Chapter 4
Marianne’s expression instantly softened. She hurried over to Vanessa and carefully helped her to her feet: “Oh honey, you can’t be kneeling on the floor while pregnant! Susan, quickly bring some warm water!“]
She turned to give orders to the household staff: “Maria, go prepare chicken soup for Miss White to nourish her body.“]
Her fawning attitude was a complete 180 from moments before.
I watched Marianne’s sudden transformation with cold eyes, feeling something unsettling stir within me.]
Marianne took my hand and spoke in soothing tones: “Joanna, sweetie, don’t get upset. Let’s just talk this through.”
Her fingers were trembling slightly, her eyes darting around, completely avoiding my gaze.]]
I knew Marianne too well–this was exactly how she acted when she felt guilty about something.
Vanessa’s eyes suddenly lit up as she snatched the paternity test report back from George’s hands. The panic vanished from her face, replaced by arrogant triumph.]
“Mr. Hampton, see for yourself!“]]
She waved the report vigorously, her voice sharp and grating: “It’s right there in black and white–99.99% match! Now you have to believe I’m carrying the Hampton family’s true heir!“]
She strutted over to me and slammed the report against my chest: “Take a good look, you barren bitch! Now that’s hard evidence!“]
George’s face was ashen, his trembling finger pointing at the report: “This is impossible.“]
“What?” Vanessa sneered. “You’ll trust tests done abroad for your son, but not reports from top domestic hospitals?“]
She suddenly covered her mouth in an exaggerated display of realization: “Oh~ I get it now. You’re trying to help your infertile daughter–in–law by refusing to acknowledge your own grandson, aren’t you?“[]
Marianne anxiously wrung her hands: “George, this report has the hospital’s official seal on it.“[]
Vanessa became even more smug, turning in a circle while displaying her belly. “Some people just can’t stand to see others succeed~“[]
She shot me a sideways glance, “Now that the evidence is rock solid, let’s see who dares claim my child isn’t a Hampton!”
I took Marianne’s trembling hand and spoke gently: “Mom, do you remember? These past three years, you took Nicholas and me to every major hospital in New York, Boston, even specialists overseas.”
Marianne’s eyes began to flicker, and I continued: “You used to make us all those herbal remedies. Once we both got food poisoning and had to have our stomachs pumped at the ER–we were hospitalized for a whole week.“]
“Stop it…” Marianne’s voice started shaking.
“You knelt outside the ICU that time, crying and promising you’d never pressure us again.“]]
I stared directly into Marianne’s eyes: “Later, didn’t Professor Smith from Johns Hopkins tell us personally that Nicholas’s condition made it absolutely impossible for him to get a woman pregnant?”
“Enough!” Marianne suddenly jerked her hand away, her face deathly pale.[]
She turned to Vanessa, her voice suddenly sharp: “Which hospital issued this report? When was this test done?“]]
Vanessa snorted coldly: “Downtown General Hospital, last month.“]
“Bullshit!” Marianne suddenly exploded with rage. “Something this huge, and Nicholas wouldn’t tell us for over a month? No way.“]
Vanessa’s expression stiffened, then she shrieked back: “What? Does Nicholas have to report every little thing to you?“]
She stepped forward with her belly prominent: “Mr. and Mrs. Hampton, if you don’t believe it, let’s go to the hospital right now and test again!”
Chamer 5
