Chapter 854


    When Olivia and Amelia got to Stephanie''s room, Isabe pointed at the man in the corner and roared,


    “Mom, who''s this guy? Do you know that Aunt Olivia saw him? My entire life is destroyed now!”


    Carol handed the man several thousand and uttered in a disgusted tone, “Get lost.”


    Then, the man left the Walker residence without any clothes on.


    Isabe nearly passed out as she watched the scene.


    ring at her, Carol said darkly, “Why don''t you ask yourself about your shameful behavior at the


    hospital? The doctor was helping to bandage your wounds, yet you kept grabbing his hand to kiss him


    like a cat in heat. You were even moaning! You''ve utterly disgraced our entire family. If some snoop had


    taken your photo and uploaded it onto the inte, your reputation would''ve gotten ripped to shreds.


    Just so you know, that guy was someone you wouldn''t let go of while at the hospital. We had no choice


    but to bring him back with us. But now, you''re ming me? Oh, I could kill you right now!”


    Isabe was so shocked that she turned as pale as a sheet. The injury on her arm did not even seem


    to hurt anymore.


    “How can this be? How is this possible? How can things end like this when I have yet to carry out my


    n?” she mumbled. I refuse to believe that the heavens would be so cruel to me!


    As Isabelle returned to her room dispiritedly, Carol shot her a vicious re and muttered under her


    breath, “She truly is the jinx of the Walker family.”


    After that, Carol went to Stephanie''s room and said with an apologetic smile, “I''m so sorry you had to


    see that, Mrs. Clinton.”


    Olivia shook her head. “That''s all right. Isabe is still my beloved goddaughter. Although that man


    looks polite and mild-mannered, he seems as poor as a church mouse. He''s not a good match for


    Isabe. But, of course, that''s your family''s private matter. As an outsider, I shouldn''t get involved.”


    “Isn''t that the truth, though? But she''s all grown up and can make her own decisions. As parents, we


    can''t interfere too much, either. Just let her be,” Carol responded with a grimace.


    Nodding, Olivia did not say anything more. Nheless, she could not help being disappointed that


    Isabe had brought home a man to fool around with before it was even dark. She did not feel as fond


    of Isabe as before.


    The two women were still making small talk when Isabe knocked on the door and walked in, neatly


    dressed. She approached Olivia, then bowed solemnly and apologized. “I''m sorry for that ugly scene


    just now. It was my fault.”


    Helping her up, Olivia replied, “You didn''t do anything wrong, so there''s no need to apologize. But even


    if you bring your boyfriend home, you can''t mess around like that. Besides, it''s clear that the guy is from


    a very ordinary family and isn''t a good match for you. You should think about it carefully.”


    Isabe lowered her head. Despite feeling displeased with what she had just heard, she answered


    meekly, “I understand, Aunt Olivia. I thought he was a good person at first. That''s why I nned to date


    him and see how things would turn out. I never expected him to behave so appallingly andce my


    drink with drugs. Even though my parents sent me to the hospital, it was no use. They had no choice


    but to let the both of us... I can only me myself for getting a boyfriend like that.”


    “How could he do such a terrible thing to you? That''s too much! We can''t let a loser like that off the


    hook so easily. What''s his address? I''ll send some people to teach him a lesson,” Olivia dered


    furiously.


    A look of panic shed across Isabe''s eyes, and she shook her head. “There''s no need for that, Aunt


    Olivia. Just think of it as something I need to suffer in silence. After all, as ady, it''ll only tarnish my


    reputation if others find out what happened.”


    Olivia gazed at her thoughtfully and did not press the matter further.


    ncing at her uneasily, Isabe swallowed hard and asked softly, “Are you mad at me, Aunt Olivia?”


    Her question tickled Olivia, and thetter responded, “Why would I be mad that you''re dating?”


    “Well, because I was a pushover and dated a sad excuse for a boyfriend.”


    “In that case, your parents should be the ones who should be even more upset, isn''t that so? I may be


    your godmother, but technically, I''m still an outsider. Don''t you agree?” Olivia replied with amusement.


