A Tale Of Redemption And Passion by Isidore Walsh (Chapters 311, to 320) – Daisy Novels

Chapter 311

“Hello?” When there was no answer, Alfred let out a heavy hum, dragging out his voice.

Kate shivered a bit and quickly jumped in, “For me, my husband is the best man in the world. You’re strong and one of a kind!”

“Hmph!” Alfred scoffed.

“Honey, I’m being totally real,” Kate insisted.

“And how real is that?”

“As real as 24K gold!”

“Is the gold real?” he asked, and Kate was momentarily speechless.

“I wrote you a love letter today,” he said. Kate felt a tingle of nerves. Something was definitely off, but she pressed on… Baby, can I write you a love letter too?”

“I didn’t ask for it,” he shot back, a bit too proudly.

Kate sensed the bite in his words had softened, and his tone was gentler. She sighed in relief and smiled. “I really want to write it for you. My love for you could fill a book. From now on, I’ll send you a love letter every week until your hands are too tired to hold them!”

“Who was it that said I’d get so many gifts?” he asked, clearly referencing the absence of any presents lately.

She hadn’t prepared a gift for him in the last few days, and he was used to her little surprises. Without them, he felt a bit off.

“I’ve already given you all my best ones,” Kate said with a playful shrug.

She had brought in all those animal sculptures to the

Davidson family’s house, even that tricky dragon. But with everything going on, she just didn’t have the time to make something new for him.

“Go wash up and wait for me tonight; I’ve got a special gift to make up for today,” she said, her words hanging in the air.

Alfred’s heart raced. They had only been intimate once, and since it was their first time and so late, they hadn’t fully enjoyed it. He’d been wanting more but held back, thinking she needed to recuperate.

“When have I not waited for you?” he replied, teasing.

Kate giggled. “I know you are the best, my husband. Seriously, besides my parents, you’re my number one. Our kids can wait their turn!”

“You just love buttering me up,” he smirked.

“Hey, don’t you like it? I’d love to hear you say something sweet back, but I know that’s not really your style,” she joked. Alfred was more reserved, but she was easily satisfied. It was already a big deal that he had even written her a love letter.

After a moment, he said, “Alright, I need to get going. I have a business dinner tonight, so I can’t drop you off for class. Be careful, okay?”

“Got it, Alfred. Sorry I can’t join you for dinner,” she replied, a hint of regret in her voice.

He chuckled softly. “No biggie, nibbler. We’ll have plenty of chances to eat together later.”

It had been a while since he had gone to a dinner party, and now that they were back in the swing of things, it felt more like it was for her than just business.

“Kiss me,” Kate said playfully, smooching her phone like it was Alfred’s lips.

Alfred’s face broke into a smile. As soon as he hung up, he felt a rush of motivation.

Kate quickly told her friend, “Xena, Alfred’s swamped and can’t make it, but I can definitely find the time. He’s worried about me and even had Yael watching over me. Honestly, with my skills, I can handle any petty thief!”

Xena had her own agenda with Yael, but Kate needed to keep her probing discreet. She just wanted everyone around her to be happy, especially her friend.

“Honestly, I’m just happy Alfred lets you hang out with me,”

Xena replied with a grin.

Such a possessive guy could be a little intimidating, but it made Xena appreciate being a woman. If she were a guy, she might have to keep her distance from Kate.

“Same place as usual?” Kate asked.

“Yep, the usual spot,” Xena confirmed.

*****

At Golden Lake Villa, Chris jumped out of the car, his expression dark.

He quickly yanked Kyla out of the car too.

“Sir, Miss Sutton,” Jen said, approaching them.

“No one goes in without my say-so!” Chris snapped at Jen before hauling Kyla into the house.

Jen watched them, puzzled.

Chris dragged Kyla inside and shoved her onto the sofa. He remembered she was pregnant and, though his moves were rough, he was careful not to hurt her.

Kyla’s expression was calm; she didn’t look scared at all. Seeing her like this, Chris felt the urge to scold her, but the words just wouldn’t come out. Instead, he paced back and forth in the hall.

Eventually, he squatted down next to her, holding her hand with a serious look. “Kyla, just trust me, okay? Everything I’m doing is for our future. Don’t joke about the baby. This is our child, the result of our love.”

She shook his hand off and rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on! You want me to carry your kid while you’re marrying someone else? I can’t deal with that! Because of you and this baby, I’ve let my parents down more and more.

“Kate was the first to spill the beans to Mom and Dad about my pregnancy! And now she’s Mrs. Davidson, making it easy for her to dig up everyone’s secrets. I’m jealous and just plain angry! How does that country bumpkin get to live such a good life? What right does she have?”

Chris tightened his grip again, his frustration bubbling over.

“Kyla, this is just temporary. You have to believe that! Look, we know how capable Kate is, but she’s just riding Alfred’s coattails. Once he’s had enough of her, we’ll be the ones calling the shots. He won’t even care if we make her disappear; he’ll thank us for it.”

Kyla’s anger flared. “Yeah, right! But Alfred is treating her like a queen. How could he ever get tired of her?

“Do you even know that Kate’s trying to chase Vita out of Sutton Group? I thought I could handle her, but reality hit me hard. My dad thinks I can’t keep it together, and he’s disappointed in me.”

Her face twisted with rage as she thought about Kate. “If I keep this baby, my Dad’s just going to rely more on Kate. Those people who look down on me will probably shove me out of headquarters. I worked too hard to get here; I can’t let Kate win!”

曲

Chapter 312

“You were always about your career, your future. Never once did you think about us. It’s been like that from the start. We fell in love forever ago, but you didn’t want to make it public. Every time we went out, it felt like I was sneaking around like I was cheating.

“Then Kate showed up because she liked me, and for your ambitions, you pushed me to accept her, to fake loving her. Do you even get how exhausting that was for me? And when I started being nice to her, you’d get jealous.

“When Kate finally walked away, I thought we could finally be together. But… Kyla, what am I to you, really?” Chris snapped, his frustration clear.

He knew he had done wrong by manipulating Kyla.

If Kyla had ever said she didn’t want it, of course he wouldn’ t have pushed her.

He indeed made the first move, but except for that first time when he drugged her-everything after was mutual. Half the time, she wanted it more than he did.

Now she was pregnant, and Chris wasn’t about to let the baby go. It wasn’t just about the kid being his; he genuinely wanted this, wanted them. A baby would seal their future together.

For him, Kyla wasn’t going anywhere. She couldn’t. It didn’t matter whether he would marry her or not, in his mind, she was already his. She couldn’t leave unless he let her. Even if it came down to life or death, she’d always belong to him.

Kyla’s mouth gaped, but nothing came out.

In the past, she knew she was to blame. She never thought it would come to this.

Apologies, regret, shame, and frustration all mixed together, making Kyla’s eyes well up with tears. Slowly, they spilled down her cheeks.

Chris pulled out a tissue and gently wiped her tears. Standing up, he said, “Kyla, I’m not afraid of you being upset.

But let me ask you this…you say you won’t do it. Fine. But are you really going to let me go to Melanie without a fight? If you don’t have this baby, how are you supposed to compete with her?”

Again, Kyla couldn’t respond. She was at a loss for words. If Kate had been there to hear it, she would have rolled her eyes and gagged. Chris was completely shameless.

Just then, Chris’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and sighed, turning back to Kyla. “It’s Melanie. She’s probably calling to see why I’m not with her.” He paused for a second. “Look, I know I haven’t had much time for you lately, but I swear, Kyla, my heart is still yours. It hasn’t changed.”

Sure, he had moments of inappropriate thoughts about Kate, but after getting burned a few times, he learned to back off. His real feelings had always been for Kyla. Leaning down, he cupped her shoulders and kissed her softly, twice on the lips. “Be good, Kyla. Everything I’m doing is for our future,” he said, almost coaxing.

With one last deep look, Chris let her go and walked out, immediately answering Melanie’s call with a sugary, “Hey, baby.”

