Jessica spent a while outside of Aadelha Group looking for Victor to no avail. Just when she was feeling hopeless, the phone call from the hotel front desk filled her with fear.
Jessica drove to Ertors Hotel.
The doorbell broke the tranquility in the room. Liam, who was happily folding his clothes, curiously yelled towards the bathroom, "Mommy, someone's ringing the doorbell."
Sophia couldn't hear clearly, so Liam went to open the door himself. When he saw the person outside, he froze, thinking, 'Isn't this the bad woman from the daytime wedding!'
Liam didn't know why she was here and thought about closing the door. Jessica quickly blocked the door, forcefully pushing it open and barging in. She even rudely grabbed the child on the floor.
"Mommy, help me!" Liam cried out, struggling and waving his hands.
Sophia emerged from the bathroom, quickly rushing over. "Let go of Liam!"
"Liam? What a cute name. It's a pity he has a mother like you." Jessica let out a cold smile, gripping Liam's neck, her gaze becoming fierce.
"What are you doing? Let him go!" Sophia stopped in her tracks, commanding sternly.
Jessica walked into the room with Liam, sat down on a chair, and didn't let go of his hand. "I heard you're investigating what happened five years ago?"
"That's none of your business." Sophia replied coldly.
Jessica applied more force, causing the child on her lap to scream in pain. She chuckled lightly. "Get out of Woerek, I won't pursue today's matter anymore."
"Our affairs have nothing to do with the child. Let go first." Sophia frowned, seeing Liam's eyes swollen from crying.
Jessica lowered her head, staring at the child in her arms. "Nothing to do with him? If it weren't for this bastard, maybe I would've spared you."
"What do you mean?" Sophia was puzzled.
Jessica gave a cold smile, and a burning flame of jealousy flickered in her eyes, but she concealed it well. "Are you leaving?"
"I'm not leaving. Why should I listen to you? Wasn't it enough for you all to harm me five years ago?" Sophia had never seen such a vicious woman.
What was wrong with her looking for the child's father?
By what right was Jessica to stop her?
Jessica didn't want to say much to Sophia either. "Fine, if you're not leaving, then don't even think about taking the child back."
Jessica carried Liam and headed out. This frightened Liam, and with red eyes, he shouted, "Mommy, save me!" Sophia wanted to rush to grab her child, but she was stopped by Jessica's assistant.
"What are you all doing? Let go of my son!" Sophia said anxiously.
Jessica disdainfully glanced at the little boy in her arms and warned her, "If you don't leave, I'll make him disappear forever!"
"You're insane!" Sophia scolded.
"You can try!" Jessica smirked and walked away.
Seeing his mommy being stopped by a man, Liam mustered all his strength to run over to Sophia, but Jessica held onto him tightly. Angrily, he said, "Bad woman, let go of me! I want my mommy."
"Little boy, naughty people will be thrown into the dark room." Jessica's expression was malicious.
Liam struggled harder, with red marks appearing on his neck.
Sophia couldn't get close to Liam at all, afraid that he would be hurt by Jessica's struggles. With teary eyes, she said, "Liam, you go with her for now, and I'll come to get you in a few days."
"No, I want to be with mommy." Liam's voice became hoarse from calling out.
"If you want to be with her, then leave Woerek with her." After Jessica finished speaking, she commanded her assistant, "Keep an eye on Sophia. Don't let her take a step out of the door. Let me know when she's willing to leave Woerek."
Impatiently, Jessica took Liam and left the hotel, tossing him into the backseat.
Johnson Villa.
Taylor was so worried about the engagement that she couldn't eat. She had been trying to contact Jessica with no success. When she saw Jessica's car return, Taylor hurriedly ran out.
"Jessica, I've been so worried. How did the wedding plans go so wrong? Did Victor explain everything?" Taylor was startled by a child next to her as she spoke. "Oh my, where did this child come from?"
Jessica disgustedly threw Liam onto the sofa and said, "This is the bastard that Sophia gave birth to."
Liam angrily replied, "You are the bastard!"
Looking down on him, Jessica mockingly said, "Your mommy used to sleep with men in nightclubs, and you were conceived during that time. How dare you cause a scene at my engagement ceremony. Your mother is cheap, and so are you."
Liam's small body froze. He had never heard such cruel words before, and his heart rolled painfully. Despite feeling hurt and sad, he bravely wiped away his tears and said, "I'm not a bastard, I have a dad."
"Hmph," Jessica sneered. "Mom, lock him upstairs and don't let him go anywhere."
After locking Liam up, Taylor went downstairs and asked Jessica, "Is that child really Sophia's?"
"Of course! This bitch actually got pregnant with Victor's child and raised him to this age. I should have never let her live," Jessica clenched her fists.
Taylor was shocked. "What? That's... the Hastings family's child?"
"Yes," Jessica replied with jealousy consuming her.
She spent six years weaving a plot, finally encountering Victor's mother, Carolyn Hastings, and forcing Victor to engage with her. In reality, Victor hadn't touched her for these past few years!
If Victor found out that Sophia, the girl from years ago, was pregnant with his child, Jessica's position wouldn't be secure!
Jessica couldn't let Victor know about the existence of this child!
Jessica's eyes filled with malice as she prepared to discuss how to dispose of Liam. However, a guard from the Johnson Villa came in flustered. "Ms. Johnson, Zach comes here."
Jessica felt even more annoyed upon hearing the name Zach, Sophia's ex-boyfriend.
Six years ago, Zach was Sophia's boyfriend. Jessica was afraid that if he slept with Sophia, she wouldn't be able to sell her for a good price. So, she humiliated Zach in Sophia's name and returned the gifts he had given her!
However, Zach quickly went from being a poor boy to becoming the famous heir of the Carter Group. These past few years, he frequently came to the Johnson Villa to find Sophia.
"Why is he here? Lock the door, don't let him in..." Jessica's words were cut off as a handsome and imposing man burst in and headed straight for the Johnson Villa's living room. "Lock the door? Where's Sophia?"
Jessica quickly intercepted him, her face cold. "Sophia is not here. This is my house, please leave."
Zach stared at Jessica with sharp eyes. "She went to your engagement banquet, she must be here. You better let me see her!"
Jessica clenched her fists. She could tell that Zach was threatening her.
The humiliation he endured years ago had made Zach hold a deep grudge against the Johnson family. It would be difficult for Jessica to escape if she didn't allow Sophia to appear today.
Jessica had an idea. "Sophia is indeed not here, but her son is."
"She has a child?" Zach was shocked.
Jessica pretended to be distressed. "Yes. Back then, she found you poor and insisted on being Mr. Anderson's woman, but Mr. Anderson was already married. Sophia had no choice but to hide and become his mistress. You should hate Sophia. It has nothing to do with me."