CHAPTER 174: CHAPTER 174: COMING TO THE DOOR

Flora Palmer gasped for air, clutching her neck as she slowly got up, her gaze cold, "Arthur Bennett, you better pray I live well. Even if I die, I’ll make sure to take you down with me!"

He looked at her with disdain, "You’ve reminded me of something indeed. Giving you a sudden violent death would easily arouse suspicion. Letting you die openly and justifiably is only fitting. Prepare yourself for pregnancy. Within two months, I’ll have you pregnant with my child. On the day the child is born, that will be your death day."

His directness in saying this showed that his arrogance had reached an extreme before her.

Flora Palmer shook with anger. She couldn’t believe that such a terrifying person could exist in this world, let alone be her husband.

"Scared?" Arthur Bennett laughed, "I thought you were quite bold? Now you’re afraid?"

Flora couldn’t say a word, watching him slam the door as he left, tears on the brink of falling.

Lewis pushed the door open and saw her sitting dazed and slumped on the sofa, her neck marked with blue and purple fingerprints.

His expression was complex and unreadable, and he called out, "Miss."

"Lewis...he said..." Her face was as if covered with a layer of white light, "Within two months, I must be pregnant with his child, and he intends for me to die in childbirth."

"Don’t worry, isn’t Ms. Eaton helping us?"

"Right." Flora urged, "You must pass this on to her people, quickly."

"Yes."

Flora picked up her cross-stitch, her hands trembling as she held the needle, forcing herself to calm down.

Lewis returned after more than an hour.

Seeing him, Flora raised her eyes and asked, "Why did it take so long?"

"I went to the Presidential Mansion."

"What for?"

He took out a sky-blue silk scarf from his black attire’s pocket, and Flora was momentarily stunned seeing the item in his hand.

"Let me tie it for you, Miss." He wrapped the long scarf around her neck, perfectly covering the marks.

Once it was properly tied, he examined it, "Completely unnoticeable."

"Thank you."

"There’s no need to say that to me. I am your person; doing anything for you is my duty."

Flora lowered her head, tears bursting from her eyes.

"Knock, knock, knock." From outside came the voice of Arthur Bennett’s subordinate, "Great Princess Consort, I have orders from His Highness."

Lewis quickly stepped aside, Flora’s voice was slightly hoarse, "Come in."

The door opened, and Arthur Bennett’s subordinate entered, "His Highness says that except for unavoidable events, you cannot leave this room, not even a step. Your bodyguard also cannot leave the Presidential Mansion until you are pregnant with the little prince, when the restriction will be lifted."

Flora pressed her lips tightly, her eyes red, not saying a word.

Arthur Bennett’s subordinate backed out and closed the door.

This was him imprisoning her.

Flora gave a bitter smile, thinking he truly believed she would obediently bear his child and then let him slaughter her?

Dream on.

She would rather die than bear his child.

Rather die!

——

Mia Townsend was out shopping with John Green in the morning when a girl from their same village who worked at a clothing store saw them.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, she just greeted them briefly, and Mia hurried away with John Green.

The village girl mentioned this to her parents in a phone call, who then spread the word to Mia’s parents.

"Your Mia was seen by my daughter shopping with a man driving a luxury car."

With just this one sentence, Mia’s parents decided to call the police.

Just to find Mia Townsend.

The police were pretty quick at locating people, and within an hour they found Mia.

They told her family, "She’s now the wife of the Green Group’s eldest son. Didn’t you know?"

"Officer, what...do you mean?" Mia’s mother was puzzled.

"She’s married into a wealthy family, the Green Group, haven’t you heard?"

The couple was both delighted and furious.

"That ungrateful daughter, no wonder she was so determined to sever ties with us. Turns out she found a wealthy match," Mia’s father cursed under his breath.

"Officer, could you take us to her place?"

"Our people are contacting her now."

Just as the officer finished speaking, a colleague came over and said, "We’ve contacted Miss Mia Townsend. She said she’s already cut ties with you, hasn’t been in contact for a long time, and asked you to go home and not look for her."

"Officer, how can blood-related parents and children really sever ties? The law doesn’t recognize that. We must find her. If you don’t agree, we won’t leave."

"Truly, you’ve got some nerve from a poor and rough place," the officer glanced at Mia’s mother and, after discussing with his colleague, took them to the Green’s old residence.

"This is Mrs. Mia Townsend’s in-laws’ home. You may get out. We’ve already informed Miss Mia Townsend, and she should be here soon."

Mia’s parents, along with their epileptic son, got out of the car, agitated at the sight of the surrounding environment and the gates.

They knocked at the door, explained their identities, and were allowed in.

Their first time in a mansion.

The three had faces covered with smiles as though it was their own house.

After sitting in the living room, Mia’s mother spoke first, "In-law, where is our Mia?"

"She’s on her way back."

Mia’s mother nodded, "That’s good, that’s good."

"The matters of your family, Mia has confessed all to us," John’s mother spoke in an regular tone, no emotion discernible, "Not sure what brings you here today?"

"Now that the daughter is married, how could the parents not come to see?" Mia’s father replied gruffly, "Whatever Mia has told you, familial bonds can’t be severed. A severance letter or anything like that holds no legal standing. You’re people of means, wise folks, there’s no need for us to say more."

"We don’t meddle in such matters," John’s mother made her stance clear, "Mia and my son being married signifies they have their own little family now. Whether you’ve severed ties with her or not, it’s for you and Mia to settle privately."

"Your son married my daughter, and not even a courtesy word? Do you rich people just look down on us poor folk?" Mia’s father glared angrily, "We raised our daughter with so much care and not a penny of dowry?"

John’s mother understood their intention, "Perhaps you’re not clear about our local marital dowry customs. Let me make it clear. Around here, marriage means the man’s family provides a house, and the woman brings a car as dowry. The car can’t be worth less than a quarter of the house’s price. The house that John bought is valued at 18 million. A matching car would be 4.5 million. We didn’t ask you for dowry, and you dare ask us for bride price?"

What John’s mother said was indeed the case, but neither Mia Townsend’s nor Lucy Eaton’s marriage followed this rule. She’s only mentioning it now to confront Mia’s parents.

"What kind of twisted logic is that?! In the countryside, a wedding means the bride brings appliances and twenty quilts."