She sat there, hearing his sweet words to Melanie, and suddenly, the tears came even harder. ‘How am I supposed to decide?’ she asked herself.

Kyla felt it was all Kate’s fault that she was in this mess.

With eyes filled by raging hatred, she wanted nothing more than to expose Kate for who she really was.

The feeling was mutual though, Kate hated Kyla just as much. But while Kyla’s life was spiraling, Kate’s future was looking bright. With Alfred’s protection, Kate was practically untouchable, and Kyla knew it. Her life was destined to be better than Kyla’s.

Later that afternoon, Kate met up with Yael at their usual spot for dinner with her friend. Afterward, she was rushed off to her etiquette class, with Liam escorting her as usual. It wasn’t until 10:30 p.m. that she finally emerged from class.

“Mrs. Davidson,” Liam greeted her as he approached. Kate gave him a nod and climbed into the car. She set her bag down on the seat beside her, closed the door, and sent a quick message to Alfred, letting him know she had wrapped up and was heading home.

Alfred replied almost instantly, [Be careful on the road. I’ll be waiting for you at home.]

He had already been home after his therapy session, and the exhaustion was hitting him hard. James handed him a glass of warm water, and Alfred took a few sips before leaning back against the sofa.

“Everything okay at the house?” Alfred asked casually.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” James answered, keeping his tone respectful.

Alfred gave a slight nod and then added, “Kate’s on her way back from class. Make sure the kitchen has supper ready for her.”

“It’s already taken care of,” James replied.

James practically worshipped Kate. She had managed to cure Alfred’s impotence and convinced him to go through with rehab, and now Alfred could even walk short distances on his own. To James, she was nothing short of a miracle worker.

“I’m going to take a break,” Alfred muttered, rubbing the space between his eyebrows.

He was naturally more worn out than Kate these days. People always saw him as this strong, invincible guy who never showed weakness, but the truth was he was just as human as anyone he got tired too.

James, always attentive, moved closer. “Mr. Davidson, would you like a massage?”

Alfred didn’t turn down the offer.

Meanwhile, Kate read Alfred’s message and couldn’t help but smile. It felt good to have someone waiting for her at home.

As Liam started the engine, Kate leaned back, feeling content. But after barely two minutes on the road, they came to a sudden stop. A row of cars was blocking the street ahead, parked horizontally across their path.

“Mrs. Davidson, it looks like the Purchas family convoy,” Liam said, turning back to her.

Kate sighed, her mood instantly souring. “Of course, it’s him.”

She’d had more than a few run-ins with Elijah. No matter how hard she tried to forget, his convoy was hard to ignore.

“I’ll call Mr. Davidson.” Liam reached for his phone to call Alfred.

“Wait,” Kate said, stopping him. “Tell Alfred to send Yael and the others. It’s late, no need for him to come himself.”

Elijah wasn’t going to hurt her; that much she knew. But he had this annoying habit of hovering around like a shadow, never giving her any peace. She couldn’t think of anyone as paranoid and persistent as Elijah.

As soon as the Purchas family’s bodyguards stepped out of their cars and started surrounding them, Liam’s tension spiked. After hanging up the phone, he quickly turned to Kate. “Mrs. Davidson, we should stay in the car and wait for Yael and his team to get here. Don’t step outside.”

Kate glanced out the window and saw the men closing in, each gripping iron rods in their hands. Her expression hardened. “Liam, staying in the car isn’t exactly safe either.” Liam followed her gaze, spotting the iron rods, and knew she was right. They weren’t just here for a chat; they looked ready to smash the windows and drag them out.

Two of Alfred’s undercover bodyguards, who had been tailing them for protection, rushed forward. They quickly positioned themselves in front of the car, glaring down the approaching group with ice-cold determination.

Kate rolled down her window slightly and called out to them, her voice calm but firm. “They’ve got sticks, and this could get ugly. Don’t engage them directly- just buy us some time.”

Kate rolled down the window and said to the two bodyguards protecting her, “Don’t fight them head-on.”

Chapter 313

“Liam, do you have anything in the car for them to defend themselves with?” Kate asked, scanning the car, hoping to find something useful for the two bodyguards.

The Purchas family had a whole crew of guards. Even with some kind of weapon, they might still be outmatched. Barehanded? They’d stand no chance.

Liam thought for a moment and replied, “Mrs. Davidson, there are only two umbrellas. One’s a long-handled one with a hook, and the other’s a small collapsible umbrella.”

“Hand them over,” she said without hesitation. It was better than nothing.

Liam wasted no time. He grabbed the smaller umbrella, got out, and opened the back of the car to pull out the long-handled one.

Meanwhile, Elijah sat in his own car, noticing the sudden appearance of the bodyguards. It didn’t take him long to figure out that Alfred had placed them there to secretly protect Kate. That explained why his attempts to keep an eye on the Sutton Group had been thwarted so quickly. In a straight-up fight, Elijah’s men had the numbers and would undoubtedly win. But that wasn’t what he wanted. All he wanted was to talk to Kate, maybe share a meal, to be close to her again. He’d missed her more than he would admit.

With a determined stride, Elijah stepped out of his car and headed toward them. The tension between the two groups of bodyguards was thick, and a clash seemed imminent, but before things could escalate, Elijah’s sharp voice cut through the air. “Everyone, stand down!”

Immediately, the Purchas family’s bodyguards backed off, clearing a path for him. But before Elijah could approach the car, he was stopped by the Davidson family’s men, standing firm in his way.

“Kate!” Elijah called out, his voice strained.

“I’m not here to cause trouble, Kate. I just want to take you out for supper,” Elijah said softly.

Kate stayed quiet for a moment before rolling down her window. Their eyes locked under the streetlight…his gaze, full of yearning, met hers, calm and unreadable.

Elijah’s eyes lingered on her face, greedily soaking in every detail as if he wanted to reach out and touch her. “Thanks, Mr. Purchas, but no need. My husband’s already prepared supper for me at home,” she replied, her tone steady at first, but softening with a hint of sweetness by the end.

Elijah felt like her words had sliced through his heart, leaving it bleeding. She should’ve been his, but here she was, the wife of his sworn enemy.

His expression hardened, the warmth draining from his voice. “Kate, I’ve got plenty of people with me, and they’ve got iron rods in hand. Your bodyguards? Just two

umbrellas. You’re smart-you know how this ends. Your guys don’t stand a chance.”

Kate’s eyes narrowed in anger, but Elijah cut her off. “I know you can fight, but you couldn’t beat me, let alone my guards. Alfred’s men are skilled, sure, but mine are no pushovers. You know my favorite thing in the world is competing with Alfred.”

He smirked, knowing he had spent a fortune to make sure his men could rival Alfred’s elite.

“Is that a threat, Mr. Purchas?” Kate asked coolly, her gaze never wavering.

Elijah held her gaze firmly. “If you see it as a threat, then so be it,” he said coolly. “You’ve got two minutes to decide. Either you get in my car, or I’ll carry you there myself.”

“Kate, I’ll give you two minutes to consider whether you should get into my car or let me carry you.”

Kate’s face darkened. “Elijah, you’re disgusting!”

He shrugged, eyes cold. “I don’t need to play the gentleman with you.”

Kate was stunned into silence, her anger bubbling beneath the surface. Elijah stepped back, his bodyguards closing in around him. Glancing at his watch, he added, “Time’s ticking. Two minutes. If you don’t want anyone hurt, just get in the car. I swear it’s only for supper, nothing more. I won’t lay a hand on you.”

Kate’s expression hardened. “And I’m supposed to believe that?”

Elijah’s smirk deepened. “Didn’t I let you go that morning? If I didn’t let you, you wouldn’t have made it out the door.” If he really wanted to, he could’ve had her in minutes and made her his. Then Rowena would be back in their lives, and the three of them could be a family again.

“You’re wasting time,” he continued, glancing at his watch again. “Thirty seconds down.”

