Chapter 3

3

Harrison stepped in front of me and pushed her away. “Luna has been with me all day. How could she poison your mother?”

Madison wouldn't listen.

“Dad! Look at her eyes! She’s evil! I know she did something to Mom!”

I acted innocent, hiding in Harrison’s arms.

“Harrison, why does she hate me so much? I would never do such a thing.”

The doctor finished his examination. His face was grim. “This poison is extremely corrosive. If Luna had touched it, she would be covered in burns too.”

I pretended to be brave. “Harrison, I’m willing to let you search my room to prove my innocence.”

“But for fairness, shouldn't we check the mansion too? Maybe someone is trying to frame me to ruin our relationship?”

Harrison thought for a moment and agreed.

Very soon, the servants found a bottle of the same poison in Eleanor’s bedroom.

The evidence was undeniable.

“This was found in your safe, Eleanor. What do you have to say for yourself?” Harrison growled.

Eleanor’s face was distorted. She glared at me, trying to explain, but the pain kept her from speaking clearly.

Just then, a maid in the crowd started shaking uncontrollably.

Harrison noticed her. He had her dragged out. Under pressure, she finally confessed.

“Mistress... she wanted to use that poison on Luna. But somehow, she ended up poisoning herself by mistake.”

Harrison was furious. He wanted to kick Eleanor out of the house immediately.

Madison broke down. She grabbed Harrison’s arm and wailed.

“Dad! I’m your only daughter! Do you want me to be motherless? Luna is fine, isn't she? You’re going to divorce my mom for her? Don’t you love me anymore?”

Madison had been his favorite for so long. Harrison’s heart softened.

“Look at you. You’re supposed to inherit the Sterling empire. Stop acting like a child!”

Madison knew she had won. She immediately started smiling through her tears.

She hugged Harrison’s arm and made a request.

“Dad, you should just marry Mom properly. I’m going to take over the company soon. I can’t have people calling me a love child.”

Harrison looked at me and stayed silent for a while.

At that moment, Harrison’s mother, Beatrice, walked in.

“Madison, my darling! Who upset you like this? My heart is breaking.”

Beatrice looked at me with pure disgust.

“A woman kept on the side thinks she can cause trouble in this house? Harrison, I don’t care who you sleep with, but remember this. Madison is your only heir. She must never be mistreated.”

With his mother speaking up, Harrison couldn't defend me. He told me to leave first.

Madison grew bold again. She held her grandmother’s hand and whispered, “Grandma, this woman tried to kill my mother. She’ll come for me next. Can you make her disappear?”

Harrison didn't want to lose me. I was exactly his type. He spoke up awkwardly.

“Mom, don’t listen to Madison. Eleanor did this to herself.”

As he spoke, Madison suddenly lunged at me and gave me a violent push.

I went with the momentum. I angled my body so my stomach slammed into the sharp corner of a table.

I let out a scream of agony and clutched my belly.

Madison paused for a second, then sneered.

“I barely touched you! Stop acting. You’re such a low-class drama queen. Dad, let me handle her. My dogs need new meat anyway!”

Harrison didn't answer. The whole room went silent.

Everyone looked down. A large pool of blood was spreading from beneath me, staining the white rug.

“Harrison... my stomach... it hurts so much...”

Harrison immediately ordered the family doctor to check me. The result shocked everyone.

“Mr. Sterling... Luna... she was pregnant!”

Madison was the first to shout back. “Impossible! My dad hasn't been able to conceive for years! Who is the father of this bastard?”

Harrison didn't care about his dignity anymore. He grabbed my hand, his eyes filled with joy.

“Luna! You’re carrying my child? You really are my lucky star!”

The doctor looked nervous. He interrupted the moment. “However, because of the impact, she is showing signs of a miscarriage. It will be very hard to save the baby.”

Madison finally realized she had messed up. She hid behind Beatrice.

“Grandma, it’s not my fault! I barely pushed her! She must have done it on purpose to frame me!”

Harrison turned around. For the first time in his life, he looked at Madison with pure hatred.

“Madison, I have spoiled you for too long. You actually dared to kill your own sibling!”

Beatrice was also full of regret. “My grandchild... Madison, you went too far this time.”

Madison still didn't think she was wrong. She talked back.

“It’s just a tiny clump of cells! Is it more important than me? Even if she didn't fall, it probably wouldn't have survived anyway. Why are you blaming me?”

Before she could finish, Harrison snapped. He stood up and slapped her so hard she fell to the floor.

Madison sat there, stunned. It took her a long time to react. She touched her burning cheek, her eyes wide with shock.

“Dad... you hit me? For that bitch?”