Chapter 5 Ms. Osborne Pushes Mrs. Osborne Down the Stairs
Daisy felt a surge of nervousness as Shirlene fixed her gaze on her. A premonition that Shirlene might be aware of something unsettled her deeply.
She even felt an impulse to halt Molly.
Clutching her palms tightly, Daisy struggled to suppress her anxiety as she observed Molly trailing Shirlene up the spiral stairs.
The ballroom spanned two floors, with a makeup room and a lounge on the upper level, accessible via the spiral stairs.
Shirlene scanned the ballroom, sighing in disappointment upon finding no trace of Sebastian.
She figured that he wouldn’t show up tonight.
Then she looked at Molly out of the corner of her eye.
Despite Molly’s composure, her unnatural expression gave her away.
Instead of exposing her, Shirlene took her into the lounge.
To attend to Molly, who was pregnant, the Osborne family had assigned two maids to accompany her. Spotting Shirlene and Molly’s entrance, the maids quickly moved to assist Molly in changing her dress.
Within a few minutes, Molly emerged from the dressing room in her new attire.
A significant, enigmatic smile played on her lips as she noticed Shirlene still waiting outside.
“I’m done. Shirlene, shall we go down?” She stepped forward kindly and tried to hold Shirlene’s hand.
Shirlene hastily withdrew her hand, casting a cold glance at Molly. She exited the lounge ahead of Molly.
A momentary flash of venom crossed Molly’s eyes. She winked at the maids beside her and swiftly followed Shirlene.
Approaching the staircase, Molly rushed to catch up with Shirlene, hastily saying, “Shirlene, don’t be upset about what happened this morning, okay? After all, we’re family.”
Shirlene halted and regarded her with an inscrutable expression.
As Shirlene stopped, a triumphant gleam flickered in Molly’s eyes. She lifted her hand to caress her belly, assuming an air of superiority. “Your birth mother passed away early, and your father has always desired a son. I’m his only hope now. Even if you’re angry, you’ll have to endure it.”
Shirlene’s birth mother’s death had always been a sensitive point for her, and Molly knew precisely how to exploit it to provoke Shirlene.
“Say that again!” Shirlene stared at Molly with utterly cold eyes.
Witnessing Shirlene taking the bait, Molly intentionally closed the distance, discarded the façade, and directly provoked her, “So what if I say it again? What can you do to me? Your mother died early, didn’t she? What was the point of being from a respectable family? Your father never loved her. That’s why he let her suffer and die without lifting a finger!”
Shirlene clenched her fists, battling against the profound hatred welling up within her. She repeatedly reminded herself that it was Molly’s scheme and that she mustn’t fall into the trap.
After a deep breath, she looked up at Molly with a sardonic smile. “Even if you give birth to a son for my father, you’ll still be a despicable person for the rest of your life!”
Then she turned and was about to go downstairs.
Molly was stunned for a second.
She thought, “With Shirlene’s character, she would have done something to me when she heard me humiliate her mother. How is this different from what I pictured?
“No way! I can’t wait any longer. I can’t hide it anymore…”
Molly, gritting her teeth, closed her eyes, and just as Shirlene was descending the stairs, she leaned forward and tumbled down.
Almost simultaneously, a scream erupted from the maids behind Molly, “Oh my! Ms. Osborne pushed Mrs. Osborne down the stairs!”
The once lively banquet hall descended into an eerie silence.
Molly lay sprawled on the carpet, crimson blood seeping from underneath her. Gripping her stomach, she groaned in pain, crying out, “My baby! Save my baby!”
Daisy rushed over promptly. Embracing Molly, she confronted Shirlene, who stood on the stairs, “Shirlene, how could you? Can’t you tolerate the presence of your own brother?”
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room realized the gravity of the situation and was stunned.
Such scenes weren’t uncommon among the upper class, but Shirlene had become the first to push her pregnant stepmother down the stairs in front of a large audience.
In an instant, everyone gathered around them, not wanting to miss a bit of the juicy gossip.
Step by step, Shirlene walked up to Daisy. Before she could say anything, Neilson walked over, raised his hand, and was about to slap her in the face.
“You wicked girl! How dare you…”
Shirlene grabbed his hand nimbly and looked at him coldly. “Dad, are you going to convict me before things get clear?”
Her eyes were crystal clear, and she didn’t look guilty or scared at all.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Neilson harbored no trust for Shirlene. Through gritted teeth, he uttered coldly, “You’re not suggesting she simply tumbled down the stairs and set you up, are you?”
Shirlene sneered, casting an ambiguous gaze at Daisy. “Why wouldn’t she? She isn’t…”
Being looked at by Shirlene, Daisy panicked and immediately interrupted her loudly, accusing her, “Shirlene, no matter what, he is your own brother. He is innocent! How could you?
“I know you hate us. You think I snatched Dad away from you, and you are worried that Mom will give birth to a baby boy, who will fight you over the family property. Yet we have never thought about fighting with you for anything. If you don’t believe me, I can sign an agreement, or I can leave the Osborne’s place… How could you do such a nasty thing?”
Daisy was agitated and furious. She glared at Shirlene, her eyes red and tinged with disappointment and hatred.
Shirlene thought, “It’s a shame that Daisy didn’t choose to be an actress. I would have believed her words if I hadn’t known the truth.”
“Do you have any proof that I pushed her down the stairs?” Shirlene showed no signs of panic at all. She was even calm and composed.
Witnessing Daisy’s increasing agitation, the maids received a rapid signal from her and immediately stepped forward.
One of the maids pointed accusingly at Shirlene, declaring with excitement, “I can testify! I saw Ms. Osborne push Mrs. Osborne down the stairs. Ms. Osborne claimed that the baby Mrs. Osborne carried would be a threat to her share of the family’s fortune in the future, so the child should not be allowed to live!
“Ms. Osborne, even though Mrs. Osborne isn’t your biological mother, she has always treated you as her own daughter, never showing any bias. Moreover, she is over three months pregnant. How could you commit such an act? It’s a human life!”
The maid’s words convicted Shirlene and proved Daisy’s words to be true.
Instantly, all eyes were on Shirlene, reflecting various emotions like disdain, disgust, and other sinister sentiments.
The banquet hall erupted in noise.
“Who would have thought? Shirlene is so ruthless. How could she harm her own brother? Isn’t she afraid of the consequences?”
“She’s truly wicked! Despite her appearance, she’s nothing more than a schemer. If she can harm her pregnant stepmother for the family’s wealth, who’s to say she won’t harm her father to secure her position in the future?”
