Chapter 206 Protect Her
That morning, Elise had just finished packing when someone knocked at the courtyard gate.
"Mom, I'll get it."
Wise ran out to answer. Inside the house, Elise was draping a bedsheet over the sofa.
"Who are you looking for?"
Wise opened the gate, surprised to see a gray-haired woman standing outside. She was of average height , and worry creased every line of her face.
"Child, I'm here to see your mother. She knows me."
Before Wise could respond, Marlee pushed past him and rushed into the courtyard. He didn't recognize her, so he didn't try to stop her guessing her claims were true. She moved quickly, practically running, and within seconds had burst into the living room.
"Elise."
The moment she called out, Marlee dropped to her knees with a thud.
Elise had just finished with the sofa. She turned around to find Marlee kneeling on the floor before her.
"Elise?"
Still on her knees, Marlee crawled forward, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry. I never properly apologized for what I did. I was selfish, I was heartless. I shouldn't have stolen your child. I shouldn't have kept you separated all those years."
She sobbed uncontrollably.
Elise froze.
The wounds that had finally begun to heal were suddenly ripped open again. Blood flowed freely inside her heart. She braced herself against the sofa, standing there numbly, unable to speak.
Marlee hadn't just stolen her child—she'd stolen half a lifetime of happiness. If not for heaven's mercy, she might never have reunited with her daughter in this lifetime.
"Leave." Elise's voice was ice-cold. She didn't need to yell.
She turned away and retreated to the bedroom, locking the door behind her. She could choose not to pursue what happened all those years ago, but she couldn't forgive. The harm had been done. Forgiveness was impossible.
"Elise, it was my fault!" Marlee crawled to the bedroom door, clutching the doorframe. "Hate me, hit me, curse me, report me to the police—I'll accept it all. I'm not human! I'm not human!"
Inside the room, Elise sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the hem of her clothes, desperately trying to contain the pain flooding through her.
She'd found Quinley, but she still hadn't found her other child. Twenty-five years of separation—nothing could make up for that kind of harm.
"I raised Quinny without wronging her for a single day," Marlee continued through her tears. "I let her study, gave her a good future. I never expected her to repay me. Now I've returned her to you. Elise, I'm also her mother. Of course I can't bear to let her go."
She pressed her face against the door. "Elise, please, could you just say something on my behalf? I gave you Quinny, and now all I have left is Denny. He's made mistakes, but he's my only child now. The court's verdict came down—he has to go to prison. He's not even twenty years old! He can't go to prison. If he does, his entire life will be ruined!"
Her voice cracked. "Elise, you're a mother too. I'm begging you on my knees. I'm not asking you to forgive me, but please—considering I took decent care of Quinny—won't you save my son?"
Inside the room, Elise closed her eyes in anguish.
From beginning to end, she hadn't heard a single sincere apology. Every word came with an ulterior motive.
Rage blazed up in her heart. She stood, yanked open the door, and glared at Marlee.
"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do."
"Elise, you have a way! Quinley is close to you now. All it would take is one word from you, and Mr. Jennings could make sure our Denny stays safe."
Elise let out a cold snort.
Quinley had never told her what kind of life she'd endured, but she could imagine how the Elikin family had exploited her.
"Wise, what are you standing there for? Show her out."
Wise had been frozen by the door the whole time. At his mother's command, he stepped forward and grabbed Marlee's arm. "You should leave. Stop bothering my mom."
Marlee grabbed onto a table leg, refusing to budge.
Elise felt no sadness now. Only disgust. Her daughter had been wronged. She would absolutely not join forces with outsiders to exploit her again.
"If you won't leave, then we will."
Elise stepped over Marlee, grabbed a bag from the floor, and strode toward the door. Seeing her leave, Wise dropped Marlee and followed after her.
"Mom, we're really not going to deal with her?"
Elise shot him a look. "Remember this—that woman is evil. If anyone ever bullies your sister, show no mercy. Got it?"
