CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: SOPHIE CALLS IVY SUMMERS MOMMY, THE WHOLE FAMILY IS SHOCKED

Ella is in the garden, where Damien has arranged for two servants to look after her. Ivy takes advantage of the servants standing far away and immediately comes to Ella’s side.

Ivy stands with her hands on her hips, looks down at the little one in front of her, and lowers her voice to roar, "Sophie Summers! You better explain to me what exactly is going on, how you came to Aethelgard, and where are your two brothers? Where did those two boys run off to? What did your mom tell you, yet you dared to come to Aethelgard, truly thinking your mom’s heart is strong enough to scare her to death, aren’t you?"

Ivy is practically about to faint from anger.

The three of them said last night that they would obediently stay in Yrador.

And the result? What was the result?

The result is that they followed close behind to Aethelgard.

The key point is they were even brought home by Damien.

The Lancaster Family initially was probing whether she had kids, and she was bravely insisting that she didn’t.

And the fact is that the real deal is right under their noses.

This is even more thrilling for Ivy than watching a horror movie.

Ivy knows how united the three of them are; it’s impossible that Sophie came to Aethelgard alone.

The other two must have come as well; it’s just that Sophie is the unlucky one who got caught by Damien.

Ella raises her little chubby hands, asking Ivy for a hug.

Ivy glares, "Sophie Summers, you made a mistake and still want me to hug you? Go away."

Ivy turns around, not wanting to pay her any attention.

Ella holds up her hands, runs half a circle to stand in front of Ivy, "Mommy, please don’t be angry. Ella knows she was wrong."

Ivy won’t be fooled again.

"Sophie Summers, I don’t want to believe you anymore. Weren’t you perfectly fine in Damien’s arms just now? Let Damien hug you instead."

"Nooo, nooo, if Mommy hugs Ella, Mommy won’t be angry anymore."

When Ivy is angry, Ella always has a surefire technique—asking for a hug.

Even though she made a mistake, she still wants Ivy to hug her.

But Ivy doesn’t want to fall for it this time.

Ella persistently holds up her little chubby hands, her little head shaking, making cute expressions to cheer Ivy up.

Ella’s hairstyle, who knows who did it for her, is tied low on both sides with rubber bands into two little lanterns, which move back and forth with her head, making her chubby little face look even cuter.

Ivy glances at her, stiffening her expression, refusing to be defeated by this little one.

"First tell Mommy, how did you come to Aethelgard?"

"We contacted the weird uncle, and he sent a private plane to bring us here."

That guy again.

He really seems to grant all three of them whatever they ask.

"Don’t keep calling him a weird uncle; he has a name. Mommy asks you again, where are your brothers?"

Ella shakes her head, "I don’t know. After bad daddy brought me here, I don’t know where my brothers went."

"Do your godmother know you left?"

Ella shakes her head and then nods.

Ivy strongly suspects they ran off secretly again, "Does she know or not?"

"I think she knows now; we left her a note and sneaked out. Godmother will see the note."

Ivy pats her forehead, really not knowing what to say.

If Ella’s mom didn’t see the note, she would probably be scared out of her wits.

"Mommy, I’ve answered everything. Can Mommy hug Ella now?"

Ivy is worried.

She’s not worried about the other two little ones, because according to their brains, they wouldn’t let themselves suffer and wouldn’t get lost; they’ll probably come looking soon.

Ivy is thinking about how to take Ella away.

Using the same method?

Let Ella’s mom come over and pretend to be Ella’s mother.

But Ella’s mom is still in Yrador, and she has work to do there; coming over isn’t easy at all.

Ivy’s head hurts.

Seeing the little one with her arms raised, asking for a hug.

Ivy ultimately feels a bit unwilling to refuse; just as she’s about to reach out to hug Ella, she catches a glimpse of a tall and straight figure approaching.

Ivy immediately pulls Ella’s hand, gently saying, "Ella, thank you for speaking up for Auntie just now."

Upon hearing this, Ella’s little head clicks into action, waves her little hand, "Auntie doesn’t need to thank me. My mommy taught me not to lie. I was just speaking the truth for Auntie."

Damien walks over and hears their conversation, not suspecting anything.

"Uncle." Seeing Damien, Ella turns her head and calls him once.

"Mm." Damien nods, his tense expression softens a bit, and he asks, "Aren’t you worried that you can’t contact your mom?"

"My mommy is very busy; not being able to contact her is normal."

"You’re not afraid of staying here with me, afraid that I might be a bad guy, afraid that I might take you away?"

"Uncle, are you a bad guy?" Ella asks in return.

Damien doesn’t answer, his long eyebrow arching a bit.

Ella continues, "Even if you’re a bad guy, the airport has surveillance. If you take me away, and I disappear, the police uncle will find me back."

Damien chuckles.

Such a smart little one.

"I’m still trying to contact your mommy; once I do, I’ll send you back."

Ella obediently nods, "Okay."

Ivy feels somewhat defeated, unsure of how to take Ella away.

Back in the Lancaster Family’s living room.

Rachel turns around and sees the three of them coming back from outside. She extremely dislikes seeing the three together.

They look just like a small family.

Ella sits quietly on the sofa, not making any noise, behaving very well, looking extremely cute.

Rachel, however, feels disgusted, turning her gaze to the freshly boiled kettle meant for making tea.

Then she looks at Ella sitting beside it.

A trace of viciousness flashes in Rachel’s eyes, her mouth curving into a sinister smile.

Little brat, dare to help Ivy harm me.

Then let her suffer a bit.

Rachel deliberately moves the kettle closer to Ella.

The old butler comes over to tell Ivy to meet the old master, and Damien is about to go upstairs.

Rachel’s eyes gleam with malicious intent.

Her opportunity has arrived.

Rachel stands up, pretends to take something, and fiercely bumps the kettle with her elbow.

The kettle, filled with hot water, spills directly toward Ella’s leg.

It’s summer, with thin clothing, if hot water were to splash on her, she’d definitely lose skin.

Ivy is about to go upstairs when she notices Rachel’s movements, unsure of what she’s doing, she slows her pace, until she sees her bump the kettle.

Ivy’s pupils constrict.

"Ella! Get out of the way!"

Ivy yells and rushes over without hesitation to shield Ella with her hand.

The boiling hot water splashes directly on Ivy’s hand, instantly emitting a puff of steam, and Ivy feels a burning sting spreading across the back of her hand.

Ella sees this scene and shouts loudly—

"Mommy!"