Eddy and Loraine walked through the door just as Healy blurted it out. Loraine rushed to cover his mouth, but she was already too late.
“The baby is obviously Miss Jean’s,” Healy declared, chin held high.
Blanche locked eyes with Healy’s innocent little face. He was only five–far too young to understand the tangled secrets of grown–ups.
What Blanche really wanted to ask was, Who is the baby’s father?
But Healy, of course, had no idea.
“Healy, we don’t mention that awful woman in our home,” Loraine scolded, her face still pale but her voice a bit steadier. “And you don’t talk back to your mother–she’s pregnant, and you’re going to have a little sister soon.”
“Aren’t you excited? Go give your mother a hug,” Loraine coaxed, trying to nudge Healy closer to Blanche.
Meanwhile, Tia had fallen to the floor in tears, but Hedwig quickly pulled her up and
tried to calm her down.
Blanche gently drew Tia to her side and offered her a piece of candy. “You knocked Tia over. Say you’re sorry to her.”
Healy stared at Blanche, feeling wronged and overlooked once again–all because of Tia. Resentment bubbled up inside him. “I’m not apologizing. Tia was the one who called Miss Jean names first. That’s why I pushed her.”
His face flushed with defiance as he shouted at Blanche, “I don’t want another sister. I already have one–Lara!”
He ran to Eddy, who had just come in, clutching his father’s sleeve as tears and snot streamed down his face. “Dad, take me to the hospital to see Miss Jean. Lara called and said Miss Jean is dying.”
At those words, both Eddy and Loraine turned sharply to Blanche.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Loraine snapped. “The only child your mother has is your sister. Your father and I will never adopt Lara. And you’re not allowed to talk to her anymore.”
Eddy’s voice was cold and final. “Have the housekeeper replace his smartwatch. Make sure no one outside the family can contact him.” He gave the order and started to drag Healy upstairs, ignoring the boy’s desperate struggles.
Chapter 88
Blanche watched Eddy and Healy retreat, her heart turning cold as she saw how fiercely Healy fought back. Healy had always been terrified of Eddy–he must care about Jeannette an awful lot to stand up to his father like that.
“Lauren, arrange extra lessons for the young master. He clearly has too much free time on his hands,” Blanche instructed.
Lauren nodded and gently coaxed Healy into his room.
The villa finally quieted down, but then Hedwig muttered under her breath, “Lara? Isn’t that the girl my brother and sister–in–law planned to adopt from the orphanage? I suppose it makes sense for Healy to know her if they want her to settle in quickly. But how does that child know so much about Jeannette, just a private tutor?”
Loraine shot her a sharp look. Hedwig immediately fell silent and hurried to sit beside Blanche, trying to explain herself. “It’s all my fault. I was tricked by that
Jeannette woman and let her tutor Lara as well.”
“Laney, I promise I won’t let anything like this happen again,” she said loudly, glancing up at Eddy on the stairs. “A woman like that, with parents like hers, should be thrown out of Novandria–never allowed to sully Laney’s eyes again.”
Blanche didn’t believe a word of it.
And she didn’t care anymore.
Jeannette would reap what she’d sown. Pollock would get what was coming to
him.
There was nothing left here worth holding on to.
Eddy walked up to Blanche, took her hand, and echoed Loraine’s words. “Sweetheart, I promise you–I’ll make sure they’re gone from Novandria for good.”
Blanche slipped her hand from Eddy’s grasp, her gaze icy as it slid past his shoulder, not even meeting his eyes.
Just twenty–one more days, and she’d be free of this place.
“Please have the car brought around. I’m going back to my apartment,” she said to
the butler.
He hurried to lead her to the door. “Of course, ma’am.”
“Laney, you’re not staying here?” Loraine called after her, alarmed. “You can’t live alone while you’re pregnant! Let me send Vesta with you to take care of you.”
20:31
Chapter 88
She chased after Blanche, desperate for a response.
Eddy suddenly turned, staring at Blanche’s retreating figure in the doorway. The warmth of her hand still lingered on his fingertips, but the wind swept it away in an
instant.
If Jeannette dared to hurt Laney, he would never forgive her. And he certainly wouldn’t let her stay anywhere near his family. dn’t let her stay anywhere near his family.
