CHAPTER 126: CHAPTER 126: DON’T THREATEN ME

The phone screen glowed persistently in the dim bedroom, its eerie white light reflecting on Jean Ellison’s pale, vacant face.

On the phone was an unsigned message.

She knew who it was from, even if the number was unfamiliar. From the tone alone, it could only be Leah Sutton.

"How did it go, did he agree?"

Jean stared at the line of text, her fingertips icy.

She could almost picture Leah on the other side of the screen, with that determined and icily impatient expression on her exquisite face.

She took a deep breath, but her chest felt blocked and uneasy, her fingers stiff as she typed a reply.

"He didn’t agree, he’s firm, the idea of using in vitro isn’t feasible."

The notification confirming the message was sent barely disappeared when the phone vibrated violently, buzzing as Leah’s call flashed on the screen.

Jean stared at the name, as if confronting a venomous snake ready to strike.

Clenching her teeth, she finally slid to answer, placing the phone to her ear in silence.

Leah’s voice came through immediately, stripped of the usual facade of warmth, leaving only cold questioning and aggressive threats.

"Didn’t agree? Jean, are you joking with me, or do you think I’m easy to fool?"

Leah couldn’t understand why Justin Holden wouldn’t agree. It’s just in vitro, it wouldn’t require anything from him. What could be wrong with gaining a child for nothing?

At least for now, Justin still believed Jesse wasn’t his daughter. In his mind, he had no children.

Jean had proposed in vitro, he ought to have agreed without hesitation.

The Holden family was pressuring him to continue the family line so urgently, yet he had been avoiding this issue, having not gone home for so long.

Everything about Justin Holden was told to Leah by Zoe Holden.

The information was reliable.

Jean gripped the phone tightly, her voice dry and hoarse.

"I’m not trying to fool you, his stance was very clear, there’s no room for negotiation."

"No room?" Leah sneered sharply, her tone cutting, "Then find a way to make room, Jean, I warn you, don’t play tricks on me. My patience is wearing thin."

Her voice lowered, but it sounded even more dangerous: "Have you forgotten, I still hold your biggest secret in my hand? That paternity test report, I’ve kept it well preserved. If I place it in front of Justin Holden, what do you think will happen?"

Jean’s heart sank abruptly, her breathing turned rapid.

It was as if Leah could see her current panic; her tone grew more triumphant and cruel.

"You know Justin’s temperament better than I do."

"What does he hate the most? He hates deceit the most, being manipulated above all else. You’ve hidden such a major thing from him, spun such an enormous lie — tell me, if he finds out, what would he do?"

Leah didn’t need Jean to answer, she continued speaking to herself, each word like an ice spike, piercing Jean’s heart.

"With his abilities and methods, he will unhesitatingly use legal means to reclaim custody of his daughter."

"He is the biological father of the child, has the best legal team, and an immense wealth. What do you have? What can you use to fight him? At that point, you may never see Jesse again in your life."

"Enough!" Jean abruptly cut her off, her voice quivering with anger and fear, "Leah! Don’t go too far! What else can you do besides threatening me?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by Leah’s even colder voice.

"Threats? I’m merely stating facts, Jean, recognize your position. If you want to keep your daughter, you need to do as I ask."

Jean trembled with rage, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms.

She suddenly sat up from the bed, growling into the phone, "Leah, you listen to me carefully, don’t treat everyone as your pawns. Sure, you can take that report to Justin Holden and expose me."

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

"But have you considered, what will you gain from doing that? Destroying me and Jesse, what benefit does that bring you? Will it make you succeed in marrying Justin Holden?"

She sneered, her tone turning sharp and clear.

"Don’t forget why the Holden family tolerated and even pushed for you and Justin Holden. Do they truly like you that much? No, it’s because they value your family background, think you’re suitable as their daughter-in-law, and most importantly, want Justin to marry and continue their family line."

"But if," Jean enunciated deliberately, slowing her speech so each word carried force, "if the Holden family knew about Jesse’s existence, knew they already had a legitimate granddaughter, do you think the family elders would still insist on Justin Holden getting married, having another child to inherit the family business?"

She paused, giving Leah time to ponder before continuing, a hint of mockery in her voice.

"By then, with a granddaughter readily at hand, whether Justin marries, when he marries, or whom he marries, might not be something the family elders could forcefully influence anymore. Someone like him, who despises being manipulated — do you really think you have much chance?"

The line fell into silent desolation; only Leah’s slightly labored breathing could be heard.

Jean knew her words hit the mark. She pressed her advantage, her voice softening but carrying an undeniable weight.

