Chapter 107 Unwilling to Become the Past
Molly smiled sweetly and obediently. "Should I call Mr. Watson now?"
Cassidy hadn't expected her to be so cooperative. She nodded with satisfaction, somewhat expectant. "Yes, call him now. Tell him I'm not feeling well."
Molly felt disdainful inside but didn't show it on her face. She obediently called Anthony, her tone urgent: "Mr. Watson, I came to see Ms. Sanders, but as soon as I walked in, I found her lying on the floor. Her face was so pale, and it took her a while to barely sit up. She told me not to tell you, but I'm worried something might happen. After thinking it over, I felt I should let you know."
On the other end of the phone, Anthony was reviewing a summary of the Gomez family's assets. Hearing this, he pushed the documents aside and frowned. "Did you call the family doctor?"
Molly said, "I don't really know about these things. Ms. Sanders was moved to the family honor room by Mrs. Watson a couple days ago. Can we call a family doctor there? Who should I contact? Would the butler work?"
Only then did Anthony remember that Cassidy had been ordered by his mother to stay in the family honor room. These past few days, he'd been busy dealing with Jake's mess, putting all his energy into cleaning up after that idiot. He'd completely forgotten about Cassidy.
Thinking this, a flash of guilt crossed his heart. Cassie had married him, yet he'd been cold to her since their wedding day. Although her scandal with Sawyer had created a barrier in his heart, this was his problem—Cassie had already explained, and he believed she was innocent.
But believing rationally and accepting emotionally were two different things.
He had particular issues in this area—a strong possessive streak over his women. Even having someone else touch them made him feel sick, which was why he hadn't been able to reconcile with Cassidy during this time.
Thinking of Cassie now pregnant and collapsing in the family honor room, Anthony couldn't sit still anymore. He grabbed his jacket and strode out, calculating in his mind: 'Mother was angry with Cassie before, but Cassie's been in the honor room for days now. No matter how angry she was, it should have cooled off by now. Mother isn't unreasonable, and besides, Cassie's injured now. Mother probably won't interfere with me bringing Cassie out of the honor room.'
Anthony quickly drove back to the villa. As soon as his car stopped, he walked straight to the family honor room. Upon entering, he saw Cassidy sitting on the floor with pillows cushioning her back and waist, while Molly stood nearby looking helpless and anxious.
Seeing Anthony enter, Molly looked relieved like she'd seen her savior. "Mr. Watson, you're finally here! I couldn't lift Ms. Sanders, so I could only help cushion her with some pillows. Please take her to see a doctor quickly!"
Cassidy looked tearful as she gazed at Anthony, everything left unsaid. "Tony..."
Anthony's heart softened. He hurried over to help her up. Before leaving, he glanced at Molly, frowning slightly. "Why do you look so disheveled?"
Hearing this, Molly looked at him with some hesitation, pausing for a moment before saying quietly, "Mrs. Watson wanted to take my black card. I didn't give it to her."
Anthony's frown deepened. He'd already given his mother a black card with unlimited spending. She shouldn't be short of money—why would she try to take Molly's card?
He decided to talk to his mother about this later. There might be some misunderstanding, but he said nothing in front of Molly. He just nodded and left with Cassidy.
Cassidy's weakness was genuine. She'd spent two and a half days in the family honor room deliberately not eating or drinking, making herself haggard and much thinner. Her pregnancy was already showing, and being thinner made her belly look even bigger.
As Anthony drove, he felt uncomfortable. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'll have a good talk with Mom. I won't let her treat you like this anymore."
Cassidy thought of his previous words and found it amusing. She'd always thought Arabella was her rival, never expecting that after all the trouble of finally marrying him, she'd ultimately be defeated by his mother.
Though she was scheming, she was also clear-headed. She knew Anthony's promise couldn't be trusted. The next time she and his mother clashed, he'd definitely side with Jennifer without reservation.
She couldn't be passive like before anymore. She had to retreat to advance. She didn't believe that with Anthony's feelings for her, he'd really be willing to watch Jennifer torture her to death.
