Chapter 713


    Jeffrey knew that if he yed his cards right, he could''ve kept the whole mess under wraps—


    absolute power has its perks. But every time he looked into Karen''s eyes, guilt gnawed at him like a


    hungry rat.


    He wanted toe clean to Karen; he really did. But how could he now when everything had fallen


    apart?


    "Jeffrey, are you really going to break it off with Karen? You two were practically engaged!" Paloma


    adored Karen and could see that her son had been serious this time.


    But the current predicament seemed insurmountable.


    Soon after, Huxley returned with the doctor. Upon seeing his wife in tears clutching their son, he


    was clueless about the upheaval.


    As the doctor tended to Jeffrey''s hand, Paloma filled in her husband, hoping he might have a


    solution to salvage the situation.


    But Huxley wasn''t looking to salvage anything. "Jeffrey, bring that Paige girl over," hemanded


    without preamble.


    "What are you nning?" Paloma was taken aback.


    "She''s given birth to your child; you have to own up to it! A Turner child cannot be left to fend for


    themselves out there," Huxley stated firmly, his temper barely in check. "But before that, we''re


    getting a paternity test done."


    He wouldn''t acknowledge a child without certainty.


    "I''m not marrying her," Jeffrey said, his silhouette rigid against the window light, not even flinching


    as the doctor applied antiseptic to his wounds.


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    "Then why the hell did you mess around with her? Why give her a chance to get pregnant?" Huxley


    mmed his hand on the table, no longer caring about the doctor''s presence, and scolded, "Jeffrey,


    I''ve warned you before about your reckless ways. No one in the Turner family has ever


    embarrassed us like this! Did you listen? Now look at the mess you''ve made, throwing tantrums at


    home. What does that prove?"


    "Enough, Huxley," Paloma interjected, worried about her son''s fragile state.


    Huxley rounded on his wife too. "And you! You were nning to help Jeffrey keep this from that girl.


    What were you thinking? Is your son the only one who matters? Their daughter doesn''t count? I


    think you''re half to me for this mess! You''ve spoiled him rotten!"


    "It''s not my mom''s fault, stop it," Jeffrey''s voice was hoarse, "I won''t marry Paige, and I''ll leave


    Karen alone. Everett''s got a new project abroad; I''m leaving Eldorria City."


    He had made up his mind. No one else was to me but him.


    Thankfully, he hadn’t obtained the marriage certificate with Karen yet, so things weren’t too bad for


    her.


    Paloma wasn''t ready to give up. "Now hold on, things haven''t reached a dead end yet. Jeffrey, I''ll go


    to the Miller family right now and try to smooth things over. Karen''s a sweetheart; she might just


    soften up and forgive you. Besides, the child was from two years ago, and you didn''t even know


    about it!"


    She couldn''t bear to see her son suffer over a mistake.


    "Let him go!" Huxley dered, "Stop babying him!"


    "Jeffrey..."


    "Mom, leave it. I brought this on myself. I deserve it."


    Paloma was about to speak when her cellphone chimed. It was Karen.


    "Karen''s calling me!" Paloma eximed before answering the phone.


    Karen''s voice was raspy on the other end. "I''m sorry. I thought I should at least tell you, Mrs. Turner.


    Jeffrey and I... we''ve broken up."