âNot acquainted,â Lizbeth shook her head, âand the moment I first saw her, I felt that she was strange.â
âI had the same feeling, Mrs. Murphy mused, âher gaze reminded me of someone, but I canât recall who.â
âMom,â Lizbeth grabbed Mrs. Murphyâs hand, âdoesnât her expression resemble Evelyn Murphyâs?â
ââ¦â Mrs. Murphy took a breath, âEvelyn Murphy?â
âI felt that way. Lizbeth said, âcould it be my imagination?â
âYouâre right,â Mrs. Murphy furrowed her brow, âitâs that feeling! Although this Erin looks different from Evelyn, her gaze is eerily similar to Evelynâs!â
âNow that you mention it, I also had that thought,â Paul said, âthe first time I saw her back in Struyria, it caught me off guard.â
âThis canât be a coincidence, can it?â Mrs. Murphy said, âThis woman doesnât look much like Evelyn, but her gaze, itâs that same cunning and malevolent look.â
âAnd I sense a deviousness in her, Lizbeth said, âthat day, she even mentioned being pregnant with Edmondâs child, wanting to become the Murphy familyâs young mistress.â
âHow could that be?â Mrs. Murphy exchanged a glance with her husband, âWe donât even know who she is! The doors to the Murphy family are not open for just anyone to enter! We canât let Murphyâs familyâs bloodline be scattered outside.â
Mrs. Murphy stood up from her chair, her expression angered, âIâll talk with her. Sheâs getting ahead of herself!â
âThe thing is, Edmond dotes on her, Lizbeth said, âyou and Dad donât need to strain your relationship with Edmond because of her.â
âThe selection for the position of Murphy familyâs young mistress wonât be so casual!â Mrs. Murphy said. with a cold face, âEven if Edmond gets her pregnant, itâs nothing special. We can give her money and send her away!â
âBut thereâs a child involved, right?â Lizbeth frowned, Thatâs an innocent life too, part of the Murphy familyâs blood.â
âShe says itâs Edmondâs, so it must be Edmondâs?â Mrs. Murphy snorted, âThis kind of loose woman, who knows who she got pregnant by, maybe sheâs trying to pin it on Edmond! Besides, we canât even be sure if sheâs pregnant! The complexion and laziness of a pregnant woman, those canât be faked easily! Your mother gave birth to you three, donât I have that experience?â CD Lizbeth, ââ¦â She hadnât thought about these aspects, her motherâs words seemed reasonable.
âLet me handle this!â Mrs. Murphy said with a cold snor, âWatch how Iâll get the truth out of her!â
Lizbeth, â⦠Motherâs still as sharp as ever!
During dinner, Paul asked Lizbeth what kind of dowry she wanted.
I'll follow Mom and Dadâs decision,â Lizbeth said, âwhatever they think is best.â
âMom and Dad wonât treat you unfairly,â Mrs. Murphy said, her eyes slightly teary, âYouâre their flesh and blood, yet youâve suffered so much outside. They feel sorry for you.â
âIâm doing fine.â Lizbethâs eyes were also a bit watery, but she smiled. âMom and Dad shouldnât dwell on those things. Iâm here with you now, and Iâm happy just the same, right?â Itâs just that this happiness came a bit late.
Thinking about the days she endured hardships in the countryside with her foster parents, it was truly a difficult time.
âThough thatâs what you say,â Mrs. Murphy held her daughterâs hand, âif we hadnât discovered the mistake with Evelyn and hadnât quickly found the hospital records and located you in time, you would still be suffering in the countryside. And by then, your foster parents had already passed away, you wouldâve been all alone.â
âMy foster parents treated me well,â Lizbeth said, âat least they gave me a home, helped me grow up smoothly. I just didnât expect them to pass away so soon.â
âThose two years were tough,â Mrs. Murphy served Lizbeth a dish, âyour foster parents falling ill and passing away, with no one to support you, how did you manage all alone?â