So hearing Anthony's promise, Cassidy didn't take the opportunity to blame Jennifer. Instead, she smiled gently and said, "She's an elder, I'm a junior. Making her happy is what I should do. Besides, I don't want to put you in a difficult position."
Her words were magnanimous and frank, but the trace of bitterness at the corner of her mouth was caught by Anthony.
Cassidy gave him another smile and said, "Tony, don't look at my poor complexion now. Actually, Mom has been quite caring these past few days. I haven't missed a single meal. It's just that I'm not used to those dishes and can't eat them."
Anthony naturally asked, "What kind of food did she send you?"
A flash of difficulty crossed Cassidy's eyes, then she forced a light laugh. "Just some home cooking, the same stuff everyone eats."
Anthony sensed something was off and pressed, "What exactly did you eat?"
"...Rat meat." After a long silence, Cassidy spoke.
She wasn't lying about this. That old bitch Jennifer had actually fed her rat meat—whole skinned rats sometimes in soup, sometimes stewed. Always horrifying and disgusting. She couldn't take a single bite.
These days, she'd survived on small snacks and water alone.
She'd deliberately made herself this weak for this moment, to pour out all these grievances in front of Anthony.
After hearing Cassidy's words, Anthony didn't speak again, but the anger on his face betrayed his emotions.
This was exactly the result Cassidy wanted.
They soon reached the hospital. After examination, the doctor frowned as he explained, "Young man, your wife is pregnant. She absolutely needs to take supplements and eat nutritious food. Both the fetus and mother are severely malnourished and seriously anemic. Without immediate intervention, they might not make it to delivery."
Anthony agreed to everything, but the fury in his eyes became increasingly obvious.
Returning from the hospital, Jennifer saw Cassidy as soon as they entered and immediately darkened her expression. "What's this about? Didn't I tell you to stay in the family honor room for a month? It's only been a few days and you dare run out. Do you have any respect for me as your mother-in-law?"
Cassidy held onto Anthony's arm, her body involuntarily shrinking. Anthony saw this and grew even more impatient.
He said to Cassidy, "Go upstairs first."
Cassidy hesitantly went upstairs.
Anthony looked at Jennifer, suppressing his dissatisfaction. "Mom, she had acute hypoglycemia today and collapsed. It was almost two lives lost. The doctor said if this continues, neither she nor the baby will make it to delivery."
Jennifer shouted, "Then make her eat! The food I sent her came back untouched every day. I thought she had such backbone, but she's just going behind my back to get you to confront me. What a bitch!"
"Mom," Anthony suppressed his temper, looking at her. "Cassie is pregnant. Stop tormenting her. She's not Arabella—she can't do that heavy work. It's just a few servants. The Watson family isn't short of that money. For the sake of the child in her belly, okay?"
Jennifer stared at him in disbelief. "Anthony, what do you mean? You think I'm deliberately bullying her? You're my son! A few random words from others and you're turning against me?"
Anthony didn't know how to respond. After a long moment, he said, "At least wait until the child is born first."
Jennifer saw he was backing down. Though still unhappy, she didn't want to make things too ugly with her son and reluctantly agreed.
Anthony breathed a sigh of relief and went upstairs to see Cassidy.
But Jennifer's eyes flashed with viciousness. Cassidy was stuck in the family honor room without a phone—how had she contacted Anthony?
Just then, Molly came in from outside. Jennifer thought for a moment and understood immediately. She grabbed Molly by the collar and choked her neck. "It was you, wasn't it? You helped that little bitch?"
Molly was startled and struggled frantically. She'd already been beaten badly by Jennifer before and was still hurting all over without much strength. She couldn't escape as nimbly as before.
"Let go of me, you old hag!" Molly glared at her furiously. "Are you trying to kill me? Murder is illegal!"
Jennifer's originally vicious gaze turned into a strange smile when she heard this.
Her expression gradually turned cold, sending chills down one's spine. Then, word by word, she said, "It's just murder. You think I haven't done it before?"
