CHAPTER 131: CHAPTER 131: TWO TIGRESSES CANNOT SHARE A MOUNTAIN

After finishing speaking.

Eleanor Churchill pointed at Josephine Thompson’s nose, her heart cutting like a knife.

"In your heart, she’s always the child’s mother, isn’t she?"

"You think I’m unworthy of being the child’s mother, that I’m not good at educating the child, right?"

Nathaniel Gallagher felt a sharp pain in his chest, and could only comfort her softly, "Eleanor, don’t overthink."

"You are always the child’s biological mother, that’s an unchangeable fact. It’s just that the child is ill now, and after all, he’s been living with Josephine for three years."

"Come on, let me take you out first, try to calm down."

Eleanor fiercely broke free from his hand, tears instantly falling, "Don’t touch me."

"If there’s anything to say, let’s clarify it together in front of Miss Thompson today."

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher’s brow furrowed even more as he glanced at both of them, torn between them.

Eleanor looked at Josephine Thompson, her gaze icy, her tone cold, "Miss Thompson, I really appreciate your effort in taking care of Henny and Nathaniel before."

"But that was in the past. Now, Henny is my son, Nathaniel is my man."

"With such a high education and such a good background, you must understand decorum and shame, right? Is it not extremely low of you to entangle yourself with another’s man and child?"

Josephine Thompson, holding Henry Gallagher, was equally icy.

Enduring the intense pain in her throat, she replied coldly, "It’s you and Nathaniel who are low, the two of you colluding in marriage deception. And now you call others low? What a joke."

"Marriage deception?"

Eleanor, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, raised her voice, "Josephine Thompson, it is you who took my place. You’ve occupied the nest for four years, now the rightful owner is back, shouldn’t you hurry up and leave the Gallagher family?"

She let out a cold chuckle, her gaze sweeping over Henry Gallagher nestled in Josephine Thompson’s arms, her tone laced with poison: "Do you think holding the child can change anything? This child’s blood flows from the Gallagher family, has nothing to do with you! What does ten months of pregnancy matter? You were just a tool to complete my task!"

Josephine Thompson felt a dull ache in her heart, "Eleanor, please get it clear. Legally, I am his biological mother."

"Even if you marry Nathaniel Gallagher, you’re just the stepmother. What right do you have to flaunt in front of me? Even if I fight for custody, I might not lose."

"If you treat my child poorly, I can likewise sue you for child abuse."

She had initially decided to completely give up custody of the child.

But she simply couldn’t stand Eleanor’s disgusting hypocrisy, acting as though she hasn’t already benefitted greatly, yet still turning the tables.

Striking Eleanor’s sensitive nerves, she became even more enraged, "So, you’re thinking of fighting us for the child?"

Josephine Thompson looked at her coldly, "Whether I fight or not is none of your business."

"Even if there’s a fight, it’s between Nathaniel and me, not you."

Indeed.

Legally speaking, Josephine Thompson is Henry Gallagher’s biological mother.

Even if both parties fight for custody, Eleanor has no right to be involved.

Eleanor took a deep breath, her gaze hurt and shattered as she looked at Nathaniel Gallagher, "Nathaniel, tell me, who’s really the child’s mother?"

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher’s head buzzed, his heart filled with a mix of emotions.

He was beginning to regret his decision then.

He couldn’t even relate to his past self from four years ago, how could he...make such an incredible decision?

He should have seriously had a child with Josephine Thompson. Instead, he deceived her into bearing his and Eleanor’s child.

"Stop arguing, you are both Henny’s moms. You..."

He wanted to say, letting them coexist peacefully, loving the child, hoping all three could live together.

But he knew.

One mountain cannot hold two tigresses.

Eleanor is outwardly strong yet inwardly gentle, fiery and assertive, but can be softened.

Whereas Josephine Thompson is outwardly gentle yet inwardly strong, stubborn and obstinate, very stubborn.

He could not persuade either of them.

Henry Gallagher was frightened by their arguments, crying, his little hands gripping Josephine Thompson’s neck tightly: "Mommy, stop arguing... I’m scared..."

Josephine Thompson lowered her gaze, gently patting his back, "Don’t be afraid, mommy’s here."

This scene fell into Eleanor’s eyes, stabbing at her heart.

She abruptly grabbed Nathaniel Gallagher’s arm, her nails almost embedded in his skin: "Nathaniel! Look! She definitely wants to snatch the child away!"

"Bring the child to me; I won’t let anyone covet my child."

Nathaniel Gallagher felt his temples throbbing one after another at the tense atmosphere unfolding before him.

He attempted to push Eleanor’s wheelchair backward: "Eleanor, let’s go outside first, we’ll talk later."

"I’ll leave, but I must take the child with me."

Nathaniel Gallagher: "I told you, the child is sick now..."

Eleanor: "I’m the child’s mother, it’s only natural that I take care of him when he’s sick."

The two were arguing.

Mrs. Gallagher approached with Mrs. Dixon and two or three servants.

"What’s going on here?"

Nathaniel Gallagher’s head hurt even more, "Mom, why are you here too?"

