Chapter 243

As she packed, Maria tried one more time to stop her.

Orion was outside talking to Mike. Only she and Abigail were in the room.

Seeing how reluctant Maria was to let her leave with Orion, Abigail's joy turned to displeasure.

She tossed what she'd been holding back onto the bed, cutting Maria off irritably.

"Mom, do you really not want me to have a better life?"

Maria sighed helplessly. "Abby, you don't understand..."

"Understand what? If you'd told me about my background earlier, I wouldn't have had to suffer so much!" Abigail complained.

Maria hesitated for a long moment but still didn't tell her the truth.

She knew her daughter too well. If Abigail learned the facts, she'd act unnatural around Orion and easily give herself away.

Better to let her truly believe she was the Hughes family's child.

"If you want to go back with Mr. Hughes, then go. But the Hughes family has strict rules. Once you're there, you need to behave yourself," she told Abigail.

Abigail's expression finally softened.

After they finished packing, they came out of the room.

Seeing Maria's troubled face, Orion said something before leaving with Abigail.

"In a couple of days, I'll host a banquet in the Hughes family's name to formally announce Abby's identity. Mr. Langley and Mrs. Langley must attend."

They both agreed.

Watching Orion leave with Abigail, Mike immediately changed his tune.

"Why didn't you stop her? If she slips up at the Hughes family, the Langley family is finished!"

Maria wasn't entirely confident either, but she said, "Relax. Abby doesn't know anything. Even if Mr. Hughes asks, she won't reveal anything."

Mike's expression remained grim.

Maria gave him another dose of reassurance.

"Besides, Mr. Hughes is so obsessed with that bitch. When he finds out Abby was born at the cost of her life, he'll just pour all his guilt toward that woman onto Abby. No matter what Abby does, he'll make excuses for her."

Just like Christopher had before.

And Orion's feelings for Dione ran far deeper than Christopher's for Edith.

Years ago, he'd broken with the Hughes family for Dione's sake. It was obvious how much he'd value the only bloodline that woman left behind.

Hearing Maria's words, Mike's expression grew complicated, but he had to admit she was right.

Meanwhile.

Edith and her group returned to the hospital room.

"Edith, I'm so sorry. If I'd known, I never would have given Maria those two days."

Anna had been blaming herself the whole way back.

Without those two days, Maria couldn't have brought in reinforcements.

Edith said calmly, "Even without those two days, they still would have contacted the Hughes family. As long as the Hughes family chooses to stand with them, the result would be the same."

Anna fumed thinking of Abigail's smug face.

"I can't believe someone like Abigail is the Hughes family's heiress. She's nothing like them."

Edith pressed her lips together, feeling puzzled herself.

Abigail and Maria had come to the Langley family after Edith's earliest memories. She remembered how everyone in the Langley family treated Abigail like their own flesh and blood, especially Nina.

Nina disliked Dione but also had complaints about Maria. When Abigail first arrived at the Langley family, Nina wasn't affectionate toward her—just treated her slightly better than Edith. Only after Abigail got involved with Christopher did Nina's attitude improve.

If the Langley family had known about Abigail's connection to the Hughes family, Nina wouldn't have acted that way.

Unless Maria had always hidden Abigail's true identity from the Langley family.

"So what do we do? Are we just going to let this go?"

Anna's voice pulled Edith from her thoughts.

Abigail had nearly killed Edith multiple times. If she got away with it now, Anna would lose her mind.

Edith snapped back to the present and glanced at the man who'd been standing in the corner since they entered.

Christopher's attention had been on her the whole time. Seeing her look his way, he hesitated briefly before walking over.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

Edith looked at him. "Do you still have the voice recorder you took from me before?"

Christopher nodded, remembering the circumstances under which he'd taken it. Guilt flickered in his eyes.

"If you want it, I'll have someone bring it over right now."

Edith said, "No rush."

She'd use it, but not yet.

Christopher didn't press. "If there's anything I can do to help, you can tell me anytime. Whatever it is, I'll do my best."

His tone was solemn, like he was making her a promise.

A scene from many years ago surfaced in Edith's mind.

When she was little and Maria took her from the Hale family, Christopher had said the same thing. Told her to wait, that he'd come for her.

She waited. But nothing came.

In the end, she'd gone back to him on her own. And he hadn't recognized her.

Thinking of this, complicated emotions flickered through Edith's eyes.

"Your sentiment is enough. This is between me and the Langley family. There's no need to drag the Hale family into it."

She lowered her gaze, her words distant.

Christopher keenly sensed the shift in her mood and could roughly guess why.

He owed Edith too much. Any apology would ring hollow.

All he could do was show his intentions through action.

As for the rest...

Christopher glanced at Ethan sitting nearby, his eyes darkening.

Sensing his gaze, Ethan smirked and rose from the sofa.

"All right, let's drop it for now. If we need anything, I won't be shy about asking Hale Group."

His words made it clear he already saw himself as Edith's partner.

He walked to Christopher's side and gestured toward the door.

"Edith and the baby must be tired after confronting the Langley family. Let her rest. Mr. Hale, please."

He deliberately mentioned the baby in Edith's belly, staking his claim.

He got exactly what he wanted—Christopher's expression grew several shades colder.

Ethan still wasn't satisfied. He added, "I'm here, so I'll take care of them. Mr. Hale doesn't need to trouble himself with this."

The air pressure in the room dropped noticeably.

This was the first time Anna had seen this nasty side of Ethan. After a few seconds of surprise, she quickly joined in.

"Exactly. Christopher, you should go. Let Edith and the baby rest. After the way the Langley family acted, Edith's obviously upset. She doesn't want to see you anyway."

Their words made Christopher's face grow darker still.

But considering Edith's health, he ultimately said nothing.

Just when Anna expected him to snap, she watched him cooperatively walk out of the room.

Seeing him actually leave just like that, Anna couldn't help shaking her head in disappointment.

She'd thought that after everything they'd said, Christopher would at least ask a few questions.

But he hadn't shown a hint of doubt...