. "Mom, what happened?"

"The computer has been hacked. All of the company's confidential files are gone," Queenie lamented.

"How could this happen?" Stella stepped forward. "Mom, do you want me to take a look? I learned some IT stuff back in college." While speaking, Stella reached out for the computer.

Queenie, however, promptly slapped her hand aside. "Forget it."

Stella's hand stiffened mid-air, still throbbing from the slight pain. She couldn't help but feel surprised, unable to comprehend why Queenie had treated her with such hostility.

Regaining her composure, Queenie felt compelled to explain, "Why don't you all get some rest? I'm feeling a bit unwell, and my mood isn't great. After all, so many confidential documents have just vanished into thin air."

"Was it those two little rascals who did it?" Cassandra asked.

Queenie shook her head. "I don't

think so. All my files are password protected to prevent unauthorized access and theft... They're just kids and couldn't

possibly have deleted themel

swnovel

"This might have been orchestrated by Cecilia. She sent her two kids over just to throw us off," Stella chimed in.

Queenie observed their back-and-forth conversation, noting their lack of intention to leave. Left with no other choice, she had to make her stance explicit. "Both of you, return to your rooms. I need some peace and quiet."

"Alright then," Cassandra said, with an air of nonchalance.

"Don't let yourself get all worked up, Mom," Stella gently advised.

Despite hearing the ingratiating words, Queenie felt no comfort. Instead, she saw Stella as deeply manipulative. "Mmm-hmm," she responded.

Only then did the two of them depart.

As soon as they left, the secretary, following Queenie's instructions, had someone tail them.

Before this, the secretary had discreetly placed a listening device in Stella's room.

"Mdm. Queenie, everything is all set. I'm sure Stella will surely reveal something when she thinks we aren't looking," said the secretary.

"Right."

Queenie gave a nod, her hand resting on her forehead as she pondered.

Who could have possibly hacked into my computer? Could it really have been Cecilia? I can't believe how despicable she is, using those two children to her advantage!

Chapter 1373 Someone Else Takes The Fallnoveldrama

Queenie looked at the harsh words cursing her on the computer screen, unable to hold back her astonishment.

Indeed, not all parents in this world love their children. If i were to find my daughter, I would undoubtedly treat her well, ensuring that she would never experience any hardship.

Meanwhile, Stella and Cassandra returned to their rooms together.

Cassandra stared at her bandaged hand, a cold glint in her eyes. "That brat, how dare he bite me!" she fumed.

"Ms. Evans, please don't be upset," Stella advised. "I don't think they'll be able to act with impunity for long."

Cassandra nodded. "If you could eliminate Cecilia and those two troublesome kids, I would certainly reward you handsomely."

"I would've done it anyway without you telling me. I hate Cecilia even more than you do!" Stella asserted through her gritted teeth. After she finished speaking, she seemed a bit bothered by what had happened in the study earlier. "Anyway, why do I get the feeling that Queenie seems to dislike me?" "How could that be? From her perspective, you're her own daughter, even closer to her than I am. She's just in a bad mood. Don't overthink it," Cassandra explained.

Stella felt a twinge of worry in her heart, voicing out, "I hope that's all there is to it."

The conversation between the two was clearly heard by Queenie.

At this point, nothing surprised her anymore, for her adopted daughter was conspiring with outsiders to deceive her.

"Why is Cassandra doing this?" Queenie seemed to be asking her secretary, but at the same time, was also questioning herself.

The secretary was equally puzzled. "Given Ms. Evans disposition, it would be best if you hadn't found your biological daughter. Why would she bring someone in to impersonate the latter? What if that person ends up usurping her position in the Jamieson family?" Unbeknownst to herself, Queenie was wearing a bitter smile.

"I know what's going on. She just wants someone easy to control, to prevent me from continuing my search for my biological daughter. With this, and having secured leverage over Stella, there's no way her position in the Jamieson family will ever be threatened." After saying all that, Queenie slowly closed her eyes, feeling an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Ever since I adopted Cassandra, I don't think I have ever mistreated her. I had even painstakingly raised her, so why did she end up this way?

Queenie felt a pang of sadness, uncertain if she should continue to shower Cassandra with affection.

Just as she was unable to fall asleep, the bodyguard outside hurried over.

