Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Evian’s body swayed, and her vision went dark. She nearly passed out.

With a contorted expression, Selena supported Evian.

The throbbing of the veins on David’s forehead was visible. He exuded a bloodthirsty aura, akin to a dethroned alpha lion, fixating on the prey that dared to encroach his territory. With a single gesture from him, Alfred in the distance caught the hint and promptly turned to leave.

The new alpha lion, Alexander, had already lowered his head, sending instructions through his phone.

The Lawson family had yet to grasp the gravity of the situation.

Upon seeing the Quirk family’s determination to complicate the situation, Jasper couldn’t help but fix his gaze on Evian. With a pressuring tone, he said, “Are you really going to make a fuss over such a trivial matter? Since when did you become so petty?”

Evian slowly lifted her head, her bloodshot eyes filled with despair. A jolt struck Jasper’s heart at the sight.

“Why?”

Evian found the whole situation absurd. She believed he had chosen to marry her only because he couldn’t win back his true love and felt obligated to be responsible for their child. Yet, she was told that he had actually been together with his mistress all along.

Why didn’t he ask for a divorce then? Why is he stringing me along? He even dares to blame me for everything! How can he be so shamelessly self-righteous?

“What do you mean by why? Fine! If you can’t accept him, then we won’t adopt him. I’ll send him back tomorrow.”

That night, Evian’s peculiar behavior left Jasper feeling control was slipping from his grasp. After some thought, he decided to take a step back.

Evian looked at Jasper, who still bore an air of condescension, and couldn’t help but feel repulsed. The illusion of him as an outstanding senior had completely shattered, leaving behind his true colors.

Isabella was also thoroughly disgusted. However, she was unaware that Evian and the others had heard the truth. She found it hard to resist the urge to expose such juicy gossip when knowing the people involved were still in the dark. Yet, she couldn’t voice her thoughts outright, so she had no choice but to help through twisted ways.

“Send the child away? You mentioned earlier that the child’s mother was nowhere to be found, but it looks like you’re quite informed of her whereabouts! Could it be that you guys are still together on the sly? It looks like an investigation is necessary to find out whether you’ve contacted or met the child’s mother over the years. We can’t let Evie raise your child after being cheated on, can we?”

Jasper’s pupils quivered almost imperceptibly from shock, his voice finally betraying some panic. “Spreading rumors about me? My mom was right when she said you lack manners!”

Alexander immediately warned, “Shut up.”

Two words, spoken not too loudly. Yet, they pierced Jasper’s psyche like icy arrows, deeply wounding him, and leaving him momentarily stunned.

If it weren’t for the need to hide the fact that they could hear Isabella’s inner thoughts, they would’ve undoubtedly exposed the hypocrite on the spot.

Isabella scoffed, wagged her finger at Jasper, and pointed her slender, fair finger at the silent Sean. “Look at your son’s expression before you refute me,” she said.

Children weren’t as skilled at lying as adults. When Isabella’s assumption hit a bullseye, Sean was flustered.

Before Jasper could react, Selena quickly prompted, “Sweetheart, tell us, have you ever met your father before? Remember, good kids shouldn’t lie.”

Sean couldn’t hold back any longer. Tugging Jasper’s sleeve, he pleaded, “Dad, let’s go home, Mom is…”

Jasper’s breath hitched, and he reflexively pulled his sleeve away from panic. However, his action was too abrupt, and he accidentally smacked Sean’s face.

Sean was struck so hard that he tumbled off the couch, startling everyone.

A handprint was a striking contrast to his fair, delicate face.

Chaos instantly erupted.

Isabella was taken aback. She quickly stood up and pulled Sean toward her, not wanting to involve him.

Sean had already started crying. Evian’s heart softened at the sight. Seeing Isabella didn’t know how to comfort him, she had no choice but to cradle him in her arms and gently pat him.

The sadness Sean felt deepened. He genuinely felt Evian was incredibly kind and gentle, yet his parents insisted on bullying her. It was a torment on his conscience.

