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"If Alice's death really had nothing to do with you, then why are we so scared of the Wilson family? Let them dig all they want."
"Mom, just tell me. I deserve to know too."
Unable to withstand Elise's persistent questioning, Elowen had no choice but to recount the tangled relationships from years ago.
However, she still refused to admit that Alice's death had anything to do with her.
"I honestly don't know how Alice died."
"Back then, I was just a lowly sales clerk at a luxury store. The first time I met your dad, he was taking over the company from Alice. He was in high spirits, dressed head to toe in designer brands..."
"Mom, you didn't seduce Dad back then, did you? Is that how you ended up marrying into the Johnson Villa?"
"What are you talking about? Who seduced him?"
Elowen felt foolish just thinking about her younger self. "It was your dad who was attracted to my beauty. He deliberately approached me, flirted with me..."
"And at that time, Alice was pregnant. Your dad couldn't stand the loneliness and pretended to be single to date me. By the time I found out he had a family, it was too late. I was already pregnant with you."
Thinking back to how she had naively gotten pregnant, Elowen felt a deep hatred for Michael.
"I was so young. Of course, I didn't want to be anyone's mistress. So, when I found out he was married, I planned to leave Emerald City quietly and cut ties with him."
"But when I was seven months pregnant with you, Emily was born. Your dad wanted a son to inherit his business, so he found me again. He wanted me to give him a son and promised that if I gave birth to you, he would bring us both home."
"He said Alice's health was failing after childbirth and she wouldn't live long. He promised that once she died, he would marry me. He said he only loved me and never Alice."
The more Elowen spoke, the more she hated Michael. He was a complete scumbag.
All those promises were just to use her.
When Alice was no longer useful, he discarded her. And when Elise was no longer a money tree, he abandoned them both.
He was selfish and only loved himself.
Elowen wiped away her tears and held Elise's hand for comfort. "Olivia, you don't know. I really didn't know your dad had a family. And I was pregnant with you. How could I bear to give you up? So, I agreed to your dad's terms."
Elise thought for a moment and said, "So, Alice's death was just because her health was poor after childbirth, not because of you and Dad?"
This conclusion was hard to believe. Even a random member of the Wilson family wouldn't buy it.
If Alice had died from natural causes, the powerful and influential Wilson family would have found out back then.
Elise hesitated for a moment and looked back at Elowen. "Mom, are you making this up to deceive me?"
It wasn't surprising she didn't trust her. If Elowen had nothing to do with it, why would the Wilson family be so fixated on her?
Sure enough, after Elise said this, she noticed a change in Elowen's expression.
It was a guilty evasion.
Elise understood something.
Elowen hadn't told her the whole truth. There was definitely more to the story.
Under Elise's gaze, Elowen finally gave in and forced a smile.
"Alright, I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone else. The truth is, Alice wasn't that sick. She was just weak after childbirth. From the time I gave birth to when you were six months old, she was still alive."
"Your dad never fulfilled his promise. We had to live in a rundown apartment. Once, I threatened your dad to choose between us and Alice. Later, your dad somehow got Alice admitted to the hospital. Within three months, she died."
Elowen's words placed all the blame on Michael.
She made herself seem completely innocent.
Elise found it even stranger. She still doubted Elowen.
"So, you're saying you don't know the details of how Alice died in the hospital?"
"Exactly. I have no idea how she died in the hospital. The Wilson family tortured me, trying to get me to confess. They should have been arrested by the police to clear my name."
Elowen spoke with conviction.
But Elise could tell from her demeanor that she still wasn't telling the whole truth.
However, Elise decided not to press further.
She didn't care how Alice died.
Even if Elowen was involved, so what? Elowen was just trying to secure a better future for them. Who wouldn't want a good life?
Blame Alice for not being able to keep her man by having a son.
The Wilson family had no right to go after Elowen for this.
But Elise's thoughts were destined to be in vain.
Because hidden in Elowen's clothes was a tiny listening device, and their conversation was being transmitted to the Wilson family's study.
Ezra listened and sent the audio to Maddox, who was abroad.
A few minutes later, he called Maddox.
"Maddox, what do you think?"
Ezra had called Maddox.
Back then, Michael and Elowen had caused a scene at the Wilson Group and even tried to attack Emily. If Lawrence hadn't intervened, who knows what might have happened to Emily.
After that, Elowen was arrested for attempted murder, and Michael was secretly detained by the Wilson family.
To avoid detection, Maddox took Michael abroad and kept him under house arrest on the Wilson family's property.
Now that both were under control and they had evidence from their own mouths, it was time for a confrontation.
When Maddox received the audio, he knew what Ezra wanted to ask.
He got straight to the point. "Ezra, I repeated Elowen's words to Michael, but both of them blame each other. Neither will say what really happened."
It was a mutually exploitative relationship, so this outcome didn't surprise Ezra.
However, he hadn't expected the lead from Elowen.
He had thought Elowen wouldn't hide anything from Elise, but based on the audio, she hadn't told a single truth.