Chapter 253


    "Yes, I have to take responsibility as well." Pain shed over Hansen''s eyes as he said dejectedly, "I


    was the one who had hurt her back then. I admit that I am not a good man and a good husband.


    However, I havee back to my senses now and I would never do foolish things like that again. I


    have decided to rpense her and love her with my entire life. But, what about you? Not only did


    you not regret everything you did, you even helped Aria hurt her. Did you know that your current


    decision is pushing her over the edge and ruining her lifelong happiness? I will never allow such a


    thing to happen, nor will I just ignore and forget about it. From now on, no one could hurt her even


    the slightest and it does not matter even if I had to abandon Richards Group."


    After Hansen said that with a forceful tone, he left resolutely.


    Marissa was left in shock. Moments after, she shut her eyes in pain.


    In the dark corridor on the second floor, Jenna was leaning against the wall, listening to every single


    word of Marissa and Hansen''s conversation downstairs.


    She stood nkly with her face pale as snow.


    Right after Hansen walked away from her bed, she woke up and followed him quietly to the corridor.


    She heard their entire conversation. If she was wary of Hansen before and she did not fully believe


    in his genuineness, then at that moment, she could really feel Hansen''s unyielding love and


    sincerity to her.


    She believed Hansen would get on bad terms with Earl for her and believed that he would never go


    against his wish to marry Aria as well.


    It was just that...


    A gush of chillness rushed from the soles of her feet and gradually prated into her skin. She felt


    as if she was immersed in a tank of cold water, gradually freezing her.


    She stood in the dark for a long time until her feet felt sore and numb. She moved back to the room


    step by step, closed the door, and covered herself with her nket.


    She had a bad sleep. In a daze, she felt like she heard someone outside saying that Richards


    Group had met their end, that Hansen owed a huge debt, and even Richards Manor was forced to


    be auctioned by Earl.


    She also faintly heard that Hansen was imprisoned by Earl for refusing to marry Aria.


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    She felt anxious and gloomy. She ran around in hopes of looking for Hansen but she couldn''t find


    him.


    Beside a clear river, the sun was setting soon as rays of golden sunlight shone beautifully on the


    turf.


    Two men were standing with sharp swords in their hands on the turf beside the river.


    The flickering swords dazzled her eyes as she ran towards them with all her strength.


    However, it was toote and they had already started fighting.


    "No, stop!" she yelled at them hurriedly. The younger man heard her voice and turned around to


    look at her. At that instant, the sharp sword pierced his heart and blood gushed out from his chest.


    "No, Hansen, don''t die!" she panicked and yelled at him with tears in her eyes. Rushing over to the


    man with blood all over him, she started sobbing painfully.


    The heart-wrenching pain caused her to open her eyes and a ray of sunlight shone in through the


    thick curtains. It was dawn.


    Everything turned out to be just a dream.


    She breathed in heavily as beads of sweat trickled down her forehead profusely.


    Images of Hansen who had previously lived a life in glory bing dejected and defeated shed


    before her eyes. She couldn''t help but think about the tragic situation of Richards Manor being


    auctioned off, and the man in a pool of blood as well.


    Her heart began pounding loudly. Her hands and feet were cold, and her whole body was trembling


    as well. Although she was under the thick nket, she was still shuddering.


    It wasn''t until Aunt E''s voice rang from outside that she came back to her senses.


    "Young Madam, have you woken up yet? Madam is looking for you."


    Marissa was looking for her?


    Jennay down nkly for a while and when Aunt E''s voice rang again, she slowly responded,


    "Okay, Aunt E."


    "Great, breakfast is ready for you, hurry downstairs and eat please," Aunt E urged outside again.


    "Okay," Jenna replied in a low voice.


    After a while, Aunt E''s footsteps faded away.


    Jenna rolled over to the side of the bed and got up. Her stomach bloated ufortably, and she


    felt a faint tingling pain and heaviness on her lower abdomen. It had been more than a month since


    she knew she was pregnant, and she hadn''t gone to the doctor for another checkup after that. She


    did not know the fetus'' condition and her lower abdomen has been swelling ufortably for the


    past few days. Sometimes, she would experience symptoms of palpitation and shortness of breath


    as well. However, there are too many things for her to take care of, and she was in a horrible mood


    most of the time that she had no energy to care about her body.


    After she washed up, she slowly walked downstairs.


    "Jenna, you''re up." When she went downstairs, Marissa greeted her enthusiastically with a smile on


    her face like never before. She said caringly, "Come, I''ve cooked breakfast for you. Are you hungry?


    Come on, eat up."


    Jenna froze for a moment as she was not used to Marissa''s enthusiasm. However, she calmed


    down soon after.


    "Thank you, Auntie." She smiled and walked towards the dining room.


    She only ate some porridge as she did not have much appetite. Then, she walked towards the sofa


    in the living room.


    Marissa was sitting on the sofa in a daze.


    "Auntie, is there anything I could help you with?" Jenna asked softly as she approached her.


    "Ah, Jenna, please sit down." Marissa was startled by Jenna''s voice and suddenly she was brought


    back to her senses. Staring at Jenna standing in front of her, a surge of panic shed through her


    heart. She hurriedly held her hand and smiled at her affectionately.


    Jenna sat opposite her and looked at her quietly, waiting for her to speak.


