Chapter 191 Father-in-Law

"No."

Lewis abruptly grabbed her hand. "You don't know Uncle Olsen. He's domineering in his actions and won't give you a chance to explain. If I'm not mistaken, as soon as you and Ellis go downstairs, he'll cripple one of your legs!"

Keira's pupils constricted.

She looked at Ellis, only to see the man digging in his ear. "My third uncle said an arm and a leg would suffice as an apology," he said.

Keira remained silent.

Was it really like that?

She frowned, about to say something more, when Lewis stepped forward. "Let's each take a step back. I'll go down with you, and we can talk to Uncle Olsen."

Ellis pulled the finger he had been using to clean his ear, blew on it as though to remove something nonexistent, and chuckled. "I don't mind you going down to chat with my third uncle, but how is this each taking a step back?"

He looked at Lewis. "I'll have the bodyguards guard all the exits here, to avoid you pulling a fast one and having her escape while we're distracted."

After the two sides reached an agreement, Lewis looked at Keira. "Just stay on this floor, and don't go anywhere else."

"Okay."

Only then did Lewis go downstairs with Ellis.

Their respective bodyguards remained upstairs, one group guarding Keira while the Olsen family guards watched them, to prevent Keira from escaping.

Keira didn't want to stay in Isla's room, so she walked out, intending to return to Mrs. Olsen's room.

But before she could leave the room, she heard Isla say, "Keira, you used to do whatever you wanted because of Uncle Lewis, but this time, I've got the Clance Olsen family backing me up! Don't think I'm afraid of you! As long as you apologize and admit your mistake, I might consider letting you off."

Keira laughed at the remark. "Really? The Horton family and the Olsen family are equals; do you think even with the support of the Olsen family, the Horton family would want a woman who's pregnant with another man's child? Here, have a saying for you. 'One who has brought it upon themselves cannot live.'"

Isla was speechless!

Jake then barked angrily. "Keira, even at a time like this, you're still attacking Isla! She's the Olsen's daughter, do you think she'll be treated the same as you, an illegitimate daughter? You married Uncle Lewis, yet you're still pestering me!"

Keira couldn't be bothered to explain the matter, simply lowering her gaze and saying, "There's no point in these senseless words now; everything will be clear in three hours."

Leaving behind these words, she turned and left the room, going back to Mrs. Olsen's.

The Olsen family's guards were on high alert as soon as they saw her leave the room. Once they saw her enter Mrs. Olsen's room, they relaxed.

In the room, several members of the Horton family looked at Isla.

Melissa narrowed her eyes and immediately asked, "Isla, tell me, is this child really Jake's?"

Isla's eyes flickered, and she blurted out, "Mom, how can you say that? Of course, it's Jake's baby! The family head of the Olsen family is sitting downstairs right now. You don't have to be afraid. He will stand up for me."

Melissa scoffed. "Are you threatening me?"

Immediately, Isla waved her hands. "Not at all, how could I! Mom, I only mean to say we don't have to be afraid of Uncle Lewis..."

"You'd better be right!" Melissa glared at her fiercely. "Just let me tell you. There's one thing Keira was absolutely right about: even if the Clance Olsen family is backing you up, if this child isn't Jake's, the Horton family won't be able to shelter you!"

Isla immediately clenched her fists. "I understand, Mom."

Jake couldn't help but interject, "Mom, why are you bringing this up at all? Surely you're not swayed by Uncle Lewis and Keira's words? How could the child in Isla's belly not be mine?"

Melissa said, "She did, after all, get pregnant before marriage."

"That's not a problem! What era are we living in now... Besides, the DNA test results will be out in three hours, then we'll know, won't we?"

Jake said casually.

He didn't realize that this comment made Isla immediately clench the sheets tight.

She had thought that after the miscarriage, there would be no chance for amniotic fluid testing, but to her surprise, Keira and Lewis had managed to have the doctors collect the embryo from the miscarriage, effectively cutting off her way out!

Isla was infuriated to death.

Unable to sit still and wait for doom, she took out her phone.

...

Downstairs.

After Uncle Olsen's car door opened, Lewis got in.

Uncle Olsen opened his eyes and glanced at him, then coldly said, "What? Are you here to plead for that illegitimate daughter?"

