The Quirk family seems to have no clue about safeguarding their interests. Arenât wealthy and influential families supposed to be shrewd and cunning? Yet here they are, naive and gullible, easily manipulated by a cocky man.
Members of the Quirk family felt attacked by Isabellaâs thoughts.
I am particularly disappointed with Alexander. Shouldnât a tycoon like him have been able to strategize? He seemed so astute before!
Alexander was rendered speechless. How could he have discerned another personâs most deep thoughts? Only Isabella could have done so with the system.
He had always thought that Jasper was nothing special, but his older sister liked him. They might not have been a loving couple, but Jasper never really did anything to harm his sister, except for todayâs incident. He never interfered in his siblingsâ lives, at most offering a word or two of advice. Little did he know that there were so many hidden troubles within.
Isabella had indulged in too much gossip that she felt sick. Finally, she put down the utensils.
No way, this is too infuriating, I should step in and âturn a blind eyeâ this time. Though I canât reveal the secret Iâve discovered, I can stir things up a bit. Watch me find a way to disrupt this ill-fated relationship.
Alexander watched the âtroublemakerâ deep in thought, a twitch playing at the corner of his mouth. I should let her be.
Alexander composed himself and said outright, âEvie, our familyâs stance remains the sameâwe hope for you to get a divorce. If you choose not to, it will be a disgrace for us. Consequently, we will sever all ties with the Lawson family in all future matters.â
The Quirk family soon grasped that Alexander was essentially setting a trap to test, aiming to see if Jasper was truly after power and influence.
Even though Alexander had complete faith in Isabellaâs words, others remained somewhat skeptical, after all, the original intentions of Jasper were no longer verifiable. This could be seen as Alexander helping Isabella to prove to everyone.
It also urged Sienna to keep her eyes wide open.
âWhat are you implying!â Paula was immediately frantic, quickly turning her gaze toward David and Selena.
David stated bluntly, âIn the Quirk family, Alexander is now the head. Whatever he decides, goes.â
Jasperâs expression shifted dramatically, his face quickly filling with a mix of embarrassment and anger, as if heâd been humiliated. the Quirk family members initially thought that Isabella had made an incorrect assumption. However, they soon sensed that something was subtly amiss.
Only Paula was in a state of utmost distress. She pleaded with Evian, âListen to what your brother is saying. He doesnât even consider you as family! And what youâre doing is forcing our family into a dead end, with no descendants to carry on our lineage! If you can give birth to a child, then we wouldnât have to be in this situation!â
These words were hard to swallow. Selenaâs face darkened instantly. Without any hesitation, she stepped forward, pulling her daughter back to sit by her side.
âSo now, you can just have your son find another wife. No oneâs stopping him from having as many kids as he wants. He could even bring back the mother of this child. Whatâs the matter? Are you all so opposed to divorcing my daughter?â
Quickly, Paula pulled her son, Jasper, to her side. As Jasper looked at Alexander, a frown creased his forehead, just as he was about to speak.
Alexander coldly chuckled. âIf youâre so concerned about your reputation, rest assured. If you really get a divorce, you can just say that our family couldnât tolerate an illegitimate child, and thatâs why we forced my sister to divorce. It wouldnât affect you in the slightest. After all the support our family has given to the Lawson family over the years, you surely wouldnât think that my sister still owes you anything, would you?â
With a single sentence, all the false excuses were shut down instantly, leaving Jasperâs face pale.
Oh wow, what a game-changer! The Quirk family has finally made their move! Looks like I wonât be needed after all.
Listening to Isabellaâs cheerful voice, a slow smile formed on Alexanderâs lips.
Naturally, the Quirk family didnât want an innocent child to be left homeless, but they also couldnât bear to see their beloved daughter upset every day.
Having one indifferent husband was enough. Just look at what Evian had become. If they added a child to the mix, she would surely fall ill from the stress.
Therefore, divorce was the best option.