    "Well Jenna, excuse me for this." Marissa smiled embarrassedly and continued, "In the past, I was


    cold to you because of my prejudice and negligence. I hope you did not hold a grudge about this


    and please don''t put it to heart as well."


    Jenna seemed to have guessed Marissa''s words long ago. The corners of her lips curled up to a


    small smile as she said magnanimously, "Auntie, you''re an elder and I am just someone younger. It


    is only right for the elders to give words of advice to the younger generation. Why would I put it to


    heart? Don''t worry Auntie, I won''t."


    "That''s good to hear." Marissa held her hand tightly with a smile as she felt slightly moved by her


    words. After hesitating for a moment, she said apologetically, "Jenna, our family owes you a lot,


    including Hansen. The Richards family has mistreated you badly. Now, I understood why Vivian


    would like you to inherit the family and I understood why she liked you so much as well. I don’t want


    to force you to forgive me. I just beg of you to not hate me and Hansen. You are a great child and


    you deserve happiness."


    Marissa said in grief and tears were shed when she talked about her emotions.


    Jenna suddenly panicked.


    She had seen Marissa''s arrogance as well as her cold stare and sarcasm; she had also


    experienced Marissa ignoring her and being ill-mannered to her. However, it was the first time of


    hers to see Marissa weeping sadly in such a gentle and humble way.


    If harsh words were used against her, or even if violence were inflicted on her, Jenna could adapt to


    it and not feel unusual about it.


    But, at this moment...


    Jenna felt very ufortable.


    Marissa was treating her so politely. She apologized to her and even shed tears.


    What was this all about?


    Jenna had always been soft-hearted and she did not like aggression.


    The fact that an elder was treating her so kindly...


    She really couldn''t get used to it.


    She started to feel slightly flustered.


    "Auntie, please don''t say that. I have never hated you and Hansen," Jenna said anxiously as she


    hurriedly took tissues from the coffee table and handed it to her as she offered words offort.


    "You are a great child, and I know that too." Marissa thanked her as she took the tissue in Jenna''s


    hand and wiped away her tears. She then smiled earnestly.


    "Hansen loves you sincerely. I can assure you about this. It was his loss for not acknowledging your


    kindness previously. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be in the dilemma that he is today," Marissa sighed and


    said regretfully.


    Jenna lowered her head silently.


    "My child, he is a man with hardships. He loves you but he may not be able to give you happiness.


    You may not understand what I''m talking about right now but you must''ve known about the current


    situation, right?" Marissa hesitated for a brief moment but she knew she had to say this.


    Jenna lowered her gaze and remained silent with no change of expression on her face.


    "I know that you are a good child, you are polite and generous. However, you''ve seen Hansen''s


    difficulties at the moment. Deep in his heart, remarrying you was the only thing he wished for but the


    reality is cruel. Now that Aria is pregnant with his child, Earl became very forceful and aggressive.


    Yesterday, Georgia was affirmative that you deliberately shoved Aria and it was an intentional


    assault. She wanted to sue you and press charges to you for it," Marissa said gravely. "Although


    Hansen wishes to protect you, you should know that they are wealthy and powerful, he can''t even


    keep himself safe now. I''m afraid he can''t protect you from this mess."


    Upon hearing this, Jenna could already understand why Marissa was looking for her.


    "Auntie, I didn''t deliberately push her down, let alone push her. It was her who tried to hit me and I


    just withdrew my hand out of instinct. It was because of her bad intentions that she wasn''t able to


    stand properly and fell; this has nothing to do with me at all. They can’t just nder me like this. If


    they wanted to resort to thew, that’s fine for me as well. I’m ready to face them at any time. I


    believe that justice still stands in this world," Jenna did not want to be framed so easily like this. She


    could lose everything she has but she would never ept nders. She wanted to fight for herself


    and that was why she was able to voice this outposedly with a calm expression on her face.


    As Marissa heard Jenna''s clear and firm words, she sensed her determination and her heart


    immediately sank. She was genuinely worried that Jenna would notpromise and insisted on


    acting this way instead. With Jenna''s attitude and Hansen''s stubbornness, they might make things


    worse.


    "My dear child, I know that you didn''t push her. However, you don''t have any evidence. Judging


    from the way that they clung onto this and forced this misdeed on you, their intentions are obvious


    and that is to deal with you," Marissa said helplessly. "Earl is a powerful man and we can’t do


    anything about it. However, Hansen would do his best to protect you. Hansen is my only son. If he


    fights against Earl for you, not only would the entire Richards Group be at stake, but Richards


    Manor and Hansen himself would get into trouble as well. Nobody knows how bad things could be.


    Forgive my selfishness as I am just a mother. In the future, after you have a child, you will


    understand my feelings."


    As Marissa voiced solemnly, she felt sorrowful and began to wipe the tears on her face again.


    Jenna''s heart sank.


    She knew clearly that Marissa took the initiative to approach her that day to persuade her to give up


    on Hansen and leave him.


    Marissa prioritized the glory and wealth of Richards Group, and she wished to gain Earl''s power as


    well. As for who Hansen likes, it was not her primary concern.


    Jenna waspletely quiet. Reasonably speaking, Marissa could not be med entirely for this


    matter. Now that Earl''s family was trying to push them to the edge, her concerns were not


    unreasonable.