CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 161: YOU MIGHT AS WELL GIVE THEM YOUR BLESSING

The next two days.

Nathaniel Gallagher and Eleanor Churchill were actively preparing for the wedding.

Due to the tight schedule and their unique identities, news of their marriage was bound to explode throughout Audenburg.

Hence, it was best to keep things low-key.

...

The Gallagher Family Mansion.

Mrs. Gallagher had been so worried these past few days that she couldn’t sleep, constantly burning incense and praying, becoming more superstitious.

She was worried about her grandson’s illness and her son’s marriage.

"Nathaniel hasn’t been back for days. How is Henny’s condition?"

"Buddha, oh Buddha, I’ve waited over half a century for a grandson. Please keep my dear grandson safe and healthy."

Nathaniel Gallagher’s methods were always meticulous and ruthless, and he had profound ideas.

Because he feared the news spreading,

he kept many things a secret, even from his own mother.

To this day, Mrs. Gallagher had no idea that Henny was Nathaniel Gallagher and Eleanor Churchill’s child, nor that Henny’s leukemia was a lie.

After finishing her incense,

she inadvertently saw an embossed invitation.

On a card wrapped in red silk, her son’s and Eleanor Churchill’s names were hot-stamped side by side in the center. The wedding date was boldly printed as February 14th, Valentine’s Day, just six days away.

"Boom!" accompanied the sound.

The porcelain teacup in her hand crashed onto the carpet, spilling the tea over the expensive Persian pattern.

"When... when was this invitation sent out?"

Mrs. Dixon, seeing this, sighed and gently comforted her, "Just in the past two days."

"Madam, since... since things have come to this, why don’t you just accept it and fulfill their wishes?"

Though she very much wanted her daughter to marry into the Beckett Family and become the mistress,

alas!

Her daughter wasn’t fated for such luck.

However, it was good enough that her sister could marry into the Beckett Family.

Mrs. Gallagher gritted her teeth in anger, "You say it so lightly. That Eleanor Churchill is old, ugly, and disabled—how can she be worthy of my son?"

"If she becomes my daughter-in-law, won’t people laugh their heads off?"

"..." Mrs. Dixon pursed her lips and rolled her eyes secretly.

Back in the day.

Her sister was also a prominent figure in Audenburg, a renowned beauty, and she had achieved great things for The Gallagher Family.

Now, having lost her usefulness, Mrs. Gallagher saw her as just an old, ugly, disabled woman!

That’s why they say the rich are cold and ruthless.

Mrs. Gallagher deserved to have a troublesome son, and it would be just as well if she got angry enough to burst.

Mrs. Dixon was cursing inwardly.

The sound of a car engine came from outside the courtyard.

"Madam, it must be the young master returning."

"Is that so?" Mrs. Gallagher still fumed.

"Yes, yes, it’s the young master returning."

As soon as she said this,

Nathaniel Gallagher strode in.

Seeing her son return, Mrs. Gallagher became even more furious, "Nathaniel, get over here!"

Her powerful voice echoed down the corridor, startling Nathaniel Gallagher.

"... Mom, what’s wrong?"

Mrs. Gallagher clutched her chest, eyes wide with anger, "You tell me what’s wrong! Do you even see me as your mother anymore? You’re getting out of control?"

Nathaniel Gallagher frowned at his mother’s puffy eyes, annoyed, "What am I doing to make you angry now?"

"You still dare to ask?" Mrs. Gallagher grabbed the invitation card on the table and hurled it at him.

The hot-stamped card brushed past his cheek and landed on the floor with a soft thud. "You send out wedding invitations and only tell me afterwards? Do you even consider me your mother, or just a decoration?"

Nathaniel Gallagher bent down, picked up the invitation, and brushed off the dust. "The date was set long ago. Didn’t I mention it to you?"

Mrs. Gallagher, livid, breathed heavily, "February 14th? Did you choose this date just to spite me? That was the day you got engaged to Josephine. Have you forgotten?"

"Moreover, I do not consent to this marriage. If you think you can bring Eleanor Churchill into The Gallagher Family, think again."

Nathaniel Gallagher’s eyes darkened: "... Don’t worry, once we’re married, Eleanor won’t be living with you."

Hearing this, Mrs. Gallagher was even more infuriated. She pointed her finger at him, "What’s gotten into you? Josephine is still pregnant with your child! You’re turning around and holding a wedding with Eleanor Churchill on Valentine’s Day. What will Josephine think? How do you expect outsiders to ridicule our family?"

Nathaniel Gallagher: "My marriage is not for outsiders to question."

"And what about Henny?"

Mrs. Gallagher’s voice suddenly rose, "Aren’t you afraid this will upset him? He’s still in the hospital! Can’t you, as his father, think a bit more about him?"

Mentioning Henny.

Nathaniel Gallagher’s frown deepened, "The doctors say he’s recovering well. There’s no need for you to worry."

"Next week, I plan to send Henny to an overseas hospital for treatment."

Mrs. Gallagher: "Worry? I think Eleanor Churchill has cast a spell on you! What has she done to turn you against your own son?"

"Mom!" Nathaniel Gallagher raised his voice sharply, "Honestly, Eleanor is Henny’s biological mother. She cares for him more than anyone."

Gasp!

Mrs. Gallagher’s vision darkened, looking at her son in disbelief.

"What did you say? She’s Henny’s real mother? What kind of nonsense is that?"

"I’m not talking nonsense. At the time of the IVF, it was Eleanor’s egg that was used."

Mrs. Gallagher was stunned, feeling her scalp tingle.

Then.

She felt dizzy and collapsed onto the sofa, looking at her son as if he were a stranger.

She couldn’t imagine.

Her own son could... could do such a thing?

"Does Josephine know about this? And what about the child in Josephine’s belly? Is that your child?"

"She didn’t know before, but she knows now."

"..." Mrs. Gallagher felt a constriction in her chest, unable to process.

No wonder, after Josephine and Nathaniel Gallagher’s divorce, she didn’t even want the child, nor did she ever come to visit.

So, this was the truth...

"Then whose child is she carrying now?"

Nathaniel Gallagher: "It’s mine, Mom, don’t worry. She’s already agreed to give birth."

Mrs. Gallagher felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss, suddenly standing up from the sofa, "No, no, you must make amends with Josephine. You owe her too much, and you can marry anyone but that old woman."

Nathaniel Gallagher turned his face away, his voice cool, "The wedding arrangements are done. It can’t be changed. If you don’t want to attend, I won’t force you."

After saying this,

he turned to leave, his shoes thudding dully on the floor.

"Nathaniel, stop right there!"

Mrs. Gallagher shouted hoarsely after him, "If you dare step out of that door today, don’t ever recognize me as your mother again!"

Nathaniel Gallagher paused for half a second, ultimately not turning back, disappearing straight down the corridor.

Mrs. Gallagher stared at the empty doorway, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the sofa.

Mrs. Dixon rushed to support her, but she was pushed away: "It’s all your fault! If you’d held him back earlier, this wouldn’t have happened now..."