Lewis responded indifferently, "She hasn't done anything wrong. The child isn't Jake's. Isla had an intentional miscarriage and framed her."

Uncle Olsen raised an eyebrow, his body still radiating an icy chill, "Then why would Isla have a miscarriage and frame her? Even if she did nothing, her very birth is her fault."

Lewis frowned. "I've told you before, Mrs. Olsen has never minded her existence."

"Jodie's health has been deteriorating year by year. She must have a burden, and if not Keira, who else could it be? Lewis, we're not fools. Do you think that any married woman would truly not mind an illegitimate daughter?"

Lewis clenched his jaw.

No.

Even though Mrs. Olsen treasured Keira so much, she must have minded at some point.

Otherwise, Keira wouldn't have left the Olsen family so early, and her attitude towards Mrs. Olsen would not be a mix of love, fear, and avoidance...

As for the Horton family, Oliver had a mistress and an illegitimate daughter outside, and Melissa had made countless scenes at home because of this.

The reason Jake hated the illegitimate daughter was also because of this.

Uncle Olsen's statement left no room for rebuttal.

Lewis slowly said, "The overseas project we've been working on recently, I can let you have it."

"There's no need,"

Uncle Olsen coldly refused. "Neither you nor I can be bought with money, so why say such things?"

Lewis was just testing.

But this test made Lewis feel even more troubled.

Uncle Olsen had coveted that overseas project for a long time, proposing many deals to exchange for it, but now for the sake of the Olsen family, even that wasn't viable.

He tensed his jaw. "No matter what, I won't let you bully Keira. Birth is not a choice, and she's never done anything wrong."

"I've said, her birth means she owes the Olsen family."

Uncle Olsen looked at Lewis. "But I'm not opposed to letting her go, provided you agree to one condition."

"What is it?"

"Divorce her, and marry my niece."

After Uncle Olsen finished speaking, he stared coldly at Lewis. "I've always been interested in you as a son-in-law; it's a pity I don't have a daughter, otherwise, I would have forced a marriage upon you even if it meant tying you up. Lewis, this is my compromise. If you don't agree, then we can only break one of her arms or legs."

Lewis immediately became furious. "You wouldn't dare!"

"We could always try,"

Uncle Olsen said lightly.

Lewis quickly clenched his fists.

He and Uncle Olsen were evenly matched, neither superior nor inferior.

If the two forces really clashed, the outcome would be nothing more than a pyrrhic victory.

But he couldn't back down.

As the two became locked in a standoff, Ellis, chuckling, interrupted, "Uncle, don't be so serious! Oh right, Lewis, didn't you have a photo you wanted to ask Uncle about? Let's take it out and have a look."

Ellis wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He knew that both men weren't afraid of making a scene, but this was a hospital; if a fight truly broke out, wouldn't they level the place?

So, he had to interrupt with a lighthearted interjection.

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Chapter 192 Get Lost

Lewis and Uncle Olsen turned to look at Ellis who had abruptly interrupted them.

Then, both men opened their mouths at the same time and blurted out the same thing.

"Get lost!"

"Get lost!"

Ellis was speechless.

He twitched the corners of his mouth, unable to help himself. "The understanding between you two makes one think you're family. Uncle, I know you're fond of Lewis and want him to marry a girl from our family, and I also want him to marry my cousin. It allows me to show off being the older cousin in front of him! Keep it up!"

Having said that, Ellis reluctantly took a step back.

But his interjection had indeed diffused the formerly tense atmosphere.

Lewis looked at Uncle Olsen again. "I'm flattered."

Uncle Olsen scoffed coldly. "Don't think that by saying that I'll let that illegitimate daughter off the hook. I'm here this time to clear all obstacles for Jodie!"

Lewis sighed. "I can understand that you want to protect Mrs. Olsen, but Keira is my wife, and it's my responsibility to protect her. Uncle, I'm afraid I'm going to offend you this time."

Uncle Olsen squinted his eyes, emitting an aura of risking it all. "Then let's try."

The situation downstairs was tense.

Upstairs in the hospital ward, Keira was also secretly worried about Lewis. She stood by the window, looking down at the situation in the parking lot.

Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps rang out, and Keira turned to see Poppy rushing into the ward.

Her gaze landed first on Taylor; her pupils shrank slightly at his appearance, clearly pained. She approached him. "Taylor, you..."

"Get out."

Taylor didn't have the strength to speak loudly, but his short reply was powerful enough to leave Poppy speechless.

She awkwardly stepped back, then turned her fierce gaze toward Keira, storming over to her and raising her hand to strike her. "You bitch, I heard you caused Isla's miscarriage? The Olsen family raised you, and Isla is your master. How dare you treat her like this? I'll beat you to death!"

But before her hand could land on Keira's face, Keira grabbed her wrist and pushed her away forcefully.

Keira looked at her coldly. "Don't try to control me with that old routine again. I'm grown up now, Poppy, we have no relation anymore!"

"No relation?"

Poppy snorted with disdain. "I'm your mother. How could there be no relation between us? Keira, the blood in your veins is mine. If you want to sever ties with me, you'd have to bleed out completely! You can't do it; you can't pay it back! You must follow my words! You go now, immediately, this instant, and apologize to Isla. Beg for her forgiveness on your knees! And if she doesn't forgive you, you'll have to remove your uterus as recompense!"

Keira's eyes widened in shock.

She started to doubt whether she had heard the woman correctly.

Although she had always known Poppy disliked and despised her, she never imagined Poppy could say such cruel words!

Remove her uterus? Just to earn Isla's forgiveness?

She couldn't help but laugh.

That laughter was bitter but tinged with a sense of release.

Yes, her mother had never loved her.

Seeing no response from her, Poppy said, "Did you hear me? I told you to remove your uterus. I'll book the surgery for you right now. You caused Isla to lose a child, so I'll make sure you can never have children as punishment!"

She grabbed Keira's arm, trying to pull her out.

But Keira just stood there, and she couldn't get out the door.

Poppy turned around and glared at her. "Keira! Do you dare to disobey me? Get down on your knees!"

"Get down..."

These two words were the ones that Keira had heard the most from her childhood. Every time Poppy got angry, the first thing she would say was these two words.

And then she would take out the homemade whip and lash out mercilessly at her!

Keira's gaze turned even colder, and she replied, "Poppy, I won't listen to you anymore."

"What did you call me? You unfilial daughter, ungrateful wretch! I gave birth to you; is this how you repay me? Keira, do you believe I'll call the police right now, claiming you refuse to provide for me in my old age? I will take you to court and have you jailed!"

Poppy was jumping madly, her voice spreading from the hospital room...

In Isla's hospital room.

They could vaguely hear something, and Isla immediately threw off the blankets and got out of bed. "What's going on with my mom? I'll check on her..."

Jake immediately supported her arm, "I'll go with you."

But Isla paused slightly in her steps. "Okay."

They quickly arrived at Mrs. Olsen's hospital room, and as soon as they entered, they heard Poppy's shrieking. "You bastard! You're an illegitimate daughter! How dare you treat Miss Isla like this? You're utterly heartless!"

Isla immediately said, "Aunt Hill? What are you doing here?"

Upon hearing this, Poppy immediately turned her head to look at them, then "bang", she knelt down in front of Isla, "Miss Isla, it's all Keira's fault. I apologize on her behalf! She must be jealous of you and young Mr. Horton, that's why she did such a thing. Test assured, I'll make her give you an explanation!"

Isla's eyes flickered, "Aunt Hill, don't say that... After all, she is also Dad's daughter and my sister... Let it be. I won't pursue this matter anymore. Let's leave it at that!"

Jake immediately said, "Isla, no, I don't agree. This matter must be explained by her!"

Isla sighed. "Jake, my mom is still unconscious, and she also liked Keira a lot. I don't want to make her wake up to this and be in pain again..."

Jake was stunned.

Hearing this, Poppy immediately looked at Keira. "Did you hear that? Aren't you going to thank Miss Isla? She's so magnanimous and is able to let go of such a thing... Kneel and bow to her right now!"

Keira didn't move but scoffed. "Nice acting."