Finally, gathering up courage, he said, “My parents have always lived together, only occasionally being apart. They told me I was an illegitimate child and that the only way for me to have a normal life was to trick you into adopting me. I didn’t understand. I really didn’t, but I knew it was wrong!”

After he spoke, it was pin drop silence.

He clutched onto Evian’s sleeve, choking out a soft apology. He was sorry for nearly becoming an accomplice in deceiving her.

Upon hearing everything, Evian finally burst into tears.

Paula anxiously grabbed Jasper, her face filled with bewilderment. “Jasper, did you really…”

Jasper’s expression had completely changed. He committed the crime but was scared to be exposed in front of the Quirk family.

He still stubbornly insisted, “Nonsense! I can’t believe this kid has been taught to lie like this to frame me. He’s scheming for me to get back with his mother. That’s why he said that. Evian, you’re not doubting me too, are you?”

Sean turned to look at his father in disbelief. He couldn’t believe Jasper was blatantly lying.

If it hadn’t been for Isabella’s Gossip System, the Quirk family might’ve been deceived by Jasper’s righteous indignation performance.

However, the current Jasper was acting like a fool. He wouldn’t easily admit his wrongdoing. In his opinion, Isabella’s assumptions were nothing more than wild guesses made by chance. He had always kept up a good front and was careful not to leave any room for criticism over the past nine years.

The Quirk family would’ve dealt with me long ago if they truly knew the truth. Yet, how credible is a child’s word? Not to mention, Sienna is about to go abroad. Even if the Quirk family has any suspicions later and wants to search for her, they won’t be able to find her.

Jasper frantically devised a strategy.

Suddenly, Evian stood up, catching everyone off guard. She grabbed the half-eaten fruit platter from the table and hurled it at Jasper.

The fruit platter was quite hefty. A loud thud echoed through the room, startling Paula and Sean.

Jasper’s head began to bleed. He was covered in a mess of fruit and shards of dishware. His refined glasses had been knocked off his face. He held his forehead, staring dazedly at the usually gentle woman who had suddenly lost her temper.

“You’ve lost your mind!” Jasper was furious from shame, feeling as if someone beneath him had challenged his authority.

“Jasper, I’ve never wronged you, it was you who wronged me! You and Sienna treated me like an idiot! You both have no conscience!” Finally, Evian let out a gut-wrenching scream. Years of suppressed grievances surged forth with her outcry. Realization dawned upon her.

Panic finally set in. Jasper knew he couldn’t threaten Evian any longer. All he could muster was a stuttered response. “D-Don’t you falsely accuse me! I—”

Before Jasper could finish his sentence, Alexander tossed his phone onto the table, revealing an ongoing video call.

A cry for help blared from the phone, “Let me go! Who are you people? You’re trespassing!”

The screen displayed a room where Sienna, dressed casually, was forcefully made to sit on a chair.

“It’s Mom!” Sean became frantic.

Jasper’s face drastically changed as he heard other sounds coming from the phone.

“Mr. Alexander, we’ve found it. Here are Mr. Lawson’s work documents, traces of his life, and some photos. It appears to be where they lived…” the person on the other end reported professionally.

Jasper was utterly stunned. Before he could react, a whip suddenly lashed out of thin air.

A gory streak slashed across Jasper’s face, causing him to cry out in pain. He stumbled back a few steps, but the whip relentlessly pursued him, cracking ceaselessly in the air.

It was a horse whip, which Alfred brought to David.

Jasper was unfaithful for years yet audaciously expected Evian to raise his illegitimate child. The insult his daughter suffered was so great that even the usually composed David was filled with a murderous rage.

Jasper was struck, falling clumsily to the ground. Facing David’s wrath, he was completely dazed to the point where he didn’t even think of running away.

Paula rushed forward to save her son, crying out in desperation. Sean also charged in, pleading, “Stop hitting my dad, please, stop hitting my dad! I beg you, stop!”

Watching Sean bravely stand in front of the whip, David finally ceased.

Jasper was covered in whip marks. The pain caused his entire body to twitch uncontrollably.

“Divorce, Jasper, I want a divorce!” Evian’s voice finally came through, torn and raw.