Chapter 166 Pregnant Out of Wedlock
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“If I can’t be the one to call the shots here, let’s consult Uncle Philip,” Calista suggested, her eyes
flashing with intensity.
She looked over at Philip, who was plucking grass, clearly trying to downplay his involvement.
“Let’s find out if he’s okay with laying his dad to rest in a place as ominous as this.”
Philip couldn’t keep up the pretense any longer.
“Calista, perhaps we should heed your aunt’s advice. We found this location quite favorable…”
Gloria chose not to pursue the matter any further. The current circumstances were in her favor.
She knelt beside Calista, prepared to provide comfort.
Suddenly, Gloria heard Calista whisper, “Grandfather, we should leave you here for a few more
days. I’ll arrange for a more suitable resting place for you.”
Gloria widened her eyes in disbelief.
“Wait, didn’t you say Philip was calling the shots here? He told you to follow my lead, and we’re
not budging on moving the grave.”
Calista stood up and declared, “I said we’d consult his opinion, but I didn’t promise to obey him. If
his decision matches mine, I’ll go along with it. If not, I’ll stick with what I think is the right
choice.”
Gloria was infuriated, her anger clouding her judgment. She raised her hand to slap Calista’s face.
“Who do you think you are? What’s the big deal about where your grandfather gets buried? How
dare you go against your elders? Today, I will do what your unwed, pregnant mother should have
done long ago and teach you some manners, you brat!” Gloria exclaimed.
She was standing beside Calista, and the events unfolded rapidly.
Just as Gloria’s hand was about to strike, inches from Calista’s face, a man’s hand swiftly gripped
Gloria’s wrist, preventing the slap from landing.
The excruciating pain shot through Gloria’s wrist, causing her expression to twist in agony.
Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she managed to stammer, “Let go …”
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Lucian stared at Gloria with an icy gaze, his expression shrouded in darkness.
“If you no longer fancy having that hand,” he said coldly, “I’ll make sure it becomes useless for you.
Gloria was in agonizing pain and felt like she might collapse. But with Lucian’s tight grip on her hand, she could only maintain a half–crouched, half–standing stance.
“Spare me! I won’t do it again,” Gloria whimpered.
She had mistaken Calista for Nicholas and acted impulsively earlier. Philip tossed aside the grass he had been holding and hurried over with a concerned expression.
“Lucian, let’s talk properly. Gloria’s a bit rough around the edges and doesn’t always think things through,” Philip said while supporting Gloria. He knew better than to lay a hand on Lucian.
With a rough gesture, Lucian flung Gloria aside, sending her tumbling to the ground.
Despite Philip’s attempts to support her, she fell heavily. Her hand grazed the rough, unforgiving concrete, resulting in torn and bleeding skin.
Suddenly, Gloria scrambled to her feet and charged toward Calista while screaming like a shrew,‘ Do you believe you’re Zachary’s legitimate child? Let me clarify things for you. You’re a child born out of wedlock. Your mother vanished for a year and returned pregnant, never revealing who the father was. Your grandfather nearly had a fit over it. Ultimately, she turned to your father as the savior of the situation. If he hadn’t been cool with it, who knows how many times you’d have been
through the wringer by now …”
Philip desperately pulled Gloria back. He had solemnly promised his father to safeguard this
secret forever, even if Zachary and his sister were to divorce.
Letting Calista discover the news was out of the question.
Philip retorted, “You were counting on Calista to help with Nicholas’s job, right?”
Given how things had turned out, there was no chance Calista would be willing to help!
“”
“Help? Do you believe your niece is the kind who’s always keen to step up and assist? She turned
down anyone who asked for help in the past few days. If I had known she’d behave this way, I
would’ve suggested to Nicholas that he take a firmer approach from the very start, even if it
meant resorting to some drastic measures,” Gloria exclaimed.
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Calista was shocked by this unexpected news. It took her a moment to fully comprehend the main
point in Gloria’s statements.
“What do you mean?”
She wasn’t Zachary’s biological child? That couldn’t be! When Calista’s mother was alive, Zachary
had showered her with a father’s love that made other daughters green with envy.
Later, when Zachary’s treatment had soured, Calista attributed it to his remarriage, never
entertaining the notion that she might not be his biological child.
“If you don’t believe me, just ask any of our neighbors back then. Your dad pursued your mom
relentlessly for nearly half a year, and she wasn’t having any of it. She became disheartened when
she got pregnant and dumped by her guy. Yet, she quickly accepted your dad’s marriage proposal,
“Gloria continued.
Calista was clueless about any of this. So, did Zachary treat her poorly because he found out she
wasn’t his biological child? She couldn’t believe her mom would enga in such an unethical act.
Besides Philip and Gloria, Paul was the only person who had met her mother. So, Calista turned to
Paul for confirmation. She yearned for someone to dispel the unsettling news.
Paul had been a silent observer throughout the ordeal. He looked into her eyes and assured her,
Calista, your mum isn’t that kind of person. You’re her daughter, and you should trust her. Don’t
let anyone shake your faith so easily.”
Calista nodded gratefully and replied, “Yeah, thanks.”
With Paul’s support, Calista’s emotional state visibly improved. However, she felt an urgency to
confront Zachary and uncover the truth.
Lucian’s intense, brooding gaze remained locked on the duo, seemingly indifferent to their
surroundings. He pursed his lips and loosened his tightened grip on Calista’s waist to avoid
causing her any discomfort.
However, his expression continued to darken, foreshadowing an approaching storm.
”
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