CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 142: SERENA SAWYER’S SUICIDE, I SHOW MY MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE TO SLAP FACES (PART 2)

As soon as Timothy Xavier heard I wanted to post our marriage certificate, his tone immediately sank, coldly saying, "You’d better not impulsively do something you’ll regret. Even if Julian Sinclair could save the Ellison Family, could he save your mother? As far as I know, Shaun Sinclair’s drug has never succeeded on a human trial yet."

I gripped my phone tightly, my fingertips turning white.

I’m the one being harassed on the internet, yet he still uses my mother’s life to threaten me.

I said, "So, you’re refusing to solve this, is that it?"

Timothy replied coldly, "It’s not that I don’t want to solve it, but you refuse to tell the truth. How can I face Serena and ask her to forgive you?"

I said nothing else and hung up directly.

Just then, my room’s door was knocked. It turned out to be Mrs. Ellison and Mr. Ellison.

I forced myself to adjust my mood and asked, "Mom, Dad, what did Madam Sinclair say to you just now?"

Mr. Ellison looked grave as he said, "Madam Sinclair said you and Julian Sinclair like each other..."

Mrs. Ellison sat down beside me, suddenly thinking of something. She said, "So, the Hawthorne Family is helping us—not because they value the Ellison Group, but because Julian Sinclair put in a word for us from behind the scenes?"

"I guess so."

I admitted, feeling weak. But I really don’t want to owe anyone else, not even Julian Sinclair.

Right as I was about to tell my parents that from now on the Ellison Group would survive on its own, Mr. Ellison spoke first, "Zoe, it’s us who let you down. Whether it’s Timothy Xavier or Julian Sinclair, aren’t they both threatening you with things like this? Just give me one honest answer, is Julian Sinclair threatening you with the Ellison Group to force you to be with him?"

"No, Julian isn’t like that."

My denial didn’t reassure my parents.

Mrs. Ellison said awkwardly, "The Sinclair Family is indeed a prestigious household, but Julian Sinclair is, after all, Timothy Xavier’s uncle—even if not by blood, the age gap is huge! I just don’t believe you’re really this naïve."

"Zoe, Dad’s thought it through—your brother isn’t business material, and I’ve been barely holding the Ellison Group together all these years."

Mr. Ellison sighed deeply. "Come home with us. We won’t let anyone threaten us again. Worst case, the Ellison Group files for bankruptcy. We don’t owe outside debt, so even bankrupt, we’ll get by fine. Living with us, neither you nor Doris will ever go hungry."

I looked at my parents’ hair, graying by the day, and my eyes stung with tears.

When the Ellison Family first adopted me, Mom and Dad were still in their prime. They warmed me with their love, never letting me feel like an outsider.

Even now, married and with a child, they still worry, thinking of everything for my sake.

I choked up a little and said, "Mom, Dad, don’t worry. Julian Sinclair hasn’t threatened me. On the contrary, he’s considered a lot for me. I really like him..."

Mrs. Ellison’s look grew more worried. "Child, your dad and I aren’t old-fashioned, and Madam Sinclair just said—nowadays, it’s a new society. Once you divorce Timothy Xavier, you’re no longer related; you and Julian Sinclair can love freely. We’re just scared you’ll be hurt. Timothy grew up with you and still managed to hurt you like this. Julian Sinclair’s background goes even deeper, and he’s a lawyer. We’re afraid you’ll get the short end of the stick."

"He won’t treat me like Timothy did." I didn’t know why, but my trust in Julian Sinclair felt so solid. I said, "People are different."

Mrs. Ellison wiped her tears and snapped, "Timothy Xavier is a bastard, always siding with that little slut. He wants her—fine, let him divorce you! What’s the point of dragging this out?"

I took a deep breath and made up my mind. I told my parents, "Mom, Dad, I’ll probably announce my marriage to Timothy Xavier publicly very soon. When that happens, Timothy might get desperate and come for our family."

Mr. Ellison thought for a moment and said, "We support you! Whatever Timothy wants to do, we’ll take it! You’ve put up with far too much for our sake. This time, we’re done with patience!"