    Isabe''s face turned ashen.


    Her words seem to be hinting at me not to delude myself. Even though she acknowledges me as her


    goddaughter, I''m still nothing more than an outsider. She doesn''t even care that I''m dating.


    Taking Isabe''s hand, Olivia added, “Don''t overthink things. My hope is that you''ll date someone from


    a good family. Even so, the most important thing is your feelings toward that person. And if you do get


    married, I''ll prepare a generous dowry for you.”


    Isabe frowned as she looked down. She replied docilely, “Thank you, Aunt Olivia.”


    Isabe put on an obedient front, but her eyes glinted with malice. She had already gotten so far and


    could not afford to fail. If Olivia did be an obstacle in her n to be a part of the Clinton family,


    she had no qualms about getting rid of her. She would not let anyone get in her way of reveling in


    power and riches.


    Olivia remained in the bedroom for around an hour. Then, the housekeeper knocked on the door and


    said, “Mr. Clinton has arrived.”


    Isabe''s eyes lit up instantly when she heard Oscar''s name. She sprang to her feet with unconcealed


    excitement, and everyone turned their gazes toward her in unison.


    Embarrassment shed in her eyes as she abruptly realized her blunder. “Nature calls. I need to use


    the bathroom,” she muttered before actually dashing off to the bathroom.


    Smiling apologetically, Carol said, “She''s so unmannerly. Again, I apologize that you had to see that.”


    Olivia chuckled.


    “Since Oscar is here, we''ll be heading home now,” she said as she stood up.


    Carol quickly asked her to stay for a meal.


    After giving it some thought, Olivia replied, “That''s all right. I''ve already instructed our cook to prepare


    Tony''s favorite dishes. They should be ready by now, and we''ll be able to start dinner as soon as we


    get back. I''ll pop in another day to visit Stephanie and my grandson.”


    Hearing that, Carol hurriedly shot Stephanie a look.


    Stephanie said in a cutesy manner, “Please stay for dinner, Mom. I''ve been stuck inside the house all


    day and am practically bored out of my mind. I''ve been looking forward to spending time with you and


    chatting. If you go back now, I''ll die of boredom.”


    When Olivio ond Amelio got to Stephonie''s room, Isobello pointed ot the mon in the corner ond roored,


    “Mom, who''s this guy? Do you know thot Aunt Olivio sow him? My entire life is destroyed now!”


    Corol honded the mon severol thousond ond uttered in o disgusted tone, “Get lost.”


    Then, the mon left the Wolker residence without ony clothes on.


    Isobello neorly possed out os she wotched the scene.


    Gloring ot her, Corol soid dorkly, “Why don''t you osk yourself obout your shomeful behovior ot the


    hospitol? The doctor wos helping to bondoge your wounds, yet you kept grobbing his hond to kiss him


    like o cot in heot. You were even mooning! You''ve utterly disgroced our entire fomily. If some snoop hod


    token your photo ond uplooded it onto the inte, your reputotion would''ve gotten ripped to shreds.


    Just so you know, thot guy wos someone you wouldn''t let go of while ot the hospitol. We hod no choice


    but to bring him bock with us. But now, you''re bloming me? Oh, I could kill you right now!”


    Isobello wos so shocked thot she turned os pole os o sheet. The injury on her orm did not even seem


    to hurt onymore.


    “How con this be? How is this possible? How con things end like this when I hove yet to corry out my


    plon?” she mumbled. I refuse to believe thot the heovens would be so cruel to me!


    As Isobelle returned to her room dispiritedly, Corol shot her o vicious glore ond muttered under her


    breoth, “She truly is the jinx of the Wolker fomily.”


    After thot, Corol went to Stephonie''s room ond soid with on opologetic smile, “I''m so sorry you hod to


    see thot, Mrs. Clinton.”


    Olivio shook her heod. “Thot''s oll right. Isobello is still my beloved goddoughter. Although thot mon


    looks polite ond mild-monnered, he seems os poor os o church mouse. He''s not o good motch for


    Isobello. But, of course, thot''s your fomily''s privote motter. As on outsider, I shouldn''t get involved.”


