Chapter 229 Find Time to Kill Two People
Celeste had already made her decision.
“I’m doing fine,” she said, voice trembling, “but our child, she’s not. She’s suffering.”
Ezekiel froze, stunned. "Child? What child? Did we have a child back then?"
He clearly didn't believe what Celeste was saying.
After all these years apart, being hit with this kind of revelation at their first meeting… no sane man would accept it easily.
Especially when it involved a child. Ezekiel became even more cautious.
If Celeste really had his child, why would she have married someone else?
Ezekiel didn't care who Celeste was with. Over the years, he'd never lacked female company - women were a dime a dozen for him.
Celeste forced her expression into pitiful fragility. “Back then… I hid everything from you.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks as she recited the story she’d rehearsed countless times.
"I didn't know I was pregnant. I only found out after getting married, but when I counted the days, it wasn't Oliver's child! I was terrified. I didn't dare come find you then."
“Later, when I gave birth… someone threatened that if I brought the baby home, they would tell Oliver the child wasn’t his."
Her voice cracked. “I was terrified. So I raised our daughter beside me, pretending she was the nanny’s niece
. If you don't believe me, you can take Clara's hair for a paternity test. I'm not lying to you."
Ezekiel’s brows knotted together.
He didn't miss a single gap, watching Celeste answer.
"So you're saying you and I have a daughter, and now she's about to go to prison?"
"Yes, Clara discovered Oliver had several deals that conflicted with yours, and she wanted to do something for you, even though you didn't know she existed."
"Our child was just too foolish. I couldn't bear to see her devotion go to waste, so I came to find you!"
Celeste cried as she spoke, absolutely heartbroken with tears streaming down her face.
She handed Ezekiel the documents she'd prepared.
The documents contained some of Oliver's contracts. Indeed, several were competitors to Ezekiel's deals and would cause him a lot of trouble.
Ezekiel frowned. "So you're saying Clara hit someone with her car, all for me?"
Celeste nodded through her tears!
"Looking at it this way, Clara really put her heart into it! I'll arrange for a paternity test. If you're lying to me, you know what will happen!"
Celeste met Ezekiel's vicious gaze and nodded, trembling!
Only after she left did Ezekiel look away.
His middle-aged secretary approached. "Ezekiel, should we really arrange for a paternity test?"
Ezekiel sneered and shook his head.
"Idiot, you think I'd believe her nonsense? Do I look like I need a child? Even if she really is my biological daughter, so what? But I notice that Oliver seems to be Catherine's former foster father."
That meant Catherine was raised by Celeste!
Ezekiel's interest was piqued.
"No need for the paternity test, but not just any trash can be my child! Register her under your name, as your child. Who knows, maybe this daughter who came knocking on our door will surprise me someday!"
"Yes, I'll arrange it right away."
This kind of operation wasn't unusual in the Howard family. The secretary already had over a dozen children registered under his name.
One more wouldn't matter, one less wouldn't either!
Celeste's dream of bringing her child into a wealthy family was about to be shattered!
Ezekiel glanced at his secretary again. "Make arrangements to let Santino go peacefully."
That was Ezekiel's own brother - was he really going to make a move against Santino?
Ezekiel closed his eyes, seeming somewhat reluctant. "This isn't my fault. It's all because Alexander's shot went off target. If he'd finished off Santino directly, I wouldn't need to deliver this final blow."
In other words, if something happened to Santino, it would be Alexander's doing!
Walking out of Ezekiel's office, Celeste's legs were trembling.
Those few glances from Ezekiel were enough to terrify her and make her lose her composure.
But thinking about sending Clara into the Howard family as a legitimate Howard family daughter, she perked up again!
Meanwhile, at the antique shop.
Uranus looked up from a pile of data, somewhat amazed.
"Miss, Mr. Howard, that Ezekiel arranged for someone to kill Santino, just as you predicted. Our people have already intercepted them."
Catherine nodded slightly.
"Is he okay?"
"He's fine, except that shot from Mr. Howard means his leg can't be saved."
Catherine didn't care whether Santino was disabled or not. As long as he was alive, that was enough. How he stayed alive didn't matter much to her!
Alexander was somewhat surprised.
"You arranged for people to protect him?"
"Don't misunderstand."
Catherine casually brushed hair from her face and explained, "I won't let anyone who came after me off the hook. It's just that if Ezekiel makes a move against Santino now, the blame will likely fall on the Windsor family."
Anyone with eyes could easily find out that Ezekiel and Santino had just made a move against Catherine.
Catherine came out unscathed, but Santino died in the hospital - clearly something fishy was going on!
Although it wouldn't have much real impact on the Windsor family, Marcus had a special status after all.
Catherine didn't want any blame pinned on the Windsor family!
Alexander was somewhat moved.
"Are you helping the Windsor family, or helping me?"
"The Windsor family, of course. It has nothing to do with you."
Even though Catherine said this, it still made Alexander smile!
Even if her decision started with the Windsor family, maybe some part of it was because of him, right?
Uranus looked at the information coming through on the screen.
"Miss, this Ezekiel is really heartless. He's planning to kill his own brother and then make Alexander and your family take the fall. So heartless!"
If Faceless Ones hadn't set up controls at the hospital in advance, the news might already be spreading by now.
Catherine's gaze fell on Alexander beside her.
"You didn't arrange for anyone?"
"No. Whatever they want to do is just the desperate struggle of people already as good as dead to me. It doesn't matter."
Alexander stood up and methodically removed the watch from his wrist, handing it to Catherine. "Please keep this safe for me. I'll be right back."
To him, Ezekiel and Santino had already crossed his bottom line!
"Don't worry. As long as everyone with dirty intentions is dead, the blame won't fall. I'll protect the Windsor family well."
Catherine hadn't expected him to consider the Windsor family's part too. She felt somewhat warm inside.
"If you need help, you can use the Faceless Ones members at the hospital as you wish. Just pay them for their services."
Alexander chuckled softly. "Thanks, Catherine. I'm just going to kill two people real quick. I'll be back soon. Wait for me!"
At a hospital under the Howard Group, in a VIP ward.
Santino lay in bed looking at his leg injury, furious!
The doctor said his leg couldn't be saved and they had to do an amputation immediately. But if he lost his leg, the rest of his life would be hopeless!
"Damn Alexander, if I lose my leg, I'll make you pay with your life!"
He shouted several times, but no medical staff responded from outside.
Santino cursed as he climbed out of bed. As soon as he opened the door, he came face to face with a dark gun barrel!
The person spoke coldly, eyes full of killing intent.
"What a coincidence. I also have a life that needs you to pay for it!"