CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: THAT FACE, SLAPPED LOUD AND CLEAR!

I suddenly felt that these words couldn’t hurt me anymore.

The same things over and over again, I was sick of even looking at them.

I couldn’t even be bothered to continue flipping through.

Just then, my phone rang, and I saw it was a call from the hospital where my mom was admitted.

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly answered the call.

The doctor’s serious voice came through from the other end, saying, "Miss Ellison, two people from Xavier Group came this morning, stating that the equipment your mother is using might have issues and needs to be re-examined and maintained. So, the equipment has been shut down now."

"What?"

My heart immediately sank to the bottom.

My mother had been using that equipment for so long without any problems.

This was clearly an excuse by someone to force me to give in!

The doctor said, "After your mother stopped using the equipment, her condition isn’t good. Please come to the hospital immediately to sign the critical condition notice."

I didn’t waste any time, grabbed my car keys, and went out the door.

...

At the hospital.

My mom had many more tubes on her body, and the sounds of various machines rose and fell as if they were signals of looming death.

The doctor explained to me, "Today, right after we removed the equipment from your mother, she started having breathing difficulty and an irregular heartbeat. If this continues, I’m afraid..."

Although he didn’t finish, I already knew the consequences.

Timothy Xavier, he’s truly ruthless!

I signed the critical condition notice and immediately called Timothy Xavier.

Unfortunately, he didn’t answer at all.

Having no choice, I went to Xavier Group to find him, only to be told that Timothy Xavier didn’t come to the office today.

I asked Nanny Lowell if Timothy Xavier was at home, and she said he didn’t come home last night.

I thought, nine times out of ten, he stayed overnight at Sophia Kendall’s place.

After all, Doris and Serena Sawyer were both at Sophia Kendall’s place.

The doctor reminded me that my mother’s condition was critical and that the equipment needed to be reconnected quickly.

Otherwise, there would be a life-threatening danger at any moment.

No matter how much I didn’t want to meet Sophia Kendall, I still drove over there.

...

Unfortunately, Sophia Kendall’s butler wouldn’t let me in.

I stood at the courtyard gate and shouted, "Timothy Xavier, come out! I know you’re in there!"

The butler, seeing this, said to me, "Miss Ellison, Mr. Xavier really isn’t here. If you continue shouting, we’ll have to call the police."

"Fine, not here, huh."

I nodded, preparing for a showdown, "Then go and tell them, since they’re not letting my mom live, we’ll die together! I’ll give them ten minutes, and if no one comes out to see me, I’ll post my marriage certificate with Timothy Xavier online."

Upon hearing this, the butler’s face changed, and he hurried inside the villa.

A few minutes later, Sophia Kendall came out, and with her was Serena Sawyer’s mother.

I looked at them coldly and asked, "Where’s Timothy Xavier?"

Sophia Kendall smirked without smiling and said, "Timothy took Serena to take engagement photos!"

My nails dug deeply into my palms.

What a piercing pain!

He sentenced my mother to death but couldn’t wait to celebrate his victory by taking photos with his lover.

At this point, Mrs. Sawyer spoke up as well, "Star Reporter Ellison is in the limelight recently, writing two hit stories in a row. How do you still have time to come here?"

I said, "Who instructed my mother’s equipment to be shut down?"

Mrs. Sawyer snorted coldly and said, "The designer of that equipment is our Miles. Since Miss Ellison wrote him so maliciously, why do you still use this equipment?"

Sophia Kendall chuckled lightly, "Zoe Ellison, if I were you, I’d hurry to my dying mom. The chances to see her are fewer and fewer!"

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

I stared at them and said, "If you don’t have my mom’s equipment working again by noon today, I’ll expose my marriage to Timothy Xavier. At that time, I’m sure the audience will love the twist."

Mrs. Sawyer visibly panicked.

And Sophia Kendall’s eyes were fierce as she said, "You dare! If you dare to expose this, it won’t be your mother who dies. Think about The Ellison Family, raising you all these years, only to end up bankrupt and on the streets because of you. Can you bear it?"

My heart trembled violently, biting my lip, wishing for mutual destruction!

At this time, Mrs. Sawyer smiled mockingly and said, "Actually... there is a way to solve this problem! Your mother-in-law has shares in the Xavier Group. As long as she says the word, your mother’s equipment can be used again. However, we need you to do one thing."

I knew it wouldn’t be that simple, but I still asked, "What is it?"

A hint of malice appeared in Mrs. Sawyer’s eyes as she said, "As long as you make an apology video, admitting you’re the mistress who intruded on Serena and Timothy’s relationship. Also, admit that your articles about our Miles were slander. Then, your mother’s equipment can be restored. How about it?"