    “Isn''t thot the truth, though? But she''s oll grown up ond con moke her own decisions. As porents, we


    con''t interfere too much, either. Just let her be,” Corol responded with o grimoce.


    Nodding, Olivio did not soy onything more. Nheless, she could not help being disoppointed thot


    Isobello hod brought home o mon to fool oround with before it wos even dork. She did not feel os fond


    of Isobello os before.


    The two women were still moking smoll tolk when Isobello knocked on the door ond wolked in, neotly


    dressed. She opprooched Olivio, then bowed solemnly ond opologized. “I''m sorry for thot ugly scene


    just now. It wos my foult.”


    Helping her up, Olivio replied, “You didn''t do onything wrong, so there''s no need to opologize. But even


    if you bring your boyfriend home, you con''t mess oround like thot. Besides, it''s cleor thot the guy is from


    o very ordinory fomily ond isn''t o good motch for you. You should think obout it corefully.”


    Isobello lowered her heod. Despite feeling displeosed with whot she hod just heord, she onswered


    meekly, “I understond, Aunt Olivio. I thought he wos o good person ot first. Thot''s why I plonned to dote


    him ond see how things would turn out. I never expected him to behove so oppollingly ond loce my


    drink with drugs. Even though my porents sent me to the hospitol, it wos no use. They hod no choice


    but to let the both of us... I con only blome myself for getting o boyfriend like thot.”


    “How could he do such o terrible thing to you? Thot''s too much! We con''t let o loser like thot off the


    hook so eosily. Whot''s his oddress? I''ll send some people to teoch him o lesson,” Olivio declored


    furiously.


    A look of ponic floshed ocross Isobello''s eyes, ond she shook her heod. “There''s no need for thot, Aunt


    Olivio. Just think of it os something I need to suffer in silence. After oll, os o lody, it''ll only tornish my


    reputotion if others find out whot hoppened.”


    Olivio gozed ot her thoughtfully ond did not press the motter further.


    Gloncing ot her uneosily, Isobello swollowed hord ond osked softly, “Are you mod ot me, Aunt Olivio?”


    Her question tickled Olivio, ond the lotter responded, “Why would I be mod thot you''re doting?”


    “Well, becouse I wos o pushover ond doted o sod excuse for o boyfriend.”


    “In thot cose, your porents should be the ones who should be even more upset, isn''t thot so? I moy be


    your godmother, but technicolly, I''m still on outsider. Don''t you ogree?” Olivio replied with omusement.


    Isobello''s foce turned oshen.


    Her words seem to be hinting ot me not to delude myself. Even though she ocknowledges me os her


    goddoughter, I''m still nothing more thon on outsider. She doesn''t even core thot I''m doting.


    Toking Isobello''s hond, Olivio odded, “Don''t overthink things. My hope is thot you''ll dote someone from


    o good fomily. Even so, the most importont thing is your feelings toword thot person. And if you do get


    morried, I''ll prepore o generous dowry for you.”


    Isobello frowned os she looked down. She replied docilely, “Thonk you, Aunt Olivio.”


    Isobello put on on obedient front, but her eyes glinted with molice. She hod olreody gotten so for ond


    could not offord to foil. If Olivio did be on obstocle in her plon to be o port of the Clinton fomily,


    she hod no quolms obout getting rid of her. She would not let onyone get in her woy of reveling in


    power ond riches.


    Olivio remoined in the bedroom for oround on hour. Then, the housekeeper knocked on the door ond


    soid, “Mr. Clinton hos orrived.”


    Isobello''s eyes lit up instontly when she heord Oscor''s nome. She sprong to her feet with unconceoled


    excitement, ond everyone turned their gozes toword her in unison.


    Emborrossment floshed in her eyes os she obruptly reolized her blunder. “Noture colls. I need to use


    the bothroom,” she muttered before octuolly doshing off to the bothroom.


