Chapter 14
“Speak! Is this child really from our Mitchell family or not?” Grandma Mitchell’s voice thundered through the private room. The bodyguard who’d been quietly standing by her side finally lost patience and shoved the door open.
Joy, who’d just been acting all high and mighty, nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Liam and Grandma Mitchell at the door. She dropped to the floor in a heap, all her smugness vanishing like it’d never existed.
Mr. Price was already pale as a ghost, shaking in his chair. No matter how powerful the Price family was, he knew better than to make trouble in front of the Mitchells.
Liam helped Grandma Mitchell into the room, moving slowly and steady. Mr. Price scrambled to his feet and practically shoved his own chair under Grandma Mitchell.
“Talk! What’s going on here?” Grandma Mitchell demanded, her expression dark as a storm.
The bodyguard–built like a wall–stepped closer to Joy and Mr. Price. Panic flashed across both their faces, but Joy looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“Grandma Mitchell, please, have some tea. Don’t get too upset,” Mr. Price said, signaling frantically for the server. The server rushed over with a cup of tea, bowing.
Mr. Price hurried to Grandma Mitchell’s side, plastering on a nervous smile. “Ma’am, this really has nothing to do with me: Sure, I was involved with her for a bit, but you know how our circles are…”
Grandma Mitchell narrowed her eyes, making him backtrack. “I mean, my circle! When she got pregnant, I gave her two million for an abortion. Who’d have thought she’d keep pushing and try to scam both our families at once…”
He went on, spinning a story that made both the Price and Mitchell families look like Joy’s victims. Grandma Mitchell’s face softened just a little–until Liam spoke up.
“Mr. Price, just tell the truth. The Mitchell family won’t touch you. And our business can continue, no hard feelings.”
His voice was cold, the air in the room dropping a few degrees.
Mr. Price’s eyes lit up–this was his chance. He cleared his throat and forced a fawning smile.
“She was a college student working at a nightclub when I met her. I thought she was pretty, so I kept her around.”
“Look at me, I’m old, my kids have their own lives. Why would I want another child? I took every precaution. But who knew she’d try to pull something like this…”
He glared at Joy, his eyes full of disgust.
“She got pregnant and tried to blackmail me into marrying her. Me, marry her? Impossible. I had someone give her a bank card at a party, thought that was the end of it. But she wouldn’t let up.
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Chapter 14
Then she drugged Mr. Mitchell and tried to pass the baby off as his… as if it was the Mitchell family’s.”
Grandma Mitchell shot to her feet, trembling with anger. “So the child is really yours? Not from our family?”
Mr. Price nodded frantically. “Ma’am, please, don’t let this vicious woman get to you. Even if that was the Mitchell family’s kid, you couldn’t keep someone like her around. She’s so young, but already so manipulative–she even fooled me.”
He kept going, “She asked me for money three times. The second time, I made her get proof and went with her for an amniocentesis. It really is my child, that’s why I paid!”
The shock hit Grandma Mitchell hard. She just sat there for a long moment, frozen, then finally collapsed into a chair, clutching her chest. “How could someone like her fool the Mitchell family like this?”
Liam quickly signaled for the bodyguard to escort Grandma Mitchell to the hospital. Once they’d left, he finally let out a tense breath, his eyes landing coldly on Joy, who was still shaking.
Joy’s instincts kicked in. She dropped to her knees and grabbed Liam’s leg, sobbing, “Liam, it’s not true! It’s not! He’s lying, he just wants to trick you!”
Mr. Price cut in, voice icy. “The kid’s here. Just do a paternity test, and you’ll know if I’m lying or not.”
Liam’s face went colder still, eyes like ice.
“…Test her,” he ordered quietly. Mr. Price immediately waved over two attendants.
“Take her to Price Hospital. Mr. Mitchell and I will be there for the test.”
“No! Please, don’t! Liam, believe me! Don’t believe him, okay?” Joy screamed, tears streaming down her face. “It’s all a lie! This really is your baby!”
The attendants dragged her by the arms. As they passed Liam, Joy clung desperately to his ankle.
“Liam, don’t you believe me? Didn’t you say you were excited for this baby too?” Tears clung to her cheeks.
If this were before, Liam would’ve caved in an instant–he’d have pulled her into his arms and comforted her. But now, his face was hard and cold, and he said nothing.
Noticing his silence, Joy blurted out, “Liam, Esme’s gone anyway. Why can’t the three of us just be together?”
All of a sudden, Liam’s hand locked around her throat, his anger finally boiling over.
“Who… left?” His eyes were wild.
Mr. Price backed away, not wanting any part of this.
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Joy’s face turned blue and purple as she struggled to breathe, snot and tears running down her face.
“Mmm! Mmm!” she choked.
Liam loosened his grip and Joy gasped for air, reeking of fear and humiliation.
Mr. Price covered his nose and rushed over. “Mr. Mitchell, calm down. I’ll make sure the test results are delivered to your house, no mistakes!”
Finally, the truth hit Joy. Her face twisted, the sweet and innocent act gone for good.
She didn’t bother pretending anymore. “Liam!.No wonder Esme wanted a divorce so badly!”
Liam froze, like he’d been struck by lightning. He let go, and Joy stumbled away, looking at his shocked face with a bitter, twisted smile.
“Liam, you didn’t know, did you? Esme left you a long time ago. She’s never coming back!”
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