âNo way! Mr. Blanchet, Patri really loves you; she would do anything for you, reallyâ¦*
Hearing the commotion outside, Ellinor got up to investigate, finding Xenia on her knees in front of Theo, pleading for her daughter, tears streaming down her face.
Ellinor squinted. Sometimes Xenia just didnât get the picture. Why would she think pleading with Theo would do any good?
Throughout the entire thing. Theo remained cool as a cucumber, just looking down at her with a gaze filled with indifference and disgust.
âMrs. Howard, your daughter made her bed; now she has to lie in it. Unless she owns up to her mistakes and changes, no one can help her.â
Xenia let out a couple of sobs, and when she realized it was no use, she wiped her tears and changed her tune. Mr. Blanchet, since youâre so coldâhearted, just give Baber back to me!â
Theo raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. âGive him back to you? Heâs my legally adopted child. Why should I give him to you?â
Xenia stood up, dusted herself off, and said as if she had the moral high ground, âMr. Blanchet, you only went abroad with Patri to help her adopt this child. It was agreed between you two that the child would be solely Patriâs. You wouldnât have any responsibility or custody rights. Isnât that right?â
While Baber didnât understand every word, he could sense the tension in Xeniaâs tone and clung tightly to Theo, afraid his dad would hand him over to his grandma.
Theo patted the child in his arms, reassuring him not to worry, then responded to Xenia calmly, âMrs.
Howard, youâre not wrong. Your daughter did pretend to be my lifesaver, coercing me into helping her adopt this child. We did agree on custody.
But everything has to be legal. Now that the childâs adoptive mother is in jail, I, the legal adoptive father, have naturally become the primary guardian. Itâs not your turn yet, is it?â
Xenia knew she was in the wrong, but she wasnât ready to give up her bargaining chip, Baber. âMr.
Blanchet, you make a good point, but youâre a man. You donât know how to take care of a child. Baber would be better off with his grandma, donât you think?â
âEven though heâs a man and might not know how to take care of a child, 1, his wife, can definitely help!â Ellinor slowly walked over and stood by Theoâs side.
Xenia was taken aback. âYou help? How good can a stepmother be to a child?â
Ellinor smiled slightly. âEven if Iâm a stepmother, your daughter is not his biological mother, is she? And itâs pretty clear Baber doesnât want to be with you. Mrs. Howard, canât you see it? If you and your daughter really cared for him, he wouldnât be clinging to Mr. Blanchet so tightly, would he?â
Xenia was left speechless, grinding her teeth and glaring at Ellinor. âIâm discussing the childâs matters with his adoptive father. Itâs none of your business. Please donât interrupt!â
âIf she canât interrupt, can I?â Balfour, leaning heavily on his crutches, limped over. âYou insist on keeping Baber by your side. Is it because you think you can take good care of him?â
Xenia was startled when she saw Balfour, her confidence faltering. âBalfour, youâre here too?â
Balfour limped over and stood next to Ellinor. âXenia, my grandpa sent you here to reflect on your actions. But from what I see, you donât seem to be planning to do that. And you want the child to stay with you?â
Xenia had always been somewhat afraid of Balfour, âBut⦠but Baber is Patriâs child. Heâs my grandsonâ¦â
Balfour scoffed, âYouâve had Patri thrown in jail. What do you plan to turn Baber into? Do you think the Howard family would agree to let you raise him? Even if my grandpa and grandma agreed, I would never let you screw up Baber!*
âYouâre all trying to drive me to my death! Patri was taken away, and if I donât have Baber, whatâs the point of living? I might as well just die!â Unable to refute him, Xenia flew into a rage and made a beeline for a nearby pillar.
Seeing that, the servants of the Howard family, who had been standing by, were scared out of their wits and rushed to stop her.