Mrs. Gallagher walked into the ward with a stern face, and upon seeing Eleanor, her face turned even colder.

"I’m here to see Josephine, to see my former daughter-in-law."

She deliberately emphasized ’daughter-in-law’ and didn’t even glance at Eleanor.

"Josephine, honey, I heard yesterday that you were injured and hospitalized. I specifically came to see you today."

She continued.

Mrs. Gallagher turned around and took the insulated box from the servant, "I specially had someone make top-grade blood bird’s nest for you to nourish your body."

"..." Josephine Thompson frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Ever since she married into the Gallagher family,

Her mother-in-law has always been lukewarm to her, later even targeting her in every way, a downright ancient wicked mother-in-law.

Now...

After she divorced Nathaniel Gallagher, Mrs. Gallagher became so cordial.

In the time it takes to speak,

Mrs. Gallagher had already personally taken a bowl, scooping a portion of bird’s nest for her, "Josephine, try it quickly."

"Henny, come to grandma, let mommy eat something."

Henry Gallagher clung to Josephine Thompson, whimpering, "No... I want mommy to hold me."

Seeing this, Mrs. Gallagher felt even worse and turned to scold her son, "Look at this, can’t you see how pathetic the child is without his mother?"

"I really don’t know if you were kicked by a donkey or hit your head on a door? Everything was fine, and you decide to learn from others and get a divorce, losing such a good wife."

Nathaniel Gallagher was distraught, "...Mom, don’t make things worse, just go back."

"Making things worse?" Mrs. Gallagher placed the bird’s nest bowl on the bedside table, her voice suddenly rising, "If I didn’t come to see her, my daughter-in-law would probably be bullied to death by you all!"

She turned her gaze to Eleanor, her disdain evident, "And you, living in good times yet insisting on meddling in others’ families. Do you really think the Gallagher family is so easy to enter?"

"Why don’t you take a good look at yourself? Do you deserve my son?"

"I’m warning you, the Gallagher family’s doors aren’t easily opened. As long as I’m alive, don’t even think about entering. I only acknowledge one daughter-in-law, and that’s Josephine."

Previously, there was no comparison.

She often criticized Josephine Thompson.

Now with a direct comparison,

Her favorability for Josephine Thompson soared from thirty to a hundred.

Eleanor, humiliated, her face turning pale, clutched the wheelchair handles, trembling, "...Auntie, how can you say this? Nathaniel and I truly love each other, if it weren’t for back then..."

Mrs. Gallagher interrupted her, "Back then? I don’t want to bother with those past events!"

"Now, time has passed, who cares about what happened years ago? Even if you made contributions to the Gallagher family back then, we never treated you badly."

"Why can’t you be content? Do you actually dream of marrying my son? You’re simply delusional, like a toad lusting after swan meat."

"Let me tell you, Josephine is the daughter-in-law I recognize, Henny is her child, this is unequivocally true, blood is thicker than water. If you dare mess with Josephine and the child, don’t blame me for being rude!"

These words hit Eleanor like harsh slaps, making her insignificance painfully clear.

Already insecure, her heart was completely defenseless, feeling utterly humiliated.

Nathaniel Gallagher, hearing this, angrily interrupted, "Mom, stop saying that, I won’t allow you to treat Eleanor this way."

"I truly love Eleanor; in this lifetime I can’t possibly marry another woman besides her."

Mrs. Gallagher was furious, but with her leg fracture just healing, she couldn’t jump up, "Crazy, crazy, you’re absolutely out of your mind!"

"You have such a pretty, noble, and young wife, yet you insist on choosing a toad?"

Nathaniel Gallagher was irate, "Hold your tongue, I won’t let you insult Eleanor. If you can’t accept her, just consider me as not your son."

After finishing,

He walked over to Eleanor, gently holding her icy cold hand, and said with deep affection and guilt, "I owed her back then, now I must take responsibility."

"I’ve said it, I’d rather betray the world than betray you. I, Nathaniel Gallagher, follow through on what I say."

Eleanor was in tears, yet her heart ached immensely.

She knew very well.

His love for her had changed; now the deep sentiment was only sustained by past affection.

But even so.

She is still content, still feels it was all worthwhile.

Mrs. Gallagher heard this, nearly choked, her trembling finger pointing, "Responsible? Aren’t you supposed to be responsible to Josephine and Henny too?"

She turned to Josephine Thompson, her voice softening, "Josephine, tell me, hasn’t Nathaniel lost his mind?"

Josephine Thompson, holding Henry Gallagher, silently watched the ensuing conflict and chaos.

Turns out...

His affection can be so sincere and passionate.

Yet for her, it was only physical indulgence and greed.

These four years of marriage truly were one big satire and joke.

"...All of you get out, I don’t want to see any of you."

Mrs. Gallagher was taken aback, "Josephine, why are you being so ungrateful? I came to help you."

"All of you get out, get out—" Josephine Thompson suddenly lost control, grabbing the bird’s nest porridge from the table and hurling it towards the three of them.

"Get out—"