Chapter 8

"This—" Abigail hesitated. Her gaze shifted between Wendy and Nina. "Mom, I'm your real daughter. Don't you love me anymore?" Wendy burst into tears, throwing herself into Abigail's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears softened Abigail's heart instantly. Holding Wendy, Abigail comforted her with distress, while Nina sat on the cold marble floor, too weak to get up right away. The maids around them watched indifferently, making no move to help. Some even smirked in ridicule. Trampling the weak while flattering the strong was human nature. In the Lawson family, Nina was now beneath even the maids. Slowly, she supported herself on the table and stood up, looking utterly disheveled. "This is nonsense." Her voice was calm but firm. She knew if she didn't speak now, she would truly be driven out of Brackenridge. "That so-called psychic is likely a fraud, spouting nonsense just to make money. Forcing me to leave the city based on that is completely absurd." "What do you mean by that?" Wendy's face contorted in rage when she heard Nina's words. She lifted her head from Abigail's embrace, her furious gaze sharp enough to kill. "If you weren't cursing me, why would my connection with children suddenly weaken? You've already taken everything from me. It's only natural that being near you would bring me harm." "That's all just superstition." Nina frowned, trying to reason. "As for me mistakenly taking your place, it was because of the hospital error—" "Stop acting innocent!" Wendy, unable to counter her, lashed out, slapping Nina hard across the face. Nina's head snapped to the side, the taste of blood filling her mouth. "You ruined me! How could the psychic be wrong? If I lose my child, I—Mom!" Wendy clutched her stomach and wailed, her sobs gasping and broken. "If my baby is gone, I might as well die, too!" Everyone knew how obsessed Wendy was with Yvan. To her, the child was more precious than her own life. Abigail's heart shattered at the sight of Wendy's distress. "Nina!" Abigail's expression darkened, her face filled with disappointment. "You know Wendy is already upset because of what the psychic said. Why can't you just let her be? Why must you provoke her? "You're becoming more and more inconsiderate!" Nina's nose tingled as Abigail rebuked her. She forced down her tears. She could bicker with Wendy without backing down, but against Abigail's blatant favoritism, she had no defense. Once a heart was biased, the eyes became blind as well. Wendy had attacked her first, yet somehow, she was the one in the wrong? A bitter ache settled in her chest. Lowering her head stubbornly, she said, "Mom, I didn't do anything." "Stop denying!" Abigail's anger flared. She pointed toward the door. "Go stand outside and reflect on yourself! You can come back once you realize your mistake!" From Abigail's embrace, Wendy shot Nina a smug, triumphant look. Taking a deep breath, Nina said nothing and walked toward the door. The evening breeze was freezing. She wore only thin clothes, and as soon as she stepped outside, she shivered violently. The doors shut behind her without hesitation. She stood alone in the dark, her figure fragile against the looming shadows, swallowed by the cold, inky night. She didn't know how long she had been standing there when the glare of approaching headlights illuminated her frozen body. Her hands and feet were numb, her eyes stung from the sudden brightness, and she instinctively turned away. A sleek black Cullinan rolled to a stop before her. A man in a black suit, his expression cold and imposing, stepped out. Nina was taken aback—why was Shane home this late? Since taking over Lawson Group, Shane had been consumed with work, often sleeping at the office. For the past three years, except for holidays, he had rarely returned to the Lawson residence. As Nina stood there in a daze, polished black leather shoes entered her vision. She pressed her lips together, unwilling to speak to him. In Shane's eyes, she had to look utterly wretched—like a pitiful, unwanted stray. At the sound of the door opening, Abigail stepped outside. Having heard of Shane's arrival, she had come out specifically to greet him. Seeing Nina standing there, shivering in the cold, Abigail frowned. "Nina, have you reflected on your mistakes yet?" Nina knew she should apologize, but her stubbornness refused to let her speak. "You—" Abigail's anger mixed with a trace of heartache, her expression complex. "I always thought you were the most sensible. How have you become so unruly?" Sensible—only unloved children tried so hard to appear sensible. Nina felt the bitterness deepen in her heart. "What happened?" Shane's voice was as cold as the evening breeze, carrying not a shred of warmth. His displeased gaze swept over Nina. Nina clenched her jaw and remained silent. Abigail recounted the earlier events to Shane. "What do you think, Mom?" Shane asked, his voice slow and unreadable. Turning to Nina, his sharp gaze sent chills down her spine. The intensity in his eyes made her uneasy. Abigail hesitated before speaking, but her motherly love for Wendy ultimately prevailed. "I think Wendy has a point." She sighed. "Maybe Wendy and Nina are simply incompatible. I once hoped they could get along, but perhaps I was wrong. "The psychic's warning worries me. If anything happens to the baby, Wendy will be devastated. As for Nina—" Nina's heart pounded, gripped by an invisible force. She had long known Abigail would abandon her for Wendy, but hearing it still tore her apart. "I can arrange for her to study abroad." Shane smoothly picked up where Abigail left off. "Mom, you don't need to worry." Abigail's face brightened with relief. "That's actually a good idea. We had always planned for Nina to study overseas, but circumstances delayed it. "If she leaves Brickenridge, she might grow in ways she wouldn't here. This could be beneficial for her." Abigail was pleased with the arrangement. But Nina felt like she had been struck by lightning. She stared at Shane in horror. Shane met her gaze with narrowed eyes, his expression suffocating. Only then did she see the darkness swirling in his pupils—deep, overwhelming, and terrifying. It was the gaze of a predator ready to devour her whole. "No!" Nina cried out. She couldn't let Shane send her abroad. If she left, she would never escape his grasp—she would become his caged plaything, forever trapped in the hands of Shane the madman. Absolutely not!