"Boss, the person following Cecilia has reported that something has happened to her youngest son. He's currently in the hospital receiving emergency treatment." Queenie suddenly perked up. "How did that happen?"

"The child was already frail to begin with," the bodyguard responded. "Ms. Evan's slap caused his illness to relapse."

After hearing this, Queenie's emotions became particularly complex.

"He was, after all, a member of the Rainsworth family. If anything were to happen to him, Elena and the rest of the Rainsworth family would undoubtedly hold Cassandra

responsible." en

She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Find someone to take the blame, and hand him over to Elena and the Rainsworth family for punishment."

In the end, she still chose to protect Cassandra. Nevertheless, she had already made too many enemies and didn't want to offend the Rainsworth family over a child. "Understood."

Inside the hospital, Cecilia and Nathaniel had been waiting in the corridor for a long time, but the surgery still hadn't ended.

Her heart was filled with nothing but anxiety.

At that moment, someone escorted in the security guard who had previously held Elliot down.

"Mr. Rainsworth, we heard about the incident involving your young son," the visitor said. "Our boss instructed us to bring over the person responsible. She hopes that this won't cause any discord between our families and that we can

continue to maintain good relations."

The security personnel who was brought over immediately fell to his knees, apologizing, "I'm sorry, Mr. Rainsworth. It was my reckless behavior that inadvertently caused harm to your son."

 

Chapter 1374 The Revenge Of Jonathan

It was clearly Cassandra who had struck Elliot, yet Queenie had bribed one of her underlings to take the fall.

Nathaniel slowly clenched his fists, his gaze icy cold as he barked, "Get out!"

Upon hearing this, the security personnel hastily retreated.

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving."

Once he left, peace returned to the scene.

Zachary couldn't help but grumble, "Who does the Jamieson family think they are, to act with such impunity?"

Vivian was also filled with righteous indignation. "It's a pity that Cassandra ended up marrying into Rainsworth family."

The implication of Vivan's words was that a domestic conflict had arisen between the two sisters-in-law.

"What on earth was Nicholas thinking? He's actually into a woman who hit children?" Zachary spat out.

However, saying all that now was pointless.

Finally, the doors to the operating room were opened.

The doctor emerged, his face etched with worry.

Cecilia hurriedly stood up and walked over. "Doctor, how is my son doing?"

"We have pulled him back from the brink, but the white blood cells are spreading too rapidly within his body," the doctor said. "If possible, we should operate as soon as possible." Cecilia, hand resting on her belly, asked, "Can we do it next month?"

"We can't make any guarantees, but we should have him admitted to the hospital. That way, if any issues arise, we can take immediate action."

"Alright, alright," Cecilia agreed at once.

After arranging for Elliot's hospital admission, Cecilia and her companions went to his room to see him.

Elliot was still quite weak, barely managing to open his weary eyes. "Mommy, sc*mbag daddy, Jon... Mr. Zachary, Ms. Kennedy... Don't... Don't worry... I'm okay now."

He was filled with self-loathing. Why am I so useless? Why has my attempt to avenge Mommy ended up causing her more trouble?

"Alright, Sweetie, you need to rest. Once you've recovered, everything will be fine," Cecilia said gently, holding back her tears. "Okay," Elliot readily agreed, forcing a smile onto his face.

He grasped Cecilia's hand once more. "Mommy, you haven't forgotten what I told you, have you?"

Cecilia knew he was referring to the situation with Queenie.

She nodded repeatedly. "Of course I haven't forgotten. You're amazing to have discovered all of it."

Upon hearing Cecilia's praise, Elliot was particularly elated. He wanted to say something, but his head was spinning.

Cecilia insisted that he should sleep first and not talk anymore.

Upon hearing the words, Elliot closed his eyes to rest.

With that, Cecilia and the others left the ward.

"Zachary, Vivian, you both must be tired. You should head back first."

It was already the wee hours of the morning.

Vivian, however, was still worried. "We're not tired, Ceci. Why don't I stay and keep you company?" "That's not necessary. You should go back and rest."

After speaking, Cecilia lowered her head and addressed Jonathan, "don, why don't you go back and rest with Zachary and Vivian? Don't worry, both your daddy and I will be here."

Jonathan knew that his presence would only cause more trouble for Cecilia and Nathaniel. Thus, he nodded heavily. "Alright."

After speaking, he turned his gaze to Zachary and Vivian. "Uncle Zachary, Ms. Kennedy, let's head back for now Once Eli is better, we'll come to visit him again."