"Got it."
"And another thing—don't let your sister know about what happened today. Understood?"
Wise looked even more confused. "Why? Isn't that woman Quinley's adoptive mother? Why can't she know?"
Elise raised her hand and smacked him on the head. "I call you stupid and you still won't admit it. If Quinley knew, wouldn't it upset her? She's already suffered enough these past twenty-some years. We're her family. We have to protect her, shield her, and never let her be hurt again. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
---
That afternoon, Elise brought Wise to Rosewood City.
When Quinley first met him, she was struck by how much he resembled Dennis—tall and thin with clear, pure eyes. When he saw her, nervousness flickered across his face.
"Quinley."
For a moment, Dennis's shadow passed through Quinley's mind. He used to call her just as affectionately. He was the brother she'd grown up with, but somehow, as he grew, he'd become a different person.
"Wise, hello." Quinley reached out and patted his shoulder.
Elise had brought several bags of Lakeside City specialties. When Quinley tried to help carry them, Wise immediately took them all.
"Quinley, leave this kind of thing to me. You're a girl. From now on, I'll protect you and Mom." He spoke naturally, gathering everything into his arms like it weighed nothing.
Warmth spread through Quinley's heart. Though she and Wise only shared half their bloodline, blood was thicker than water—some things couldn't be changed.
---
At dinner, Zachary came home and the family gathered around the table. Wise was shy at first, but Zachary put him at ease, serving him food and asking about his studies.
"Next semester you'll be a junior. Would you like to intern at the company for a while?"
Wise immediately stood up, nervous but resolute. "Mr. Jennings, thank you for your kindness, but I want to try on my own. I'm a man now. I should carve out my own path through my own efforts, not rely on family protection. Thank you for taking care of my mom and Helen. When I grow up, I want to become someone capable like you."
He had some of Dennis's youthful quality about him, but Quinley noticed they were very different. Dennis said one thing and did another. Before, she would never have thought that way—back then everyone treated Dennis like a child, naturally indulging him. But Wise didn't say much. What he said, he worked hard to do.
"Well done." Zachary praised him warmly.
---
After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms. Quinley washed up and lay on the balcony lounge chair, lost in thought.
Dennis's verdict—she'd already seen it. For intentional assault and assaulting an officer, he'd been sentenced to eight months.
"What's wrong?" Zachary came out after his shower. Seeing her low spirits, he pulled her into his arms.
"Nothing."
But Zachary had already seen through her. "Are you thinking about Dennis?"
Quinley nodded.
Zachary exhaled softly. "He played a winning hand terribly. His eyes were bigger than his stomach, and in the end he lost everything."
Something suddenly occurred to him. "His mother hasn't come looking for you, has she?"
"No."
Zachary immediately grew suspicious. He quickly sent Lucas a message. The reply came fast: [She just got back from Lakeside City.]
His eyes darkened. If Marlee went to Lakeside City, her only purpose must have been to find Elise. But from when they returned until now, Elise hadn't mentioned a word. Not mentioning it meant something was off.
He was protective of Quinley. He wouldn't allow any harmful factors to disturb her.
"I'm going downstairs for some water."
In the first-floor guest room, Wise was still reading on the sofa. Zachary approached and patted his shoulder. "I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead." Wise put down his book.
"Did Quinley's adoptive mother come looking for you?"
"How did you know?"
"Did she or didn't she?" Zachary's voice was low but heavy.
Wise nodded. "Mom said this kind of thing can't let my sister know. She's already stressed enough. We can't let her go through more of that pain. Don't worry, Mom and I will protect her together."
Zachary's tension immediately dissolved. Relief spread across his face.
"Very good. In the future, you don't need to tell your Quinley about these things. But you can tell me. The three of us—united front. We'll protect your sister together."
At the second-floor corridor, Quinley stood listening.
She'd heard everything.
Leaning against the wall, her heart filled with warmth.