Kate said nothing, her mind racing. She knew Liam had already called Alfred, but even Alfred couldn’t get here in two minutes.

Elijah wasn’t bluffing either. If she didn’t make a decision, he’d do what he said: his men would attack, and they would drag her into his car whether she wanted to or not. Frustration surged through her. Elijah’s relentless pursuit felt like a cruel twist of fate, as if life had given her a second chance but refused to make it easy.

If she wanted to live happily with Alfred, she knew she would have to weather countless storms. But she believed there’d always be sunshine after the rain.

Kate shot a sharp look at Elijah, but he just stared back at her, his gaze deep and intense. To anyone else, it might have seemed affectionate but it made her stomach turn. After a moment of thought, Kate reached for the car door. “Mrs. Davidson!” Liam and the two bodyguards called out at once.

Logan stepped forward, his voice firm. “Mrs. Davidson, get back in the car. We’ll protect you.”

There was no way he was going to let Alfred’s biggest rival take Kate.

“Mrs. Davidson, please don’t!” Liam urged again. But Kate raised her hand, signaling them to stop.

Then, she stepped out.

“Mrs. Davidson,” Logan and the other bodyguard moved to block her path.

“Logan, right?” Kate asked, recognizing him from Yael. “This is between me and Mr. Purchas. If we don’t settle this, it’ll just keep happening. Don’t worry. He won’t harm me, and I won’t do anything to let you down.”

Logan and the other bodyguard exchanged a look before stepping aside.

Kate walked past them, stopping in front of Elijah. His eyes lit up, thinking she was finally giving in.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Kate glared at him, her voice cold and sharp. “Elijah, I know you’re clinging to this because of Rowena. Since you don’t trust your own investigation, let me tell you the real story behind it all.”

“Come with me,” she said, turning on her heel and walking away.

Elijah hesitated for a moment, then followed.

“Logan, stay where you are,” Kate ordered. Meanwhile, the Purchas family bodyguards held their ground without Elijah’s signal.

Kate stopped under a streetlight, far enough from the others, her back to Elijah as she stared into the distance.

“Kate,” Elijah said softly, “I swear, I don’t mean you any harm. I just want Rowena back so we can be a family again.”

Without warning, Kate spun around and slapped him hard across the face.

The sound echoed. Elijah hadn’t seen it coming. His cheek reddened, swelling almost immediately.

His expression shifted from anger to frustration, before finally settling into a cold calm.

Chapter 314

Elijah touched the side of his face where Kate had slapped him, his voice low and rough. “Kate, no one’s ever dared to hit me before. Especially not in the face. You’re the first.” He paused, his gaze hardening. “Anyone else would’ve lost. a hand for that, but you? I’ll let it slide.”

In the back of his mind, he remembered that night-when he took advantage of her drunken state. He had failed her, just like in his dreams.

Kate’s eyes burned with hatred. “That slap was for Rowena.” In her past life, she hadn’t known who Rowena’s real father was. After her rebirth, she discovered the truth: it was Elijah. She had once believed that Elijah was tricked into sleeping with her. He never really looked at her when they were together. At the time, she didn’t resent him because she didn’t know about Rowena then.

Elijah’s eyes widened, her words striking him hard. “Rowena? She’s real? Where is she?” His voice trembled with urgency as he grabbed her shoulders, eyes wild with hope. “Where did you hide her?”

Kate shoved him away, not letting him hold her shoulders.

“Rowena? You want to know where she is?” Her voice broke, bitter and raw. “She’s dead, Elijah. She was only seven months old… a beautiful little girl, but…”,

Her throat tightened as she blinked away tears, turning her back on him so he wouldn’t see her pain. Her voice became distant, almost hollow. “You keep asking about Rowena, but I have a question for you. Do you think you were tricked into this? Or did you know? Did you let me marry Chris, knowing I was carrying your daughter? You didn’t seem to care when we were together, so why now?

“I always thought Rowena was Chris’s,” Kate said, her voice trembling. “But he told me he never touched me. He called her a bastard.” Her words cracked as the painful memory hit her like a wave. “He… he picked her up and threw her to the ground. Said her crying made him lose control. But I saw it. He dropped her on purpose.”

The memory was a knife that twisted in her chest, making her eyes sting with tears she couldn’t stop. Kate hated Chris and Kyla with every fiber of her being. But she also hated herself for being powerless. And after finding out Rowena was Elijah’s, she hated him, too.

“Rowena…” her voice broke again as she wiped at her tears, her anger rising with each word. She spun around to face Elijah, her expression hard and full of hate. “I rushed her to the hospital, but Chris wouldn’t let me take his car. Mine had run out of gas, and I had no choice but to run with her in my arms, all the way to the hospital. Where were you, Elijah?”

Her voice grew more desperate, each sentence laced with bitterness. “I tried to stop taxis as I ran, but no one would stop. She was getting worse, her little body growing weaker. She couldn’t even cry anymore. Where were you when we needed you?”

Kate’s tear-streaked face contorted in anguish as she continued, “Then I saw Alfred. I got into his car, and he made the driver run red lights all the way to the hospital. But we were too late. The doctor said her injuries were too severe.” She choked on the words, barely able to get them out. “Rowena died.”

She looked up at Elijah, her eyes filled with rage and grief.” So, tell me, Elijah. Were you schemed against, or did you make that mistake while you were sober?”

Elijah stood frozen, her words crashing down on him, leaving him in stunned silence.

Seeing Kate’s face covered with tears, Elijah instinctively reached out to wipe them away. But the moment his fingers touched her skin, she grabbed his hand and sank her teeth into the back of it, biting down hard. He winced but didn’t pull away, even as blood began to ooze from the wound. After a moment, she spat out the bloody saliva, releasing him with a disgusted look.

“Kate…” Elijah started, but he didn’t know what to say. In his dreams, he had been completely aware when he was with her. He hadn’t been schemed against. But the dreams were fragmented, bits and pieces of reality blurring into confusion. One minute he was with her, the next, she was pregnant.

In those dreams, he didn’t know about her marriage to Chris, didn’t know she’d had a daughter, and certainly didn’t know that Rowena had been killed by Chris.

“I… I…” Elijah stammered, unable to form a coherent thought.

Kate’s expression darkened in an instant. Her rage flared as she grabbed his tie, yanking him closer. “Elijah,” she hissed, “are you telling me you knew what you were doing when you slept with me? That you weren’t tricked?”

Elijah didn’t respond, his silence was all the confirmation she needed.

He remembered all too well that, even when he was sober, he couldn’t resist Kate. He wanted her, plain and simple.

“You disgusting pig!” she exploded, her fury boiling over. Elijah was the man responsible for all of her and Rowena’s suffering. The man who set their tragic fate in motion. Without warning, she began hitting him, her fists flying in a mix of anger and grief.

Kate had trained in combat, and her punches landed with surprising strength. Elijah stood still, taking the blows, not even raising a hand to defend himself. He let her vent every bit of her pent-up anger on him, accepting it as if he deserved each strike.

In the past, Kate used to say he was out of his mind, and she had nothing to do with him.

It turned out she just didn’t want to dive into the painful stuff. And the truth hit him hard: Rowena was gone.

So what if he was her biological Dad? Where was he when Rowena needed him most? He could only imagine the desperation Kate felt running to the hospital, trying to stop a cab, and getting ignored time after time.

The bodyguards from both families were caught in limbo, unsure if they should step in. Ultimately, they held back, sensing that Elijah wasn’t retaliating and didn’t want to make things worse.

Kate was exhausted, and Elijah was a mess. Blood was trickling from his nose and mouth, his face bruised and swollen, his clothes stained.

When he saw she had finally stopped, he ignored his own pain and pulled her into a hug. “Kate, are you okay?” he murmured, his heart aching.

“Let go of me, you jerk!” she snapped back.

“Kate, I’m sorry. I… where is Rowena’s grave? I need to see her.”