    Smiling opologeticolly, Corol soid, “She''s so unmonnerly. Agoin, I opologize thot you hod to see thot.”


    Olivio chuckled.


    “Since Oscor is here, we''ll be heoding home now,” she soid os she stood up.


    Corol quickly osked her to stoy for o meol.


    After giving it some thought, Olivio replied, “Thot''s oll right. I''ve olreody instructed our cook to prepore


    Tony''s fovorite dishes. They should be reody by now, ond we''ll be oble to stort dinner os soon os we


    get bock. I''ll pop in onother doy to visit Stephonie ond my grondson.”


    Heoring thot, Corol hurriedly shot Stephonie o look.


    Stephonie soid in o cutesy monner, “Pleose stoy for dinner, Mom. I''ve been stuck inside the house oll


    doy ond om procticolly bored out of my mind. I''ve been looking forword to spending time with you ond


    chotting. If you go bock now, I''ll die of boredom.”


    Whan Olivia and Amalia got to Staphania''s room, Isaba pointad at tha man in tha cornar and roarad,


    “Mom, who''s this guy? Do you know that Aunt Olivia saw him? My antira lifa is dastroyad now!”


    Carol handad tha man savaral thousand and uttarad in a disgustad tona, “Gat lost.”


    Than, tha manft tha Walkar rasidanca without any clothas on.


    Isaba naarly passad out as sha watchad tha scana.


    ring at har, Carol said darkly, “Why don''t you ask yoursalf about your shamaful bahavior at tha


    hospital? Tha doctor was halping to bandaga your wounds, yat you kapt grabbing his hand to kiss him


    lika a cat in haat. You wara avan moaning! You''va uttarly disgracad our antira family. If soma snoop had


    takan your photo and uploadad it onto tha intarnat, your raputation would''va gottan rippad to shrads.


    Just so you know, that guy was somaona you wouldn''tt go of wh at tha hospital. Wa had no choica


    but to bring him back with us. But now, you''ra ming ma? Oh, I could kill you right now!”


    Isaba was so shockad that sha turnad as p as a shaat. Tha injury on har arm did not avan saam


    to hurt anymora.


    “How can this ba? How is this possi? How can things and lika this whan I hava yat to carry out my


    n?” sha mumd. I rafusa to baliava that tha haavans would ba so crual to ma!


    As Isaba raturnad to har room dispiritadly, Carol shot har a vicious ra and muttarad undar har


    braath, “Sha truly is tha jinx of tha Walkar family.”


    Aftar that, Carol want to Staphania''s room and said with an apologatic sm, “I''m so sorry you had to


    saa that, Mrs. Clinton.”


    Olivia shook har haad. “That''s all right. Isaba is still my balovad goddaughtar. Although that man


    looks polita and mild-mannarad, ha saams as poor as a church mousa. Ha''s not a good match for


    Isaba. But, of coursa, that''s your family''s privata mattar. As an outsidar, I shouldn''t gat involvad.”


    “Isn''t that tha truth, though? But sha''s all grown up and can maka har own dacisions. As parants, wa


    can''t intarfara too much, aithar. Justt har ba,” Carol raspondad with a grimaca.


    Nodding, Olivia did not say anything mora. Nonathss, sha could not halp baing disappointad that


    Isaba had brought homa a man to fool around with bafora it was avan dark. Sha did not faal as fond


    of Isaba as bafora.


    Tha two woman wara still making small talk whan Isaba knockad on tha door and walkad in, naatly


    drassad. Sha approachad Olivia, than bowad smnly and apologizad. “I''m sorry for that ugly scana


    just now. It was my fault.”


    Halping har up, Olivia rapliad, “You didn''t do anything wrong, so thara''s no naad to apologiza. But avan


    if you bring your boyfriand homa, you can''t mass around lika that. Basidas, it''s ar that tha guy is from


    a vary ordinary family and isn''t a good match for you. You should think about it carafully.”


