Chapter 13: Prejudice

Jasper pulled Lauren into a tight hug, his eyes fixed on the red mark on her face. He wanted to touch it, but he was too scared of hurting her even more.

This was his little girl, and he couldn't even think of saying something harsh to her. Who could've done this?

Jasper's eyes scanned the room, trying to figure out who was responsible.

Molly had planned to play the victim and get Jasper to deal with Lauren and Adeline, but seeing how upset he was over Lauren, she switched tactics. She put on a sad face, despite her anger. "It was that maid who hit her. I was just talking to Lauren, and she came over, knocked over the easel, and slapped Lauren. When I tried to stop her, she hit me too. Jasper, how can we keep such a maid in the house?"

She reached out to touch Lauren's head. "Poor thing, you must be so scared. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

But Lauren's tear-filled eyes were full of anger as she looked at Molly. She slipped out of Jasper's arms and went back to Adeline, asking worriedly, "Are you okay?"

Adeline, still in pain, softened her voice when she heard Lauren. "I'm fine."

She had old injuries from a car accident five years ago, and Molly's kick had almost knocked her out. She was only holding on to protect Lauren. Seeing Lauren clinging to her with tears but no serious injuries, she felt relieved.

'Thank goodness,' Adeline finally let out a breath and then passed out.

Lauren was terrified, her face going pale as tears streamed down. "Adeline!"

"Adeline!" She clung to Adeline's arm, crying her heart out, "Please don't be hurt! I can't lose you! Someone, call a doctor!"

Jasper's sharp look snapped everyone out of their daze, and they hurried to clean up and call the doctor.

Adeline's concern didn't seem fake, and Jasper frowned, turning to Molly. "Molly, you said she hit Lauren?"

Molly's hand clenched into a fist at her side. 'This little brat is crying over the maid who hit me right in front of Jasper, clearly trying to make trouble for me!' she thought.

A flash of hatred crossed her eyes, but she still spoke in an innocent voice, "I'm also confused. Why would she care so much about the maid who hit her?"

Molly pursed her lips, casting a warning glance at the surrounding servants. "Everyone here saw it. She pinned me down and hit me, and Lauren was crying, saying she didn't want a new mom. Maybe Lauren thinks that if she cares about the maid, she can blame the slap on me. Since she's your daughter and you care about her, you'll be mad at me. That way, Lauren won't have a new mom."

Lauren, sobbing uncontrollably, looked at her in disbelief. "It was you who hit me! It was you!"

She had grown up under Adeline's protection, never encountering the complexities of the outside world, let alone someone like Molly.

Now, with her mom unconscious and her dad standing silently by the bad woman's side, Lauren's world seemed to collapse.

She lay in Adeline's arms, crying softly. "Adeline, wake up. I don't want to stay with Dad. I want to go with you! Adeline..."

Jasper's frown deepened, especially hearing Lauren cry about leaving with Adeline, his displeasure reaching its peak.

Molly continued, "You can't use such words to threaten Jasper. Even if you're his daughter, you can't. If you want me to back down, I will apologize even though I didn't hit you. But you mustn't hurt Jasper's feelings, understand?"

Lauren ignored her, completely immersed in her own world. Sadness overwhelmed little Lauren, making her unwilling to respond to the malice from the outside.

It wasn't until the family doctor arrived with a stretcher that Lauren got up, stumbling as she tried to follow the stretcher.

"Lauren!" Jasper finally moved, stepping forward quickly to hold Lauren in his arms. "Come inside with Dad first."

But Lauren struggled desperately. "Let me go! I don't want you! You're bad people, you all bully me and Adeline! I hate you all!"

Jasper's lips trembled, but he went against Lauren's words, holding her tightly in his arms. Now he hated Adeline even more. Her presence had easily driven a wedge between him and Lauren.

No matter how much Lauren liked Adeline, how could he allow her to stay in Blue Bay, to stay by Lauren's side?

'Maybe this whole fight was orchestrated by Adeline. She wanted to use her injuries to create a rift between Lauren and Molly, so she can benefit from it,' Jasper thought.

Ignoring the crying Lauren in his arms, Jasper coldly instructed Joe, "Have the doctor treat her. When she wakes up, make sure she leaves Blue Bay."