Jake instantly became furious. "Keira, enough is enough! Isla has been yielding time and again only to be pushed further by you! I knew it, ungrateful wretches like you can never be satisfied. Your appetite grows larger and larger, and you're utterly shameless! I tell you, even if Isla no longer pursues it, I'll pursue it to the end with you! You've killed my child, and I'll never let this go!"

"Your child?" Keira scoffed, "Wait until the test results come back, then we'll see if it's your child or not!"

Jake sneered. "At this point, you still have the nerve to talk back!"

While they were talking, Tom had already obtained the DNA test results and rushed in briskly. "Miss Olsen, Boss requested an expedited comparison of the embryo and Mr. Jake's DNA, and the result is out!"

Upon hearing this, Keira looked up.

Isla's pupils shrank!

Weren't they supposed to take three more hours?! Why was it expedited?!

=====================



Chapter 193 Kneel

Isla's eyes betrayed a trace of panic as her gaze was firmly locked onto that report.

Tom then walked in and handed the report to Keira.

Keira glanced at it, and sure enough, it didn't match.

She looked at Jake with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Jake sneered. "Now that the report is out, let's show it to everyone and see what's going on!"

Right as Keira was about to hand the report over to Jake, a hand suddenly reached out and snatched the report away.

Poppy glanced at the report, and her pupils

immediately contracted. She stared at Isla in disbelief.

Isla's eyes flickered guiltily. "Aunt Hill, why are you looking at me? Show us the report now...It can prove my innocence!"

Jake also said, "Exactly, bring it over to prove Isla's innocence, so Uncle Lewis and Keira stop framing her!"

But as Jake came over to take the report, Poppy

suddenly crumpled it into a ball and stuffed it into her mouth.

Everyone was dumbfounded

Jake was shocked. "What are you doing?"

Isla also asked anxiously, "Aunt Hill, what are you doing? Spit out the report..."

But the more they said, the more resolute Poppy became, swallowing it forcefully. "This report is fake. I can't show it to you! Otherwise, if you leave evidence behind, what if you sue Keira?"

Jake was furious. "You...!"

The corners of Isla's lips curled slightly.

She had brought Poppy here just for this moment.

Unfortunately, her smug expression didn't last long on her face before she heard Keira's clear, cold voice. "It's just a report, isn't it? If it's eaten, just print another.

Tom...

Tom smiled, "Alright, I'll go print another one now..."

With that, he left the room.

Poppy glared viciously at Keira, then suddenly turned to Jake. "Young Mr. Horton, could you please leave first? I'll try to persuade Keira to confess..."

Jake sneered. "She killed my child. Why should I give her that chance?!"

Poppy was a bit at a loss for a reply.

Then Isla said, "Jake, for the sake of us having been classmates, I'm willing to give Keira a chance..."

Classmates for four years...

Jake pursed his lips, thinking of the four years when he pursued Keira with simple and pure intent.

He looked at Keira again, suddenly feeling a bit soft-hearted. "Fine, Keira, I'll give you this one chance. If you admit your wrong deeds and accept the punishment, I'll let it drop. Otherwise, I definitely won't let you off!"

Having said that, he turned to leave.

Isla said, "I'll stay behind to persuade her too..."

"Fine."

After Isla saw Jake out, she closed the door, isolating

the bodyguards and everyone else's prying eyes, then she turned around with a vicious look and dropped the pretense completely. "Keira, you are not allowed to take out that report!"

Seeing her change of face, Keira scoffed. "Why not?"

"Because you're not allowed! Where's your reason?" Isla glared at her. "If you take it out, it'll spell disaster

for me!"

Keira looked at her. "You brought this upon yourself by lifting a stone only to drop it on your own foot. What does that have to do with me? If you hadn't framed me, I wouldn't be so petty with you..."

"You...!"

Keira's face turned cold. "Isla, don't mistake my repeated concessions for weakness! This time, it's a

mess of your own making!"

Isla clenched her fists tightly.

Poppy exclaimed in surprise. "Isla, why isn't the child young Mr. Horton's? How can it not be young Mr. Horton's? Who's the father?"

Isla frowned in disgust. "It doesn't matter whose it is.

The Horton family must not find out about this; otherwise, I'm done for!"

If she divorced Jake, especially under these

circumstances, even with the protection of the Clance Olsen Family, she wouldn't be able to find a respectable new husband!