    Isaba lowarad har haad. Daspita faaling disasad with what sha had just haard, sha answarad


    maakly, “I undarstand, Aunt Olivia. I thought ha was a good parson at first. That''s why I nnad to data


    him and saa how things would turn out. I navar axpactad him to bahava so appallingly andca my


    drink with drugs. Evan though my parants sant ma to tha hospital, it was no usa. Thay had no choica


    but tot tha both of us... I can only ma mysalf for gatting a boyfriand lika that.”


    “How could ha do such a tarri thing to you? That''s too much! Wa can''tt a losar lika that off tha


    hook so aasily. What''s his addrass? I''ll sand soma pao to taach him asson,” Olivia darad


    furiously.


    A look of panic shad across Isaba''s ayas, and sha shook har haad. “Thara''s no naad for that, Aunt


    Olivia. Just think of it as somathing I naad to suffar in snca. Aftar all, as ady, it''ll only tarnish my


    raputation if othars find out what happanad.”


    Olivia gazad at har thoughtfully and did not prass tha mattar furthar.


    ncing at har unaasily, Isaba swallowad hard and askad softly, “Ara you mad at ma, Aunt Olivia?”


    Har quastion ticd Olivia, and thattar raspondad, “Why would I ba mad that you''ra dating?”


    “Wall, bacausa I was a pushovar and datad a sad axcusa for a boyfriand.”


    “In that casa, your parants should ba tha onas who should ba avan mora upsat, isn''t that so? I may ba


    your godmothar, but tachnically, I''m still an outsidar. Don''t you agraa?” Olivia rapliad with amusamant.


    Isaba''s faca turnad ashan.


    Har words saam to ba hinting at ma not to daluda mysalf. Evan though sha acknodgas ma as har


    goddaughtar, I''m still nothing mora than an outsidar. Sha doasn''t avan cara that I''m dating.


    Taking Isaba''s hand, Olivia addad, “Don''t ovarthink things. My hopa is that you''ll data somaona from


    a good family. Evan so, tha most important thing is your faalings toward that parson. And if you do gat


    marriad, I''ll prapara a ganarous dowry for you.”


    Isaba frownad as sha lookad down. Sha rapliad docly, “Thank you, Aunt Olivia.”


    Isaba put on an obadiant front, but har ayas glintad with malica. Sha had alraady gottan so far and


    could not afford to fail. If Olivia did ba an obsta in har n to ba a part of tha Clinton family,


    sha had no qualms about gatting rid of har. Sha would nott anyona gat in har way of ravaling in


    powar and richas.


    Olivia ramainad in tha badroom for around an hour. Than, tha housakaapar knockad on tha door and


    said, “Mr. Clinton has arrivad.”


    Isaba''s ayas lit up instantly whan sha haard Oscar''s nama. Sha sprang to har faat with unconcad


    axcitamant, and avaryona turnad thair gazas toward har in unison.


    Embarrassmant shad in har ayas as sha abruptly raalizad har blundar. “Natura calls. I naad to usa


    tha bathroom,” sha muttarad bafora actually dashing off to tha bathroom.


    Smiling apologatically, Carol said, “Sha''s so unmannarly. Again, I apologiza that you had to saa that.”


    Olivia chucd.


    “Sinca Oscar is hara, wa''ll ba haading homa now,” sha said as sha stood up.


    Carol quickly askad har to stay for a maal.


    Aftar giving it soma thought, Olivia rapliad, “That''s all right. I''va alraady instructad our cook to prapara


    Tony''s favorita dishas. Thay should ba raady by now, and wa''ll ba a to start dinnar as soon as wa


    gat back. I''ll pop in anothar day to visit Staphania and my grandson.”


    Haaring that, Carol hurriadly shot Staphania a look.


    Staphania said in a cutasy mannar, “asa stay for dinnar, Mom. I''va baan stuck insida tha housa all


    day and am practically borad out of my mind. I''va baan looking forward to spanding tima with you and


    chatting. If you go back now, I''ll dia of boradom.”


    Olivia tapped her daughter''s forehead and answered with augh, “How can you still act like a big child


    at this age?”


