Since the cat was let out of the bag, there was no need to put up a pretense. “It wouldn’t hurt to try. Worst case scenario, I’d just lose my worthless life and join my child in the afterlife. No big deal.”
He frowned slightly and glanced sideways at Cameron, lowering his voice as he reprimanded, “Harming a child? Since when did you become so inhumane?”
Cameron looked aggrieved upon being questioned. “Zachary, do you know how hard Rebecca’s life has been? I just couldn’t bear to see our daughter suffer anymore!”
“Outrageous!” Zachary seethed with anger. “You’ll only end up ruining Rebecca by overindulging her like this.”
Cameron bowed her head, her eyes turning red. “Both of us have owed her too much over the years.”
Zachary heaved a sigh and directed his gaze to me. “Ms. Stovall, what’s done is done. You can state your condition. We’ll do our best to compensate you for the harm we’ve caused.”
I felt like laughing. This couple was really something else; one committed the crime while the other offered hush money. They made quite the pair.
I straightened my back and looked them in the eye. “Since both of you are so sincere, forget about money and status. You know that I’m not lacking in those. How about this? A life for a life. Rather than waiting for karma to run its course, you both can make it happen right away. If I’m not mistaken, Ms. Larson is nearing her due date. Why don’t you let both children accompany each other in the afterlife?”
“Don’t step out of line, Scarlett!” Cameron’s face flushed with panic. “Do you really think you’re all that just because you have some influential figures on your side? Let me tell you, you’re still an amateur!”
I smiled coldly and nodded without an ounce of anger. “You’re right, Ms. Anderson. I know I’m still an amateur, but time is on my side and there are plenty of opportunities to come.”
“You’re a smart person, Ms. Stovall. Is it really worth it to make everyone unhappy and ruin your own future because of a child?” This was an undisguised threat.
My lips curled into a sneer. “It is! I’ll leave you two alone now. Have a good chat.” Then, I looked at Cameron, smilingly brightly at her as I said, “Ms. Anderson, we’ve got all the time in the world. I’m in no rush.”
Her face was especially grim. Letting my smile drop, I went back into the hotel.
Their feelings were their business. All I cared about was my own feelings, and right now, I felt great.
People with power and wealth could indeed do whatever they wanted. One life was but a speck of dust to them. How absurd!
Back in the lobby, I found that almost all the guests had already left. When Louis spotted me, he broke into a kind smile and said, “The Stovall family is large, but since you’re now my daughter, let’s pick a good day to welcome you into the family. A daughter of mine deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”
A smile stretched across my lips even as my eyes stung with tears. In a voice thick with emotion, I replied, “Thank you, Uncle Louis!”
He clucked his tongue and chided, “Silly girl, you should be calling me Dad now!”
I pressed my lips into a thin line, then smiled with tears in my eyes and blurted, “Dad!”
“That’s more like it!” He chuckled heartily. “Give me your current address. I’ll be carrying out an inspection in other provinces for the next two days. When I’m back, I’ll take you out for some good food.”
I nodded and stated, “I’m living in Central Park. Remember to be careful on your trip.”
He nodded with a smile. “Alright, alright. I’ll have your brother take care of you these few days. We’re a family now. Just tell him if there’s anything you need.”
Hearing those words, a warm bubbly feeling rose in my chest.
After Marcus sent off all the guests, he walked over to us and said to Louis, “Uncle Louis, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your daughter.”
Louis cackled with laughter, then squinted at us and whispered, “Tell me the truth. Are you two dating?”
Marcus blinked in surprise before grinning. “Uncle Louis, I’m afraid this isn’t for me to answer.”
“Hahahaha!”
Everyone laughed in unison at that. After sending off Louis, Marcus bid Sharon goodbye.
Sharon glanced at me, then turned to Marcus with a complicated expression on her face. “You should know your own limits. Don’t complicate matters. If a scandal involving the two of you were to spread in K City, it’d affect the Fuller family and the White family, and now the Stovall family as well. Things will get messy.”
Marcus nodded and reassured her, “Don’t worry, Mom. I know what I’m doing.”
Then, we left the hotel and got into the car.
I couldn’t help but look at him in suspicion. “Although Louis has always wanted a daughter, he’s a high-ranking politician. It doesn’t make sense for him to accept a random girl as his daughter just based on feelings.”
He started the car and smiled. “Well, would you look at that? You’re not a lost cause after all. You both have the surname Stovall. Do you think it’s a coincidence?”
“What do you mean?”
He drove while explaining, “John played a part in this too. He’s Louis’ nephew and currently under his care. In fact, John has mentioned about you to Louis more than once already. I guess he’s said everything that needed to be said.”
I was taken aback, struggling to wrap my mind around this revelation. “Isn’t John’s father a businessman?”
He arched a brow at me. “You should ask him yourself when you have the time. Louis doesn’t have children of his own. As for his brothers, one is dead while the other is disabled, so even though their family is large, none of them are close to each other.”