Seeing the child speak in such a manner, Vivian found herself at a loss for words. Together with Zachary, they led Jonathan back to the car.

Jonathan was indeed exhausted, but

he dared not sleep. His mind was filled with thoughts of his younger brother, fearing that something

serious might happen to the datter.

Had he known earlier, he wouldn't have taken Elliot out with him.

However, there was one thing he hadn't forgotten.

Once Jonathan returned, he revealed all the trade secrets and various files on Queenie's personal computer to the public.

"Let's see how you dare bully against again!"

Jonathan hit the send button, distributing these documents to major platforms and to the rival companies of the Jamieson family.

 

Chapter 1375 The Resolve Of Queenie

The following day, at the crack of dawn, the internet was in an uproar.

The leak of the Jamieson family's confidential business information had spread across all major platforms.

Earlier, Queenie had explicitly instructed her secretary not to leak any information. However, to her surprise, everyone was aware of the matter the next day. "What on earth is going on?"

The secretary was equally clueless, shaking her head in fear. "I had someone monitor the internet since last night, and besides us, no one else knows about this matter..." "It must be Cecilia!"

Queenie blamed everything on Cecilia.

She slammed her fist down on the table, hard. "I felt somewhat guilty last night that her son was hospitalized. But now, it seems she got what she deserved!"

"Indeed, Cecilia is utterly reprehensible," the secretary chimed in. "First, she deliberately seduced Cassandra's husband, and now, she even dares to attack Jamieson Group!" Queenie had truly reached the end of her patience.

At that moment, Stella and Cassandra had also arrived. Hearing the commotion in the distance, they immediately stepped forward to add fuel to the fire.

"Mom, was it Cecilia who leaked the information on the internet?" Stella asked.

"Who else could it be, if not her?" said Queenie.

Stella feigned anger. "I really didn't expect that after all these years, Cecilia hasn't changed a bit."

Curiosity piqued, Queenie looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

"Cecilia is extremely manipulative. Back when I was dating Nathaniel, she would occasionally use her status as the Smith family's daughter to keep us apart. Later on, she even forced Nathaniel to marry her! Although I accepted financial support from the Smith family, the truth is, I was driven out of the country by Cecilia and her father. When I returned, I had hoped that Cecilia would have turned over a new leaf. However, contrary to my expectations, she had only become more wicked. Since Nathaniel didn't reciprocate her feelings, she targeted me with various allegations, even throwing baseless accusations at me. Despite all this, I chose not to retaliate. But now, I'm surprised that she has started targeting both you and Cassandra."

Stella spoke with such sincerity, it didn't seem like she was lying at all.

Had it not been for Queenie's prior investigation revealing Stella's true colors, she might have believed the latter.

Upon witnessing the situation, Cassandra also chimed in, "Mom, just a few days ago, Cecilia was exchanging glances with Nicholas."

Queenie didn't pay much mind to what Stella said, but she still cared deeply for Cassandra.

"That's just outrageous. Mom, I have never been made to suffer this way before. Can you not be soft-hearted this time" Cassandra saw an opportunity and pleaded like a child, all while crouching in front of Queenie.

Queenie gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. This time, I'll stand up for you. It's just that..."

Given the events that had transpired earlier, Cecilia was constantly surrounded by bodyguards, making it nearly impossible for her to make a move. Stella saw her dilemma and immediately said, "Mom, I have a solution. Isn't it true that a woman is at her most vulnerable during childbirth?" During childbirth?

A scene flashed through Queenie's mind.

Indeed, a woman is at her most vulnerable at childbirth.

Back then, it was the same for me. If it weren't for my extreme frailty, my daughter wouldn't have been taken away.

Queenie didn't want to resort to such a despicable approach.

However, Cassandra held her tight, her eyes brimming with tears. "Mom, if we let her off the hook this time, she'll undoubtedly come after me when I'm giving birth next time."

This statement instantaneously solidified Queenie's resolve.

IMS

In the first part of her life, she was far too kind, which led to her close shave with death and her child to go missing.

If I continue to be so

compassionate, it would be my own

daughter and grandchildren who

would get hurt in the future. I absolutely won't allow such a thing to happen!

Chapter 1376 The Jealous Eric

"Understood, I'll have it arranged," Queenie said decisively.

