Chapter 179 – His Second Chance Love: The Freezing Silence

I sneered. “You love your daughter more than life itself. Don’t you think other people would feel the same about their own child?”

“Nothing else is more important than my daughter.” She looked at me, raising her tone a little when she said, “Sienna, you had a choice. If you’d chosen to get rid of the child and leave Anthony from the start, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. I gave you a choice, didn’t I?”

I really had the urge to laugh, but my anger overpowered it. There were indeed shameless people in the world who could make their selfish and evil deeds sound so noble.

“I’m impressed, Ms. Anderson. As expected of someone who has been through many hardships in life, you can even justify such heinous crimes so effortlessly. Since your hands are covered with my child’s blood, aren’t you afraid that your grandchild will receive retribution because of you?” I was no saint. My heart would never waver just because of a couple of sob stories.

Right then, I realized that it was truly impossible to perform the virtuous act of burying the hatchet.

Her face darkened at my words. “Do you think you pose a threat to me just because you’re associated with Louis Stanhope now? To put it bluntly, you’re nothing but an ant beneath my boot. If I want you dead, do you think there’s anything you can do to stop me?”

Hah!

What arrogant words!

“My life isn’t worth that much to begin with. If you have what it takes to claim it, by all means, go ahead. Indeed, being associated with Uncle Louis isn’t all that impressive, but you’d do well to remember that the child you killed belonged to Anthony. Not to mention, I’m now connected to Louis Stanhope in addition to the White family. Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you. I also have a brother called John Stanhope. You should know him. With a line-up like this, what do you think are the chances of me pushing the Moore family off the edge?”

“You…” Cameron’s face blanched.

“Those are very arrogant words, young lady. What makes you think you’d be able to convince that many people to help you?”

I hadn’t sensed Zachary’s presence, but I wasn’t intimidated by him whatsoever. He came over and sat beside Cameron, cocking a brow at me. “The matter regarding the child was a mistake on Cameron’s part, but Ms. Stanhope, do you really think you have the power to topple my family?”

Since the cat was let out of the bag, there was no need to put up a pretense. “It wouldn’t hurt to try. Worst case scenario, I’d just lose my worthless life and join my child in the afterlife. No big deal.”

He frowned slightly and glanced sideways at Cameron, lowering his voice as he reprimanded, “Harming a child? Since when did you become so inhumane?”

Cameron looked aggrieved upon being questioned. “Zachary, do you know how hard Rylee’s life has been? I just couldn’t bear to see our daughter suffer anymore!”

“Outrageous!” Zachary seethed with anger. “You’ll only end up ruining Rylee by overindulging her like this.”

Cameron bowed her head, her eyes turning red. “Both of us have owed her too much over the years.”

Zachary heaved a sigh and directed his gaze to me. “Ms. Stanhope, what’s done is done. You can state your condition. We’ll do our best to compensate you for the harm we’ve caused.”

I felt like laughing. This couple was really something else; one committed the crime while the other offered hush money. They made quite the pair.

I straightened my back and looked them in the eye. “Since both of you are so sincere, forget about money and status. You know that I’m not lacking in those. How about this? A life for a life. Rather than waiting for karma to run its course, you both can make it happen right away. If I’m not mistaken, Ms. Lorraine is nearing her due date. Why don’t you let both children accompany each other in the afterlife?”

“Don’t step out of line, Sienna!” Cameron’s face flushed with panic. “Do you really think you’re all that just because you have some influential figures on your side? Let me tell you, you’re still an amateur!”

I smiled coldly and nodded without an ounce of anger. “You’re right, Ms. Anderson. I know I’m still an amateur, but time is on my side and there are plenty of opportunities to come.”

“You’re a smart person, Ms. Stanhope. Is it really worth it to make everyone unhappy and ruin your own future because of a child?” This was an undisguised threat.

My lips curled into a sneer. “It is! I’ll leave you two alone now. Have a good chat.” Then, I looked at Cameron, smilingly brightly at her as I said, “Ms. Anderson, we’ve got all the time in the world. I’m in no rush.”

Her face was especially grim. Letting my smile drop, I went back into the hotel.

Their feelings were their business. All I cared about was my own feelings, and right now, I felt great.

People with power and wealth could indeed do whatever they wanted. One life was but a speck of dust to them. How absurd!

Back in the lobby, I found that almost all the guests had already left. When Louis spotted me, he broke into a kind smile and said, “The Stanhope family is large, but since you’re now my daughter, let’s pick a good day to welcome you into the family. A daughter of mine deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”

A smile stretched across my lips even as my eyes stung with tears. In a voice thick with emotion, I replied, “Thank you, Uncle Louis!”

He clucked his tongue and chided, “Silly girl, you should be calling me Dad now!”

I pressed my lips into a thin line, then smiled with tears in my eyes and blurted, “Dad!”

“That’s more like it!” He chuckled heartily. “Give me your current address. I’ll be carrying out an inspection in other provinces for the next two days. When I’m back, I’ll take you out for some good food.”

I nodded and stated, “I’m living in Central Park. Remember to be careful on your trip.”

He nodded with a smile. “Alright, alright. I’ll have your brother take care of you these few days. We’re a family now. Just tell him if there’s anything you need.”

Hearing those words, a warm bubbly feeling rose in my chest.

After Marcus sent off all the guests, he walked over to us and said to Louis, “Uncle Louis, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your daughter.”

Louis cackled with laughter, then squinted at us and whispered, “Tell me the truth. Are you two dating?”

Marcus blinked in surprise before grinning. “Uncle Louis, I’m afraid this isn’t for me to answer.”

“Hahahaha!”

Everyone laughed in unison at that. After sending off Louis, Marcus bid Sharon goodbye.

Sharon glanced at me, then turned to Marcus with a complicated expression on her face. “You should know your own limits. Don’t complicate matters. If a scandal involving the two of you were to spread in K City, it’d affect the Featherstone family and the White family, and now the Stanhope family as well. Things will get messy.”

Marcus nodded and reassured her, “Don’t worry, Mom. I know what I’m doing.”

Then, we left the hotel and got into the car.

I couldn’t help but look at him in suspicion. “Although Louis has always wanted a daughter, he’s a high-ranking politician. It doesn’t make sense for him to accept a random girl as his daughter just based on feelings.”

He started the car and smiled. “Well, would you look at that? You’re not a lost cause after all. You both have the surname Stanhope. Do you think it’s a coincidence?”

“What do you mean?”

He drove while explaining, “John played a part in this too. He’s Louis’ nephew and currently under his care. In fact, John has mentioned about you to Louis more than once already. I guess he’s said everything that needed to be said.”

I was taken aback, struggling to wrap my mind around this revelation. “Isn’t John’s father a businessman?”

He arched a brow at me. “You should ask him yourself when you have the time. Louis doesn’t have children of his own. As for his brothers, one is dead while the other is disabled, so even though their family is large, none of them are close to each other.”

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