Chapter 110 The Breaking Point

Chapter 110 The Breaking Point

Whether or not Kate was Richard's daughter didn't matter to her personally. But the implications for her late mother Elizabeth—that was something she couldn't accept. Kate refused to let her memory be tarnished by gossip.

She struggled to suppress the storm raging inside her chest and instinctively responded.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Nonsense?" Sophia's face transformed as she noticed Kate's change in expression. Her humiliation instantly gave way to a twisted sense of satisfaction. She smiled with increasing malice.

So Kate already knew about this. And she was still pretending! Let's see how long she could keep up the act.

"Kate, you and I both know whether I'm talking nonsense. You're nothing but an illegitimate child! Your mother was nothing but a whore!"

The words deeply hurt Kate. She lunged forward, all traces of uncertainty in her eyes instantly replaced by murderous rage.

She grabbed Sophia's collar with a vise-like grip.

"Say that about my mom again, and you'll regret it."

Her voice carried a bone-chilling coldness that promised violence.

But Sophia didn't cower this time. She wore a smug expression, drunk on her momentary power.

"What's wrong? Did I hit a nerve? Getting defensive now?"

She laughed mockingly, completely losing herself in the moment.

"What do you think people will say when I make this public, Kate? That your mother was an adulteress? Or just a promiscuous slut?"

Kate lost all control and wrapped her fingers around Sophia's throat.

Her eyes blazed red—not with anger, but with hatred.

In her previous life, Sophia had killed her. Now, Sophia was slandering her mother. Kate's hatred for Sophia had reached its peak.

She wanted to silence Sophia permanently. Her grip tightened progressively.

Sophia's eyes began to roll back, her hands desperately clawing at Kate's wrists as her feet lifted off the ground.

Passersby gasped in horror. Some frantically pulled out phones to call emergency services, while others wanted to intervene but were too frightened by the lethal intensity radiating from Kate.

Just then, a black Bentley screeched to a halt beside them. Ethan rushed out of the car, immediately spotting Kate in her uncontrolled state. He sprinted toward her.

"Kate! Let go!"

He grabbed her wrist firmly, trying to pry her fingers loose.

But Kate seemed anchored by hatred, her knuckles locked around Sophia's neck while her eyes reflected a sea of vengeance and deep-seated resentment.

"She insulted my mother. She can't insult my mother," Kate's voice trembled, filled with extreme pain and madness. She seemed to be addressing Ethan, yet also talking to herself.

Ethan's heart tightened. He didn't know what had happened, but he understood that Elizabeth was Kate's absolute breaking point.

He said softly, gently caressing her tense wrist with his fingertips.

"I know, I understand everything. Don't fall into her trap."

His voice acted like a sedative, gradually dispersing the madness in Kate's eyes.

Kate's fingers slowly relaxed, and in an instant, Sophia collapsed to the ground, clutching her throat and coughing violently, gasping for air.

As her face returned to normal, Kate's hateful glare still sent a chill down her spine.

The feeling of being strangled, of approaching death, had been too real. The murderous intent in Kate's eyes had wrapped around her like a cold serpent, constricting her chest.

She tried to stand up, but her legs gave way and she fell back down. She stared at Kate in silence.

Ethan's ice-cold gaze fell on her, devoid of emotion.

"What did you do?" The words came out flat, without the rising inflection of a question, yet conveyed suffocating pressure.

Sophia instinctively averted her eyes and remained silent.

Ethan narrowed his eyes and prepared to approach her.

If she wouldn't speak, he had other ways to make her talk.

But Kate was still shaking in his arms, and the crowd of spectators was growing. People were recording videos, and to protect Kate from further harm, Ethan immediately wrapped his coat around her and escorted her to the car.

"Milan, handle this," he instructed.

Milan nodded and immediately made some calls, summoning the public relations team while calling for a driver.

He stayed behind with the PR team to control the situation.

In the car heading back to the mansion, Kate remained silent, lost in her thoughts. Ethan said nothing as well.

He simply continued to soothingly stroke her back, his heart aching while growing increasingly concerned.

'Kate seems emotionally unstable these past couple of days. I wonder if she might be experiencing psychological issues. Perhaps I should take her to see a therapist.'

Ethan frowned as he contemplated this, unaware that Kate in his arms had reacted to his thoughts.

She had heard what he was thinking.

Actually, she had been wondering the same thing—whether something was wrong with her lately.

Maybe Ethan's concerns were justified.

But about her mother's situation...

"Ethan."

"What is it, babe? Are you feeling better?" Ethan held her closer, his voice gentle. Kate wrapped her arms around his waist, closed her eyes, and buried herself in his embrace, nodding slightly.

"A little better."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"Yes."

She didn't need to elaborate—she'd already told him about this before.

"Sophia knows I'm not Richard's biological daughter."

Ethan immediately understood everything. His brow furrowed slightly, his eyes flashing with a barely perceptible coldness, though his voice remained gentle.

"Looks like the Jennings family really does have a death wish. I could simply eliminate Jennings Group with one move."



The Hamiltons were formidable opponents, but the Jennings family would be child's play for Ethan. Kate shook her head.

"Destroying Jennings Group outright would be too merciful. Sophia approached me because Jennings Group is having problems. I want to use this opportunity to acquire the company."

This way, she wouldn't just reclaim what belonged to Elizabeth—she could also make Richard and Sophia suffer.

"Then why didn't you tell me Sophia was looking for you?"

He'd only rushed over because he couldn't reach Kate after finishing his work, and after contacting Helena, learned someone was looking for Kate. Guessing it might be Sophia, he hurried over—otherwise, the situation could have escalated even further.

Kate wanted to say she didn't want to worry him, but she knew that explanation would displease him.

She was always so cautious, always trying to hide things when problems arose. She knew he disliked this behavior, and she wanted to change.

But she couldn't help it. She was constantly worried.

She couldn't cross that psychological barrier—she was too afraid of him getting hurt.

Unable to express these thoughts, she remained silent, and Ethan didn't press further.

After a moment, he asked, "Do you want me to investigate mother's situation?"

Kate didn't immediately understand.

Mother? Did he mean Penelope?

No, he must be referring to Elizabeth.

Kate realized and smiled.

"You're already calling her 'mother' quite naturally."

"Of course," he replied.

He knew this would make her smile—that was his intention all along.

"I'll be calling her 'mother' sooner or later anyway."

Ethan smiled softly. Kate felt the same way—after all, in this lifetime, she had committed herself to him completely.