Maria turned her head and locked her gaze on Warner, wearing a bitter smile. “You want Sampson and me dead so that you can have all the property to yourself, don’t you?”
Landon tried to suppress his anger, but her words only fueled his rage. He slammed his hand on the table, causing the whole room to tremble. Gasping for breath, he stared at his daughter. “Even now, you show no remorse for your actions and continue to cause conflict within the family?”
In that moment, Landon made up his mind.
“Why?” Maria couldn’t accept it. She had always been kind and devoted to her family. She had done everything for their sake. Now that her plan had failed, was she being cast aside?
“Dad, when you first acknowledged me as your daughter, was it because I was connected to Matthew? And now that I’m of no use, do you want to get rid of me?” Maria’s words hit the mark, and Landon’s expression changed. “What do I even have that could be of value to you?”
When Sampson had revealed that Maria was the lost daughter of the Herbert family, Landon had hesitated to accept her. After all, she had grown up outside the family, and he didn’t feel any particular attachment to her. Besides, there were property matters to consider in families like theirs.
However, he later learned about her relationship with Matthew, and since Matthew held her in high regard, Landon was willing to accept her and publicly acknowledge her identity.
But who would have thought that she would bring nothing but disaster to the family instead of helping them?
Sampson had always distanced himself from family affairs, but at least he hadn’t caused any trouble for the family. Yet, because of Maria’s reckless behavior, the entire family was now entangled in a predicament.
“You know it too, deep down!” Maria felt as if her heart was shattering into a million pieces inside her chest, and she knew it could never be whole again. “When I came here, I thought I had found a home, a family, a refuge. But I could never truly enjoy the warmth you showed me. You’re kind to me when I’m useful, but when I can’t be of use, you discard me like an old shoe. What do you think I am? Do you think I don’t feel hurt?”
It had become painfully clear that in the world of the wealthy, people only cared about the benefits and advantages they could gain.
“Do you think I don’t want the best for our family?” she demanded.
“I believe you’re right, my abilities are inferior to others’, and I have put our family in a difficult situation. But… don’t you feel even a shred of reluctance in abandoning me?”
“We’re not sending you off to die. You haven’t committed a capital offense. You simply need to take responsibility for what you’ve done. Why are you making this long-winded speech?” Warner sneered. “You keep accusing me of wanting to seize the family’s power, but tell me, who has done more for this family than I have? I’m the only one dedicated to honoring our parents and managing the company.”
“All words and no substance…” Maria couldn’t finish her sentence as Sampson interrupted her, walking up to Landon and kneeling before him.
He looked at his father and mother, placing his palms on the floor and kowtowing. He didn’t rise from his position. “Mom, Dad, it’s all my fault. I’ll shoulder the full responsibility alone.”
The entire living room fell silent in an instant.
Camilla wiped away her tears and reached out to help her son up, her voice choked with emotion. “A grown man like you should never kneel like this! How can you kneel as if it’s nothing?”
But Sampson stood his ground. “You’re my parents. There’s nothing wrong with kneeling before you. You gave birth to me. I not only failed to honor you but also brought this tremendous disaster upon our family.” He looked up at Maria. “For Maria, I’m ashamed. I was the one who lost her as a child, and she suffered outside. I will bear the responsibility for her mistake in her place.”
“Are you sure?” Warner couldn’t wait for Landon to respond. “You’ll take the blame? What about Matthew? Will he agree?”
“Don’t worry about that, Warner.” Sampson was aware of Warner’s ambition to be the sole authority in the family, but he was also the eldest and undeniably capable.
Sampson didn’t want to fight.
He glanced at Warner. “Regardless of what Maria says, she’s still our sister. We share the same blood. Treat her kindly, don’t be too harsh. We all acknowledge the tremendous contributions you’ve made to the family, and no one will undermine that.”
“Don’t try to evoke sympathy.” Warner turned his head away. “You need to be responsible for what you’ve done. As for Maria, don’t worry, as long as she behaves like a sister, I’ll naturally take care of her.”
“I don’t need your care.” Maria lifted her head, even though she couldn’t protect herself at the moment, she didn’t want his help.
Landon closed his eyes, his appearance aged by ten years within the past hour. He looked at his younger son, still kneeling before him. “You can’t resolve this issue alone…”
“I have a plan. I can handle it on my own.” Sampson had already devised a countermeasure.
All he needed now was Landon’s approval.
Landon was concerned, but if he got angry again, he would be hurting his own son. And if he sent him away, it would also break his heart.
“What kind of hellish disaster is this?” Landon lamented, thumping his chest in frustration.
Camilla wiped away her tears, finally surrendering to her husband. “It’s my fault. I didn’t give you a good son.”
The entire family sank into a state of depression and lifelessness.
In the end, Landon felt a glimmer of relief that the problem would be resolved somehow. Someone had to bear the responsibility.
Still worried, he asked Sampson, “Are you really sure you have a solution?”
“Yes,” Sampson replied, pursing his lips. Camilla reached out to help him up. “Get up.”
This time, Sampson rose with his mother’s support, holding her hand.
“Sampson.” Maria realized that Sampson had always been kind to her, and she regretted forcing him to confront Dolores and losing any chance with her. “I’m sorry.”
“We’re family, there’s no need to apologize.” Sampson had no regrets. Dolores didn’t love him; she would never accept him.
But if he fought like this, even if he couldn’t win her heart, he could at least win her over physically. It was better than nothing. With a heavy heart, he turned around and made his way upstairs.
Landon was exhausted. He had reached his limit. “Go back to your rooms, all of you,” he commanded, his voice tinged with weariness.
Inside the villa, after Dolores was taken away the previous night, Simona woke up. She noticed Matthew’s clothes lying on the living room sofa. Remembering her mother mentioning that Matthew’s room was upstairs, she abandoned her search for Dolores and hurriedly ascended the stairs, knocking on his door.
Standing outside his room, she peered inside. She could see someone on the bed. “Daddy, can I sleep with you tonight?” she asked, her voice filled with longing.
Matthew couldn’t bring himself to respond. His gaze shifted, and he saw Dolores’s head peeking out from beneath the quilt. Her eyes were pleading, silently urging him to grant their daughter’s request.
Helplessly, Matthew agreed. He feared that rejecting Simona now would lead Dolores to reject him in the future. He had to endure this night, sacrificing his own desires.
Embracing Simona, he whispered, “Sleep in my arms.”
And just like that, the romantic world Matthew had envisioned, confined to just him and Dolores, was disrupted, transforming into a three-person existence.
Seven years had passed since they had obtained their marriage certificate and legally became a couple, yet Matthew had never laid a hand on his wife. He believed himself to be the most wretched husband in the world.
Dolores rose early, determined to hide the fact that she had slept upstairs from Jessica. She busied herself in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The memory of initiating a kiss with Matthew last night made her ears burn with embarrassment and frustration.
How could she have been so impulsive? Selling herself out just to gain their love for her daughter was not the solution. She scolded herself for her reckless actions.
“What are you muttering to yourself?” a voice suddenly sounded from behind her. Startled, Dolores swiftly turned around.