"It’s best for us to have a cooperative relationship, rather than your unilateral threats and control. Cornering me benefits you nothing. I hope you understand this."

A long silence followed.

For a long while, Jean Ellison thought the person on the other end had already hung up.

Finally, Leah Sutton’s voice came through again, still cold, but the aggressive force from before had noticeably weakened, now carrying a hint of consideration and apprehension.

"Jean, you had better understand what you are saying."

"I certainly understand." Jean did not back down.

"...Alright." Leah’s voice was emotionless, "Cooperation? Fine, but I need to see your sincerity, not just empty words. The path of using the test tube is currently blocked, so think of another way. All I want is a result."

"I will think of something," Jean said in a deep voice, "but remember your promise, too. If Jesse’s identity is leaked from your side, I guarantee that you will never get what you want."

After speaking, she hung up the phone without waiting for Leah to respond.

The phone slipped from her sweaty hand and fell onto the bed.

Jean collapsed backward as if drained of strength, panting heavily, her chest heaving violently.

The room was very quiet, only the sound of her rapid breathing.

Just then, the door to the master bedroom was gently pushed open a crack.

A small head peeked in, eyes hesitantly looking inside.

Jesse, holding her favorite bunny doll, stood at the door in her little pajamas, barefoot, and called out uneasily, "Mom?"

Jean sprang upright from the bed as if jolted by electricity, blood rushing to her head then quickly draining away, leaving her face full of alarm and paleness.

How much of the conversation between her and Leah had Jesse overheard?

She almost dashed to the door, pulling her daughter into her arms, holding her tightly, her voice trembling due to extreme nervousness.

"Jesse, when did you wake up? How long have you been standing here?"

She anxiously examined her daughter’s expression, trying to find any sign of abnormality on that innocent little face.

Jesse, startled by her mom’s overreaction, shrank back, clutching the bunny’s ears tightly, and spoke in a small voice.

"I was thirsty and wanted to ask for some water. I heard you talking, you seemed upset..."

She raised her little face, her big eyes filled with confusion and a hint of fear, and asked hesitantly, "Mom, why are you upset? Did I do something wrong to make you mad?"

Looking at her daughter’s pure and innocent eyes and hearing her tender and self-blaming questions, Jean felt a sharp pang of guilt.

She pulled her daughter closer, nestling her face into the child’s soft, milk-scented neck, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

"No, no," she mumbled, her voice thick with nasal sound and sobs, "Jesse did nothing wrong, Jesse is the best child, mom’s precious."

She lifted her head, looking at her daughter’s innocent face through blurred eyes, her fingers trembling as they stroked her cheek.

"It’s mom who did something wrong, it’s mom’s fault, it’s been wrong from the start..."

She should never have fallen in love with Justin Holden, nor should she have tried to get Jesse back immediately after getting out of prison. If she hadn’t sought out a lawyer, how could she have encountered Justin Holden again, and how would she now be living with him?

If these things hadn’t happened, Jesse’s background wouldn’t have been known to Leah.

Jesse slowly closed her eyes in her mother’s arms, her breathing becoming even and long, eventually falling soundly asleep.

Jean carefully laid her back in her little bed, tucking her in.

Under the dim night light, Jesse’s sleeping face was serene and beautiful, her long eyelashes like two small fans casting gentle shadows on her eyelids.

Her rosy little mouth was slightly open, sometimes unconsciously smacking softly, releasing a very light murmur: "Mommy..."

That soft, tender voice lightly brushed across Jean’s heart like a feather, yet it brought an overwhelming sorrow.

Jean sat on the carpet by the bed, arms wrapped around her knees, quietly watching her daughter’s defenseless sleeping face.

A child’s world is so simple and pure, while she, as a mother, is already deeply entrenched in the mire, covered in filth.

Looking at Jesse’s angelic face, Jean only felt her eyes heat up, her throat seemed to be blocked by something, painfully so.

She suddenly realized how cruel she had been.

Just to keep a secret, for that bit of pitiful pride and unspeakable fear, she had deprived her child of the father’s love she deserved.

She forced Jesse, from a young age, to watch enviously as other kids had a dad to love and to be with, while she herself could only speak ambiguously or even lie.

She was not a competent mother.

Jesse not having a dad was never the child’s fault; it was entirely her doing.

She reached out, her fingertips gently brushing through her daughter’s soft hair, the movement full of tenderness, her eyes unbearably heavy.

Tears finally fell silently.

She didn’t know if, when Jesse grew older and became sensible, she would ask about her dad.

She also didn’t know if, one day, Jesse learned the whole truth, knowing it was her, this selfish mother, who hid everything and deprived her of the time with her biological father...

Would Jesse blame her, would she hate her?