"Right, we’re done!"

Mrs. Ellison gritted her teeth. "I want to see what kind of end Timothy Xavier and that Serena slut meet! They don’t want to save face. You just post the marriage certificate—I don’t believe that bastard would dare to kill us!"

I hugged Mrs. Ellison, just like when I was a child cuddling in her arms, and said, "Mom, Dad, thank you."

Mr. Ellison stroked my hair. "It’s us who failed to back you up in the Xavier Family. But with Timothy having done this, we can’t just watch you fall into the flames. As long as you’re sure, whatever you decide, Mom and Dad will support you and go along with you."

I chatted some more with Mrs. Ellison and Mr. Ellison. Seeing how late it was, they got up to leave.

Madam Sinclair asked them to stay the night, but they politely declined.

Right before leaving, Mr. Ellison looked at Madam Sinclair, saying, "Madam Sinclair, Zoe may be adopted, but we’ve always treated her as our own. We just asked her to come home, but she probably worries about troubling us. Hope that while she’s here, she won’t suffer. If you ever feel she and her child disturb you, you can always send her to the Ellison Family."

"Don’t worry, in-laws. I care so much for Zoe, I’d never let her be mistreated."

Madam Sinclair didn’t mind my dad’s blunt tone, smiling warmly all the while.

Mrs. Ellison blushed awkwardly at the word ’in-laws.’

Even though she said she wasn’t old-fashioned, I knew she’d have a hard time accepting my relationship with Julian Sinclair for now.

Jenna Sutton left with my parents.

Madam Sinclair kept comforting me, but I could tell she was worried too, her face written with concern.

"If push comes to shove, try calling Julian again."

Madam Sinclair had no experience dealing with this kind of lowlife, and as online outrage snowballed, the old lady was losing her footing.

I told her, "Grandma, I’m not with Mr. Sinclair to have him fix my problems for me. Leo Grant said he’s busy with a major case. I don’t want to distract him."

She looked at me with concern. "Then do you have a plan to fix this?"

"I think I do. I just... need to think it over a bit more."

After all, even with my parents’ support, this involves my mother’s life.

The only hope is Shaun Sinclair’s new drug.

Suddenly, I was struck by a thought. "Grandma, could you... reach Professor Sinclair for me? I want to ask about that drug—whether it can be used on people now."

"You mean Shaun?" Madam Sinclair caught on immediately. "You want Shaun to try the drug on your mother?"

I nodded. "Yes, I’m willing for my mom to be the first test subject."

Only then can I break free of Timothy’s grip for good.

The risks are huge.

But I’m out of options.

Madam Sinclair said, "Alright, I’ll call him now. You talk to him yourself."

Soon, she reached Shaun Sinclair and handed me the phone.

I explained simply, and Shaun hesitated. He said, "Here’s the thing—a drug trial on humans requires approval from the ethics committee. Animal trials just succeeded for us, but ethics review hasn’t happened. If you use it on your mother now, that’s absolutely against regulations."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Professor Sinclair."

I didn’t try to persuade him further.

After all, no one is obliged to take huge risks and ruin their career for me.

After I hung up, Madam Sinclair asked, "Did he agree?"

I relayed what Professor Sinclair had said.

Madam Sinclair was reasonable; she said, "Indeed, breaking the law is unacceptable."

I comforted her, "Grandma, it’s really late now. Please go rest. I’ll keep thinking—something will work out."

So Madam Sinclair, supported by a maid, returned to her room.

I went into the children’s room to check. Both were asleep, sleeping soundly.

But I... just couldn’t sleep at all.

In the middle of the night, Jenna Sutton called me with utmost urgency.

She hadn’t slept either, doing everything she could to buy bots and try turning the tide of negative internet opinion about me.

But she clearly underestimated Serena’s madness.

"That bitch—even the kid isn’t off-limits!"

Jenna told me to check X immediately.

Turned out, some self-proclaimed student’s parent revealed that they’d often seen me picking up my daughter at the kindergarten gate.

The comment section was assaulted again, and this parent’s comment went viral:

"Oh my god, everyone, could this kid be Zoe Ellison and President Xavier’s love child?"