Elijah felt a sharp pain in his chest, like a knife twisting deeper. Finally, Kate acknowledged Rowena’s existence, but fate had put a wall between them.

“There’s no Rowena in this life!” she snapped, shoving him away with all her strength. “Give up on that idea! There will never be another Rowena with you!”

“Kate?” he said, confusion washing over him.

Her words hit him hard, stirring up sadness and anger, as if the past was coming alive again. But then she insisted that Rowena didn’t exist anymore.

“Elijah, whatever happened in our dreams will not repeat again. In this life, I’m Alfred’s wife. He’s the only man for me, and I’ll only have his children. If you truly believe that, then to atone for your sins, you should stay away from me!”

He was lost in a swirl of thoughts, ‘In her past life? Dreams? In this life?’

“You’ve had weird dreams too?” he asked softly. It struck him that her dreams were even clearer than his, leaving him puzzled about their strange connection.

“I want to make things right,” he said, desperation creeping in. “To atone for what I’ve done, I need to be in your life.

Kate, please, divorce Alfred and marry me. Let me spend my life making it up to you.”

Chapter 315

Kate was at a loss for words.

She couldn’t help but think, ‘This man is hopelessly stubborn! I’ve made things clear with him, trying to make him feel guilty and stop badgering me. But he still did as he thought. Damn it. He’s impossible!”

Kate cursed silently, ‘I didn’t tell Alfred about what happened years back. It’s also because Alfred felt sorry for me and didn’t want me to mention it. He was worried that I would be upset. After he knew the reason, Alfred stopped asking. But in front of Elijah, I’ve made myself very clear.

“Kate.” Elijah reached out to grab Kate again, but Kate kicked him in the knee. It hurt so much that Elijah almost fell to the ground.

“I’d rather not see you again in this life!” Kate said coldly and left Elijah behind.

“Kate…” Elijah reached out to pull her back.

“Don’t touch me!” Kate suddenly turned her head to warn him.

Elijah’s outstretched hand slowly fell. He watched in pain as Kate moved further and further away from him.

A line of cars approached from afar. It was Alfred’s convoy.

Soon, the convoy arrived. The car stopped, and Yael quickly opened the door and helped Alfred off.

Another bodyguard moved Alfred’s wheelchair out of the car and let Alfred sit in it.

Seeing Kate walking over, Alfred waited for her to come over instead of going forward.

“Mr. Davidson.” Kate walked to Alfred, squatted down, and placed her head on Alfred’s legs.

Alfred came in a hurry with a cold expression. However, in front of Kate, he was way too gentle. Without asking questions immediately, he patted Kate’s back quietly and gently.

When he felt the wet clothes, he suddenly lifted Kate’s head. When he saw her face covered in tears, he felt heartbroken. Then he stood up and pulled Kate into his arms.

“Kate,” Alfred called out softly, “I’m here. It’s fine now.”

“Mr. Davidson…” Kate sobbed softly, unable to finish her words.

“Don’t cry. You are breaking my heart.” Alfred gently pushed her away and held her face with both hands. He leaned forward and gently kissed her tears.

Kate tried her best to control her emotions and stop crying. ‘Those said memories were all from before. Now, my parents are fine, and I’m revenging step by step. Kate thought, ‘As for Elijah, nothing will happen between me and Elijah now.’

Under Alfred’s gentle coaxing, Kate calmed down and stopped crying. “Mr. Davidson, let’s go home.”

Alfred kissed her on the forehead and said gently, “Okay, let’ s go home. Get in the car first.”

Alfred swore in his heart. ‘Elijah made my beloved wife cry. If I did nothing, I wouldn’t be able to calm my anger.

Kate looked up at Alfred. Alfred lowered his head to gaze at her. The husband and wife stared at each other.

After a long while, Kate nodded gently. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”

Alfred’s large palm landed on her face. He touched it gently and kissed her red lips before letting go and letting her get into the car.

Still standing at the same spot and watching, Elijah was in pain and jealousy. ‘Kate should be mine.’

Every time he saw Alfred and Kate together, Elijah wanted to snatch Kate back.

It was all his fault for being too slow. If Elijah had started searching for the girl in his dream when he first had the dream, he would have found Kate before Alfred did and continued the relationship in the dream.

Yael wheeled Alfred over.

When the two guys faced each other, Alfred raised his hand and gestured for Yael to leave first. Yael retreated silently.

When looking at Elijah, whose hands were clenched into fists, Alfred’s eyes were deep and cold. Under Elijah’s equally cold gaze, Alfred stood up.

The two men were about the same height and had the same aura. Even they were equally good-looking. However, Alfred had a masculine aura, while Elijah was with a feminine aura. If Elijah hadn’t kept a straight face and pretended to be cold to neutralize his feminine aura, he would be a demon.

“You made my wife cry!” Alfred said coldly.

There was pain in Elijah’s eyes. “Alfred, I want Kate. I want her!”

As soon as Elijah finished speaking, Alfred punched Elijah’s nose. The nosebleed that had already stopped flowed down again.

Elijah wanted to retaliate, but when he remembered what Kate had said, he retracted his fist and only wiped the blood from his nose. He said coldly, “Alfred, I can lose to you in anything, but I won’t and can’t lose Kate to you unless you kill me here.”

Elijah thought, ‘I owe Kate. I owe Rowena. I want to make up for Kate. I have to atone for my sins.’

In Elijah’s opinion, he could only atone for his sins by marrying Kate and giving Kate the best life. He would dote on her, love her, spoil her, and make her the envy of everyone.

Alfred threw another punch. This time, Elijah dodged it.

Alfred quickly grabbed Elijah’s collar again. Although Elijah did not want to fight with Alfred, Alfred refused to let go. Elijah was forced to fight back.

Although the sworn enemies had always been at odds, it was the first time they had fought physically.

Alfred had some problems with his legs, but he was infuriated and did not show any mercy. Elijah could not gain the upper hand. Elijah got beaten up by Kate earlier, and his entire body was aching. At last, Elijah had been beaten to the ground by Alfred.

Alfred, who was also in a sorry state, stood in front of Elijah. He looked down at Elijah and said coldly, “Elijah, listen. I warn you for the last time. Kate is my wife. If you dare to touch my wife, I’ll take your life! Don’t tell me the nonsense that you had a child with Kate. You’d better go to a mental hospital. I’m Kate’s first man and will be her only man.”

Alfred’s words made Elijah raise his head. “You can… get up?”

Alfred kicked him away and said coldly, “Are you disappointed? I can get up! And I’m good in bed.”

Elijah had no choice but to be jealous.

Alfred turned around and walked back to the wheelchair. He sat down and pushed the wheelchair back.

When Yael saw their battle had ended, he quickly walked over and pushed Alfred toward the car.

Immediately after Alfred got into the car, his strong body fell toward Kate.

“Mr. Davidson.” Kate was terrified and quickly supported him.

Alfred rested his head on her shoulder. “I’m fine. I’m just tired.”

His legs had not fully recovered, but he gritted his teeth and persevered in front of his love rival. He forced himself to defeat Elijah.

“Mr. Davidson,” Kate asked Yael to pass the tissue. Kate took it to wipe Alfred’s sweat and said with worry, “I’ve taught Elijah a good lesson. Although I didn’t kill him, I made him suffer a bit.”

Alfred said coldly, “I will fight him to the death!”

Alfred and Elijah were archenemies. They were not on good terms usually. For Kate, the conflict between them had reached a new level.

“He’s an asshole!” Kate gritted her teeth and squeezed out a sentence.

Kate fumed and swore in her heart. ‘If Elijah had been schemed against by others, I would not blame him. I would only feel annoyed by Elijah’s badgering for the rest of my life. However, Elijah has taken advantage of me when he was sober, causing me a series of tragedies.

Chapter 316

Kate used to think love was paramount. For Chris, she restrained her temper, suppressed her combat skills, and was willing to be a silly woman wholeheartedly devoted to her husband.