Molly's heart jumped with terror!
What did that mean? Had she... actually killed someone before?
That couldn't be right. In a society ruled by law, no matter how rich you were, you couldn't treat human life as a joke, right?
But this old woman's expression was so realistic, as if she really had killed someone with her own hands.
Molly nervously swallowed and bluffed, "Let me go!"
"You know what you look like to me?" Jennifer choked her, gritting her teeth. "Like a filthy rat. Every day you stay in the Watson family, I can't rest easy."
Molly's back crawled with fear as an ominous premonition flashed through her mind. Before she could react to why she felt this way, Jennifer was already choking her neck hard with one hand while raising the other and bringing it down heavily. Molly's head was knocked to one side.
She'd never been so helpless before. Even in the orphanage, she'd been like a big sister. But now, in Jennifer's hands, she had no power to resist.
Most importantly, she hadn't thought Jennifer would dare attack her in the villa, so she'd had no guard up when it started.
Now being choked and beaten, she didn't even have the strength to fight back. Jennifer showed no mercy, slapping her countless times until Molly felt her face go numb and could barely open her mouth.
Jennifer came from street thug origins and had been displeased with Molly for days. Having caught this opportunity, how could she let it go easily?
After choking Molly half to death, she casually threw her to the ground, picked up a stool, and smashed it on Molly's head twice.
Still not satisfied, she viciously kicked Molly's waist.
Molly had long since passed out, lying on the ground like a corpse.
Anthony heard the commotion and opened his room door to see this scene.
For an instant, he seemed to see that scene from three years ago again. His expression changed slightly as he quickly went downstairs, snatched the stool from Jennifer's hands, his voice trembling with anger as he scolded, "Mom, are you insane?"
He casually threw the stool aside and crouched down to check on Molly. Fortunately, she was still breathing.
He quickly picked up Molly from the floor and ran out.
Arabella and Alexander had brought Becky for a medical checkup today.
Becky's school had been arranged—using the district quota for Alexander's apartment. Though not a top school in Majestic City, it had a decent reputation. The principal was very kind to Becky and even offered a scholarship.
However, Arabella politely declined. With her sponsorship, Becky didn't need to take that spot. There were surely many students at the school waiting for help—Becky couldn't take away others' hope.
Tomorrow Becky would officially start classes. Following school requirements, Arabella brought her for a checkup today.
The medical exam was tedious, but with Alexander's help running errands and his quick thinking about optimal time management, they finished everything in just one morning despite running up and down floors.
Two other kids who came for checkups at the same time hadn't even finished half.
Having completed this major task, the three chatted and laughed as they walked down—mainly Arabella and Alexander talking, while Becky barely dared speak.
This poor child had mustered enormous courage to rewrite her life's direction, but even now she worried this could all disappear at any moment. So she didn't dare say much, afraid of causing displeasure.
However, passing a corner, she suddenly stopped. Forgetting about whether she'd be disliked, she pointed behind them uncertainly. "Ms. Bourbon, that looks like Molly!"
Hearing this, Arabella instinctively turned to look and froze. "It is Molly...?"
But... why was Molly lying motionless on a stretcher?
And she could see bruises on her face and body—had she been beaten?
What kind of person could be so brutal to a child?
Fortunately, Molly was soon wheeled into a hospital room. Arabella looked away and was about to leave when a familiar voice sounded behind her: "Arabella?"
Arabella stopped, turned to see Anthony who had somehow appeared behind her, and forced a smile. "Mr. Watson, did you need something?"
Alexander, seeing Anthony, immediately wrapped his hand around Arabella's and pulled her firmly into his embrace in a completely possessive gesture.
At the same time, he couldn't help but despise himself internally. 'How childish was this instinctive action?'
But he quickly rationalized it. Childish or not, seeing Anthony really did panic him. This sense of crisis came from Anthony being the first person Arabella loved, and they'd had two years of marriage. As a man, he understood Anthony's type all too well—he was unwilling to become the past.