Chapter 244

After two days of observation at the hospital, Edith completed her discharge paperwork.

Anna dragged her out to eat, saying she needed to shake off the hospital gloom. Edith didn't refuse—after being cooped up for so long, she was feeling stifled and could use a change of scenery.

They headed to one of Anna's regular restaurants. After securing a reservation, they went downstairs to kill time shopping.

"Edith, what do you think of this necklace?"

Anna held up a necklace against Edith's neck, wanting to give it to her as a discharge gift.

Edith looked at the mirror, about to respond when, in the reflection, Abigail appeared at the shop entrance with her arm linked through Maria's.

"Mom, why are you being so nosy? Dad and I just found each other—of course he's going to treat me well!"

Abigail wasn't familiar with the Hughes family and needed Maria to accompany her shopping.

But Maria had been probing about her relationship with Orion the entire time, which was starting to grate on her nerves.

Maria naturally understood her mood but pressed on anyway. "Is there anything that seems... off?"

Abigail was about to dismiss the question outright.

These past few days at the Hughes family, Orion had practically spoiled her rotten, even giving her a black card to use freely.

But just as she was about to speak, something flickered through her mind—a shadow of doubt crossing her eyes.

"Dad's been wonderful to me. It's just... I don't know why, but staying at the Hughes family, I keep feeling like someone's watching me."

"Maybe it's because Hughes Estate has been empty for so long." She tried to reassure herself.

The moment the words left her mouth, a ghostly female voice whispered in her ear.

"You mean like this?"

Cold sweat broke out across Abigail's back. She nearly jumped out of her skin.

Maria grabbed her arm, preventing her from making too much of a scene.

Turning around, she found Anna making faces at them.

Edith stood beside her, watching them with cool, indifferent eyes.

"Edith!" Abigail's embarrassment turned to fury. "What are you doing! Think scaring people is funny?"

Maria's expression hardened. "Abby can't handle being startled. If this triggers a heart attack, the Hughes family won't let you off!"

Only then did Anna remember Abigail's heart condition. She stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

Edith pulled her behind her, meeting their angry glares head-on.

"A clear conscience fears no accusation."

"If you're this easily frightened, maybe you should reflect on whether you've done too many things worth feeling guilty about."

Anna chimed in quietly.

"Exactly! The Hughes family may not live at the estate, but Hughes Estate has always had staff cleaning and maintaining it. Plenty of servants still live there—it's not like it's been sitting empty like you said!"

Abigail stamped her foot in frustration. "Mind your own business!"

Then she turned a vicious glare on Edith.

"I know it's you! You stole Chris from me, and that wasn't enough—now you're jealous that I'm the Hughes family heiress! You want me gone from the Hughes family!"

"Too bad for you, my dad adores me. Whatever I want, I get!"

Edith's lips curved in a mocking smile.

Even now, she had the nerve to claim Edith had stolen Christopher from her.

"I have zero interest in your background. How Mr. Hughes treats you is none of my concern."

She looked at the two of them.

"I'm simply giving you one last chance. Mrs. Langley—who really killed my mother?"

With the Hughes family backing her, Maria didn't take her words seriously at all.

Abigail was even more arrogant.

"Edith, are you ever going to let this go? Your mom's been dead for years. Does it really matter how she died?"

"If you miss her that much, why don't you just go down there and join her? If you're too scared, I can help you out."

Anna couldn't take it anymore and stepped out from behind Edith.

"You murderers—what gives you the right to be so smug!"

Abigail looked at her with contempt. "Oh, right, I forgot. You're another one with a mother who gave birth but didn't raise you. No wonder you two are so tight."

Anna's eyes immediately turned red with rage.

"Don't you dare talk about my mom like that!"

She balled her fists, ready to charge at them and settle the score.

Edith's eyes blazed with fury too, but she still held Anna back.

"Edith! Didn't you hear what she said!" Anna struggled against her grip.

Edith tightened her fingers. "I heard. That's exactly why you can't go over there."

Abigail was doing this on purpose—trying to provoke them into throwing the first punch.

Anna's eyes were red as she looked at her. "Let me go! She can insult me all she wants, but she can't talk about my mom! I'm going to teach her a lesson today!"

Edith refused to release her, her gaze icy as it settled on Abigail.

Abigail looked like she was enjoying the show.

"What's wrong? Did I say something untrue? You want to hit me? Go ahead, try it. If you so much as touch me, my dad will deal with you."

"I can't wait to see how pathetic you'll look when that happens! Just thinking about it makes me happy!"

Seeing Edith hold Anna back, Abigail assumed she was afraid of the Hughes family. She was practically gloating.

But her smile didn't last long. Edith pushed Anna behind her and walked straight toward Abigail, radiating cold fury.

"What—what do you think you're doing!" Abigail felt a surge of alarm and tried to invoke the Hughes family again. "I'm the Hughes family heiress! Edith, don't you dare—"

Before she could finish, Edith raised her hand and struck.

Maria realized what was happening and tried to intervene, but it was too late.

The sharp crack of the slap echoed around them.

Abigail clutched her stinging cheek, staring at Edith in shock and rage.

Edith's voice was ice-cold. "That slap was for my mother."

Abigail caught the implication and saw Edith raise her arm again. She tried to dodge, but Edith gripped her arm tight, making escape impossible.

Another slap landed hard across her face.

"That one was for Mrs. Collins."

Abigail was completely stunned.

"Edith!" Maria watched her daughter get hit, heartbroken. She grabbed Edith's arm, trying to shove her away.

Edith narrowed her eyes, released Abigail, and backhanded Maria across the face.

"And that slap was for Mr. Hughes. Abigail is the Hughes family heiress—the fact that she turned out like this, the Langley family bears full responsibility!"

After three slaps, not only were Maria and Abigail stunned—even Anna stood frozen.

So that's why Edith held her back—she wanted to do it herself!

And honestly? Those slaps were incredibly satisfying!

Anna applauded from behind.

Abigail snapped back to reality, nearly mad with rage. But knowing she couldn't take Edith in a fight, she could only glare at her through gritted teeth.

"Edith, you just wait! I won't let you get away with this!"

Edith's voice was equally cold.

"Funny—I was about to say the same thing to you. What happened back then won't be forgotten."

"And everything you've done to me? I'll settle every last score."

Abigail stamped her foot furiously, grabbed Maria's arm, and stormed off.

She was going straight back to tell Orion! She'd make the Hughes family deal with her!