Mary looked at the medicine in her hands. The pills exuded a pungent bitterness, but that bitterness couldn’t compare to the chill in her heart at this moment.

She lowered her head again and looked at her flat abdomen.

Not even three months had passed, so her belly had always remained inconspicuous.

Yet in these three months, she had gradually become accustomed to its presence, instinctively protecting her belly when someone approached.

She had even dreamed several times of meeting this adorable child.

She dreamed that it might be half like Ellis, half like herself…

Now, she still couldn’t protect the baby…

Mary’s eyes gradually became teary, and she felt a pervasive sense of utter despair and melancholy.

She looked at Ellis once more.

She didn’t know whether she should blame him… or how much to blame him.

After all, during those past few years, she indeed lived in a daze, dragged out by her uncle to drink and to socialize. In the eyes of others, she had long been labeled a notorious girl involved in compensated dating…

Mary lowered her head and let out a bitter laugh.

Suddenly, she said, “Ellis, don’t do the DNA test.”

Ellis was startled.

She looked down, not speaking, just quietly staring ahead.

Her refusal to request a DNA test seemed to confirm even more that the child wasn’t his.

But for some reason, he felt a panic deep within.

Mary’s tears fell into her palm. She said softly, “Don’t do it. I’ll set you free.”

With the child gone, going through with the DNA test would be the ultimate cruelty to Ellis, wouldn’t it?

She had been angry just a moment ago, wanting to let him know the truth in a fit of rage.

But just now, she had decided to let it go.

She forced a smile and was about the take the pills.

But in the next moment, her wrist was grasped.

Mary was taken aback and looked up, only to see Ellis staring at her, his eyes filled with confusion.

He didn’t even understand what he was doing…

Nor did he understand why he suddenly stopped her…

Once he came to his senses, Ellis let go of her hand and took a step back.

Mary didn’t speak but picked up the pills again.

Just then, a voice came from the doorway. “Mary!”

Mary looked up instinctively.

She saw “Keera” and Lewis rush in, with “Keera” holding a man whose face was bruised and swollen—it was Austin!

The Olsen family’s butler followed them, also a bit disheveled. As soon as he entered, he immediately apologized. “Uncle Olsen, Mr. Ellis, sorry, we couldn’t stop them…”

James immediately widened his eyes. “Keera, you, you’ve gone too far! You actually, you actually…”

He pointed at Lewis.

It was bad enough that she associated with Uncle Olsen, but she even brought that gigolo over!

It was just outrageous!

But before he could finish his accusation, he heard Uncle Olsen say in a calm, detached voice. “Let it be known, from now on, Miss…”

Uncle Olsen hesitated for a moment, then pointed decisively at Keira. “Remember her. Whenever she comes, let her in without question!”

Whether she was Keira or Keera, she was still his daughter!

The butler, not understanding why, nevertheless nodded immediately. “Yes!”

It was then that Uncle Olsen approached Keira. “How did you get here?”

But Keira was looking at Mary, and at the same time, she saw the medicine in her hands. She rushed over immediately, snatched the bowl away, and demanded, “What is this?”

No one in the room spoke.

Keira glared at Ellis and demanded again, “What is this?!”

Ellis’s face was stern. “An abortion drug.”

Keira was so angry her fingers were trembling.

She glanced at Mary, seeing her in a pathetic state, trapped on the sofa without any chance of leaving. With her eyes reddening, she turned to the other people in the room and shouted angrily, “He made a foolish mistake, but didn’t any of you think to stop him?!”

Mr. and Mrs. Olsen had tried to intervene, but to no avail; upon hearing this, they could only let out a helpless sigh.

James looked toward Uncle Olsen. In front of so many people, this Keira had rebuked them all. Surely Uncle wouldn’t indulge her, right?

Unexpectedly, Uncle Olsen just opened his mouth as if he wanted to explain something, but in the end, he didn’t speak.

Even Ellis, with a sullen mood, remained silent.

Unable to contain himself, James burst out, “Keira, who do you think you are? It’s not your place to meddle in our family’s affairs. You…”

Before he could finish, Keira ignored him and looked at Ellis. “Just because of some rumors outside, you suspect her? Have you ever asked Austin?”

Ellis’s icy gaze swept over Austin.

On the ground, Austin stiffened.

Ellis didn’t elaborate further, nor mention that last time he had almost beaten a man to death who had insisted, all the while, that he indeed slept with Mary.

Without a word from him, Keira’s chest heaved with anger.

She turned back and kicked the bound Austin, demanding, “Speak! What exactly happened between you and Mary?!”

Austin’s nose was bruised, and his face was swollen from being beaten. Looking at Keira, his eyes were fraught with panic and fear. His gaze shifted briefly toward Lewis, and upon seeing the man’s chilling stare, Austin shuddered all over.

Who could have imagined that while he was drinking in a bar, some ferocious people would suddenly barge in, pick him up, and, presenting that document, demand whether he was the one behind the scheme?

Austin had initially underestimated them and nodded. “Yes, Mary slept with me. So what? Is she daring to do but not to admit it?”

When Keira struck him, he stubbornly denied everything.

Not until the man beside her suddenly stopped her, asking for half an hour’s time.

Then, during the following half hour, Austin underwent the most terrifying experience of his life!

That seemingly tall and frail gigolo had methods that were exceedingly cruel. He soaked several sheets of paper and laid them one by one on Austin’s face.

Austin thought that as a member of the Gill family, no one would dare lay hands on him. So, he initially kept denying everything until whenever he fell silent, the other man showed no intention of removing the paper!

The feeling of suffocation, of nearly dying, was too horrifying. It was so terrifying that just thinking about it made him shudder all over.

He knew if he didn’t tell the truth, the man would really kill him!

Even in front of Ellis, Austin knew that out of respect for the five major families, Ellis would spare his life; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to explain to the Gill family. But facing this man…

Austin swallowed hard.

Ellis had already begun to speak slowly. “I’ve asked him already, and he won’t come forward to clarify it… Keira, all this you’re doing is pointless.”

Almost as soon as these words were uttered, they were followed by Austin’s cries, wailing like a howling wolf. “I’ll clarify it! Who says I won’t? Why are you all doing this to me?!”