However, without Elijah, her daughter would not have died. Could she not blame Elijah?

Alfred sat up straight and looked at Kate quietly.

Kate did not understand why he was looking at her, but she felt a little guilty as if she had made a huge mistake. In the end, Alfred pulled Kate tightly into his arms.

When they returned to the Davidson residence, it was already past 11 pm.

After Elijah’s ruckus, Kate no longer wanted to eat. She was also worried about Alfred’s health. Hence, the couple went straight into the room.

Back in the room, Kate dragged Alfred to the bed, pressed him onto the bed, and stripped him of his clothes.

Alfred grabbed her impudent hand and looked at her with his sharp eyes. His voice was low and dangerous. “Kate, you know this is dangerous, huh?”

“Let me see if you’re hurt.” Kate shook off Alfred’s hand and continued to tug at his clothes.

Alfred did not stop her. Instead, he cooperated with her and spread his arms and legs. Emotions were flowing in his eyes.

Kate had told him to clean up and wait for her at home tonight. Alfred had just finished a shower when Liam called.

“You’ve beaten Elijah up. He was injured and was at a disadvantage. Only I could hurt him. I’m fine.” Alfred said softly to comfort his beloved wife.

However, Kate had to check if he was injured after they returned. Alfred was happy that Kate was worried about him and cared about him so much.

Although Alfred was domineering, he had never fought with anyone before. Tonight was his first fight. And he was willing to make an exception.

‘No other man can lay a finger on my wife.’ Alfred thought,’ No one can, especially not Elijah, the strong love rival.’ Alfred minded that in Kate’s dream, she had slept with Elijah and might even have a daughter, although the baby girl Rowena might be Alfred’s child. Fortunately, it was a dream and not the truth. Otherwise, he might have killed Elijah.

Kate carefully examined Alfred. After confirming he was not injured, she was relieved.

When Kate tried to put his clothes back on, Alfred grabbed her hand again. When they looked at each other, Alfred’s eyes burned like fire, which set Kate on fire, too.

Alfred teased, “Kate, you asked me to clean myself up and wait for you.”

Kate smiled. Her smile was extremely bright.

She lowered her head and bit a certain part of Alfred, causing him to gasp. “I’m going to take a shower. I was sweating when I punched Elijah. It stinks.”

Alfred let go.

Kate entered the bathroom. She didn’t keep Alfred waiting and quickly came out of the bathroom. She put down her beautiful hair.

Alfred thought she had washed her hair and was about to say something when he saw her hair was not wet. He swallowed the words he wanted to say.

Elijah’s appearance stimulated Alfred’s desire, and Kate responded passionately. The couple did twice before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

*****

Lena was sitting on the sofa in the main house’s living room. Liam, who Lena had sent for, stood a few steps before her. He lowered his head and did not dare to look at Lena.

“Liam,” Lena said gently, “Alfred arranged for you to be Kate’s chauffeur. You know Kate’s whereabouts the best. Tell me, what does Kate do every night? Also, why did Alfred suddenly leave with so many bodyguards and return with Kate tonight?”

Although it was late at night and the heat wave during the day had subsided a lot, Liam was still sweating. He was so nervous that he did not know what to do. He knew he couldn’t tell the truth.

Liam pondered, ‘Lena has never liked Kate. If she knew Kate and the Purchas family were entangled, she would find fault with Kate.

‘However, Kate is innocent. After Kate married Mr. Davidson, she has never hooked up with other men.

‘The reason why Mr. Purchas is badgering Kate is most likely because of Mr. Davidson.

‘Whatever Mr. Davidson cares about, Mr. Purchas wants to snatch it. If he can’t take it, he will do everything he can to destroy it.

‘If I don’t tell the truth, Lena won’t let me go.

Lena pressed Liam, “Liam, be honest. If you dare to lie, you and your wife can leave now.”

Liam’s wife also worked in the Davidson residence. Her job was quite easy. She took care of the pets in the Pet House. Compared to others, at least she didn’t have to worry about offending her masters and didn’t have to please them all the time.

“Mrs. Davidson.” Liam looked up at Lena, then quickly lowered his head and said, “Kate goes to etiquette classes every afternoon after work. After class, she will come home immediately.”

“Etiquette classes?” Lena snorted and said sarcastically, Even if she takes etiquette classes for the rest of her life, she won’t be able to learn the manners of a noblewoman.

It was true that Kate was the Sutton family’s darling daughter, but she had lived in the countryside for twenty- five years. Even if she was born with a good temperament, in Lena’s eyes, Kate was still a country bumpkin. She was extremely dissatisfied with her daughter-in-law, Kate.

Olivia had asked Lena to invite Celia to the Davidson family. Since Lena did not like Kate as her daughter-in-law and did not respect Kate’s parents, she had yet to invite Leland and his wife over.

Celia wanted to get along well with the Davidson family. For Kate to live a stable life, Celia did not dare to offend the Davidson family.

Liam did not dare to reply. He knew none of the elders in the Davidson family liked Kate. But Kate was good.

“What was going on tonight?” Knowing Kate went to take etiquette classes every night, Lena did not say anything else even though her tone was sarcastic.

It was good to be ambitious. It was also a good sign to work hard to integrate into this circle and the Davidson family. At the very least, it meant Kate was sincere to Alfred and was willing to try hard for him.

Liam played dumb and said, “It’s fine. Mr. Davidson might miss Mrs. Davidson too much and couldn’t wait, so he went to pick her up.”

Lena slammed the table. And Liam shrank back in fear.

“Liam, I’m not a fool.” Lena fumed. “Don’t try to lie to me. Something must have happened tonight. Alfred brought people out in a hurry as if he was going to save someone.” The only person who could make Alfred leave in a hurry was that country bumpkin Kate.

When she thought about how Alfred, who had always been cold-hearted, was easily softened by Kate, Lena could not help but be angry.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law usually couldn’t get along well because the mother-in-law always felt the son she had raised painstakingly loved his wife more than his mother, so the mother-in-law always disliked her daughter-in-law out of jealousy.

Every girl was a treasure to her parents in her own family before marriage. For a man, the girl left her parents and married into a family unfamiliar to her. The girl had to bond with the man’s parents and bear the man’s children.

However, the girl had to suffer the hostility of her mother-in-law, and she was unwilling to accept it. Therefore, it was easy for the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to fight endlessly for the same man.

The conflict would only get deeper and deeper.

Chapter 317

Alfred had Kate’s back. No one, including his family, was allowed to wrong Kate. Kate didn’t need to abide by the Davidson family’s countless rules. Although Alfred’s attitude made Lena, Kate’s mother-in-law, not dare to be rash, Lena was always unhappy with Kate in her heart, and the dissatisfaction deepened over time.

Lena always wanted to catch Kate in the wrong and force Kate to leave Alfred.

“Mrs. Davidson, nothing happened tonight.” Liam would not relent.

He was afraid of Lena, but he was more frightened of Alfred.

They were not allowed to talk about anything related to Alfred. Without Alfred’s consent, they could not reveal a word even if Olivia interrogated them.

Liam and his wife might have to leave the Davidson family if they offended Lena. But if they offended Alfred, they would have to leave Sherpsel.

“Liam, tell me the truth. I promise I won’t let Alfred know or cause trouble for Kate.” Lena calmed down and wanted to trick Liam into telling the truth.

“Mrs. Davidson, it’s true. Nothing happened. That’s the truth.” Liam looked helpless.

Lena’s expression darkened again. She stared at Liam coldly and threatened, “Liam, believe it or not, I’ll get you and your wife out of the Davidson residence immediately.” “Mrs. Davidson, even if you ask me and my wife to leave immediately, I’ll still say the same thing. Kate rushed home after class, and nothing happened. Why did Mr. Davidson leave in a hurry with his men? I’m not with Mr. Davidson, so I don’t know why.” Liam raised his head to look at Lena and said, “If you want to know what Mr. Davidson has done, you can ask Yael.”