I looked at Mrs. Sawyer’s face and sneered, "I finally understand why Serena Sawyer became a greedy and shameless person. It turns out she has a mother like you. You’re really something!"

Mrs. Sawyer was immediately enraged, shouting, "Zoe Ellison, don’t be ungrateful! I’m telling you, Timothy and our Serena are truly in love. If you hadn’t clung to Timothy shamelessly and refused to divorce, Serena would have been Mrs. Xavier long ago!"

Sophia Kendall nodded in agreement, "Making you do the apology video was Timothy’s idea too. Your mother’s time is running out! Her life is entirely in your hands now!"

I gritted my teeth and spat out four words, "Don’t even think about it!"

I will never make an apology video!

Timothy Xavier cheated himself but wants me to admit I’m the mistress. They’re going too far!

Just as I got back to my car, Jenna Sutton’s call came in.

"Zoe, where are you? I’ve returned to the country!"

I later learned that she saw the recent news about me abroad, left Dr. Payne, and came back herself.

We agreed to meet at my place.

On the way, I already had a plan.

That is to have Jenna Sutton take Doris out of the kindergarten.

After all, Jenna Sutton is the head of St. Jude’s Kindergarten, and only she has the ability to bring Doris out.

As long as Doris is with me, Timothy Xavier won’t dare not to appear.

"Jenna, this is very risky, and it might involve you."

I looked at her apologetically and said, "It’s okay if you don’t agree."

Knowing that I was threatened at Sophia Kendall’s, Jenna Sutton said angrily, "I’m not afraid of them! This is the only solution! I can’t watch my friend suffer such injustice, being labeled as a mistress and forced to admit it. There’s no such thing on earth!"

After she said this, she walked out the door.

An hour later, she brought Doris to my place.

Doris didn’t cry or make a fuss because Jenna Sutton coaxed and lied to her and bought her lots of things she wanted to eat and play with.

By the time we got home, Jenna Sutton’s hands were full of bags.

"Auntie Jenna, why is the maid here too? She’s so bad, always bullying my mom. I don’t want to be with her!"

Seeing me, Doris frowned and said to Jenna Sutton, "Take me back to Grandma’s!"

Looking at this little girl, I really had a headache, unable to lower myself to please the daughter of my husband and his lover.

Jenna Sutton quickly stopped her, patiently saying, "Doris, can you eat ice cream at home? Here with Auntie, you can have as much as you want! And your dad will pick you up tonight!"

Doris pouted and thought for a while, and in the end, succumbed to the temptation of ice cream.

So, she sat on the sofa, swinging her little legs, watching cartoons while eating ice cream.

We were peacefully coexisting with her.

It’s just, the ice cream eating seemed endless.

I whispered to Jenna Sutton, "It’s only been two hours, and she’s already eaten four. If this goes on, can her stomach handle it?"

"Why bother with her?" Jenna replied indifferently, "That little brat is just as bad as her mother. Didn’t you see how she treated you just now? Let her eat! Once she runs to the bathroom a few times, she’ll learn her lesson!"

I don’t know if it’s because there’s a little life growing inside me now, but I always have a natural affection for children.

When Doris was about to go to the fridge for a fifth ice cream, I stood in front of her and said, "Shall we eat something else? Chocolate? Or... chips?"

Doris seemed to have a natural hostility towards me and shouted, "Get out of my way! You’re just a maid; what do you care what I eat?"

Jenna directly fetched an ice cream from the fridge for her, saying, "Eat up! Finish everything in the fridge, and Auntie will buy you more!"

Then, she pulled me aside and whispered, "I told you not to mind her! Timothy Xavier and Serena Sawyer are heartless, so why should we care about their child?"

I sighed and said, "She’s just been misled by her mother. She’s so young, what could she possibly understand?"

I didn’t listen to Jenna. After Doris finished her fifth ice cream, I firmly refused to let her have any more.

The little girl started to cry and shouted at me, "You bad woman, you’re bullying me! I’ll tell my dad! I want to go home!"

Just then, my phone rang. It was a call from Sophia Kendall.

Looking at the time, she was probably coming to pick up the child but found out the child was with me.

I answered the phone, and Sophia’s angry voice came through: "Zoe Ellison, where have you taken Doris? I’m telling you, if you dare touch a hair on her head, Timothy won’t let you off!"

"Restore my mother’s equipment immediately."

My tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Sophia sneered, "Impossible! Only if you release an apology video admitting that you are the third party in Timothy and Serena’s relationship will your mother live!"

I coldly replied, "Since my mom can’t live, then it’s not a bad idea to let your family’s little princess accompany her in death."

Though I spoke out of anger, I could never actually do something like that.

