Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Gisele hadn’t even returned to Jefferson Villa when Dorian called her. “Are you the one who pulled that stunt with the marriage certificate? Didn’t I give you money?”

Gisele gripped the phone, steadying her breath. “A divorce certificate looks much better now after you see the marriage certificate. Am I right?”

“Gisele, even if you want to be snarky, you should know your place.” Dorian’s voice wasn’t only impatient; it also carried a cold and oppressive tone.

“You’d better-”

“I’m hanging up.” Before Dorian could finish, Gisele hung

It wasn’t that she dared to be defiant with Dorian. It was because the second wave of bleeding from the miscarriage had suddenly attacked her.

Gisele trembled, clutching her abdomen. She took out a needle case from her bag and inserted silver needles into her CV 4 and CV 8 acupuncture points.

Her phone kept buzzing as she slumped in the cab, falling into a deep sleep.

By the time the driver reached Jefferson Villa, Gisele finally regained some color.

As soon as she pushed open the car door, she heard a string of shrill sounds.

“Have you seen the news today? Jefferson Group’s stocks dropped by 5 points. The Meyers can’t cover the losses!”

“It’s been three years since the wedding, and she has given us no child. She has only brought us bad luck!”

“Exactly! She comes from a low–class, uneducated family of trash. She’s not even fit to be a

woman!”

The ones speaking were Dorian’s mother, Celeste Pritchard, and his aunt, Zayla Jefferson. They had never been satisfied with Dorian’s choice of wife.

All of Gisele’s encounters with them were filled with hurtful words. It was as if they thought that it was the only way they could redeem the prestige they had lost by being related to

Gisele.

“Shut up!” A resounding voice cut them off, silencing them instantly.

It was Declan, the founder of Jefferson Group and Dorian’s grandfather.

Declan had been a force in the business world his entire life, carving out a bloody path in both business and politics. He always had the final say in the Jefferson family.

He was the only person in the family who commanded Dorian’s respect and fear.

But Declan soon succumbed to a coughing fit, as if he were going to shatter his chest.

When Declan had been younger, he had been on the battlefield. As a result of that, he had been left with a lung injury..

It hadn’t been that bad when he had been much younger. But now that he had gotten older, it kept getting worse day by day.

“Where’s his medicine?” Dorian promptly called out.

When Gisele walked into the hall, everything was in chaos.

Zayla saw Gisele and suddenly shoved her. “I was wondering why Dad started coughing so badly. Now I see it’s because you’ve returned!”

Gisele staggered back, putting pressure on her fractured foot. She almost fainted from the

pain.

Zayla showed no remorse. Instead, she raised her thin eyebrows. “You jinx! No wonder you can’t have children. If you did, you’d end up killing them yourself!”

The words hit Gisele’s ears, making her dizzy. 1

Dorian was beside her. Upon seeing her pale face, he instinctively reached out his hand

toward her.

But just as he extended his hand, Gisele swayed away, dodging him.

Dorian suddenly remembered the phone call she had abruptly ended earlier and frowned.

Normally, Gisele’s gaze would only be fixed on him whenever he was around. Yet, at that moment, she had avoided him.

Dorian let out a cold snort as he withdrew his hand.

Gisele bit her tongue hard to steady her breathing. Without a word, she stepped forward and repeatedly massaged Declan’s chest and LU 9.

Soon, she was perspiring profusely. It wasn’t from the exertion of the massage but rather a cold sweat. She couldn’t control the wave after wave of cold sweat that made her palms sl*ppery.

But, thanks to Gisele’s gentle massage, Declan’s cough gradually subsided.

Chapter 3

3/5

Thereafter, Alfred brought the medicine and served it to Declan.

“Tsk, people from low–class families have a knack for this sort of thing.” Zayla turned sheepish when she saw that Declan had recovered.

But her words were filled with contempt as she asked, “Who are you trying to fool with that pitiful act?”

Both Declan’s and Dorian’s gazes swept over Zayla. She averted her eyes at once.

“What happened at St. Anne Hospital today?” Declan had calmed down. He looked at Dorian with a piercing gaze.

“Why are you blaming Don, Dad?” Celeste saw Declan questioning Dorian and immediately snuck a covert glance at Gisele. 1

“Don always knows his place. But someone is still latching onto him. Are we going to let him be the last of the Jeffersons?”

Celeste smiled, her eyes crinkling. “I once had Don’s fortune told. Apparently, he’s quite hot -tempered. Only a girl from the McMillan family is compatible with him.

“She will have no problem conceiving many kids, unlike someone who failed even with artificial insemination!”

This was news. Years ago, no one had said anything about Sierra being compatible with

Dorian.

But Sierra had become famous after her return. She was no longer the same person she had

been three years ago.

She was still the top beauty in the medical field. Just the mention of her name brought a glow to Celeste’s face, unlike when the latter thought of Gisele.

Before Celeste could continue, Declan slammed his cane on the floor. “Did I ask you?”

“Grandfather.” Dorian straightened his back. “It’s not Sierra’s fault.”

Declan was about to blow his top when Gisele suddenly announced, “I’m pregnant.”

The entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Dorian’s gaze flashed intensely as he pulled Gisele to face him. “You’re pregnant?”

Gisele was pulled forward by Dorian’s tug.

“Name your price,” Dorian said in a low voice.

Chapter 3

4/5

Gisele closed her eyes, but luckily they didn’t well up with tears.

Then, she gave Dorian a serious yet unfamiliar look, as If she wanted to memorize the agitated and determined look on his face.

She felt like she really was despicable; she insisted on hearing the answer from Dorlan before giving up hope.

“Gisele!”

Gisele was startled when Dorian called out to her. “Sorry, I didn’t make it clear. There was a misunderstanding between Dorian and Ms. McMillan today.”

Gisele lowered her head. “If I had been pregnant, others wouldn’t have interpreted it incorrectly when Dorian took Ms. McMillan to the hospital. Sorry to make you worry today, Grandpa Declan.”

By saying this, Gisele had defused Dorian’s earlier statement–it was not Sierra’s fault.

When Dorian heard that, he unexpectedly gave Gisele a once–over.

The woman’s face was deathly pale, but she couldn’t conceal her innate classic beauty and gentleness.

Her clear eyes were devoid of emotion when she met his gaze. They seemed to be voids of emptiness, yet they highlighted her inherent coolness and pride.

Dorian frowned without realizing it. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Gisele had never

looked at him like this before.

“Is that so?” Declan snorted. “Even if it was a misunderstanding, it can’t happen again! Do you hear me?”

Declan hadn’t bought Gisele’s explanation, but he decided to let it go for now.

He knew about the little things that had been done in the name of the curse letter. After all, no one would have dared to post that clarification on Jefferson Group’s official Facebook page without his permission.

But at the end of the day, it was Dorian and Gisele’s relationship that mattered. It wasn’t worth risking their marriage over a woman like Sierra.

“Today is your third wedding anniversary. Go back and have a good time.”

Declan waved his hand, then pointed at Dorian. “Don’t go anywhere today. Stay with Gisele to celebrate-”

Chapter 3

“Grandpa Declan, I have something to inform you.” Gisele interrupted Declan before he could finish. She took out a document that she had prepared in her bag.

Before she could take the docume

out of the bag, Dorian grabbed from her.