Yael was Alfred’s right-hand man, who followed Alfred almost everywhere.

Although Liam was a driver, he rarely drove. He often took care of the pets with his wife. After Kate moved in, James arranged for Liam to be Kate’s driver. That was how he had something to do every day.

Lena was furious. Of course, she knew Yael knew everything. But she did not dare to call Yael over for questioning. It was true that Yael was Alfred’s bodyguard. But Yael was from a good family. He was willing to be Alfred’s bodyguard for two reasons. Firstly, he had learned martial arts. Secondly, Alfred had once saved his life.

Yael lowered himself to be Alfred’s bodyguard to repay Alfred for saving his life.

Who was most loyal to Alfred? It must be Yael and James. Lena even could not get anything out of Liam. So she knew it was a dream to think she could dig for information from Yael.

Lena tried to say something else. “Liam, don’t think that I…” “Lena.” A gentle shout came from the stairs.

Lena knew it was time to stop asking.

Austin walked downstairs. When he got closer, he glanced at Liam before his gaze landed on his wife. Then, he said gently, “If you can’t sleep and want to talk to someone, you can wake me up. Liam has to pick Kate up and down every day. It’s quite tiring.”

He turned Lena’s question into a chat, giving Lena a way out. It also saved Liam from being blamed.

Lena took a few deep breaths. Her husband had gone downstairs, so she could not question Liam anymore. She said calmly, “It’s late, Liam. Go back and rest.”

Liam said instantly, “Mr. Davidson, Mrs. Davidson, good night.”

After that, Liam quickly left the main house as if fleeing for his life.

After stepping out of the courtyard door of the central main house, Liam raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat off his forehead.

Liam sighed inside. ‘Good lord, it scared the hell out of me. I thought I would lose my job.’

Austin, who saved Liam from a hard time, sat beside Lena. Looking at Lena’s unhappy expression, he gently poked her face with his finger and said, “You don’t sleep in the middle of the night. Staying up late does no good to your health and well-maintained skin. Have some beauty sleep. I want to see you stunning as usual.”

“Huh? Are you tired of me or what? Are you thinking of replacing me with a young and pretty woman?” Lena slapped away Austin’s finger that was gently poking her face.

Austin smiled. “If I get a young and pretty woman, I bet you will make a real scene in the Davidson family. For the peace at home, I’d better stay by your side for the rest of my life.” Lena rolled her eyes. “What do you mean? Are you saying I’m getting old? For God’s sake, I’m still attractive, okay?” “Exactly, you’re as attractive as usual. If you were an old lady, I would be an old man. When we married, we promised to grow old together.” Austin deliberately looked at Lena’s hair. “Let me see if you have grey hair. I looked in the mirror yesterday and saw I had some.”

Austin was seven years older than Lena. It was normal for him to have grey hair earlier than Lena.

Perhaps it was because he was a few years older than Lena. After they got married, he had always doted on Lena.

“I don’t have grey hair.” Lena also looked at Austin’s hair and said, “Tell Alfred to let Thorin come and help you dye your hair. I haven’t even had grey hair yet, so I won’t allow you to have it. We agreed to grow old together. You can’t always be ahead of me.”

“Okay,” Austin replied gently. Then, he held Lena’s hand and said, “It’s late. Let’s go to bed. We’ll get some gifts and visit the Sutton family tomorrow.”

No matter how dissatisfied everyone in the Davidson family was with Kate, Kate was still Alfred’s legal wife.

They had always postponed the meeting with the Sutton family. Austin felt if this dragged on, the Davidson family would appear rude.

“I’m not going.” Lena was mad. “If you want to meet them, call them and tell them to come and meet us here.”

Austin sighed. “Honey, I’m so worried about Cynthia.” “What’s wrong with Cynthia?” asked Lena.

Cynthia was the apple of Lena’s eye. When Austin mentioned Cynthia, Lena became nervous and wondered if she, as the mother, had missed out on what had happened to Cynthia.

“People say karma is a bitch. One might not get punished by his wrongdoings, but his descendants will.” Austin said worriedly, “If you treat Kate like this now, I’m afraid Cynthia will have a hard time after she gets married and meets a mother-in-law who will be like you, who will dislike and neglect her. And her mother-in-law won’t take us seriously, either.”

Lena’s face darkened. “It’s our future son-in-law’s fortune to marry Cynthia, the gem of the Davidson family. Who dares to look down on Cynthia? How dare Cynthia’s future in-laws ignore us? I’ll knock some sense into them.

“Austin, Cynthia is your daughter. She’s the treasure the Davidson family has been looking forward to for five generations. A country bumpkin like Kate can’t compare to her. Don’t talk about Cynthia!”

Austin said calmly, “It’s because Cynthia is a treasure the Davidson family has been looking forward to for five generations. As parents, we must do more good deeds and pray for her so she can be as happy as she is now for the rest of her life.”

In the end, Austin said a few realistic words. “Cynthia is twenty-three, but no man is pursuing her because she has fifteen elder brothers and cousins. That group of guys has scared many men away. In the future, if a guy dares to marry Cynthia, his family will be no worse than the Davidson family.”

Lena was speechless.

Chapter 318

The entire Davidson family spoiled Cynthia. But she wasn’t wild or unreasonable. Instead, she was a sensible girl. There was nothing wrong with her appearance. She was a beauty.

Logically speaking, such a beauty could charm many men. The men who pursued her should have been too many to count. But the fact was that no man pursued Cynthia.

No one dared to challenge the Davidson family’s fifteen young heirs. Not to mention the fifteen young heirs, they didn’t even dare to challenge Alfred alone.

Lena couldn’t believe it. “Austin, to convince me to accept Kate, you even cursed your daughter to have an unfortunate future, huh?”

Austin poked Lena’s forehead again.

If Kate were there and saw how Austin and Lena were alone in private, she would understand why Alfred liked to flick her forehead or poke her. It was in his family genes! Austin explained, “Kate is just a daughter-in-law. Cynthia is our daughter. Daughters and daughters-in-law are different. How would I curse Cynthia for Kate? I’m just telling the truth. You often bring Cynthia to all kinds of banquets. Did any young man ever hit on Cynthia at the banquets?”

Lena was at a loss for words. Of course, she knew Austin was not cursing Cynthia. She was just angry that Austin could accept Kate as his daughter-in-law.

Austin sighed. “I told you to stop watching Kate. That will only worsen your already bad relationship with Kate and make Alfred unhappy with you.”

Olivia instigated Lena to get a private detective to watch Kate. After his persuasion, Lena finally stopped doing that.

However, Lena still refused to give up. She kept thinking about breaking up Alfred and Kate.

“I just want to know what she did to make Alfred leave the house hurriedly with so many bodyguards, although it was late at night.” Lena said aggrievedly, “I’m concerned about Alfred. Kate can do whatever she wants. I don’t care about her.”

Lena added, “The private detective caught Kate messing around with Elijah last time. I always thought Kate was a spy sent by Elijah to Alfred. When the time was right, Kate would give the Davidson family and Alfred a fatal blow.” ‘Alfred won’t listen to me. Even my husband is speaking up for Kate.’ Lena was extremely depressed as she thought,’ Oh, my two other sons and even my only daughter like Kate. So, am I the only bad person in the entire family?’

“Kate loved Chris so much, but she suddenly stopped loving him. That’s hard to believe.” Lena did not believe Kate because she felt Kate had changed too quickly.

“Time will tell.” Austin said warmly, “For now, what Kate has brought to Alfred is good. At the very least, Kate can get Alfred to do rehabilitation and slowly return to the crowd. Why don’t you give Kate and yourself the time to prove whether she’s good or bad?”

Lena was silent.

“It’s late. Get some rest.” Austin held Lena’s hand. “You should think more about your husband and not always consider Kate’s husband. Alfred has Kate to care for him.” Lena immediately pouted at Austin. “We’re married for so many years, yet you’re still so sweet. Aren’t you cheeky?” Lena was happy that Austin got jealous because of Alfred. She let Austin hold her hand and bring her upstairs.