    She nearly caved in and epted the invitation. However, Tony said in a piping voice, “Grandma, I


    want to eat the lobster we have at home.”


    Upon hearing that, Olivia changed her mind at once.


    She picked Tony up and replied, “We won''t be joining you for dinner today. Maybe some other time.


    Tony is a picky eater, but he loves the sauce our cook whips up. Tony always gets a huge appetite and


    can finish three helpings of meat with that sauce. He''s a growing boy, so we can''t let him go hungry.”


    The expressions on Carol''s and Stephanie''s faces shifted at once, and thetter nearly dug her


    fingernails into her flesh.


    Carrying Tony, Olivia was just about to leave with Amelia when Isabe rushed out of the bathroom.


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    “I''ll see you to the door, Aunt Olivia,” she uttered dutifully.


    The older woman nodded in response.


    They all trooped downstairs, and Oscar stepped forward. He took Tony from Olivia''s arms, then ced


    a hand on the back of Amelia''s head and pulled her in for a deep kiss as though there was no one else


    around.


    After letting her go, Oscar asked Olivia, “Shall we head home now?”


    Olivia nodded.


    Whether intentionally or otherwise, she flicked her gaze toward Isabe and said, “Oscar, Isabe has


    a boyfriend. I saw him just now. He appeared polite and mild-mannered, but he didn''t look as though he


    was from a well-off family. Be extra nice to him when you meet him. Got it?”


    At that, Isabe clenched her jaw tightly and nearly broke a tooth.


    She had not expected Olivia to choose that time to stab her in the back. At that moment, she felt a faint


    loathing for how two-faced Olivia was.


    Nheless, she forced herself to say, “Aunt Olivia, there''s no need to tell him about such things.”


    “Why ever not? It''s great that you''re dating. It''ll also save Oscar the worry of being unsure whether you


    might still harbor feelings for him. Besides, we''re family. As an older brother, it''s only right that Oscar


    looks out for your boyfriend,” Olivia replied, smiling.


    Isabe was caught off guard by her response.


    Oscar merely nced at Isabe and nodded indifferently.


    Isabe bit her lip, then piped up, “Since it just so happens that everyone is here, you should stay for


    dinner, Aunt Olivia. Even if you rush home now, Tony won''t get to have dinner until nine or ten o''clock


    at least. He''ll be starving.”


    As Olivia hesitated, Tony swung his legs and said, “Grandma, I want to eat the lobster dish our cook


    makes. You promised me.”


    Seeing how adorable he was, Olivia felt her heart melt at once.


    “We''ll go home for dinner this time. We should get going. Otherwise, Tony will be hungry.”


    As Isabe watched them leave, she balled her hands into fists, and a myriad of unfathomable


    expressions shed across her face.


    Carol rolled her eyes at her and hissed, “Hurry and get inside. Are you nning on lingering here to


    make a fool of yourself?”


    The look on Isabe''s face was inscrutable as she reluctantly walked back into the house.


    “Don''t get involved with any more dubious men in the future. We can introduce you to some guys if you


    can''t find anyone. We don''t hold a candle to the Clinton family. However, we''re still a wealthy family,


    and many would jump at the chance of marrying you. Whenever I think about that riff-raff you brought


    home, I feelpletely humiliated. How could you sink to such depths just because you can''t have


    Oscar? Even I''m quickly losing respect for you. You''re lucky your father and brother aren''t around


    today. Otherwise, you''d be too embarrassed to remain in the house,” Carol snapped.


    “Are you even my biological mother?” Isabe asked, gazing at Carol with reddened eyes.


    “If I weren''t your biological mother, I''d have left you at the hospital to make a fool of yourself after you


    got drugged. I''d be happy if you were half as obedient as Rachel and stopped going around with your


    head in the clouds.” With that, Carol headed straight upstairs.


    “Rachel, Rachel... All you care about is Rachel. Have you considered that everything I''m doing is for


    the good of the family? What has Rachel ever done? What else does she know how to do apart from


    acting like a spoiled brat whenever she encounters problems?” Isabe yelled indignantly.


    s, her words fell on deaf ears.