But now, with Doris crying and Sophia undoubtedly hearing it over the phone,

"Zoe Ellison, you bitch, what have you done to my granddaughter?"

She was furious, and I hung up the phone.

Not long after, I received a call from Timothy Xavier.

"Is Doris with you?"

His voice sounded calm, but it was easy to hear the restraint and tension beneath that calmness.

This tone was very much like a police officer negotiating with a kidnapper.

"Zoe Ellison, I’m on my way over right now. Don’t act rashly. Do not harm Doris, or you’ll face the consequences."

His warning made me laugh at myself.

If it were Jenna Sutton, or even Ethan Xavier, they wouldn’t think Zoe Ellison would harm a child.

But Timothy Xavier believed I would do such a thing.

In his heart, there’s never been a moment he understood or trusted me.

All these years of feelings,

were ultimately fed to the dogs.

Not even a crumb left.

At this time, Jenna also received a call from her father.

Timothy Xavier must have already contacted Jenna’s dad.

I don’t know what was said, but Jenna’s expression was exceptionally serious.

"Zoe, I have to head back. Timothy filed a complaint with the education bureau about our kindergarten. I’ll be back once I sort it out!"

She left in a hurry.

I felt immense guilt.

Ultimately, I still dragged down those who were kind to me.

...

Very soon, Timothy Xavier arrived, along with Serena Sawyer and Mrs. Sawyer.

As soon as they entered, Doris ran towards them.

"Oh my, my little ancestor!"

Mrs. Sawyer hurriedly picked up Doris, "Why are you crying? Did someone hit or scold you?"

Serena said, "Timothy, look, Doris’s eyes are all swollen!"

Then, looking aggrieved, she turned to me, "Miss Ellison, all of this is because of me. It’s fine if you hit or scold me. How could you lay a hand on a child?"

Timothy grabbed my wrist, his chilly voice sharp as a knife, "What did you do to Doris?"

I looked at him calmly and said, "You can ask her yourself."

Serena and her mother couldn’t wait to inquire.

Doris, through her tears, said, "This bad auntie wouldn’t let me eat ice cream!"

Timothy looked slightly taken aback and asked his daughter, "Is that all?"

Serena chimed in, "Doris, if you’ve been wronged, just say it. It’s okay; Mommy and Daddy are here!"

Doris thought for a long time and said, "She just wouldn’t give me ice cream! The biggest grievance is she wouldn’t give me ice cream!"

Serena and Mrs. Sawyer’s faces instantly froze.

Clearly, this was not the response they were expecting.

Meanwhile, Timothy slightly let out a breath of relief.

Realizing he had wronged me, when he looked at me again, his eyes finally carried a touch of softness and apology.

Mrs. Sawyer, afraid that Timothy might soften towards me, quickly reminded, "Then I don’t understand. If Miss Ellison didn’t do anything to our Doris, why did she take her away without permission? I heard from the in-laws that over the phone, Miss Ellison even threatened to have our Doris accompany her in death!"

Timothy’s eyes turned cold again as he looked at me.

I met his gaze and said, "Timothy Xavier, you shut down my mother’s equipment, essentially sentencing her to death! You know very well she’s my only blood relative left in this world! I’ve called you countless times, and you didn’t answer a single one! If I hadn’t taken your daughter, would you have shown up now?"

Timothy paused slightly and immediately called Jack Sullivan.

Jack didn’t know about it either.

Minutes later, Jack called back, saying it was Sophia Kendall’s instruction.

"Restore the equipment immediately,"

He only said those words and then hung up.

Serena and Mrs. Sawyer wore expressions of discontent.

I was somewhat surprised and asked Timothy, "You didn’t know about this?"

Timothy replied, "I was in meetings at the company all day. What you did caused Xavier Group’s stock price to plummet, and I had to handle the aftermath."

At this point, my eyes fell on Serena’s mother.

Mrs. Sawyer’s face was clearly guilty.

I then realized the plan for Timothy and Serena to take engagement photos was a ploy they used to provoke me.

Afraid I might spill something, Mrs. Sawyer quickly said to Timothy, "Since Doris is found, let’s not pursue it. Let’s go home!"

"Wait."

I spoke up, "You might not want to pursue this, but some things still need to be cleared up."

Timothy frowned and asked, "What things?"

I smiled and said, "I’ll let you hear just what kind of people your dear mother and your future mother-in-law actually are."

Saying this, I took out my phone.

In the recording, every word spoken to me by Sophia Kendall and Serena’s mother today was played out.

When they asked me to record a video admitting I was the third party, Timothy’s expression darkened with every passing second.

Then, his deep, dark eyes fell on Mrs. Sawyer.