After having said that, he spun and assessed the rest of his relatives condescendingly before he drawled with a sadistic gleam in his eyes, “You know, I wonder how the company might fare in the stock market tomorrow once word of my leaving the Griffiths gets out. I guess we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?” His sardonic words lingered heavily in the air, and he deliberately took in the interior of the house one last time before he leaned into Elise to whisper, “Come on, I’ll take you home.” She glanced around the room and when her gaze swept over the relatives Alexander was leaving behind, she looked almost as if she was sorry for them. At that moment, she parted her lips and addressed them for the first time today, “Soon you’ll find out that you’ve lost two valuable blue chips today.”
Under the baleful scrutiny of the crowd, Elise and Alexander held hands and headed for the door. “Alexander!” Now that he had finally lost patience with his family, Danny jogged up to the couple and cried out, “I’ll come with you!” He already had enough of the twisted schemes of the Griffiths. However, Alexander clapped a hand on the younger boy’s shoulder and said somberly, “Stay here and take care of Mom and Dad for me.”
“But I—” Danny began to protest, hoping he could convince Alexander, but upon seeing the steely look on Alexander’s face, he sighed in defeat. “Fine.” With one last look at Adam, Alexander walked out the door and never turned back. After Elise and Alexander left, the rest of the Griffiths were plunged into chaos, one that seemed more colossal than they could have ever imagined. Now that Alexander wasn’t around to strategize the company’s profits, the Griffith Group was nothing more than an empty shell.
As soon as news of his departure broke, the family would inevitably witness a bloodbath on the stock exchange. While the majority of the family scrambled to think of feasible solutions, there were a few who deeply regretted attending the so-called intervention today. A small number of relatives decided to adopt a smarter approach by calling up their stock agents, thereafter selling their shares in Griffith Group to the Olson Family Clan. However, while they were racing to clean the mess they had created, none of them realized that this was all but Alexander’s smokescreen.
Meanwhile, over at the Sinclair Residence, Jeanie finally summoned the courage to knock on Robin’s bedroom door. “Come in,” Robin said, thinking that Elise had returned. He slowly sat up in bed and leaned against the headboard before he waited for someone to enter. “Old Master Sinclair,” Jeanie greeted courteously from where she stood at the doorway. “Mrs. Anderson? Is there something I can help you with?” he asked. Her hands were clasped tightly as she tugged anxiously on her fingers. She tried to find the right words, but after a while, she blurted out, “I was wondering whether you could lend me some cash, maybe just a few thousand.”
“Oh.” He nodded. He didn’t think anything strange of her request and rather considered it as a matter of fact as he said, “Well, of course you’re going to need some money for convenience, what with you being alone and all.” “No, no.” Jeanie vehemently waved her hand. “The money isn’t for my personal use. I… I need it for a lab test!” She couldn’t bring herself to lie to Robin, not after all the kindness the Sinclairs had shown her. “Oh?
What lab test might that be?” Robin asked almost instinctively, but as soon as he did, he winced at the bluntness of the question. He quickly added, “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’ll hand you my card in a bit and you can withdraw the amount as you like.” “No, no, it’s nothing secretive.” Not wanting this conversation to drag on any longer, she took a deep breath and explained solemnly, “I need the money to run a DNA test to see whether Elise and I are related.” “Are you saying Elise is your child?” he asked in shock. “I’m not sure yet.”
Jeanie was trying hard to suppress the excitement growing in her, but she couldn’t hide her smile as she continued, “I have a really strong feeling that she is my daughter, though. I can’t shake the idea that I might be right. I guess you could call this a mother’s sixth sense.” When Robin heard this, he nodded slowly before he heaved a sigh and pointed out, “You know, Elise has always had it rough. When we found her, she didn’t look like she was lost, but rather abandoned…” Jeanie froze at this.
Old Master Sinclair is testing me. He’s saying that he thinks Elise has been abandoned by us when she was a child, and at the same time, he’s tacitly telling me to give up on reuniting with her after what I’ve put her through. “I swear to heaven and earth!” Her fingers intertwined and her knuckles turned white as she continued, “I’ve never stopped looking for Yoyo, nor have I ever thought about giving up on her, but I was… I was…” I was too useless. Before she could finish her sentence, she broke down in tears. With a cracking voice, she went on to say, “No mother would dream of abandoning her own daughter. I didn’t even get to tell her how much I loved her.
Yet, from the very moment I saw her the other day, I knew that she was my Yoyo! You know, she might have let me stay out of generosity, but in truth, I intentionally stayed so I could get close to her. I must have subconsciously treated Elise as my own daughter, and when I heard you all mention that she was adopted, I instantly knew that she is my daughter. I can’t be wrong about this!” He was moved by her words and sentiments, but he had raised Elise like his own for well over a decade and he couldn’t bring himself to let her go.
As such, he remained silent in protest. As if sensing his objections, Jeanie rushed to explain, “Don’t worry, Old Master Sinclair. The test will only be a confirmation for me; I won’t try to bring Elise home to the Anderson Family. Knowing how heartless they are, I’d be worried for Elise’s safety too. She’s my flesh and blood, so I won’t try to take away the happiness she has now. Please believe me!” There was hardly a greater form of persuasion than the tears of plea a mother shed for her child. Robin was quiet in thought for a long moment and at last, he glanced over at the only dresser in the room and said flatly, “Open the first drawer on the left and pick any card you want.
The pin is XXX…” “Thank you! Thank you so much!” Jeanie gave the old man a ninety degree bow. After that, she was so grateful and overwhelmed after obtaining the bank card that she had completely forgotten Elise’s stern reminder as she left the house. She was oblivious to the fact that there had been a figure hovering nearby the Sinclair Residence and spying on her every movement. At the sight of Jeanie’s departure through the front door, the spy swiftly made a call.
“Madam has left the house.” On the other end of the phone, Faye narrowed her eyes and instructed coldly, “Follow her and make sure you stay hidden.” “Yes, ma’am.” After having heard this, she hung up the call. She was presently standing by the French windows in her office and gazing out at the cityscape that was decorated with skyscrapers. As she stared through the glass, her mind began to wander.
I’ve called that woman my mother all these years, but even now, there is still an invisible barrier between us. She’s only been gone from home a couple of days, but it seems as if she’s in better spirits now, and it’s all because of that schoolgirl named Elise. Jealousy seized her as she tightly hugged herself, her nails digging into the skin of her arms.
However, she loosened her grip as the barest hint of a smile brushed over her lips. Well, I suppose this could work out for the better. I might even be able to find out which cards my mother and grandmother have up their sleeves. As far as Faye was concerned, the Anderson Family was hers. No one and nothing could stop her from getting what she deserved.
