Chapter 9 The Twins

Jaxson looked at his mother with an expression so cold it bordered on cruelty. "Have you lost your mind? She's your wife, and you're starving her in her room. Do you want to kill her?" "Even if she is my wife, wrongdoing warrants punishment. The Adams family has never needed her," Jaxson retorted. In his eyes, Elinor was of no importance to him. The only reason he had not divorced her right away was out of respect for Stella. Elinor had touched his belongings. Whether she had seen their contents or not, he had no intention of making life easy for her. Stella was infuriated. Out of all the young women, she had chosen Elinor because she was sensible and well-behaved. Stella believed that Elinor would never intentionally make a mistake. If she did, it would only be accidental. However, her son was unforgiving and intolerant of even the slightest mistake, whether it was intentional or not. Taking heavy breaths, Stella sank into the sofa. For a moment, mother and son sat in silence, until Stella spoke in a subdued tone. "I know you're wary of letting anyone get close to you. The Adams family owes its current status to your hard work. But Jaxson, I am your mother, and I don't want you to be like the rest of the Adams family, do you understand? Regardless of your feelings, Elinor must stay here. Even if you two are only husband and wife in name, I can't bear to see you alone." The more Stella spoke, the more labored her breathing became. "I know you don't accept this arranged marriage. You can divorce her and bring home another woman, someone you actually like or at least can tolerate. I'll have nothing more to say. But your current actions are crossing the line," Stella declared, conveniently omitting that she had asked Elinor to have a child, a request Elinor had graciously accepted. Stella felt guilty for this alone. Jaxson had anticipated that his mother would be adamant about him not divorcing. What he had not expected was the additional conundrum she presented. To divorce Elinor and find another woman seemed more cumbersome than simply keeping Elinor, who was well-behaved compared to the other women he had encountered. However, he was repulsed by all women and did not even want to maintain appearances. This marriage would end, just not now. "Did you hear what I said?" Stella's vision blurred, her head feeling heavy. Jaxson did not respond, and a rush of emotion overwhelmed Stella. She fainted once again, prompting another emergency trip to the hospital for someone who had only recently been discharged. In her room, Elinor remained oblivious to the drama unfolding outside. After eating, she lay on the bed, her eyes vacant as they fixed on the ceiling. The only person in the entire Adams family who had been kind to her was Stella. As kind as she was, she was still Jaxson's mother. How could Stella genuinely blame her own son, Jaxson, for his actions today? A bitter smile crossed Elinor's lips at the thought. Margaret, clearly distressed, spoke softly, "Ma’am, don't worry. Madam Stella is on your side. I'll go down to check what's going on. You should rest for a while." Elinor gave no response, not even a flicker of her eyes. Sighing, Margaret left the room. Once the door closed, Elinor's eyes trembled momentarily. She could not bear the thought of staying in this manor any longer. And as for Jaxson, if she continued to stay here, he would be the death of her sooner or later. As it happened, Jaxson was coming upstairs just as Margaret was leaving. "Is she still alive?" he inquired. "Sir, Mrs. Adams is…" "Leave!" Jaxson cut her off impatiently. Margaret wanted to say something but held back, glancing back several times as Jaxson entered Elinor's room. Hearing the door open, Elinor turned her head. "Mr. Adams, when can we get a divorce? I can leave right now, and you won't have to suffer the sight of me any longer," Elinor forced herself to stand. During the two days she had been confined here, she had already packed her belongings. It was almost laughable, she had married into the most prominent family in Babington City, yet her possessions were pitifully sparse. She could not even fill a single suitcase. "I understand I made a mistake, and your sparing my life is your form of forgiveness. Therefore, divorce seems to be the best option for both of us. Do you have a divorce agreement? If not, I can have someone draft one right now," Elinor said, her desperation to leave the place eclipsing her fear of Jaxson. Her eagerness to sever ties irked Jaxson for some inexplicable reason. "You think two days locked in a room settles everything? Do you know what happened to the last person who entered my study?" Elinor shivered but didn't want to know. "You're fortunate my mother is fond of you. For now, you remain my wife. Forget about divorce." "Why? I can talk to Madam Stella about it!" "Shut up! Be a good wife, or starving will be the least of your worries." Jaxson's patience had run out. He left the room after delivering his final threat. Watching Jaxson's retreating figure, Elinor's tears flowed freely. Why has leaving this place become so complicated? Initially, he was the one who wanted a divorce, and now he was also the one refusing it. How long was "for now"? Stella would likely be pleased, she certainly would not agree to a divorce at this point. Elinor would have to wait, but she had no intention of staying in this dreadful place for long. With Margaret's attentive care, Elinor's health improved significantly. Finding an opportune moment, she went to the hospital alone for a check-up. Her emotional state had been abysmal lately, and she was well aware that her unborn child would sense her emotions. It seemed that fate had already made the choice for her, she was prepared for the worst, believing she could not keep the child. However, the doctor looked up with surprise. "Congratulations, you're expecting twins." Elinor's mind went blank. She heard the doctor's words but could not comprehend them.