Upon hearing this, Poppy immediately nodded in agreement. "Yes, they must not know!"

After saying this, she turned directly to Keira. "You ungrateful creature, you better keep quiet! Do you hear me?! Seal your lips, and you also need to persuade Lewis to keep quiet as well! If Isla gets divorced by the Horton family because of this, you'll have to answer to me!"

Keira said indifferently, "Whatever."

"You...!"

Poppy pointed at her, furious, but as she looked up at Keira, taller than her, and thought about her combat skills, she realized she was now completely powerless against her.

A ruthless look flashed in Poppy's eyes.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, Isla knelt in front of Keira.

Poppy was startled, then rushed over, grabbing Isla by the arm. "Isla, you're the young miss, how can you kneel to her? Get up..."

But Isla pushed Poppy away, her face no longer showing madness but just calmness. "Keira, I'm begging you, please spare me this once."

Keira looked down at her from above.

A trace of confusion flickered in her eyes.

Ever since they were young, she was always Isla's sidekick. When they were kids, Isla would often make her kneel...

She had knelt to put shoes on for Isla...

She knelt so Isla could step on her to mount a horse...

She knelt to scrub the floor at the Olsen's house...

She knelt in front of Isla to be scolded...

It wasn't until middle school that she regained her dignity and never knelt before anyone again.

kneel before her.

Yet, there was no sense of vindication from revenge, only the realization of how naive and ridiculous her younger self had been!

Keira gazed at her, saying, "I told you. It was you who framed me first. That report was the only evidence I had to prove my innocence."

Isla shouted immediately, "It doesn't matter. I'll tell everyone I won't pursue it. I'll help prove you're innocent and say it wasn't intentional... Right, and there's the Clance Olsen family-I'll plead for you too. Keira, the Clance Olsen family has more power than the Horton family. Do you really think Lewis's appearance downstairs can suppress Uncle Olsen? If Uncle Olsen really gets angry, Lewis won't be able to protect you! But I can..."

Isla tried to persuade her first, and upon seeing her unmoved, she began to make threats. "Of course, if I really get divorced by the Horton family, I'll definitely beg my dad to disown you! But if you just step back and admit your mistakes, I can make everyone forgive you. Isn't that the best of both worlds... How about it?"

Keira lowered her gaze. "There's something I don't

understand."

"What?"

"Why did you want to abort the child?"

As Keira finished the sentence, her hand slipped into her pocket and turned on the voice recorder.

None of them noticed her subtle movement, especially with her phone in her other hand. Upon hearing this question, Isla's eyes flashed with ruthlessness, and without any hesitation, she confessed.noveldrama

"Because this child is an obstacle on my path to happiness! As long as it exists, it's a threat to me! What if after it's born, it doesn't resemble Jake? Keeping it means endless trouble. It's just a baby. I'm still young. I can always have many more in the future..."

To appear sincere and convince Keira, Isla was blunt with her words. It was the first time she exposed her true feelings in front of them. "I must marry into the Horton family to lead a life above others, Keira. You don't understand! This is my obsession! For this, I can sacrifice everything!!"

================================

Chapter 194 The Truth Revealed

Isla's words were remarkably candid.

Yet, Keira heard nothing but cold-blooded ruthlessness in them.

Since Isla's miscarriage, Keira had been feeling very distressed.

To simply discard a baby like that, Isla was just too cruel.

But Keira quickly adjusted her emotions and continued to set her trap. "Don't you consider the father's feelings? Does he know about the child's existence?"

"The child's father?"

Isla was unaware that Keira had known for some time that Connor was the father of the child, so she said disdainfully, "That was just me playing around. He's a toy, which I've long since thrown away!"

Having achieved her objective, Keira silently sighed.

She turned off the recording pen.

Then she took out her phone, the recording pen was connected to the phone's Bluetooth, so at this moment there was a recorded voice message on the phone, which she sent directly to Holly via WhatsApp. "Take this and play it for Connor."

She knew anyone who heard these heartless words would no longer keep Isla's secret for her.

In this game, she had already won.

"What are you doing? Miss Isla is talking to you, and you're playing with your phone?!" Poppy suddenly stood beside Keira, barking angrily. "Agree to Miss Isla's request now and then immediately go and clarify to Jake that the report was forged by you. Isla's child is Jake's!"

