Chapter 256

The knife's tip was about to pierce Edith's abdomen.

Suddenly, a sharp shout came from the stairway.

"Maria! What are you doing!"

It was Mike's voice.

Nina had been hospitalized since fainting that day, and Mike had been caring for her at the hospital. He'd come back today to get something, never expecting to walk into this scene.

Seeing him appear suddenly, Maria's movements faltered.

Edith reacted quickly, pulling away from her.

Maria's knife was now fully exposed to Mike's eyes.

"You..." Mike was shocked.

Seeing this, Maria dropped all pretense. Brandishing the knife, she charged at Edith.

"Grab her! Don't let her escape! Or we're finished!"

She tried to get Mike to help.

Seeing her approach Edith, before Mike's mind could catch up, his body moved first, blocking Edith.

Maria's knife plunged deep into his body.

Blood gushed out.

Maria froze, looking at the person before her, then at Edith behind him. Her eyes filled with venom.

"So you still haven't forgotten that bitch! Even the bastard she gave birth to—you have to protect her too!"

"Then go join her first! See if she'll forgive you!"

As she spoke, Maria yanked the knife from Mike's body.

Mike's body swayed and collapsed heavily to the floor.

Edith looked at the person on the ground, complex emotions surging through her.

"Run..." Mike struggled to tell her.

Edith bit her lip. Seeing Maria, completely unhinged, walking toward her, she turned and rushed downstairs.

When she reached the ground floor, Christopher had just arrived with his people.

Seeing the bloody knife in Maria's hand, Christopher's eyes turned red. He reached out to steady Edith as she came to him, then with a heavy kick, sent Maria flying.

"Where are you hurt?" Christopher gripped Edith's hand tightly, not even daring to look at her as he barked orders. "Contact the hospital! Prepare for emergency treatment now!"

He moved to carry Edith outside.

Edith avoided his outstretched hands. "I'm not hurt. It's not my blood."

At those words, Christopher's movements paused. Only then did he look at her.

Seeing her unharmed, his tightly furrowed brow relaxed.

Edith said, "Mike's upstairs. He took the knife for me. Have someone take him to the hospital. He might be willing to testify about what happened back then."

Whatever Mike had done before, just now he'd willingly taken a knife for her. Perhaps, as Maria said, he still loved Dione.

Christopher agreed, having Mike sent to the hospital while he took Edith for an examination.

On the way to the hospital, Edith seemed distracted.

Christopher worried. "What did Maria say?"

Edith gathered her thoughts and told him the real cause of Dione's death, then added, "She also said before that the entire Langley family knew about this. They're all accomplices in my mother's murder."

Recalling what happened back then, Edith's mood grew heavy.

Everyone knew, yet not one person spoke up, watching as the gravely ill Dione dragged her along when she was just a child.

If the Langley family despised them so much, why not simply let them go? Why go to such extremes?

"They'll all pay for it," Christopher said gravely.

Edith didn't respond, turning to look out the window.

Maria had also said she wasn't Mike's daughter. Then who was her real father? Was he still alive? Where might he be?

Soon, they arrived at the hospital.

Mike was rushed to emergency treatment immediately while Christopher took Edith for her examination.

When they finished and came out, Orion was waiting in the corridor.

After learning the Langley family might be involved in a murder case, Orion had been having people monitor their movements.

The moment Maria was taken away, he'd received word.

"Mr. Hughes." Christopher moved Edith protectively behind him.

For some reason, Edith thought again of Maria's words. Her gaze moved past Christopher to look at Orion.

Orion was also looking at her. "If I'm not mistaken, Ms. Langley should have gotten the answer she wanted."

Edith pressed her lips together. "Mr. Hughes can rest assured—once I've gotten justice for my mother, you won't need to intervene. I'll leave on my own."

Hearing this, Christopher's expression shifted slightly.

Orion glanced meaningfully at Christopher. "That would be best."

Christopher stood protectively by Edith, saying nothing.

"Also." Orion's voice sounded again. "I'm sure your mother's death had nothing to do with Abby. I hope when you handle this matter, you won't disturb Abby."

He'd come specifically to emphasize this point.

Abigail cared about the Langley family more than he'd expected. He didn't want a group of murderers upsetting her emotions.

A ripple passed through Edith's heart.

"Mr. Hughes is truly meticulous in his care for Abigail."

She couldn't help wondering—if her biological father knew of her existence, would he treat her this way too?

Orion neither confirmed nor denied. "Abby is the only bloodline my beloved left in this world."

As the three talked, Christopher's people hurried over.

"Mr. Hale, Mike is awake."

Christopher nodded and said to Orion, "If Mr. Hughes has nothing else, we need to see Mike."

Orion stepped aside.

Edith followed Christopher past him.

As she passed Orion, the pocket watch in her bag suddenly slipped out, hitting the floor with a light clatter.

"You dropped something." Orion bent down to pick it up for her.

The watch was open, the photo inside clearly visible.

Orion's brow furrowed sharply.

"Thank you." Edith also saw the watch on the ground but was a step too slow.

This pocket watch had gotten her framed by Abigail before. She hadn't had time to retrieve it, but unexpectedly, Christopher had kept it safe and even had someone repair it.

Being an old item though, this fall had broken it again.

Edith reached out to take it, but Orion held on.

"How do you have this photo?" He looked at Edith with complex eyes.

Edith was confused. "This is a photo of me and my mother."

Orion's fingers tightened around the watch. "You said this is your mother?"

Seeing his grave expression, Edith felt like she was beginning to understand something.

When Orion spoke, his tone was strained.

"This is the only photo of my mother and me. After she gave birth to me, her health was never good. On my fifth birthday, she took this photo with me."

Looking back now, Dione must have felt her time was running out then and wanted to leave one final keepsake.

"This is the only memento my mother left me. Please be careful with it, Mr. Hughes."

Seeing Orion nearly crushing the watch, Edith couldn't help reminding him.

Hearing this, Orion quickly loosened his grip and carefully removed the photo inside.

On the back was a line of elegant handwriting, now somewhat faded.

It was her handwriting.