Cassandra and Stella shared a glance, finally feeling at ease.

With Queenie's involvement, Cecilia was surely doomed.

Queenie merely intended to teach Cecilia a lesson, to deter her from targeting the Jamieson family and Cassandra again. She had never imagined that her own daughter would go as far as to threaten the lives of another mother and child. Meanwhile, Jonathan looked at the fruits of his labor online with satisfaction. Although the impact on the Jamieson family and Ceci Corporation were different, it was enough to deal the Jamieson family a significant setback.

Queenie had someone investigate who was responsible for this deed, only to find out that the other party was using a foreign virtual address. With no other options, she had to let the matter slide.

Inside the hospital, Cecilia, who was accompanying Eli, didn't check the news.

It was Charlotte who had informed her over the phone.

She wasn't particularly concerned about the affairs of the Jamieson family at the moment. Her mind was solely preoccupied with Eli's illness.

After watching Elliot fall asleep, she couldn't help but ask Nathaniel, "Can we induce labor early?"

Cecilia was worried that Elliot might not be able to hold on until the birth of her twins.

"Doing so is risky. It's not an option unless absolutely necessary." Nathaniel was still fairly rational.

He wasn't indifferent to Eli, but he understood that the more anxious one became about certain matters, the higher the likelihood of things going awry. After hearing that, Cecilia lowered her gaze. "So, what should we do?"

"Everything will be alright."

Nathaniel reached out and held her in his arms.

Cecilia leaned against his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him.

The two were locked in an embrace, the door not fully closed. Outside, Eric, who had come over with Charlotte to see Eli, happened to witness this scene. His body stiffened as a result.

Noticing his reaction, Charlotte hurriedly pulled him outside.

However, upon hearing some noise, Cecilia pulled herself away from Nathaniel's embrace, turning toward the doorway. "It's a surprise to see you here."

Charlotte felt a bit awkward.

Regaining her composure, she lifted the fruit and flower basket she was holding. "Eric heard about Eli's

illness and asked me to come with him."

After hearing this, Cecilia stood up. "Thank you."

Eric gazed at her deeply. "It's nothing."

Nathaniel also rose to his feet, standing next to Cecilia. As if to mark his territory, he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Observing the actions of the couple, Eric felt a certain unease. He didn't stay long and promptly left.

Not wanting to disturb Cecilia and her family, Charlotte exchanged pleasantries before leaving with Eric.

Once they were outside the hospital, she couldn't help but ask, "Why did we leave so soon? Couldn't we have stayed a bit longer?"

Eric's pace slowed considerably. He didn't respond to her question. Instead, he countered with a question of his own.

"From what I saw just now, it seems Ms. Smith and her ex-husband are on good terms?"

Charlotte didn't overthink it. "Yeah, they do have a children together after all Besides, I think Mr. Rainsworth treats our boss quite well. They look like a match made in heaven, don't they?"

Upon hearing these words, a sense of unease subtly stirred within Eric.

"I guess so."

"Why do you seem unhappy?”

Gotte couldn't help but gossip,

1217

"When do you plan on finding a girlfriend and settling down? You're not into men, are you?"

Eric gave her a look. "What are you talking about? My career comes first."

However, Charlotte didn't believe his claim that his career was of utmost importance.

Inside the hospital, when Elliot woke up, his first thought was about getting discharged to return to school.

Cecilia was overwhelmed with concern. "The doctor mentioned you still need to recuperate in the hospital before you can go back home." "Mommy, am I going to die?"

"Don't be silly."

Despite the words of comfort offered, Cecilia was feeling particularly distressed.

Nathaniel had gone out, when at that moment, there was a knock on the hospital room door.

Cecilia rose to answer the door, only to find Elena anxiously standing at the entrance. "How's Eli?" the latter asked.

Chapter 1377 The Crafty Elliot

Early in the morning, Elena had gone to the Smith residence to visit Elliot, only to find out that the latter's illness had relapsed and he had been hospitalized.

In front of Elliot, it was difficult for Cecilia to reveal his medical condition.

"It's nothing serious," she said. "The doctor advised him to rest more. He'll recover soon."

"That's a relief." Elena let out a sigh, quickly rushing to Elliot's side. "Sweetie, why has your illness flared up again? Haven't you been taking your medication on time?" Upon seeing Elena arrive, Elliot knew he had to make use of the opportunity.