Poppy righteously stated, "This is the first time Miss Isla has asked you for something! You must agree to her request!"

After sending the message, Keira put away her phone and, upon hearing this, she found it laughable. "Why should I agree just because she asks? When I was a child, I asked her for many things. Did she agree to any of them?"

As a child, every time Isla was unhappy, she would take it out on her.

Keira was young and naive, kneeling and begging her to spare her, but Isla remained superior, calling her lowly and telling her to dream on.

Keira was no saint; she couldn't possibly agree to Isla's request.

She looked down on Isla from a higher position.

But she saw Isla's eyes were filled with determination, and Isla suddenly smiled. "Why? Just because you are an illegitimate daughter and I'm Miss Olsen! Because the Olsen family raised you, because you took away my father, made my mother miserable for life! Keira, you owe the Olsen family!"

Keira's pupils slightly contracted. "The time I gave up Jake to you, I paid back the Olsen family's kindness..."

"You haven't settled the debt!" Isla stood straight, rising from the ground, bending over to pat her knees, her eyes twinkling with malice. "A child can never fully repay her parents for raising her! Keira, without the Olsen family, you would have died long ago! The debt you owe the Olsen family is a life!

"Tell me, how much is your life worth? Do you think what you've done so far can settle that?"

Isla stepped forward, pressing Keira, and then pointed to Mrs. Olsen lying in the hospital bed. "And look, look at my dad and mom!!"

She pointed to Taylor and said, "My dad made a mistake once, but if it weren't for you, why would the Olsens have taken you and your mother in?! It's the existence of you that has been a thorn in my parents' hearts! Look at him..."

Isla pointed to Taylor, who seemed oblivious to the outside world; despite the long dispute in the room, Taylor hadn't spoken a word as if he hadn't heard anything.

He looked haggard and disheveled, barely drinking water just to avoid using the toilet.

His gaze was fixed on Mrs. Olsen, and he seldom blinked as if in fear that Mrs. Olsen would suddenly disappear...

Isla pointed at him and berated Keira. "Dad loves Mom so much, but it's because of you that Mom softened her heart to keep you, ruining any chance between my parents! Do you believe that if Mom doesn't make it through this time, Dad will follow her without hesitation?!"

Keira was slightly taken aback.

Isla then pointed to Mrs. Olsen on the hospital bed. "And my mom, what kind of legal wife truly tolerates an illegitimate daughter born of a mistress?! You were about to starve, but she saved you, helped you go to school, and watched you grow up. Have you ever considered where her pain came from?

Why did she contract a coughing disease? It's all from worry and overthinking! Dad loves Mom so much, that life at home has never been a concern for her. Her only worry has been you! Do you know, for all these years, my parents have never shared a room?!"

Keira's usually straight back showed a trace of collapse upon hearing these words...

She had always told herself that the mistakes were Poppy's, not hers, which finally freed her from Poppy's curse-like brainwashing.

But at this moment, Isla's words made her understand, it was all in vain, because...

"You think you're innocent, don't you? But did you know, that some people's very existence is the original sin? You don't kill but someone dies because of you! Keira, do you still think that you are truly innocent?"

Isla took a step forward, as she became serious, her words piercingly sharp.

Her background and position gave her the right to accuse herself...

Keira unconsciously stepped back half a step...

"And there's me, Keira, I was clearly the most beloved daughter to Mom and Dad. I should have had the happiest family. If it hadn't been for you, even if Dad made a mistake, he would have had a lifetime to make Mom forgive him! Time is the best healer, and Mom would have forgiven Dad... but it's because of your existence, constantly reminding them of Dad's mistake in the past! Every day I had to carefully coax Mom and Dad. As a child, I woke up crying countless times, terrified that they might get divorced..."

Isla spoke in the calmest voice, uttering the cruelest words in the world.

"And it's all thanks to you!!"

Keira swayed, and she fell into a chair.

She was astonished and shocked.

Disbelief flashed in her eyes as she looked at Isla, her gaze turning to confusion and panic, and she couldn't restrain a slight tremble.

Yes...

Her existence had always been a mistake.

