CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 85: A SHURA FIELD BETWEEN TWO MEN

In order to apologize to Julian Sinclair in person, I agreed with Grandpa and went to The Kendall Family residence in the evening.

After changing my shoes at the entrance, I looked up and saw Julian Sinclair sitting on the sofa in the living room.

His hand was casually resting on the sofa’s armrest, reading a magazine in a relaxed manner.

The sleeves of his dark shirt were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his sleek forearms.

As I approached him, his gaze landed lightly on me through his glasses, devoid of warmth.

His demeanor made it hard for me to believe he was the one who proactively messaged me that day, asking me to attend an event.

Julian Sinclair had no intention of speaking, so I awkwardly broke the strange atmosphere, "Where are Grandma and Grandpa?"

"In the kitchen."

Julian Sinclair was sparing with his words.

The conversation came to an awkward halt again.

He then shifted to the edge of the sofa, seemingly gesturing for me to sit down.

I sat beside him reluctantly, unconsciously twisting the strap of my bag with my fingertips, and finally spoke, "Uncle, I didn’t intentionally miss the event that day. My daughter had food poisoning at kindergarten, and I..."

He looked at me deeply and said, "This is the first time I have ever been stood up in my life."

"Uh..."

I felt my cheeks heat up, curled my fingertips, and whispered, "I know, as the investor and patron of this drama, my actions were indeed disrespectful, I..."

"Patron?" he repeated the words, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, his body shifting slightly closer to mine, his knee almost touching my leg.

I held my breath for a moment and quickly stood up.

Seeing the alertness in my eyes, Julian Sinclair said expressionlessly, "You don’t have to overthink. Generally, I have no interest in the media company under our firm. The reason I wanted to see you that day was simply because Grandma likes reading your novel and is eager to know the upcoming plot."

I nodded, half-understanding, and cautiously asked, "Then... you don’t blame me for missing the event that day, right?"

"What do you think?"

Julian Sinclair coldly said, "If apologies worked, why would we need the police?"

At this moment, Grandma’s voice called from the kitchen, telling us it was time to eat.

He stood up and casually remarked, "Once the food gets cold, it won’t taste good."

I watched his back as he walked towards the dining room, regretting my visit.

Not only did I fail to earn the patron’s forgiveness, but I now also had to endure the awkwardness during dinner.

I followed him into the dining room.

Byron Kendall seemed to be in a good mood and chuckled, "Julian, today’s dishes were all personally made by your mother."

Julian Sinclair gazed at the spread on the table somewhat dazedly, but seemingly without feeling touched or pleasantly surprised.

Diana Caldwell sighed softly and said, "I remember you liked eating these as a child. I wonder if your taste has changed now..."

"Thank you, Mom."

Julian Sinclair gave a rather reluctant thanks, and only sat down after Byron Kendall and Diana Caldwell were seated.

At the dining table, Byron Kendall mentioned the news I wrote, praising, "Nowadays, it’s rare to find young people who can truly focus. With your diligence, you’re bound to make a breakthrough sooner or later."

Talking about this, he sighed repeatedly, "It’s just a pity you married that scoundrel Timothy! Initially, everyone said you weren’t a match for him. In my view, it’s him who isn’t good enough for you!"

Diana Caldwell gently interjected, "Alright, you know elders usually advise on reconciliation, not separation! Yet here you are, doing the opposite! Zoe and Timothy are still young, it’s inevitable for them to have some friction. Don’t forget, Zoe faced tremendous pressure to marry Timothy back then! They’ve been married for several years now, surely you’re not really advising them to divorce?"

I squeezed the chopsticks so tightly that my fingertips turned white, feeling as though a cold gaze had scanned over me.

But when I lifted my head, Julian Sinclair was just quietly eating, while Byron Kendall and Diana Caldwell looked at me tenderly.

"Grandpa, Grandma, there’s no need to worry about matters concerning us younger ones."

I sought to change the subject, asking, "Grandma, how is your health now? Feeling any better?"

Diana Caldwell coughed a few times, holding her chest, and said, "Still the same."

Julian Sinclair noticed and offered, "Mom, let me help you upstairs to rest."

"Alright."

Diana Caldwell’s face was pale and sickly; as she left, she didn’t forget to tell me, "Zoe, you all continue eating. I’m going upstairs to rest for a while."

Watching their retreating figures, Grandpa’s face was filled with melancholy and sadness.

I couldn’t help but offer comfort, "Grandpa, with advanced medical technology now, Grandma will definitely be okay."

"Alas, it was discovered too late..."

Byron Kendall sighed repeatedly, "Luckily, Julian is a person who is cold on the outside but soft on the inside, willing to frequently accompany your grandma during her last days. Otherwise, this would be her lifelong regret."

While we were talking, a servant suddenly entered nervously and said, "Master, Young Master Timothy is here. And... he has brought a woman, it seems to be Serena Sawyer, and they both seem quite aggressive."

