You, Me And Our Genus Twins

As she panicked, she grabbed Marcus' arm. Her eyes were filled with confusion as tears streamed down her face. "Zoe also likes Timothy, but Timothy wants to marry Riley. I was worried you'd blame Riley for taking away the man Zoe likes and resent me. I-I did this for you… Darling, I can do anything for you. Please don't blame me..."

Marcus looked at her with a complicated gaze, unable to utter a word.

He could accept this explanation.

He believed that Lydia was telling the truth.

After all, she had always been like this.

Lydia had always been good to his daughter. In fact, she treated Zoe better than how she treated Riley.

He felt relieved. Even though he had divorced his daughter's biological mother and found a stepmother for her, he had good judgment by getting a stepmother who was gentle and kind. Not only that, Zoe's stepmother treated his daughter better than she treated her biological daughter.

He felt fortunate and relieved.

He was a beneficiary of vested interests, so he had never considered that his daughter's happiness was built upon Riley's misfortune.

Seeing how well Lydia treated his daughter compared to Riley, he knew that his own daughter had not been wronged. He felt at ease and pleased.

However, he forgot to consider Riley's feelings.

In this family, the person he loved the most was his daughter. Even Lydia was second to her.

The person Lydia loved the most was also his daughter, with her biological daughter Riley coming after.

He couldn't imagine how Riley felt, living in such a home.

Riley was just his stepdaughter. He provided for her food, drink, and shelter, never abusing her or subjecting her to violence. He considered himself a decent stepfather.

But what about Lydia?

Was she a decent mother?

Should he praise Lydia as a wonderful stepmother who sacrificed her biological daughter for her stepdaughter, or should he despise Lydia for being willing to harm her own flesh and blood for the sake of so-called love?

He felt ambivalent, and as a result, his gaze toward Lydia was also conflicted.

Lydia trembled all over under his gaze.

She tightly held onto Marcus' hand as if grasping onto a lifeline. "Darling, please don't look at me like that. I beg you, please don't look at me like that. I love you. Everything I've done is for you..."

She feared Marcus' gaze at this moment.

Cold and distant, it was as if he didn't recognize her and was looking at someone he didn't know.

How could he look at her like this?

They were closer than anyone… They were husband and wife!

Everything she did was for him.

She only had one son and one daughter, and now they had all turned against her. She only had Marcus left.

She hadn't done anything wrong to Marcus, so he shouldn't look at her like this!

Marcus stared at her for a long time before slowly saying, "What you're saying may be true, but you still scare me…"

With wide eyes, Lydia looked at him in disbelief.

Marcus then pulled his hand out of hers. "You would harm your daughter for me. What about your conscience? Your bottom line? Are your kindness and gentleness all fake?"

"No, no..." Lydia shook her head, crying. "It's just pollen... It's just an allergy... It'll get better in no time... How could I hurt my own daughter? It's just an allergy!"

"Just an allergy?" Marcus shook his head. "Would your children cut ties with you if it's just an allergy? Have you still not realized the harm you've caused them even now?"

"I didn't know it would turn out like this. I really didn't…" Lydia cried, gasping for air. "I really had good intentions. I didn't want Riley and Zoe to become enemies because of a man… I wanted our family of four to always be harmoniously together…"

Marcus looked at her with a conflicted gaze for a long time, deeply sighed, and got up to walk toward the door.

"Darling, where are you going?" Lydia grabbed his arm. Her eyes were filled with fear.

"I need some time alone." Marcus shook off her hand. "I'll stay at the company for a few days."

He went to the door.

"Darling, no!" Lydia cried out in despair as she rushed over and hugged his waist. "Darling, don't you want me anymore? Everything I've done is for you and Zoe! Darling, I love you. Please don't leave me! I love you! I love you!"

Marcus' body stiffened as the man fell silent for a long time.

Even though he knew that what Lydia said might be true, he couldn't face this terrifying version of her.

This wasn't the kind of love he wanted.

The Lydia he knew had always been gentle and kind, but now, for the sake of her "love," she had done something that hurt her own flesh and blood.

He could no longer see her as a gentle and kind woman.

He found her terrifying.

He thought she had an evil heart.

In order to achieve her goals, she could do anything toward her own daughter. What if one day he and Zoe couldn't meet her expectations or do what she wanted? How would she treat him and Zoe then?