Mrs. Olsen's worries and overthinking were because of her!

Keira clenched her fists tightly, once again despising her own origins, even feeling that the blood she inherited from Poppy was filthy...

Isla looked at her coldly.

This was her ultimate move to use against Keira!

Keira, with a strong sense of morality, burdened with guilt toward Mrs. Olsen, had always blamed herself for her existence. Combined with Poppy's and her lifelong indoctrination, even after growing up and changing her perspective, she still believed her birth was a sin.

Isla suppressed the smile tugging at her lips, bent down, and whispered into Keira's ear. "So, you owe me! You owe the Olsen family! Keira, you'll never be able to repay it all!"

Keira bit her lip fiercely, staring at Isla, then turning to Poppy.

Poppy's face was even more detestable. "Right, you ungrateful creature and illegitimate daughter. What right do you have to compete with Miss Isla? Are you not a lowborn? You should immediately admit your wrongdoing, take on all the guilt, and repay your sins!"

She reached out and snatched Keira's ear harshly, pointing at Isla and shouting, "Illegitimate daughter, kneel before Miss Isla!"

Illegitimate daughter...

It was like a curse!

She forced Keira to stand up and face Isla.

Despair filled Keira's eyes.

She felt as if she was back in her childhood, back in that cramped basement...

It was she who caused Mrs. Olsen's unhappiness, she who caused Mrs. Olsen to occasionally stare into space and weep... it was her existence that made Mrs. Olsen heartbroken.

She, such a rotten person, only deserved to stay in a filthy gutter forever, right?

Keira gave a bitter smile.

Isla looked at her again. "So, Keira, do you agree to my request? You go tell Jake that the report was forged by you... you owe it to me!"

She pushed Keira toward the door. "Go now and tell him..."

But Keira suddenly stopped in her tracks, head bowed, and then she suddenly spoke, "Isla..."

Isla was startled.

Meanwhile, inside the detention center.

Holly, upon receiving Keira's WhatsApp message, immediately summoned Connor for questioning.

Once inside, she played the recording for Connor to hear.

The venomous and cold-blooded words of Isla, like knives, cut deep into Connor's heart!

He clutched his chest in pain, "No, it can't be like this, how can she treat me like this!!"

Holly looked at him coldly, like a stern and impartial judge. "Connor, you heard the recording. Are you still sure you want to keep secrets for such a person?!"

Connor clenched his fists tightly.

His chest heaved, and he was on the verge of collapse with tears rolling down his cheeks.

Suddenly he revealed a vicious look. "Well done, Isla. For your wealth and status, you can sacrifice me, sacrifice our child, then don't blame me for being heartless!"

He turned to Holly and said slowly, "Let me tell you a secret. Keira is Mrs. Olsen's real daughter! Isla is a fake! It was Poppy who secretly switched the children years ago!"

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Chapter 195 Father and Son

Connor laughed maniacally.

But Holly was shocked by his words and stared at him in disbelief, "What are you saying? How is that possible!"

After several thoughts flashed through her mind, she looked at Connor incredulously. "So you mean, you and Isla, you guys are actually..."

Connor's smile faded from his face. "Yeah, her mom is my aunt..."

He then lowered his head, covering his face. "Do you want to call me a bastard? But I didn't know. How could I have known!!"

All he knew was that his dad was a gambler.

In those dim days when everyone despised them, Isla was like a ray of light shining into his life.

Isla tutored him and took him out to enjoy delicious food...

She was like a fairy from high above, and he couldn't help but become infatuated with her.

He had just fallen for the girl next door, who was only two years his senior. So, after getting into college, they couldn't contain their feelings.

He truly didn't understand anything.

Then Isla told him that his dad was threatening her, asking her for two million... but where could she find two million? Isla cried miserably, which made him conceive the idea of killing his father!

His father could harm anyone in the world, but he absolutely couldn't harm Isla!!

Connor devised a perfect plan...

He took the money to the abandoned hospital to find Finley, took out his phone, and had Finley record those words, fooling him into thinking that if Keira caused him any harm, he could use those words to threaten Keira.

Finley wasn't a good father and had gambled away everything.

But Finley was also a good father.

Connor's tuition fees were all scammed by him, but Finley at least never let Connor go hungry.