Just as she finished speaking, Timothy Xavier walked in briskly, his face livid, the hostility practically emanating from him.

Behind him followed a meticulously made-up Serena Sawyer.

Grandpa frowned and asked, "Timothy, have you lost your mind? Who allowed you to bring her here?"

Timothy Xavier ignored Grandpa, his gaze was like ice, fixating tightly on me.

I looked at him, bewildered, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

He walked over, seized my wrist with such force that it seemed like he was going to crush my bones, and asked me word by word, "What did you give Doris to eat?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly replied,"The same food as usual, is there a problem?"

Timothy Xavier’s eyes blazed with anger, and he said, "Doris ate the food you sent at noon, and she’s been having diarrhea since the afternoon, she’s still getting IVs at the hospital! What on earth did you add to it? You really can’t tolerate her?"

"I didn’t!"

I was both shocked and anxious, my voice trembling, "The food I made is very clean, and the ingredients are all fresh. How could there be a problem?"

Serena Sawyer chimed in, "Miss Ellison, why don’t you just admit it? The food has been sent for testing, you can’t deny it."

Grandpa suddenly slammed the table and pointed at Serena Sawyer, saying, "Shut up! Do you have any right to speak here?"

After speaking, he hit the floor heavily with his cane and angrily shouted, "Timothy, let go of Zoe right now. Do I still matter as an elder in your eyes? Bringing an unclear woman here and acting aggressively, are you trying to make me angry to death?"

Timothy Xavier did not release me, as if he were holding a criminal, afraid I’d escape once he let go.

Grandpa, furious, went over to try to pull him away.

But Timothy Xavier simply tugged my arm and flung me behind him, speaking in a tone of undeniable firmness, "Grandpa, Doris is my life, I cannot allow anyone to harm her. She is still suffering in the hospital, I must find out the truth."

"You scoundrel!"

Grandpa said, "Zoe is a news journalist, everything she does is righteous. How could a girl like her harm a child? I think wicked hearts are falsely accusing here!"

Serena Sawyer looked aggrieved and said softly, "Grandpa, are you talking about me? It’s the first time we’ve met, you don’t know me yet. You’ll see over time I’m not the type to stir trouble. And it’s not the first time Miss Ellison has harmed Doris; last time, she caused Doris to have an allergy..."

Before he could finish speaking, Byron Kendall grabbed a nearby tea cup and hurled it at her.

Serena Sawyer screamed in fright. Although she dodged, a lot of tea still splashed on her.

Byron Kendall said, "You get out of The Kendall Family right now!"

Serena Sawyer seemed not afraid at all, instead looked pitifully at Timothy Xavier and said, "Timothy, we should hurry and take Miss Ellison to the police station to clear things up!"

I thought it would be good to clarify things face to face at the police station. At least, I wouldn’t have to bear this false accusation.

But Grandfather’s eyes were wide with anger as he rebuked, "You brat, you called the police? Zoe is your wife! How dare you call the police!"

Timothy Xavier looked at me with eyes as cold as ice and said, "Yes, anyone who harms my daughter will end up this way. Zoe Ellison must come with me to the police station and explain everything in front of the officers!"

With that, he dragged me out, and no one could stop him.

My wrist hurt from his grip. No matter what, I couldn’t break free.

Just then, a deep, cold voice came from behind, "Stop!"

Timothy Xavier halted abruptly, looking behind in disbelief.

Julian Sinclair descended the stairs with long strides, calmly and confidently coming to stand before us.

Timothy Xavier frowned at him, speaking sharply, "Mr. Sinclair, don’t think that just because you mysteriously became an uncle in my grandfather’s house, you can meddle in my affairs! This is a family matter, and it’s none of your business."

His words were harsh, and Byron Kendall feared Julian Sinclair would get angry, so he kept scolding Timothy Xavier, telling him to shut up.

But Julian Sinclair didn’t seem furious. He spoke calmly, "President Xavier, your wife wouldn’t harm your daughter. Because a week ago, she came to me for help."

I was startled and looked up at Julian Sinclair.

Could it be that he was going to tell Timothy Xavier about that matter?

Seeing my reaction, Timothy Xavier questioned, "Julian Sinclair, explain yourself!"

A slight curve appeared on Julian Sinclair’s lips as he spoke, word by word, "Your wife asked me to help investigate Doris’s identity. She is certain Doris is her daughter. That’s why she wanted me to assist her in conducting a paternity test. If she’s so sure that Doris is her biological daughter, how could she harm her own child?"

With each word he spoke, Timothy Xavier’s face seemed to crack open with disbelief.

By the time Julian Sinclair finished speaking, Timothy Xavier was already in shock, and the hand holding me grew weaker.

I quickly pulled my hand away.

Timothy Xavier didn’t question me anymore, but Julian Sinclair didn’t seem ready to let him go.

