“Gina, be good.” Thomas half-embraced the child, looking at the woman in confusion, and asked again, “How did you get here?”
“Didn’t you send someone to pick us up?” the woman responded, equally puzzled.
“What’s going on here?” Thomas glanced at the silent driver standing at the door.
The driver pressed his lips together without speaking, then glanced in Andrew’s direction.
Thomas followed his gaze and saw Andrew sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, his eyebrows slightly raised, exuding an air of defiance and provocation.
Thomas wasn’t a fool and immediately understood that this was Andrew’s retaliation. His driver had been bribed by Andrew, or perhaps had been Andrew’s plant from the very beginning.
“I’d like to know what’s going on too. Thomas, who are this woman and child, and what are they doing here? Explain yourself!” Stella demanded, standing up from the sofa in a rage.
The little girl, terrified, clung tightly to Thomas.
Thomas hugged the child, patiently comforting her, “Gina, don’t be afraid, it’s okay…”
As he comforted the child, he began to cough, the cough growing increasingly severe.
“Daddy, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?” The little girl stretched out her small hand, gently patting Thomas’s back to soothe him.
The woman also stepped forward to support Thomas, her face full of concern and worry.
The picture of the three of them, looking so intimate, was truly striking. Nora, eyes red with emotion, rushed over, first pulling the woman away and then forcefully pushing the little girl aside.
“Why are you still here? Get out, get out right now!”
The little girl stumbled and fell to the ground, her head hitting the stair railing with a thud, instantly turning her forehead blue.
Holding her forehead, the little girl cried out in pain, wailing, “Daddy, Daddy!”
Seeing this, Thomas trembled with anger. “Nora, what are you yelling for? Where are your manners?!”
“Dad, tell them to leave right now! You’re bringing that woman and her illegitimate child here, where does that leave Mom and me?” Nora said angrily. However, before she finished speaking, Thomas slapped her hard across the face.
The slap was forceful, and Nora was stunned, a metallic taste in her throat as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Isabella, sitting aside, watched this scene in a daze, thinking she should humbly learn from Thomas. Even though he was seriously ill, he still had such strength; the slap was quick, hard, and precise.
“Nora!” Stella immediately rushed over to hold Nora.
“Mom.” Nora cried, holding her face.
Stella moved her hand and saw that her cheek was swollen like a steamed bun, her mouth bruised, and a clear handprint visible.
Stella exploded with rage, screaming hysterically, “Thomas! Are you out of your mind?”
Thomas, momentarily stunned by her scream, felt a pang of regret. This was obviously Andrew’s trap; the more chaotic his family became, the happier Andrew would be.
“Stella, calm down.”
“Calm down? You beat my daughter like this and want me to calm down!” Stella laughed coldly, pointing at the mother and daughter hugging each other. “Explain to me, who exactly are they?”
“Stella, I’ll explain everything to you later. I’ll have someone send them away immediately.” Thomas said, coughing violently. He was coughing so hard that he bent over.
Stella watched coldly without speaking. Instead, Elettra, holding her daughter, approached Thomas, patting his back and soothing him. She cried softly, “Thomas, it’s all my fault. Your driver said you wanted to see us, so we came. Have I caused you trouble again? Don’t be mad, I’ll take the child and leave right away.”
Isabella leaned against Andrew, observing coldly. She couldn’t tell if this woman named Elettra genuinely cared for Thomas or if she was just putting on an act. If it was the latter, then this woman’s performance was excellent, even making Isabella, a professional actress, feel inferior.
“Another white lotus?” she whispered into Andrew’s ear.
“Watch quietly,” Andrew replied with a smile, wrapping his arm around her. He whispered in her ear, “Whether it’s genuine or fake, you should learn from her. Men fall for this kind of act.”
“Oh, they do? Then you should divorce me and marry a little white flower,” Isabella retorted, pinching his waist hard.
Andrew caught her hand, smiling warmly as he half-embraced her.
Meanwhile, Thomas was arranging for the driver to take Elettra and the child away. Elettra kept her head down, looking submissive. The little girl, however, clung to Thomas’s leg, crying, “Daddy, come home with us, please? Daddy, I miss you.”
“Gina, be good. You and mommy go home first. Daddy will visit you another day,” Thomas said gently, stroking her head.
Stella watched them, her eyes turning sharp and cold. She sneered and said, “If you’re so reluctant, let’s keep the child here and do a DNA test. If she’s truly Thomas’s, the Turner family won’t let her starve.”
Elettra’s expression changed instantly. She hurriedly pulled the child into her arms, distancing herself from Thomas. “Mrs. Stella, we appreciate your kindness, but my child is very troublesome. We wouldn’t dare impose on you.”
“Why are you so scared? Unless this child isn’t Thomas’s and you’re just forcing her onto him,” Stella said harshly, her chin raised.
“No, it’s not like that,” Elettra cried, holding the child tightly, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Thomas with endless grievance.
“Stella, stop it!” Thomas sighed.
Stella pouted but said nothing more.
Afterward, Elettra and the child left with the driver. Before they left, both mother and daughter looked at Thomas with reluctance.
Once they were gone, Mrs. Hannah called Thomas and Stella over with a stern face.
“Thomas, explain what’s going on.”
Thomas, sitting beside Mrs. Hannah, coughed heavily and spoke intermittently, “Elettra… she’s a pitiful woman. She lost her mother at a young age, and her stepmother forced her to marry an old man. She ran away alone, and when she reached Ithaca Town, she was robbed of all her money. I met her by chance and saw she was helpless, so I arranged for her to work at our company…”
“Pitiful? There are many pitiful people in this world. Why haven’t I seen you spend money on charity?” Stella interrupted coldly, her tone sarcastic. “You arranged for her to work at the company, and she ended up in your bed, giving birth to a bastard!”