First, he sent Cecilia out to buy him some tasty treats. Then, he immediately put on a pitiful act in front of Elena. "Grandma, I've always been good, it's just that..." He paused, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Someone... someone was bullying me."

"What?" Elena's temper flared instantly. "Who bullied you? Tell me,, and I will avenge you!"

Elena had never anticipated that someone would dare to bully her grandson.

Elliot sniffed, "It was Aunt Cassandra."

Cassandra?

At first, Elena couldn't recall who it was. After a moment, she asked, "Are you referring to Cassandra, your uncle's wife?"

"Right." Elliot nodded repeatedly, then added tearfully, "It was she who hit me, and she even wanted to hit Jon."

After hearing this, disbelief filled Elena's eyes. "How could she resort to hitting a child?"

"She even threatened to kill me and my brother," Elliot emphasized. "She declared that only her son could carry on the Rainsworth family's lineage, and not either of us." This statement truly blew Elena's mind.

She was certain a child wouldn't tell such a lie and also that Cecilia would never teach these things to her children.

"She's so ruthless, even children are not spared!"

She took a deep breath. "Elliot, don't cry. I will definitely seek justice for you."

Elena also found herself in a bit of a dilemma. After all, Cassandra was carrying Nicholas' child-her very own grandchild.

Even then, Cassandra can't possibly

be allowed to eliminate Eli and Jon

in her quest for power. Such aeg

malicious woman has to go? belongs to

After Cecilia returned, Elena stood up, ready to leave.

"Ceci, I have some things to handle at home, so I'll head back first," she said.

Cecilia didn't understand why she was leaving in such a hurry but escorted her to the door still.

Before Elena left, she couldn't help but ask Cecilia, "Is the relapse of Elliot's condition related to Cassandra?" Cecilia nodded. "Yes."

That was all Elena needed to know, and she quickly walked out.

Once she was outside and settled in the car, she immediately called Cassandra.

"Where are you now?"

Cassandra was still unaware of what had transpired. "What's wrong, Mom? I'm at the Jamieson residence."

Elena was irate. "Do you really think you are qualified to lay a finger on Elliot?"

Upon hearing these words, Cassandra was left stunned.

"Let me make this clear,” Elena thundered, "Eli and Jon are my grandsons Don't think that just because you're carrying Nicholas's child, you can harm them! Do you think that I dare not kill you?"

She was worried about her own grandson's wellbeing and not about Cassandra.

Once the child was born, she had plenty of ways to deal with the latter.

Cassandra's expression fluctuated anger and panic. "Mom, there must be some misunderstanding here," she said.

"Misunderstanding? Would a child

falsely accuse you without reason? I know what you're after. Let me tell you, from now on, the future of the Rainsworth family will depend on which child proves themselves the most and not your petty schemes!"

This time, Elena was genuinely upset.

 

Chapter 1378 News Of Cassina

Cassandra's typically assertive demeanor was noticeably tamed. "Understood, Mom," she responded.

Elena still felt it wasn't enough. "I'm heading to the Jamieson residence right now. Come out and meet me!"

"Okay."

Deep down, Cassandra still harbored some apprehension toward her mother-in-law.

Subsequently, Elena made a call to Queenie.

Queenie pretended it was just a misunderstanding, informing Elena that it was merely an unfortunate accident caused by her subordinates that had resulted in Elliot's injury.

Elena was having none of it. "Mdm. Queenie, neither of us are fools, so let's cut the cr*p. You better keep Cassandra in line, or someone else will do it for you!"

After she finished speaking, she ended the call.

After venting her anger, Elena still felt uneasy. The two obedient and intelligent grandsons she had painstakingly raised could be lost because of Cassandra. If that were to happen, she would have no choice but to end the latter's life. Upon Elena's arrival at Sinclair Manor, Cassandra came out to receive her.

Elena stepped out of the car and walked toward the latter.

"Mom," Cassandra greeted, a touch of unease in her voice.

However, she was certain that Elena wouldn't dare harm her due to the fact that she was pregnant.

"How many months along are you?" Elena asked.

Cassandra paused for a moment, then responded with a smile, "It's probably been over five months now."

"It's only been five months, and she thinks she has already won," Elena muttered to herself. Subsequently, she raised her hand and slapped Cassandra across the face.

The impact carried all the strength Elena could muster.