The central main house returned to calmness. Soon, the room was engulfed by darkness.

*****

In the Purchas family, the butler, Kelvin Leach’s heart ached as he watched Elijah, who had drunk a lot and was covered in injuries. Elijah quietly leaned against the back of the sofa, his intoxicated eyes still fixed on the painting he had painted a few days ago.

The painting was of a chubby baby. The baby looked pretty and lovely. After Elijah finished the painting, he asked the servants to frame it and hang it in the hall.

Kelvin checked the time. It was almost dawn.

Seeing Elijah directly pick up a bottle to drink instead of using the wine glass, Kelvin couldn’t help but rush over and snatch the bottle from Elijah. “Mr. Purchas, you’ve drunk a lot. Enough.”

Kelvin’s heart was broken as he looked at Elijah whose face was blue and nose was swollen. He said, “Mr. Purchas, let me help you apply some medicine. It’s dawn. Shall we call Dr. Jenkins over?”

“She hates me,” Elijah said softly. His face was full of pain.” Rowena… is dead… It’s my fault…”

Kelvin knew the ‘her’ Elijah was referring to was Kate, who had become Mrs. Davidson, Alfred’s wife. Rowena was the baby that Elijah always painted. Elijah said that Rowena was his daughter.

Kelvin explained many times but to no avail. Elijah believed he had lost a part of his memory. He firmly believed that Kate had given birth to his daughter and hid her away to stop him from uniting with his daughter.

“Mr. Purchas.” Kelvin said helplessly and worriedly, “Mr. Purchas, the dream you always had was only a dream. It’s not the memory you lost. You had no interaction with Ms. Sutton in the past. Ms. Sutton only returned to the Sutton family over a year ago. She lived in a village far away from the city center before. Mr. Purchas, you couldn’t even see her.

“You’ve also investigated and even got a doctor to examine Ms. Sutton. Why didn’t you believe it? You even went to look for Ms. Sutton. Mr. Davidson doesn’t get along with you. He would beat you to death when he had the chance.”

Kelvin was terrified when the bodyguards brought Elijah back.

Elijah’s clothes were covered in bloodstains. His face was bruised and his nose was swollen. His clothes were in a mess. Kelvin had worked for the Purchas family for decades and watched Elijah grow up. He had never seen Elijah in such a sorry state.

After asking for the reason, Kelvin was angry, heartbroken, and helpless.

Elijah’s father, the former family head, suffered some mental problems because he could not accept that his wife was dead due to his sadness, so the Purchas family had no choice but to send him to the old residence far away from the city center to recuperate.

Elijah had no biological siblings. He had a few cousins, but they were all living overseas and rarely returned to the country.

Therefore, Elijah had no close one to persuade, stop, and care about him.

As for the other clansmen of the Purchas family, they were used to relying on Elijah and revering him. Therefore, they didn’t dare to say anything to Elijah. The only one who dared to speak was the clan head of the Purchas family. However, the old gentleman was already 100 years old. No one would disturb the peaceful life of the 100-year-old clan head if it weren’t a big deal.

“Was it a dream?” Elijah muttered in pain. His sharp eyes, which had always been seductive in the past, turned red. Tears were flickering in his eyes. “She made it sound so real… If it was a dream… why would she hate me?”

Elijah did not believe that was a dream.

However, he confirmed that he and Kate had no

interactions in the past. They couldn’t have slept together, and Kate could not have given birth to his daughter. It was very complicated and painful.

As he searched for the truth, Elijah could not tell if it was a dream or if it had truly happened.

“Mr. Purchas, Ms. Sutton hates you. Maybe it’s because you’re always badgering her, and she’s annoyed. After all, she’s Mr. Davidson’s wife now. You and Mr. Davidson are archenemies.”

Kelvin found a very reasonable reason for Elijah.

Chapter 319

Elijah shook his head.

His persistence only served to irritate Kate.

Kate hated him because of Rowena.

He had indirectly caused Rowena’s death.

Elijah had taken Kate when he was sober, and they had seen each other several times in public after she married Chris.

But Elijah did not do anything at all.

Even when she became pregnant and had a daughter, he never sought her out.

Elijah had never even suspected that Kate’s daughter might be his child.

His irresponsible actions led to Rowena’s death, making it seem as if he had indirectly caused his own daughter’s demise.

Elijah had no cheeks to draw Rowena’s likeness.

He had no right to say that Rowena should come back and look for them as her parents.

Elijah felt as if his heart were being ripped apart.

The pain was making his complexion grow paler.

Elijah thought, ‘It turns out that the ache of heartbreak and regret is incredibly unbearable.’

“Kelvin…” Elijah called out to him softly. “You should go rest. I want some quiet.”

Kelvin looked at him with concern.

Elijah managed a bitter smile. “I won’t drink anymore.”

Everyone said that alcohol could wash away sorrows, but after sobering up, the worries only multiply.

No matter whether it was a dream or reality, he and Kate were impossible. The only way he could ease his guilt now was by treating her well, as a way to atone.

But thinking of how Kate had married his arch-nemesis, Elijah still felt his heart shatter.

Kelvin said, “Mr. Purchas, you need to apply the ointment.”

Elijah gazed at Rowena’s portrait and said quietly, “No need, let it hurt.”

He had only suffered some minor injuries, but his daughter had lost her life.

Kelvin had to quietly exit the hall, resigned to Elijah’s insistence.

The lavish hall was left with only Elijah..

He leaned back on the sofa, staring at Rowena’s portrait for a long while before tears finally slipped from the corners of his eyes.

*****

“Rowena.” Elijah wept in front of Rowena’s portrait, while Kate dreamed of Rowena trying desperately to crawl towards her.

But Rowena was only seven months old. She couldn’t crawl yet.

Rowena was anxious, making little cooing sounds.

Kate wanted to go and pick her up, but no matter how she tried, she couldn’t reach Rowena.

Both Kate and Rowena were frantic.

In her panic, Kate shouted Rowena’s name and woke up.

Opening her eyes, she met Alfred’s deep gaze.

Kate stared at him in a daze.

After a moment, she turned to look out the window. Though the curtains were thick, the day had brightened, and the heavy fabric couldn’t completely block out the light.

Alfred handed her a few tissues, gently wiping the cold sweat from her forehead. “The air conditioning is on in here, and I still need to cover up with a light blanket. How can you still be sweating? Are you that anxious?”

Kate recalled the dream and said, “I dreamt of Rowena. She wanted to crawl over, but she couldn’t yet, just calling out to me. I wanted to go to her, but I couldn’t get close.”

Alfred’s eyes flickered as he thought, ‘Is Rowena trying to find her to be her mother again? Since we took precautions last night. Rowena should have no chance.’

Alfred didn’t believe in reincarnation. He thought everyone could only live once.

Yet the dreams he, Kate, and Elijah shared were interconnected, which surprised him and reshaped his understanding of the world.

Some things couldn’t be explained by science.

Alfred was an atheist who didn’t believe in reincarnation, while Kate firmly believed in it.

She quickly grasped the deeper meaning of the dream.

She turned to Alfred and asked, “Do you think Rowena wants to come back and be my daughter again, to continue our bond?”

Alfred flicked her forehead gently with his long fingers.

Kate raised her hand to touch the spot where he had flicked her.

“I’ve heard of people becoming obsessed, but I’ve never heard of someone being obsessed with their dreams. You said Elijah has issues. Do you want to be like him? When did you ever give birth to Rowena? Are you turning dreams into reality?”

Kate was at a loss for words.

“In the Davidson family, can women work after getting pregnant?” Kate suddenly asked.

Alfred playfully pinched her nose, leaned in, and pressed his lips against hers before sitting up, satisfied.

Alfred said, “Have you forgotten how much I fought to give you freedom so you could join your company?”

Women marrying into the Davidson family had no freedom to work. Dreaming of going back to work while pregnant was absurd.

