Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations
Keira, however, remained standing in place, motionless.
She clenched her fists tightly, the moonlight casting upon her cool countenance, making her voice seem as if it were coated in a layer of ice. âDonât bother.â
Lewis pondered for a moment before speaking. âActually, even if heâs not your father, Mrs. Olsen could still possibly be yourâ¦â
âDonât say it.â Keira Olsen interrupted him.
The moment he uttered âmotherâ, it would tarnish Mrs. Olsenâs character!
She lowered her eyes and spoke slowly, âAlthough Taylor was mean to me, he has always loved Mrs. Olsen, and that has never changed. With such a husband, how could Mrs. Olsen possibly have an affair? Letâs not insult her.
Lewisâs jaw tensed as he tried to argue, but he remained silent.
Keira Olsenâs lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. â1 always thought that the status of an illegitimate daughter was already quite sordid, but I never imagined it could get even worseâ¦â
Lewis wanted to say something to comfort her, but Keira gestured with her
hand. âI need a moment alone.â
âAlright.â
Lewis said quietly, taking a step back silently to give her ample space.
Poppy approached the hospital room nervously, and from outside the door, she heard the conversation between Mrs. Olsen and Taylor, which mentioned
Keira.
Mrs. Olsen said, âAfter all, you and Keira are father and daughter. She was very nervous about you just now. You should be nicer to her in the future.â Taylor, who had stopped bleeding and whose vital signs were stable, sighed. âYou should be nicer to Islaâ¦â
Mrs. Olsen suddenly lowered her voice, âTaylor, donât be like this. You know very well that I was pregnant before marrying you, and I havenât been able to give you a child after that. Keira is your real daughterâ¦â
â â Donât talk like that,â Taylor said with a smile. âWhen we got married, I already said that your daughter would be my daughter. Shirley, over these years, Iâve kept my word.â
Mrs. Olsenâs eyes welled up with grateful tears. âYouâve kept your word, but itâs so unfair to Keira, and itâs too unfair to youâ¦â
âThe fact that you could give up the prosperity of Clance and live with me in simplicity in Oceanion, Iâm already very content. Whatâs unfair about that? Letâs not talk about this anymore.â
Taylor smiled. âBesides, youâve been so good to Keira over the years. Wasnât that also out of a sense of redress? Shirley, sheâs the result of Poppyâs scheming against me. Iâve never considered her as my daughter; you really donât need to do this.â
Mrs. Olsen looked stunned.
At first, she might have indeed been kind to Keira with that thought in mind, but as they gradually got to know each other, she genuinely grew fond of Keiraâ¦
Poppy stood outside the door, her face flushing red with anger.
She indeed had seduced Taylor by drugging him back then, and after getting pregnant, she even went through with amniocentesis to confirm the child was Taylorâs, but even after that, Taylor still wouldnât accept her.
It was Mrs. Olsen who later brought her into the Olsen family.
Mrs. Olsen might seem virtuous, but in truth, her acceptance of her and the child was due to her guilt toward Taylor!
All the benefits and the reputation for virtue had been taken by her!
Fortunatelyâ¦
The thought of how she had just berated Keira, coupled with the sight of Keiraâs disbelief, rose a twisted sense of elation within Poppy.
She wouldnât let Keira off the hook. She intended to make Keira live a lifetime in the pain and struggle of her identity!
Nor would she let Mrs. Olsen go. She intended to ensure that Mrs. Olsen and Keira, the mother and daughter, could never know their real relationship! A hint of madness crept onto Poppyâs face, twisting into a crazed smile.
Keira didnât know how long she had stood there.
She was right at the edge of the hospital entrance steps, which was a place untouched by the light. She watched those people coming and going through the hospital entrance.
They were either joyful or sorrowful, their expressions so vivid and bright.
Her mood, however, was as dull as ashes.
She didnât know how long had passed when suddenly a warmth landed on her shoulder.
Keira turned her head and realized that Lewis had draped his jacket over her, the warmth shielding her from the cruelty of this world.
âActuallyâ¦â
Lewis hesitated for a long time before he finally spoke but only managed to utter a single word. He didnât know how to comfort her.
While he was still struggling, Keira said, âIâm fine, donât worry.
Lewis was startled and then saw Keira slowly lift her head. She walked from the darkness toward the light, the defeatist aura around her slowly dissipating.
Appreciation flashed in Lewisâs eyes.
He had initially been attracted to Keira because of her resilience.
It seemed that no matter what, if she was knocked down, she could immediately stand up again.
She wasnât a fragile and powerless flower. Inside her slender body seemed to be a wealth of energy, making her overly seductive exterior seem unapproachable and dazzling.
Lewisâs lips curved with an almost imperceptible smile, and he found a topic to discuss. âMiss Olsen, what do you think is the secret that Finley Hill and Connor Hill keep talking about?â
âIâm not in a hurry.â Keira cocked her head, looking wild and laughing unrestrainedly. âConnor Hill will tell me in the end.â
Lewis played along with her. âReally? I would love to hear more.â âYou donât know Isla,â Keira Olsen said slowly. âAfter this is over, she wonât allow something dangerous to affect her future.
Lewis was taken aback, âWhat do you mean?â
âJust wait and see.â
Keira teased him. âIn at most half a month, Isla will destroy herself.â
Lewis nodded, âIâll await the good news.â
Neither of them spoke again, just quietly looking at each other.
Tonight was probably the first time Keira didnât feel lonely in the dead of night as if on the road of life, she didnât always have to walk forward aloneâ¦
Not far away.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen took a walk in the hospital after Rebecca had gone to sleep. Coincidentally, they arrived at the emergency room entrance.
just when they were about to walk straight past it, Mrs. Allen suddenly turned her head, looking at Keira in surprise. âWait.â
Mr. Allen was startled and followed her gaze.
The night was a bit dark, and Keira stood under a streetlamp, its dim light spilling across the silhouette of her face, softening her sharp features significantly.
Especially at that moment when she looked at Lewis, her eyes were tender and resolute.
Her neck was slender, and her demeanor was independent, carrying a distinctive charm about her.
The sight froze Mr. Allen on the spot.
The image of meeting Lady South more than twenty years ago suddenly flashed in his mind; it was such an evening, with Lady South appearing aloof from the world.
The woman in her forties stood sideways to him, gazing at the sky.
The two silhouettes began to overlap⦠It seemed like Lady Southâs face in his memory became clearer!
Mr. Allen was instantly excited. He hurriedly took a few steps toward Keira and subconsciously called out, âLady South!â
Keira, hearing that name, paused slightly..