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The night had deepened.
The moon was large tonight, hanging low in the sky.
After Keira stepped outside, a chill hit her, but she only felt exhilarated. The malice from being called an illegitimate daughter gradually dissipated without her noticing.
She looked ahead at Mr. and Mrs. Allen and
approached them. “What’s the matter? Is there an issue with Rebecca?”
“No,” Mrs. Allen said, “As we were leaving, we saw… that Poppy Hill woman creating a scene at the gate of the Horton family. We thought it would be better to intervene.”
Keira was startled, then promptly replied, “Right, okay.”
The Allens had returned after leaving, and she thought they had some important matter to discuss, but it turned out to be just that.
As she was pondering this, Mrs. Allen spoke again. “We just called Frankie, asking him to bring the repaired
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photo over quickly. Do you have time tomorrow
evening? We would like to invite you for dinner and show you the photo.”
Keira was taken aback.
It was the second time tonight that Mrs. Allen had brought up that photo, asking her to see it…
Although she didn’t understand the reason, she knew Mrs. Allen meant her no harm, and she nodded right away. “I’m available.”
“Good, then Miss Keira, see you tomorrow evening.”
Mrs. Allen patted her hand and then turned to drag Mr. Allen out with her.
Mr. Allen asked quietly, “Why don’t you tell her your suspicion?”
“Without proof, what’s there to say? If the guess is wrong, wouldn’t that just upset Keira needlessly? Frankie will arrive tomorrow, and we can talk about it when we have the photo in hand in the evening. It’s better than anything. There’s no harm in waiting another day.”
Mr. Allen laughed. “Okay, whatever you say.”
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Their low murmurs drifted faintly, making it hard for Keira to catch what they were saying. She didn’t know what they were talking about, but seeing them huddle together and whisper with laughter somehow gave off a sense of serene happiness.
Keira thought of how Taylor always carefully held Mrs. Olsen in his arms, going to great lengths to please her, all of which seemed too deliberate and servile.
Their relationship wasn’t harmonious like that of Mr. and Mrs. Allen.
In fact, from a young age, everyone could see that Taylor cherished Mrs. Olsen, treating her like a delicate treasure, yet Mrs. Olsen was rather aloof and didn’t seem to care as much about him.
Everyone said it was because of Keira and Poppy’s
existence that made Taylor feel guilty in front of Mrs. Olsen…
Keira shook her head, feeling that she might be overthinking.
The Olsen family’s interactions were indeed quite strange.
Mr Olson was proud yet she was able to tolerate the
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presence of Taylor’s illegitimate daughter and mistress. Taylor disliked Keira, feeling that her presence affected his relationship with Mrs. Olsen.
But Mrs. Olsen could be very gentle with Keira…
Keira was somewhat confused about the dynamics of their marriage.
“What are you thinking about?” Lewis’s deep voice came from beside her.
Keira then said, “What do you think we’ll be like when
we’re old?”
At that moment, Mr. and Mrs. Allen had already walked to their car. Mr. Allen opened the door and raised his hand to shield the top of Mrs. Allen’s head as she got in, seemingly worried she would bump her head.
Mrs. Allen turned back and gave him a slight smile.
Lewis saw their interaction, a trace of envy flickering in his eyes, “We’ll probably be like Mr. and Mrs. Allen then.”
Keira was about to say that Lewis didn’t have the good temper of Mr. Allen, but before she could speak, she
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heard him say, “A son and a daughter will be perfect. How many children would you like to have?”
Keira was perplexed.
That was a quick jump.
She coughed and quickly changed the subject. “Let’s go and take Grandma back first”
Lewis nodded.
The two returned to the banquet hall.
Nannies busied themselves around, cleaning up after the party, and the bustling cacophony suddenly quieted down, making the hall seem spacious.
Keira, however, preferred the silence that followed when the music had ended and the guests had dispersed.
She and Lewis approached old Mrs. Horton, and Keira held onto old Mrs. Horton’s arm, “Grandma, let’s go
home.”
“Okay.”
Old Mrs. Horton affectionately patted her hand, then glared fiercely at Nathan.
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With a cold face, Nathan said, “Mom, don’t look at me like that. Your granddaughter-in-law comes from the wrong background and is an illegitimate daughter. Even if she escapes today, if she does anything in the future that shames the Horton family, I’ll show absolutely no mercy!”
After these words, he snorted and turned to go upstairs.
Old Mrs. Horton, furious, pointed at him from behind and cursed. “You disrespectful son! You’re so biased toward your eldest son, so I’ll be on my youngest grandson’s side! Hmph!”
Having said this in a petulant, childlike manner, she grabbed Keira’s hand. “Moreover, marrying my granddaughter-in-law is like a blessing from our ancestors. My granddaughter-in-law would never bring shame to the Horton family! Lewis, tell me. Isn’t that right?”
Lewis laughed as he glanced at Keira. “Yes.”
As the three of them left the living room and walked toward the back courtyard, they heard the sound of a car horn from up front, followed by Fiona saying, “Miss
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Isla has been brought back.”
That was within their expectations.
Isla was pregnant, and the police couldn’t possibly detain her. They would only give her a verbal warning and a fine, then ask her to apologize to Keira and Lewis. With that, the matter would be over.
Keira didn’t care, but when she lay down at night and took out her phone, she found that Isla had sent her many insulting messages.
She must be pregnant and emotional and added to the huge embarrassment of the night, she was somewhat on the edge.
In the messages, she cursed Keira.
“Keira, you illegitimate daughter, you were born a bitch! What makes you think you can marry my uncle?! You did it on purpose, didn’t you, trying to be better
than me?!
“Let me tell you, it’s impossible! You’ll never surpass me in this life! You are an illegitimate daughter, and you can never become the hostess of the Horton family! The household management rights of the Horton family are still in my hands!
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“Do you really think that by marrying my uncle, you can become someone else? No matter how capable you are, you can’t change your origins, or the original sin in your blood!
“And, you haven’t gotten pregnant after two years of marriage! I see it as the punishment for your low bloodline! I’ll soon be able to give birth to the genuine heir of the Horton family! You’ll never compare to me!”
Keira didn’t know what to say.
Looking at the phone messages with the glaring words “illegitimate daughter,” she clenched her jaw and typed back. “Are you sure that the child in your belly has the
surname Horton?”
The response promptly ceased, and there was no reply for a long time.
Keira lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling that those two words had affected her mood…
The night passed without incident, and time moved swiftly to the next day.
When Keira woke up, she picked up her phone to find a message from Rebecca. “Miss Keira, my brother has
ronnirad the photo and he’s on his uru to nonnion
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now. Come find us when you wake up! Dad and Mom
say they have a surprise for you to see!”