-Shiloh said, “Mom…”
Matriarch Farrell responded, “Don’t call me mom again; I’m not your mother! If you call me mom once more, I’ll cut out your tongue and feed it to the dogs! Your real mother is still in the country, waiting for you to return and reunite with her!”
With that, Matriarch Farrell shut the ward door once more.
Shiloh wept silently, too afraid to cry any louder.
It felt as though she had fallen from heaven to hell.
Holden, lying on the hospital bed, heard Shiloh’s sobs. Distress filled his eyes, but he remained silent.
He closed his eyes as footsteps approached.
He dared not look at Matriarch Farrell, fearing she would notice his turmoil.
He understood that both he and Shiloh were doomed.
Even if he were not expelled from the Farrell family, his life within it would be worse than that of a pig or a dog.
However, for the sake of the Janzen family, he had to endure.
If he wanted a better life, it would only come when his son was in power; having a daughter would not benefit him.
Holden silently vowed that once he recovered from his injuries and left the hospital, he would assist his son in claiming the throne and rewriting the legacy of the Farrell family.
…
A rented luxury car was parked outside the Fortress Hotel.
Duncan, seated in the car, sent Liberty a message stating that he had arrived in Jensburg.
Liberty assumed he was still en route, but upon receiving his message, she called him immediately.
“Mr. Lewis.” As soon as Duncan answered, Liberty asked, “Where are you now? At the airport? Hold on; I’ll come pick you up.”
Duncan replied, “No need; I rented a car and…”
Liberty drove up in front of the Fortress Hotel. “If you’re in the hotel, you can see me when you step outside,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll head downstairs right away,” Liberty replied, having just returned from outside where she had been thinking about Duncan, who was on his way over.
If Duncan hadn’t mentioned he would be arriving today around two o’clock, Liberty would have stayed out and continued preparing her company. She hadn’t yet visited Queen Enterprise to see Hayden, despite the Farrell family’s strong interest in the company’s project. Liberty also found the project intriguing and wanted to collaborate with Queen Enterprise for a mutually beneficial outcome.
Picking up her phone, she walked to her room door, grabbed her room card, and hurried downstairs.
Jim, who lived next door, heard the door open and quickly stepped out. “Sister Liberty, where are you headed?” he inquired.
After the events of the previous night, Jim felt compelled to follow Liberty closely, worried that any misstep could jeopardize her safety, leaving him unable to explain himself to Zachary, Serenity, and Sonny later.
Sonny had been very perceptive; before they left Jensburg, he had told Jim, “Uncle Jim, you need to protect my mother.”
Jim had promised Sonny that he would ensure Liberty returned to Wiltspoon safely.
“Mr. Lewis is here. He’s at the hotel entrance. I’m going downstairs to meet him,” Liberty informed Jim.
“I’ll come with you, Sister Liberty,” Jim responded without hesitation.
Liberty accepted his offer, and Jim, along with another bodyguard, accompanied her downstairs.
By the time they reached the entrance, Duncan had already exited his car and approached them.
He was accompanied by two bodyguards who typically looked after him. Seated in a wheelchair, one bodyguard pushed him while the other drove the car, parking it in the lot to avoid obstructing the hotel entrance. Passersby at the Fortress Hotel couldn’t help but glance back when they noticed Duncan in a wheelchair.