"President Xavier, since we’re already discussing this, why don’t you give us an answer? Is Doris indeed your wife’s biological daughter?"

Julian Sinclair looked at him with a half-smile and said, "Your wife seems quite afraid of you and never dared to ask you directly. So, let me ask on her behalf, do you perhaps have a secret that you can’t speak of?"

Byron Kendall, bewildered, asked, "What do you mean? Timothy Xavier, explain to me why Doris could be Zoe’s biological daughter? Wasn’t that child... wasn’t the child already lost back then?"

I quietly watched Timothy Xavier’s face turn to stone.

Honestly, I was quite grateful to Julian Sinclair.

I had been secretly investigating all along, fearing Timothy Xavier would find out and keep Doris from me forever.

But now that Julian Sinclair had spoken it out loud, I oddly felt a release of burden.

Under everybody’s gaze, Timothy Xavier’s face alternated between pale and flushed.

His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. He swallowed hard several times before saying hoarsely, "Julian Sinclair, this is a matter between her and me, and none of your business! I don’t have to tell you anything!"

I said, "Fine, since it’s between you and me, I have the right to know the truth. Timothy Xavier, tell me honestly, is Doris the ’lost’ child we had back then?"

Timothy Xavier was silent for a long time before coldly saying two words, "She’s not."

But unfortunately, those two words lacked any real conviction.

Grandfather pointed his cane at Serena Sawyer, who looked panicked, and said, "You speak! You’ve raised Doris all these years, you would know best if she is indeed your child!"

At that moment, two police officers suddenly walked in, scanning the living room and finally resting their gaze on me: "Which of you is Miss Zoe Ellison? There has been a report alleging your intentional harm to a child. Please come with us to the station to cooperate with the investigation."

A chill ran through me, and Timothy Xavier furrowed his brow, turning to look at Serena Sawyer.

Serena Sawyer immediately spoke pitifully, "Timothy, I... I was really worried about Doris and was afraid Miss Ellison might flee to evade punishment, so I called the police again..."

Byron Kendall hurriedly stepped forward to the police: "Officers, this is a misunderstanding. We’re dropping the charges; everything’s fine now."

But Serena Sawyer said, "Grandfather, right now, I am Doris’s guardian. I have to ensure my daughter’s safety. It’s better for Miss Ellison to go to the police station and explain clearly; I can’t withdraw the charges."

Timothy Xavier’s expression darkened, but he said nothing to stop them. He let the police take me away.

My eyes swept over his cold profile, finally understanding why things had come to where they were between us.

...

The light in the detention room was harsh and glaring. I sat on a cold chair, listening to the police officer’s questions from across the table.

"Ms. Ellison, according to the lab results, the food you sent contained toxic levels of substances that can cause liver and kidney damage. It’s best you honestly explain why you did this."

"I didn’t do it."

After thinking it through, I was very calm, "Those ingredients were fresh; I bought them at the market that very day. How could they be poisonous? Moreover, the food didn’t pass through only my hands. After I delivered it to The Xavier Manor at noon, could it be that it wasn’t touched by anyone else? Isn’t it too hasty to accuse me of poisoning Doris?"

The officer’s tone turned serious, "Miss Sawyer claims there’s an emotional tangle between you, Mr. Xavier, and her, leading you to harbor a grudge against the child. Only you had the motive to commit this act. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"She’s lying! You can investigate who is Timothy Xavier’s wife and who the third wheel in our marriage is!"

I tried my best to stay composed, but tears still flowed uncontrollably, "Doris is my biological daughter! Timothy Xavier took her away from me and gave her to Serena Sawyer! He deceived everyone! You can do a paternity test!"

The officers seemed shocked by my answer and looked at me with a complex expression: "Ms. Ellison, you seem emotionally unstable right now, perhaps you should calm down first."

The heavy iron door clanged shut, and they led me into a dark, damp little room.

The damp moldy smell filled my nose, much like my four-year marriage with Timothy Xavier.

The cold of the night seeped into my body, as I wrapped my arms tightly around my knees, squatting hopelessly in the corner of the wall.

Serena Sawyer is trying every means possible, racking her brains to destroy me.

Even at the cost of using Doris’s life.

But my daughter, who just suffered from food poisoning, is now being used by Serena Sawyer as a pawn against her own mother.

Just thinking that she might still be uncomfortable in the hospital or even be fed vicious ideas by that woman made my heart feel like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.

I must regain custody of Doris!

If she stays with Timothy Xavier and Serena Sawyer any longer, who knows how many schemes await her?

After some time, footsteps came from outside.

The iron door was opened, and the police officer spoke respectfully: "Mr. Sinclair, she’s in here."

I looked incredulously at the doorway.

Julian Sinclair was clad in a black coat, standing tall in the doorway of the room where I was detained, accompanied by a police officer.

His eyes swept over my curled-up form in the corner, and his eyebrows knitted slightly.