In this world, his only concern was Connor.

After recording, Finley told him, "I have something on Isla. It's with this that I make her behave. If something really happens to me, you can use that to threaten her."

Connor nodded. He wasn't interested in the leverage on his old flame... he just wanted to help her get rid of this man!

He bitterly pushed Finley toward the steel bar behind him!

When the steel bar pierced through Finley's chest, he was in disbelief and stuttered, asking, "Why, why?"

Connor sneered coldly. "You made it so I can't lift my head in front of others, that's one thing, but you should never have threatened Isla! Dad, she is the woman I love the most..."

Finley's eyes widened in shock. "How can you be in love with her? You cannot, you cannot..."

"Because she's the only one who's been kind to me."

Finley was stunned. He realized something before he died. Mustering the last of his strength, he shouted the last sentence of his life, "But she's your aunt's daughter! I personally switched her at birth with your aunt!"

He had no more words left after that shout.

Connor was dumbfounded at the time.

But he didn't have time to savor the meaning of these words, because outside Keira had arrived...

He jumped out the window to escape and then, following the original plan, re-entered the room. His mind buzzing, he cooperatively acted out a scene, framing the suspicion on Keira.

Conveniently at the time, he had just sacrificed his father, and that complicated emotional state was something the police could understand.

His confused and shocked emotions fit the scene at the time.

But after completing the statement, returning to his dorm room, and lying on his bed staring at the ceiling, he was in a daze.

There were things he dared not think about.

Yet suddenly, he understood why when everyone else shunned him, why when he was dirty and had no means of taking a bath at home, Isla suddenly appeared by his side.

She was clean and pure, and her smiling face was beautiful as she watched him.

But her approach, it turned out, was due to Finley's threats...

She had never truly liked him; she just feared that angering him might displease Finley, and thus she went along with his unrequited love. That was why he didn't dare to reject his advances!

No, that wasn't it...

Connor covered his face with a blanket, tears rolling down from the corners of his eyes.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that in this world, the person who loved him most had always been his father, but still, he was unwilling to believe it.

Later on, Keira began waging a war of public opinion against him.

He was so close to breaking down from the slurs at school, that his mindset had become problematic, and each time he sought her out, Isla always seemed very impatient.

She seemed to wish for nothing more than to sever ties with him.

The more she acted like this, the more he understood the truth, and the more guilt and sorrow he felt...

Finally, he couldn't restrain himself and began to use that secret as a threat, forcing her to meet him!

He thought he would be like his father, that just by revealing that secret, she would be threatened by him, but in the end, he still couldn't measure up to his father...

Isla knew him too well. She was aware of his indecisiveness, and knowing he wouldn't want both to be destroyed, she threatened him in turn.

The two of them seemed to be in some strange balance.

Yet, he understood that he was ultimately at a disadvantage.

Later, he realized that he had been losing from the start.

Keira and Officer Holly had seen through his facade and had caught him.

Since the truth of the murder was already known, how could he possibly allow Isla, who had induced him to kill his biological father, to live freely and happily outside?

Connor went mad at that moment.

He wanted to expose Isla's secret!!

But what he never expected was that at the moment he was apprehended, when his phone was examined and turned over to the police, he saw a message from Isla.

It showed that she was pregnant.

Pregnant for five weeks.

Five weeks... that child was his!

Connor wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.

He wanted to cry because it seemed like he could see the end of his life, and his remaining years would be spent in prison.

What caused him to want to laugh was that he had a child. His child would be part of the Horton family, treated like a little princess or prince from birth, and never had to live the life he did.

And for that, he shut his mouth again.

He knew he was completely under Isla's control...

During this time, Connor's mood was always one of anticipation.

Every day, he silently calculated how big his child would be now, and how much longer until it would be born...

This child had become his only hope.

But now, even this hope had been shattered.

Isla was truly ruthless.

Connor bowed his head, suddenly covering his face. After revealing Isla's secret, he had foreseen her consequences, but for some reason, he felt no thrill of revenge in his heart and only a hollow emptiness.

He suddenly burst into tears.

His whole life was indeed a joke.

How could he kill his most loving father, all for a woman?!

He finally began to regret, with inconsolable remorse.