Chapter 337 Chapter 337 I haven't done anything, so why should I apologize?
Chapter 337 Chapter 337 I haven't done anything, so why should I apologize?
As the call ended, Eileen Stevens put away the report and USB drive, saying, "I need to head back. Myrtle Stevens is probably beside herself, ready to cry on my shoulder."
Niles Hawke frowned and asked, "Do you really have to go back by yourself?"
Eileen raised the items in her hand and replied, "With these, what do I have to fear?"
She drove back to the Stevens Family home, where the entire family, along with Mrs. Cooper and Caelan Cooper, sat in the living room. However, Myrtle was nowhere to be seen.
Everyone wore expressions of deep sorrow. Myrtle had been such a lively child, and everyone had been eagerly anticipating her arrival. But now, it was clear that, in their eyes, because of Eileen's "maliciousness," all hope had been dashed.
As soon as Eileen stepped into the living room, Finlay Stevens was the first to explode. He grabbed a teacup from the table and hurled it at her. "You worthless piece of trash! Why don't you just keep hiding outside?"
The teacup smashed against the doorframe with a loud crash, shattering into pieces that scattered around Eileen's feet.
Eileen couldn't be bothered to get angry. She brushed off her coat and calmly walked inside, saying, "So everyone is here. That's perfect."
She then called out to the maid, "Bring me a chair."
Finlay was quick to respond, "Don't you dare bring her anything! What right does she have to sit in this house?"
He glared at Eileen with resentment and disgust. "You should be on your knees apologizing to your in-laws, begging for their forgiveness! Get down on your knees!"
Eileen's eyes turned icy in an instant. "I've put up with you for long enough. Do you really think that just because we're family, I won't do anything to you?"
Her words were filled with authority, but they finally gave Davina Evans the excuse she needed to wail.
Wiping her tears, she grasped Mrs. Cooper's hand and said, "In-laws, you see for yourselves, I truly can't control this child. Just look at how she speaks to her father! Imagine how she treats Myrtle on a daily basis!"
Mrs. Cooper frowned as she looked at Eileen Stevens. She had always thought of Eileen as a sensible girl, but now…
Mrs. Cooper hesitated and asked, “Eileen, is there something troubling you? You can tell me, dear.”
Eileen felt a warmth in her heart. At this point, no one in the Stevens family trusted her, yet Mrs. Cooper, who had no blood relation to her, was still trying to defend her.
Caelan Cooper immediately interjected, “Mom! What are you talking about? What could she possibly be troubled about?”
“Even if we take a step back and say she does have her reasons, what could possibly justify harming Myrtle and my child?”
Mrs. Cooper looked at Caelan, who hadn’t slept well in days, and couldn’t bring herself to scold him. Instead, she turned to Eileen, hoping she would provide a reasonable explanation.
Eileen smiled faintly at Mrs. Cooper and shook her head. “I have no reasons.”
“Because I haven’t done anything wrong. What reasons could I possibly have?”
Davina Evans burst into tears. “Eileen, the facts are right in front of you, and you still refuse to repent! I’m not asking for much, just an apology. Is that so hard?”
Eileen raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t done anything wrong, so why should I apologize?”
Caelan Cooper could no longer contain himself and stood up in fury. “You haven’t done anything? Did Myrtle just fall by herself? Did she intentionally harm herself to frame you?”
Eileen nodded. “Yes.”
“Ridiculous!” Caelan shouted. “Eileen Stevens, not only are you heartless, but you’re also full of lies! You’re truly disgusting!”
Davina Evans cried, “My poor daughter! How can you say such things? What mother would harm her own child just to frame you? Do you think this is some kind of drama?”
Eileen seemed to understand what Davina was referring to and chuckled lightly. “Even if it were, Myrtle Stevens lacks the ambition of someone like Wu Zetian; she only possesses foolish malice.”
"You..." Davina Evans choked, collapsing into Finlay Stevens' arms. "Finlay Stevens, you raised a good daughter! Are you trying to drive us to our deaths?"
At that moment, there was finally some movement upstairs. Eileen Stevens looked up to see Yesenia Stevens helping Myrtle Stevens slowly make her way down the stairs.
Myrtle was dressed in a pure white nightgown, her hair cascading softly down her back. Her small face was pale and weak, with red-rimmed eyes and cracked lips that had taken on a sickly pallor, making her look pitiful.
She descended slowly, stopping in front of Eileen Stevens, reaching out to grasp the sleeve of Eileen's coat. Her voice trembled as she said, "Sister... I know I was thoughtless before, and I upset you in many ways..."
"But... but the child is innocent..." With tears in her eyes, she whispered, "I apologize. Can you please give the child back to me?"
What a pitiful sight she was, lost in her grief over the miscarriage, looking utterly dazed!
But Eileen Stevens knew that Myrtle was being manipulative, trying to provoke her.
Myrtle's fingers dug into Eileen's sleeve, pinching her flesh hard. She spoke the softest words, but her nails seemed ready to tear Eileen's skin apart.
Eileen pulled her hand back and said, "Myrtle Stevens, don’t try that with me!"
Just as she expected, when Eileen withdrew her hand, Myrtle lost her balance and fell to the ground.
"Myrtle!" Yesenia Stevens and Caelan Cooper rushed over to help her, but Myrtle shrugged them off, looking up at Eileen Stevens.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she half-knelt on the floor, gazing up at Eileen with that same pitiful expression. "Sister, I’m kneeling to apologize. Please give the child back to me. I beg you, I beg you..."
Caelan Cooper felt a deep ache in his heart as he gently held Myrtle's shoulders, speaking with concern, "Myrtle, please get up. Don't do this. Let me handle it."
Myrtle Stevens leaned against Caelan's shoulder, crying uncontrollably. "Caelan, I dream about our child every night... He's a beautiful boy, and he asks me, 'Mom, why don't you want me...?'"
"Caelan, please help me. My heart hurts so much! It really hurts!"
Myrtle's tears were so genuine, and her words so heartbreaking, that even Caelan, a strong man, felt his eyes well up in front of everyone.
He tightly embraced Myrtle, comforting her, "Trust me, I won't let anyone who has hurt you or our child go unpunished!"
He lifted Myrtle off the cold floor and sat her on the couch, patiently wiping her tears away. Even with so many elders watching, Caelan didn't hesitate to kiss her forehead and cheeks, reassuring her, "It’s okay. I’m here. I’ll take care of everything."
Myrtle actually began to calm down, nestling in Caelan's arms, softly sobbing, feeling utterly wronged.
Davina Evans, sitting next to Finlay Stevens, wiped her own tears and said, "Look at Myrtle. How can you not feel sorry for her?”
Finlay Stevens shot a cold glance at Eileen Stevens, saying, "Eileen, I've discussed this with your grandfather. After what you've done, it’s only fair that Myrtle and our family don’t make things difficult for you. A little compensation wouldn’t be too much to ask, right?"
Eileen raised an eyebrow slightly, "Oh? What kind of compensation?"
Finlay Stevens replied in a serious tone, "You should give all your shares to Myrtle! That would be a way to comfort her for this loss!"