Chapter 14: Lauren's Rebellion

When Adeline woke up, her whole body was still aching like crazy. She tried to sit up, but the sharp pain in her back reminded her that everything that happened today was all too real.

'Where's Lauren? Shouldn't she be here with me? Where did she go?' Adeline thought, struggling to get out of bed. Just as she was about to open the door, it swung open from the outside.

A servant walked in, and for a split second, surprise flashed in her eyes. But then her smile turned bitter, like she remembered something. "You're awake."

Adeline, anxious, asked, "Where's Lauren?"

Seeing that the first thing Adeline did was ask about Lauren, the servant's expression grew even more complicated.

"Lauren's resting in her room. It's not a good time for her to see anyone right now, and Mr. Foster said..." The servant hesitated, seeing the confusion in Adeline's eyes. "Mr. Foster said that if you woke up, you should leave Blue Bay immediately."

Adeline's whole body trembled as she repeated the servant's words in disbelief, "Leave Blue Bay? He wants me to leave?"

"Yes."

Adeline almost laughed out of sheer anger. Of course, how could she forget? The person she hit was Jasper's beloved fiancée. But what about her and Lauren? They didn't even matter.

Adeline sneered, "What about Molly? Did she get off scot-free?"

Most of the servants were around Lauren at the time, which made Adeline feel safe enough to leave for a bit. She couldn't believe they didn't see who hurt Lauren. Unless someone didn't want to deal with Molly.

Sure enough, the servant hesitated before speaking, "Mr. Foster told Miss Collins to rest."

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing."

Adeline closed her eyes in disappointment, and when she opened them again, she had already gathered all her emotions. "Thanks for telling me. I'll leave right away."

She didn't want to make things hard for the servant. They were just following Jasper's orders, and she got that.

And Lauren, no matter what, was Jasper's daughter. She couldn't take her away now, and even if she had the chance, Jasper wouldn't let them go easily. As long as Lauren remembered to steer clear of Molly, she'd find a way to get Lauren out of there eventually!

The pain in her body was still intense, and her face still stung sharply. Without even looking in the mirror, Adeline could imagine how rough she looked.

Six years ago, when she left Blue Bay, she was just as messed up, driven out by these two people working together. Now, six years later, history was repeating itself. Adeline could only laugh coldly.

As Adeline made her way through the living room from the guest room, she spotted Jasper lounging on the sofa. Hearing her footsteps, he spoke without looking up, "Ryan will transfer your wages for the past few days into your account. I hope you won't show up in front of me again."

Adeline shot back coldly, "A man like Mr. Foster, who doesn't protect his own daughter but instead shields his lover, is someone I don't want to see again either."

Jasper frowned. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. While I'm still not planning to do anything to you, stop your scheming. If I find out you're still trying to contact Lauren, I will..."

"And what? Kill me?" Adeline looked at Jasper calmly, but the desolation and hatred in her eyes almost made Jasper stand up.

Jasper's eyes darkened. "You're not worth that."

"That's right, I'm not worth it. So there's nothing more to say." Adeline nodded. "I hope Mr. Foster can find a more suitable and protective nanny for Lauren."

Jasper said nothing more and didn't look at Adeline's departing figure. He sat on the sofa for a while longer before getting up and heading upstairs.

In front of the children's room, two servants stood with worried faces. Seeing him approach, they hurriedly lowered their heads. "Mr. Foster."

"How is Lauren?"

"Still the same, she keeps insisting on seeing Adeline." The servant hesitated, glancing at Jasper's somber face, but didn't dare to say more.

Jasper paused. "Got it, you can go now."

With permission, the two servants quickly left. Jasper listened to the faint crying inside the room, hesitating for a long time before turning the doorknob.

There was no one on the bed, nor on the chair.

In the corner near the balcony, little Lauren was curled up, crying, making Jasper's heart ache.

"Lauren." He spoke with difficulty, "Daddy's here."

The response he got was a thrown stuffed animal.

Lauren looked up, her eyes red from crying. She no longer looked as cute and obedient as before, but instead, she was like a little hedgehog with all her spikes out, trying to protect herself.

"Don't come near me! I don't have a daddy like you! Go away!" Lauren's voice was hoarse from crying, and now it was so weak.

Jasper's steps were nailed to the ground. His face was full of complexity. "Do you like Adeline that much? For her, you're even willing to abandon your daddy. What did she do to make you like her so much?"

Lauren's tears kept falling. "Adeline is good to me. She protects me from being bullied. But Daddy, what about you?"

Lauren sobbed, "You'd rather believe others than believe me. To you, that bad woman is more important than me. Is Mommy not coming back because you'd rather believe her than Mommy?"