Cassandra's face turned beet red in an instant, clutching her cheek in pain. "Mom, how could you slap me? I'm pregnant, you know."

"I'm surprised that you still remember that you're pregnant. You are on the verge of motherhood, yet how could you be so harsh to Eli? You are going to be a mother someday too!" Elena reprimanded.

Upon hearing this, Cassandra didn't feel she was at fault. She lifted her hand, which had been bitten by the children the day before. "Mom, look, it was Jon and Eli who bit me first!"

"You're still making excuses! Eli

already told me that it was you who

started the fight, and they merely retaliated," Elena retorted. "He also said that if I don't believe him, I can check!"

Cassandra immediately fell silent.

It was true that she was the one who started it.

"In the future, if such a situation arises again, don't blame me for being heartless."

With that, Elena got into the car.

Cassandra covered her cheek, seething with anger.

"How dare that brat tattle!"

At that moment, Stella approached. "Ms. Evans, are you alright?"

"My face is all red from the slap, how can I possibly be okay?" Cassandra retorted vehemently.

Stella couldn't help but take a step back, cautiously saying, "Elena is clearly showing favoritism. You're a daughter-in-law of the Rainsworth family, just like Cecilia, and the child you're carrying is her grandchild too. How could she hit you just for the sake of Elliot?"

"Once the old witch grows old and my child is born, I'll definitely show her!" Cassandra clenched her fists.

"Should I inform Mr. Nicholas about this matter?" Stella asked.

Cassandra hesitated, as she knew that Nicholas still held feelings for the despicable Cecilia. Thus, she was uncertain if Nicholas would help her. "Let's just forget it."

Despite her remark, she just couldn't take it lying down.

Meanwhile, Cecilia stayed by Elliot's side day and night, only allowing herself to rest once she was sure Elliot's condition had stabilized. After she had rested well, she began to ponder over what Elliot had told her.

Queenie has already discovered that Stella is not her biological daughter, so why didn't she send her away? Why did she choose to let Stella stay? Can there be another reason behind this?

At that moment, Sven's phone call came through.

"We've found out where Cassina is being held."

Previously, Cecilia had many questions that he wanted to ask Cassina, so she had Sven investigate the latter's location.

 

Chapter 1379 Psychiatric Hospital

"Where is she now?" Cecilia asked urgently.

"She's at a private psychiatric hospital about ten kilometers from here," Sven replied.

A psychiatric hospital?

Cecilia realized this must be Queenie's way of retaliating against Cassina. "Is there any way to see her?"

"I've already bribed someone inside. If you want to meet her, you could disguise yourself as a nurse or a doctor," Sven suggested. "Okay, I'll go tonight," Cecilia decided.

"Mm."

Seeing Elliot injured earlier, Cecilia felt an even stronger determination to become more powerful. She couldn't afford to waste any time.

That evening, after making sure Elliot was asleep, she prepared to leave.

However, just a few steps out, Nathaniel blocked her path. "Where are you going?"

Cecilia hesitated. "I... I'm just going out for a walk."

"I'll go with you."

"There's no need." Cecilia knew he had been exhausted these past few days and hadn't rested well. "You should sleep. I'll be back soon." Nathaniel firmly grabbed her wrist. "Where exactly are you going?"

Seeing his persistence, Cecilia had no choice but to explain.

"Sven found out where Cassina is now. There are still many things about what happened back then that I don't understand. I want to ask her about them."

Ever since Cassina's mother had passed away, Cecilia would sometimes dream about her, as if she had something to say to her.

Nathaniel had thought it was something more serious, given her secrecy.

"I'll go with you."

"No, stay at the hospital and rest. Plus, keep an eye on Eli for me. Sven will go with me. Knowing you're here with Eli makes me feel at ease." Cecilia held his hand and looked at him pleadingly.

Nathaniel sighed in resignation. He

raised his hand to stroke her hai "Okay, but promise me you'll stay safe No matter what happens, let me know right away, okay?"

Cecilia smiled warmly.

"Understood."

This tender scene between the two was observed from a distance by someone whose heart was filled with jealousy.

Sitting in her car, Stella had never seen Nathaniel be so gentle with anyone before. That look in his eyes was something he had never shown her.

Once Cecilia left, Stella stepped out of her car and approached Nathaniel quickly.

"Nathaniel..."

