Really? But what if God wants to take Lionel's life? What should I do then? Is that something Bay can control?

“I know my relationship with him won't end on a good note, so I divorced him, kept my distance, and even swore not to see him again. So why? Why does God want to torture us like this? Why?”

Victoria buried her face against Zeke's chest and bawled.

Zeke sighed.

Swearing never to meet again isn't going to ensure a clean break over the love and hate between two people. There are so many things that don't go our way. Who in this world can control their own fate? And live freely as they desire?

“It'll be all right because Lionel knew you won't live without him. He'll fight for his life just so you'll live too. Don't worry too much, for he'll overcome this with willpower. Bay's skills are top-notch. Remember when Mrs. Luther was badly hurt? Didn't Bay save her from the brink of death all the same? Plus, Lionel only had the edge of a knife graze his heart. The injury wasn't too severe. Even though his heart was wounded, I believe he will gain full recovery with Bay's superb medical skills. Rest assured. We'll see how he fares after the surgery.”

Victoria was exhausted mentally and physically from her recent miscarriage and the troubles she went through.

Once Lionel was rolled into the operation theater, she felt as though the remaining energy within her body had drained along with him. Her knees wobbled as she crumpled into Zeke's arms.

...


In the Hoffman residence, a loud slap echoed across the living room.

Raymond's strike sent Juliana falling toward the couch.

“Answer me! Who planted that seed in your belly?”

Philip and Tucker looked down at Juliana with disdain and malicious grins. Their cold eyes filled with triumph for the success of their plot.

We were right. The baby in the little b*tch's belly is a bast*rd. This is perfect! Since she's the one asking for it, she can't blame us for disregarding familial ties. As an heir, she is bearing an unknown man's b*stard, let alone having sexual relations with an outsider. The charges are d*mning regardless if she's the daughter of the head of the family. She'll need to be punished for breaking the family's rules. It's too late even if she agrees to abort her baby now. She has already lost the right to succeed as the head of the family. Only one outcome awaits if she refuses to abort the baby—ex-communication. She'll also be stripped of her identity as a member of the Hoffman family.

Juliana covered her cheek and narrowed her eyes, casting a cutting gaze at the father and son.

She never thought the two would be so despicable to resort to underhanded tactics.

They actually took a few samples of her amniotic fluid, secretly sent them to people they trusted outside of the family, and had them done four different DNA tests.

If I manage to cease the first attempt, will I be able to stop the second, third, or fourth? Now that the truth of my pregnancy has been revealed, I know my outcome will be dire, but before I leave the family, I won't let these two enjoy their success.

“Excellent plot, Uncle Philip. I'm thoroughly impressed. I can't blame you, though. I can only condemn myself for being too naive and downplaying your shamelessness. As you hoped, now that my pregnancy with an illegitimate child has come to light, tell me, what do you have in mind for me?”

“What do we have in mind for you?” The corners of Tucker's lips curled into a cold grin. “The family trusted you and was ready to hand over the authority as the head of the family to you. Yet, you conspired with some stranger to seize the entire Hoffman family. Your motive is execrable! Don't think you're exempted from punishments just because you're Mr. Raymond's daughter. Now that it's true you carry a bast*rd in your belly, you can no longer deny it. Even though we don't have the right to kill you, we own the right to abort the dastardly creature within you and keep you in captivity for the rest of your life.”

Juliana returned a cold smile. “What right do you have to abort my baby and keep me captive? According to family rules, you can only ex-communicate me from the family if I bear the child with someone outside of the family.”

Raymond's brows furrowed at her remarks.

He didn't have a son. Instead, he had two daughters. Initially, his elder daughter held the succession right, but she disappointed him by breaking the family rules and was finally excommunicated.

With his younger daughter's sunny disposition, a strong sense of decorum, and intelligence, he presumed she could bear the responsibility as the head of the family.
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