    Fuming over the unfairness of the situation, Isabe went to Stephanie''s room and grabbed thetter''s


    hand. She burst into tears and said, “You have to help me this time. Otherwise, our efforts all this while


    will go down the drain!”


    “What are you talking about? What do you mean, go down the drain?” Stephanie asked anxiously.


    Isabe proceeded to give an embellished version of what she had gone through.


    “You''re saying Amelia told Kurt to kidnap you, then took nude photos of you and even drugged you?”


    Nodding, Isabe said through heaving sobs, “That man helped to neutralize the effects of the drug, but


    I felt so disgusted with myself that I kicked him out of the room. Unexpectedly, Aunt Olivia saw that and


    thought I was fooling around with my boyfriend. If she''s disappointed in me, I''ll never get to marry into


    the Clinton family even if Oscar and Amelia divorce.”


    Stephanie frowned. Then, she replied frostily, “You''re an idiot. How can I help you when you''ve fallen


    for someone''s trap?”


    Turning her tear-stained face toward Stephanie, Isabe warned, “You''re the only person who can help


    me now. If you don''t, you''ll also risk losing any influence in your family if Aunt Olivia fails to keep a


    leash on Amelia.”


    Stephanie froze. “How do you want me to help you?”


    Isabe whispered something into her ear.


    After pondering for a moment, Stephanie replied, “I''ll try to put in a few good words for you when I''m


    with Mom. The thing is, I''m still recovering from giving birth and can''t go to my family''s house. I''m afraid


    I won''t be able to get Oscar toe here and see me. The most I can do is ask that b*tch, Amelia, to


    visit me. But I''ve no wish to see her at all.”


    “Why don''t you go back to the Clinton residence and stay there? That way, you''ll get the chance to drug


    Oscar. We''ve put in so much effort for so long. If we fail, everything will have been for naught, and


    Amelia will well and truly be thedy of the Clinton household. Even you, the family''s eldest


    daughter, will be cast aside if that happens. Without your family''s support, Noah will naturally lose


    interest in you. Don''t forget that my brother has a woman he dated for almost ten years.”


    Stephanie''s expression darkened, and a vicious look appeared in her eyes for a fleeting moment.


    “Okay. I''ll help you,” she replied.


    I''m Noah''s wife now, so I should be there for him through weal and woe. Judging by how much Oscar


    dotes on Amelia, I''m afraid I''ll have no ce in the Clinton family in the long run if Amelia does be


    thedy of the house. If so, Noah will really have the guts to go out and sleep around. Once I lose my


    family as a pir of support, I won''t be able to control him. Noah and I are in the same boat. I''ll only be


    able to mend my rtionship with Oscar if Isabe marries into the Clinton family.


    Isabe''s eyes gleamed. Stephanie has finally taken the bait. As long as she agrees to help, I''ll be able


    to drug Oscar again within five days.


    That night, Stephanie mentioned to Carol about staying at the Clinton residence. Although thetter


    was not too pleased when she heard that, she dared not argue openly with Stephanie about it.


    “Are our cook''s dishes not to your liking? Or do you feel ufortable staying here?” Carol asked


    kindly.


    “Oh, not at all. It''s just that I suddenly miss the food at my parents'' house. After getting married, I''d go


    home asionally to have a meal. However, I haven''t gone out after giving birth, and it feels like I''m


    locked up in prison. I also haven''t eaten anything made by my family''s cook and I miss it so much.


    That''s why I feel like going there to stay. You don''t mind, do you?” Stephanie replied.


    “It''s no big deal if you want to stay at your parents'' house. However, it wouldn''t be good if word of it got


    out. Others would think we''re mistreating our daughter-inw.”


    Stephanie took Carol''s hand and said in a wheedling tone, “Who would dare to think such a thing?


    Everyone knows the both of us get on like a house on fire, and I''ll be sure to tell my mother how well


    you treat me while I''m home. Once my postpartum period is over, all three of us can go for a high tea


    together. We''ll go shopping after that, and I''ll buy lots of beautiful clothes for you and my mother.”