Nathaniel stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her coldly. "What do you want?"

"I heard about Eli's accident and came to check on him," Stella said softly, her eyes filled with affection.

Nathaniel's expression turned even

colder. "Stella, have you not figured out your place yet? My son doesn't need you checking on him! And if you want to stay in Tudela, you'd better behave yourself!"

Stella felt a lump in her throat.

Unwilling to give up, she stepped closer to him.

"After all these years, do you really have no feelings for me?"

Nathaniel looked at her, his gaze devoid of emotion. "If it weren't for your lie about saving my mother, we wouldn't even know each other. Did you seriously think I liked you?"

His words were sharp and unkind, like invisible needles piercing Stella's heart.

Her eyes turned red as tears welled up. "I liked you so much, but you..."

Her hands clenched into fists by her sides.

"Fine! If that's the case, I have nothing to miss about you either. After all, I'm now the Jamieson family's heiress. I can have any man I want!" With that, she spun around and left resolutely.

Back in her car, Stella couldn't help but feel distressed.

She might have been frivolous, but her feelings for Nathaniel had been real.

Chapter 1380 Lost Everything

Stella stared at the scenery speeding past the window. "If you don't like me, I'll destroy you. If I can't have you, then Cecilia won't get you either."

Her fists clenched tightly, her nails digging so deeply into her palms that they drew blood.

Meanwhile, Cecilia sat in Sven's car as they made their way to the psychiatric hospital.

Inside the hospital, Cassina sat in a daze. She had lost everything. Her mother, Bailey, had passed away, her son's whereabouts were unknown, and her husband had disappeared. She regretted everything deeply. Why had she ever been greedy?

If she hadn't coveted wealth, her family wouldn't have ended up like this even though they were poor.

Cassina was certain that Cassandra, being the vicious person she was, would never let her go. Once she died, it would likely mean the end for her son and husband as well.

Unwilling to accept this fate, Cassina had tried to escape several times, only to be caught and brought back.

As she leaned against the wall, lost in thought, the door to her room creaked open. Instinctively, she curled up in the corner, terrified that someone had come to give her another injection or force more medication on her. But instead, the nurse who entered quickly closed the door behind her.

It took Cassina a moment to recognize the figure. "Ms. Smith?"

Cecilia nodded in acknowledgment.

She glanced around the room. It was a dilapidated space, barely big enough to hold a single, narrow bed. There wasn't even a table or chair.

Once Cassina was certain of Cecilia's identity, she grabbed her arm as if clutching a lifeline. "Ms. Smith, I know I was wrong. Please help me! Help me find Dylan! I don't know where he is or how he's doing." Cecilia didn't respond immediately to her plea. Instead, she said, "I came here because I have questions for you."

Hearing this, Cassina made her up mind.

"Ms. Smith, you don't have to ask. I'll tell you everything I know."

As expected, Cassina had been hiding something significant from her.

Cecilia sat down on the edge of the bed, ready to listen.

"My mother used to take care of your nanny, right? Your nanny told her about the orphanage where you were adopted. She asked my mother to contact the director and see if there was any information about your biological parents. Not long after, the director came back with news, and Queenie found her way to our house! She thought I was the baby girl adopted from the orphanage!"

After Cassina gave a brief explanation, Cecilia's mind felt like it was exploding. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Are you saying that Queenie is my biological mother?"

Cassina nodded emphatically.

"Unless there's been a mistake, she's

your real mother. While I was staying at the Jamieson residence, I overheard her say that you were taken by one of her rivals right after you were born. They took you while she was weak from childbirth. She's been searching for you all these years. The orphanage also confirmed that only two babies were brought in that day-a boy and a girl. You are definitely Queenie's daughter!"

Cecilia still couldn't believe it.

"How can you be so sure?" she asked.

"Because Cassandra is terrified of you and Queenie reuniting. I think Cassandra must have secretly run a DNA test on you two."

The weight of this revelation left Cecilia in stunned silence.

Cassina knelt before her. "Ms. Smith,

my mother and I were wrong. We thought that by pretending to be Queenie's daughter, we'd become the Jamieson family's heiress and could save Dylan. That's why we took your place. I regret it so much. If Lcould go back, I'd never have done it. Please, I'm begging you, help me save my son! If you agree, I'll do whatever it takes to repay you, even if it means being your servant for the rest of my life."