"Has to be! Otherwise, why would Serena be so devastated and driven to suicide? She’s so kind, yet got so much filth thrown at her!"

"Sisters, I’ve got a theory—don’t call me a conspiracy nut! When Serena miscarried, remember? Might’ve been this woman or even that kid who caused it!"

"For sure! Agree with the post above—Zoe Ellison’s a mistress, and even her kid’s a love child. But Serena was almost officially married to President Xavier, her child would be the rightful heir! Zoe must’ve panicked—so came up with this vicious scheme!"

"I’m sobbing! What did Serena ever do to deserve this—lost her husband, miscarried, now driven to suicide by this bitch! Serena’s too soft. If I were her, I’d fight this woman to the death!"

"Everyone, dig up info on Zoe Ellison’s bastard kid! What kindergarten? We’ll block her at the gate. A kid this young, so evil—time to teach her what the world’s really like!"

"..."

The glow of my phone screen cast my face ghostly pale.

My blood felt frozen in my veins, then boiled over—my fingertips shaking uncontrollably as I held the phone.

Serena Sawyer really won’t even spare Doris!

She’s just a preschooler, yet gets dragged into this filthy mess, cursed by strangers with the vilest words.

"Zoe? Zoe, are you listening?"

Jenna’s voice was sharp with emotion. "If there’s no other way, then just tear her down with you! I know what you’re scared of—Timothy could pull the plug on Auntie’s machine. But think! Auntie’s your blood, but Doris is your own daughter too!"

For a second, I felt like I was standing on a riverbank, watching my mom and Doris about to be swept away by raging water.

No matter who I tried to save, the other would be lost to the darkness, and I’d live the rest of my life in endless guilt.

"Zoe?" Jenna called me again, her tone gentler. "I know this is tough, but... you can’t wait any longer."

I took a deep breath. My throat felt packed with cotton, every word painfully hard to get out: "Jenna, I’ll make a decision soon. Thank you."

Jenna sighed, voice full of fatigue and helplessness. "What are you thanking me for? Isn’t this what I should do? The thing is, we worked all night, spent a lot buying bots—and nothing! Serena is totally crazy, looks like she was waiting for this. We suppress one comment, she pushes out ten more, all inflaming the situation!"

I hung up, and the room fell silent again, only my phone screen aglow, those vicious curses multiplying wildly like weeds.

I slumped onto the couch, staring up at the chandelier—feeling all my strength drained from my body.

Just then, my phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Timothy Xavier.

Just as well, I had something I wanted to say to him.

The moment the call connected, I didn’t wait for him to speak. A night’s worth of pent-up anger, grievances, and despair burst out of me—each word aimed at him: "Timothy, now even your daughter’s been dragged in. Is this enough for you?"

Timothy’s voice was heavy with exhaustion. "I saw. I’m trying to work something out. I’ll never let Doris be hurt!"

I gritted my teeth. "Your daughter’s being cursed by tens of thousands online, being doxxed—and you say she won’t be hurt? Timothy, I’m giving you two options. Either you clarify our marriage publicly and tell everyone Serena’s real status—or I’ll post our marriage certificate myself. Your call!"

"Zoe, don’t do anything rash."

Timothy knew what posting the certificate would mean, his voice shifting. "Just give me a few hours—I swear I’ll find a solution by tomorrow morning! If not, do as you wish. Just a few more hours, please?"

He nearly begged. "Serena was just rescued yesterday. If you really announce our marriage, she won’t be able to take it. If you’re angry, come at me—not at the innocent. Please? This online frenzy—Serena didn’t cause it, you can’t blame it all on her. That’s unfair to her."

Innocent?

I let out a laugh, tears squeezed out from my frustration.

Serena’s innocent?

When Doris and I get harassed online, she’s showered with sympathy and concern.

Timothy actually calls her innocent?

I said, "Timothy, it’s three-thirty in the morning. I’m giving you three hours. If by six-thirty you haven’t clarified Doris’s and my identity, I’ll post the marriage certificate. The clock starts now."