A flash of harshness crossed Jasperâs eyes, his tone carrying a hint of a threat as he said, âEvian, since your family is saying this, should I take it that you feel the same way?â
In the past, whenever Jasper was upset, Evian would always immediately try to cheer him up, catering to his every whim.
By now, pleas should have been made to the Quirk family, all in an effort to protect Jasperâs dignity and the interests of the Lawson family.
However, this time, Evian finally fell silent. She hadnât yet recovered from the shock that Isabella had brought her.
For a fleeting moment, Jasperâs aloof expression faltered.
But immediately, Paula protested, âNo, you canât divorce! Evie, you canât have children, so who else would want you?â
âHmph! There are plenty of suitors for the eldest daughter of the Quirk family!â David said coldly.
âBut⦠she canât bear children⦠Surely others would look down on her. Those who would want to marry her would only be with ulterior motives.â
âShe doesnât need to marry again. The Quirk family will take care of our daughter ourselves,â Selena said. âIf she wants a child, we can adopt an orphan. As long as my daughter is happy, thatâs all that matters!â
Isnât inability to have children an issue that concerns both parties? Perhaps it was Jasperâs inferior genes that werenât compatible with Evianâs. After their divorce, if she finds a better match, and her mood improves, she could have as many children as she wishes!
Isabella offered a new perspective.
The Quirk family had started to look forward to life after the divorce.
Even Evianâs thoughts, engrossed as they were, were led astray.
Could she have had her own children if she were with someone else?
Right, I can help to check on Evian! Doctors arenât necessarily more accurate than me.
The Quirk family wondered if it was even possible.
Letâs see. Hmm, itâs true that Evianâs health isnât in the best condition, making fertility a challenge. But it doesnât mean thereâs no chance at all.
The Quirk family was disappointed. Evianâs situation was almost as the doctor had described.
Nine years had already passed. It could only be said that the doctor was unwilling to completely rule out any possibilities.
However, Isabella suddenly gasped.
D*mn, no wonder she canât have a child! She and Jasper must share this responsibility equally!
The Quirks were flabbergasted.
Nine years⦠That guy, Jasper, only managed to come home a few days each month. God knows how many times they were intimate in a year. With such low odds, how could they possibly conceive? If they really did, he would have to question if he had been cuckolded.
It was a breaking news to the Quirks.
Everyone in the Quirk family turned, astonished, to look at Evian.
Evianâs face turned red instantly. How could Isabella know about this?
Confronted with such a situation, she was naturally shy. How could a woman muster the courage to voice it out? Moreover, she initially believed that it must be an issue with her own body, so she didnât give much thought to anything else.
The Quirk family was seething with anger. How dare Jasper blame Evian for not being able to have children, when he himself hadnât even tried!
However, they found it inappropriate to confront him about such matters, and they unanimously felt there was no longer a need to question him.
This marriage must end! Jasper was too much.
If Evian remained stubbornly infatuated, then a forced separation would be necessary.
However, Isabellaâs train of thought had once again gone off track.
It really is puzzling, isnât it? Even if he didnât have feelings for Evian and didnât want to share a room with her, where else could he have gone if not home? Could he have stayed at the hospital? Was he truly so busy that he couldnât make it home? He was the hospital director, wasnât he? But surely things are not like what I thinkâ¦
A sense of unease suddenly struck the hearts of the Quirk family members, an ominous feeling looming over them.
Isabella didnât let her preconceived notions of Jasperâs noble persona dominate her thoughts. As this idea came to her, she followed her gut feeling, which was telling her that perhaps this guy was secretly raising a child elsewhere.
She could boldly hypothesize, but she should verify with caution, as one must not make accusations lightly.
F*ck! Darn it!
Listening to Isabellaâs string of curses, the Quirks knew the matter was not to be taken lightly.
The people of the Quirk family were on edge, holding their breath in anticipation of Isabellaâs revelation.
Even Evian found herself zoning out, her emotions stagnant.
On the eighteenth floor of the upscale apartment next to the hospital, for the past nine years⦠Jasper and Sienna have been living there as a married couple!