Kate stuck out her tongue.

She sat up, wrapping her arms around Alfred’s waist and resting her face against his back. “Thank you for everything, Darling.”

Alfred didn’t immediately pry her arms from around him. He simply said in a low voice, “Once you’re pregnant, you need to stay at home and take care of the baby. I can fight for you on other matters, but this one, my family and I are on the same page.”

He could pamper her and let her do what she wanted.

She didn’t have to follow the rules of the Davidson family.

If she got pregnant, he wouldn’t want her to be as busy and exhausted as she was now.

After all, he had plenty of money. Even if she never worked again, he could support her and their child without her having to work during her pregnancy.

Kate immediately released her hold around his waist, saying, “You’ve probably never seen a pregnant woman still working, right? Unless there are special circumstances that require bed rest, usually, it’s fine to do some things while pregnant.”

Alfred turned to face her, amused by her annoyed expression. He playfully pinched her cheek again and said, I’m just worried about you. We don’t lack money. If you really do get pregnant, all you need to focus on is taking care of yourself and Rowena. You don’t have to worry about anything else.

“Many women look forward to resting during their

pregnancy, and here you are complaining about me as if I don’t let you work.”

Kate was speechless.

“Pregnancy comes with morning sickness. If it’s severe, you’ Il be throwing up all day. How will you have the energy to work?” Alfred asked.

Kate said, “You know a lot.”

Alfred chuckled. “I’m several years older than Cynthia. When my mom was pregnant with her, I was already aware of this. My mom had terrible morning sickness and was sick all day.”

Kate thought for a moment, left speechless.

Finally, she muttered, “Well, let’s wait a while before having kids. I still have a lot to do.”

Alfred hugged her tightly. “I don’t want to rush into having kids either. Let’s enjoy our time as a couple for another two or three years before having a child.”

He was in his thirties, while she was still quite young. In two or three years, she would still be under thirty.

Kate said, “If others find out you’re doing just fine and that I’ m not getting pregnant for a few years, your family will say I’m infertile and will force you to divorce me.”

“My matters are my own. Unless I want to, no one can

interfere,” Alfred said with a commanding tone.

曲

Chapter 320

Thinking about his position in the Davidson family and his domineering nature, Kate realized that her complaints and worries were unnecessary.

“Next year, we should have a baby.” Kate was eager to know if Rowena could come back to her.

“Let’s wait two more years,” Alfred said.

“One year.”

“Three years.”

“Mr. Davidson, you’re just raising the stakes here,” Kate teased.

Kate said, “Are you worried that if we have a child, my attention will shift entirely to the baby, leaving you neglected?”

Alfred felt a bit exposed, as if she could read his thoughts. He pulled her in close and kissed her fiercely, leaving her dizzy before stepping back.

Kate lay on the bed, savoring the kiss and then burst into giggles.

He was jealous of the baby.

That was why he didn’t want her to get pregnant too soon.

Alfred, now dressed, heard her laughter and turned, unable to hold back his smile.

When Kate was in a good mood, she was happy and laughed.

Every time he saw her looking so pleased, Alfred’s own mood lifted.

“Mr. Davidson,” Kate said after a moment, sitting up, “I have a love letter for you in my bag. I forgot to give it to you last night.”

“Your love letter is probably just a template you copied from Google,” Alfred joked.

But he quickly retrieved her bag, pulled out an envelope, and settled into his wheelchair, leisurely opening it.

“Even though I can’t write a beautifully worded love letter, it’ s definitely my own work, not copied from Google. I worked hard on it,” she said, grinning.

Alfred thought, ‘Sneaking in writing love letters during work hours? She has indeed put in the effort.’

“My love letter has more words than the one you wrote me,” she added.

Alfred took out the thick sheets of paper from the envelope. Given the thickness, she probably had written more than he did.

With anticipation, Alfred unfolded his first-ever love letter, only to see the words, “Mr. Davidson, I love you,” written repeatedly across five sheets.

She must have gotten tired because the latter parts were all messy and uneven.

Alfred was shocked.

She used five sheets of paper, and each one had the same content.

Alfred thought, ‘Well, she has certainly put in the effort and feeling into it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have filled five sheets.’

He knew better than to expect a poetic love letter.

After all, when she was asked to write a ten-thousand-word essay, she kept repeating the same line.

He carefully folded the sheets back up and put them away.

“I’ll keep your love letter safe,” he said, looking at her. “When our son grows up and wants to woo a girl, I’ll show him this letter and teach him how to write a love letter.”

Kate exclaimed, “I worked so hard on that! My hand is exhausted, and you still think it’s not good enough.”

“I don’t think it’s bad,” Alfred said.

Even if her love letter left him speechless, Alfred felt his heart warm.

“Really, you don’t mind?” she asked, smiling. “I really don’t,” Alfred said.

Kate said, “Better than the one you wrote me, right?” “The feelings are very real and sincere.”

“Mr. Davidson, your praise sounds odd,” Kate said.

Alfred was speechless.

About ten minutes later in the yard, Alfred sat in his wheelchair, watching Kate water the flowers.

Some flowers had withered, while others were in full bloom. When she found particularly beautiful blooms, Kate would whip out her phone to take pictures and post them on her Instagram timeline.

Alfred didn’t post on social media, but that didn’t stop him from looking at hers.

Whenever she posted, he would be the first to like it.

“By the way, Mr. Davidson, you have a whole area of water lilies. They’re still in bloom! Shall we go see them?” Kate said.

They still had time before they had to leave for work. “Come here,” Alfred said.

Kate set down the watering can and walked over.

“Bend down,” Alfred said.

Kate quickly took a few steps back, cautioning, “You want to pinch my face and flick my forehead again? I won’t fall for it this time.”

Alfred’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Look at you, getting smarter.”

Kate said, “I’m not stupid. It’s just that being around someone like you makes me seem a bit dim.”

“So, it’s my fault for being too smart?” he asked, turning to face her as she pushed him outside.

“I never said you are at fault,” Kate said.

Once they exited the yard, Kate followed Alfred’s lead to the

water lily viewing area.

“You’ve been here this long and still don’t know your way around?” Alfred remarked.

Kate, wary of his request for her to memorize the entire Davidson residence in a few days, quickly replied, “I’ve been busy! But I know the routes around our house well enough not to get lost again.”

“There are so many water lilies. Mr. Davidson, let’s pick some flowers this weekend to decorate the house. I’ll make you some desserts.

Alfred looked up at her. “You always think about food. Are you not going to Chris’s wedding this weekend?”

Kate said, “Oh right, I almost forgot about that important event. Will you accompany me?”

“My wife is attending her ex-boyfriend’s wedding, of course, I’ll go and cause a scene.” Alfred’s expression shifted rapidly, becoming cold and fierce.

Kate noticed and felt grateful for her sharp wits this lifetime. She hadn’t angered this man and instead clung to him.

Those who offended Alfred never ended well.

Suddenly, Kate recalled the past.

She had been foolish enough to cut her wrists to refuse marriage, effectively trampling Alfred’s dignity. Given his temperament, he should have held a grudge against her. But he hadn’t.

After she refused marriage, Alfred never sought her out or caused trouble for the Sutton Group.

He even helped her when she needed it. That was quite uncharacteristic of Alfred.

Kate couldn’t figure out why.

“Mr. Davidson, you’re the best,” Kate said.

“Is there a reward?” Alfred asked.

“You lack nothing, so what reward do you need?” Kate asked.

“I may not lack anything, but I can’t just do things for free. A businessman is always wary of losing money.”

Kate mumbled a few words before stopping. She turned and picked a water lily that was close to the shore with ease.

Then she placed the water lily in Alfred’s arms.

“Here, honey, consider this a little interest for your reward,” Kate said.

Alfred looked down, inhaled the scent of the water lily, and smiled faintly. “Good.”

His action made Kate suspect that he was actually a man who loved flowers, just too prideful to admit it.

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