Chapter 216 Seize the Opportunity
Thinking of that person, Quinley's heart couldn't settle down anymore. She got out of bed in her pajamas and headed to Elise's room. Just as she arrived, Elise had finished putting the child to sleep and came out for water.
"Mom, I need to talk to you." Quinley stepped forward.
Elise dodged around Quinley and headed straight for the kitchen. "It's late. I'm tired. Let's talk tomorrow."
Quinley didn't say more. She simply turned and walked straight into Elise's room.
"What are you doing?" Elise forgot about the water and hurried back in after her. She kept her voice low, not wanting to disturb anyone.
What she didn't know was that Zachary had gotten up too. He'd come downstairs and was now standing right outside Elise's bedroom door.
Eavesdropping wasn't a good habit, but the doubts in his mind were growing by the second. He desperately wanted to know the truth—or rather, to confirm what he already suspected.
Quinley had walked to the bedside. Elise had settled the child comfortably. He lay there sleeping soundly, his chubby little face adorable.
"Cindy, get out. Don't wake Cheese." Elise grabbed Quinley's hand, trying to push her out of the bedroom.
"You've seen her, haven't you?" Quinley suddenly spoke.
Elise's hand froze instantly. Her eyes showed panic. She wouldn't admit it, but she didn't deny it either. "It's late. Please go. I need to sleep."
"Mom—" Quinley's voice rose slightly. "You've reunited with her, haven't you? She's your daughter, my sister. Why are you hiding this from me?"
Elise hung her head low like a child who'd done something wrong. "Cindy, I had my reasons for not telling you. I lost you both in the first half of my life, then lost another daughter later. I'm terrified."
The moment Elise opened her mouth, her voice choked up. She tried to hold back her sadness, but tears streamed down her face anyway.
Quinley walked over and wrapped an arm around Elise's shoulders. "Mom, you won't lose us again. Isn't everything going well now? Our family is finally back together."
But Elise kept shaking her head.
"Cindy, I know everything now. I know about Susan and Zach. I never imagined both my daughters would fall for the same man. But things are different now—you're married to Zach. I told her not to interfere in your lives."
Hearing this, Quinley fell silent. Of course she knew about Susan—or Adela—and her obsession with Zachary. "Do you know about this child? What's going on?" Quinley helped Elise sit on the edge of the bed.
Elise's loving gaze remained fixed on the sleeping child as she reached out to tuck the blanket around him.
"She told me some things. This child is Zach's. Cindy, I know this is hard for you to accept, but it happened a long time ago. The child is innocent, isn't he?"
"Mom—" Quinley's brows knitted together. She didn't know how to explain the current relationship between Adela and Zachary to Elise.
Elise stopped her. "Cindy, I want to keep this child and take good care of him. If you mind, I'll take him back to Lakeside City."
"This child isn't Zachary's," Quinley said firmly.
"That's impossible." Elise refused to believe it. "She told me herself. This child is Zach's. She wouldn't lie to me. If you really mind that much, I'll take him away first thing tomorrow morning. I won't let this affect your life with Zach."
"That's not what I'm worried about. Mom, where is she now?" Quinley was desperate to know Adela's whereabouts, but Elise went silent.
"I don't know." She kept her head down with her hands clenched, refusing to say another word.
"You do know. You're in contact with her, aren't you? Mom, you care about her, and I'm worried about her too. But she's done terrible things. She needs to take responsibility for her actions."
"You want her to go to prison?"
Elise shook her head frantically. "I'll never let her go to prison. She's suffered so much. You have no idea what she went through in that orphanage, and you want to send her to prison?"
"Get out. Get out." Elise's emotions suddenly exploded. She seemed genuinely angry now, grabbing Quinley's arm and forcibly pushing her out of the room.
Zachary was standing right outside. He'd meant to hide but didn't have time.
"Mom, please listen to me—"
But Elise didn't want to hear it. She pushed Quinley out and immediately locked the door. Quinley refused to give up and knocked again, but Elise wouldn't respond.
"Stop knocking. Let's go back to our room." Zachary pulled Quinley away. He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I can find her. It's late—let's just get some rest."
He wrapped an arm around Quinley's shoulders and helped her upstairs to their bedroom.
"Thank you for believing me." They leaned against the headboard together. Zachary turned to Quinley, his clear eyes gleaming with a deep light—like stars shining just for her.
"We're husband and wife. Of course I believe you," Quinley replied. "Do you know how to make her show herself?"
Zachary nodded slightly. "Since she's in contact with Mom, she'll slip up eventually. As for this child, we don't know his real identity, but we can guess—she did this on purpose."
"On purpose?" Quinley's mind was foggy with confusion.
Zachary let out a soft breath. "I understand her personality.This is her style—playing hard to get. She sent this child to stir up trouble so she could exploit the situation."
"The child is innocent in all this," Quinley sighed.
Zachary squeezed Quinley's hand and said gently, "She's someone who won't stop until she gets what she wants. Whatever she decides to do, no matter the cost, she'll do it. That body double before, this child now—they're all just pawns to her."
"When will all of this end?" Quinley asked, leaning her head on Zachary's shoulder.
"Leave it to me. I'll end this as soon as possible."
"But what about Mom? She's drowning in guilt, always trying to make up for the past, not realizing her guilt always trying to make up for the past, not realizing her guilt is being used against her." This was what worried Quinley most. She feared that when Adela was finally arrested, Elise would fall apart.
"She won't. Mom's been through a lot. She's more resilient than we think."
While Quinley worried about Elise, Adelareached out to her again.
"Susan, where are you? Cheese has been crying all day, calling for his mommy." As soon as the call connected, Elise rushed to report the situation.
But Adela sounded annoyed. "I'm safe right now. Don't worry about me. If he wants to cry, let him cry. Don't spoil him too much. By the way, what's happening on your end? Did Zachary and your daughter fight?"
There was a hint of schadenfreude in Adela's voice, though Elise couldn't detect it.
"Cindy is very upset. They're both looking for you now."
"Looking for me? Why? I'll come back after they get divorced. Whatever you do, don't tell them we're in contact."
"Don't worry, I won't say anything."
"Do you have money? I'm a bit tight right now. Transfer some to me." Adela asked Elise for money outright.
Elise's maternal love was so strong she didn't think twice.
"I'll send five thousand dollars right away. If it's not enough, just let me know. Susan, you're all alone out there—please don't let yourself suffer. All these years I wasn't by your side, you—"
"Okay, I got it. Why are you so long-winded? Long-distance calls aren't free, you know? Transfer the five thousand now. If you have time tomorrow during the day, go to the bank and transfer more. When I get through this rough patch, I'll pay you back."
"You don't need to pay me back. This is what I owe you."
Adela had completely lost patience. "I've got things to do. Hanging up now."
The call ended. Elise quickly transferred the five thousand to Adela. Though the money was sent, she couldn't fall asleep no matter what. At the crack of dawn, Elise tiptoed out of the house. What she didn't know was that a shadow had been following her the whole time.