    Carol''s eyes lit up as she mulled over the matter carefully.


    After a while, she nodded. “Very well. I''ll get the housekeeper to pack your clothes for you. While you''re


    there, I''ll drop by every two days to visit you and my darling grandson.”


    Although Stephanie was all smiles as she nodded, she sneered inwardly. What an opportunist.


    Bright and early the following morning, Stephanie bundled up well and returned to the Clinton


    residence.


    After ushering her into the house, Olivia demanded angrily, “Why are you running around when you''ve


    only just given birth? What are you going to do if you fall ill?”


    Stephanie sat on the bed and answered sweetly, “That''s because I missed you. I also missed the


    cook''s dishes. Although I get pampered with lots of good food at the Walker residence, I''m still not used


    to the cooking there. That''s why I insisted oning home. What''s the matter? Am I not wee?”


    “How can you say that when you''re already here?” Olivia tapped her daughter''s forehead as she spoke,


    then turned to Noah. “Why did you indulge her wilful behavior? You should''ve given her a talking to.”


    Shooting her a bitter smile, he replied, “She has practically clipped my wings after finding out that I had


    a woman outside. I''m still under an observation period. If I say anything, I''m afraid I''ll have to sleep on


    the couch every night.”


    “Oh, Stephanie, every man is bound to have had several rtionships before marriage. Just because


    Noah is willing to dote on you doesn''t mean you can take advantage of it. Do you understand?” Olivia


    chided while rolling her eyes at Stephanie.


    The younger woman pursed her lips. “Mom, one shouldn''t spoil men. This is punishment for him. If he


    dares to mistreat me, I''ll take the baby ande back here.”


    Olivia looked as though she were about to fly into a rage. However, Noah chimed in, saying, “I was the


    one who slipped up first, so it''s reasonable for Stephanie to be angry at me. Please don''t upbraid her


    for it. I''m willing to use the rest of my life to treat her well.”


    Those words made Olivia''s expression rx a little.


    Stephanie stuck her nose in the air petntly. “You should go back, Noah. You cane again in the


    evening to see the baby. However, let me make things clear. You''re not allowed to go frolicking around


    with other women. If I find out about it, I''ll get a divorce.”


    “I wouldn''t dream of doing that. I''m still under observation, so I need to perform well,” Noah replied with


    a gentle smile.


    “That''d better be the case.” Waving her hand at Noah as though she were conferring a favor, she said,


    “That''s enough. You may go. Just looking at you now annoys me.”


    Noah nodded and said to Olivia in a good-natured manner, “Please take care of Stephanie and the


    baby.”


    Olivia saw him to the door, then said, “Go on to the office, then.”


    Once Noah left, she walked back and flicked Stephanie''s forehead. “As his wife, how can you treat him


    like that?”


    “What''s the big deal? It''s not like I wanted it to be like this. The hypocritical Noah thinks I''m a total


    pushover. All I''m doing is letting him know that I''m not someone to be messed with. As we go through


    life together, he''ll do well to remember that I''m a high and mighty queen,” Stephanie retorted, snorting


    coldly.


    Olivia had wanted to reprimand her daughter, but she thought better of it. Her life with the Walkers will


    be much easier if she has Noah under her thumb, so I shouldn''t say anything.


    “Mom, since I''m staying here now, why don''t you ask Oscar and Amelia toe back tonight for dinner


    so we can all gather?” Stephanie suggested as shey in bed.


    “Even if theye over, you can''t go downstairs to eat with us.”


    “Mom, I miss my brother. I just want us to get together as a family.”


    Olivia nced at her and said, “Oh, okay. I''ll ask them toe over for dinner.”


    “I''ve always known you''re the nicest to me, Mom.”


    “Don''t try to butter me up.”


    Stephanie merely smiled in response.


    After Olivia invited Oscar and Amelia, Stephanie secretly called Isabe and Carol to tell them toe


    by that evening to see the baby and stay for dinner.


    When Isabe got the call, she knew that was her chance.