Chapter 6
“You secretly recorded?!” Staring at the phone in Irene’s hand, Shelby was completely stunned.
Even Henry was caught off guard by Irene’s bold move.
“Yeah, I recorded it.” Irene said self–deprecatingly, “Someone once said I’m a pitiful kid who’s unloved by both parents, and all it takes is a bone to make me wag like a happy puppy.”
Those words came from Dorian.
Irene lowered her head, her long, curled eyelashes casting a dark shadow under her eyes, masking the sadness within. She softly comforted herself, “If mom and dad don’t love me, then I’ll love myself.”
Hearing this, Henry looked pained, but Shelby remained unmoved. She even said, “You want to be a doormat. Whose fault is that?”
True. Being a doormat led to a tragic end of having her heart ripped out–that was her consequence.
But that didn’t mean Shelby and Henry were blameless.
“Shelby, do you know the consequences of what you did to me back then?” Irene asked.
Seeing that Shelby didn’t grasp the seriousness of the situation, Irene kindly explained, “The Marriage Law prohibits infanticide, abandonment, and other acts of harming infants.
“Also, the Minor Protection Law states that infanticide is to be prosecuted.”
At this point, Irene tilted her head and asked Shelby, “Do you know how Criminal Law states it?”
Shelby opened her mouth but couldn’t answer.
She wasn’t a lawyer. Surely, she had no idea what Criminal Law said.
Irene explained, “It states that intentional homicide is punishable by death, life imprisonment, or 10 years or more in prison. For less severe cases, it’s 2 to 10 years.
“If I take you to court, you’ll face jail time.”
Shelby’s expression finally changed. “What are you implying? You want to send your own mother to prison?
“Irene! My body made you! No me, no you! Wanna play god? Over my dead body!”
Shelby was actually scared, pretending to be loud and aggressive to hide her panic
She knew Irene had a ruthless streak. If she pushed Irene too far, Irene might really do something as outrageous as sending her to jail
Seeing through Shelby’s bravado, Irene threatened casually, “If you don’t want to end up in jail or drag your precious little son down. I’ll give you two options”
Irene got straight to the point. “Option one, after tonight’s party, drive yourself to the outskirts, jump into that little creek, and stay there until I say you can come up.
“Option two.” Irene tilted her head, smiling meaningfully. “Give me thirty percent of your media company’s shares.”
Without thinking, Shelly shot down the second option, yelling, “You must be crazy! Media company shares? Not a chance!”
In this age of media dominance, her company had signed seven or eight top influencers. It was a gold mine, raking in cash.
No way she was going to give up thirty percent of that.
Hearing this, Irene nodded coolly, shaking her phone. “Then, I’ll be waiting by that creek in the suburbs after the party.
“If you don’t show up, I’ll head straight to the police station. With that, Irene turned and left.
Chapter 6
Staring at Irene’s arrogant back, Henry asked hesitantly, “Are you really going to jump in the river?”
Shelby rolled her eyes and stomped her foot, yelling, “Why don’t you jump? Am I going to do it? I’m her mother. I’m not going to let her push me around!”
“But what if she really releases that recording?”
Shelby was also worried.
She muttered, “Thirty percent is too much. I’ll give her ten percent at most.”
Coming out of the study, Irene walked through the corridor, ready to head downstairs. Passing by the adjacent library, she caught a glimpse of a figure inside.
Curiosity piqued, Irene cast a glance and found herself rooted to the spot.
A gray–clad figure stood by the library window, gazing out at the courtyard below.
The man was tall, with broad shoulders, dressed in a tailored suit that couldn’t hide his thin, sickly frame.
Yet, his eerily powerful presence made Irene’s heart tremble.
Jeremy? What is he doing here?‘ she wondered.
Suddenly, a young male chimed in, “Irene.”
Austin, clad in a black tracksuit, approached Irene with a book in hand, emerging from around the corner.
He inquired, Irene, need something?”
Irene looked up, momentarily dazed by the sight of the bespectacled yet refined and handsome young
ung man
This was their family’s medical prodigy, a star at Aurelith University, destined to be a big shot in medicine.
However, in her previous life, Austin was framed and imprisoned by Dorian before he could fully mature, ultimately sentenced to death.
Hearing the commotion, the man by the window turned around.
“Irene.” Jeremy’s gaze was cold and solitary, yet his words were impeccably polite. “Should I step out and give you some space to catch up?”
Being unexpectedly called out by Jeremy, Irene felt a shiver down her spine.
“What the heck?‘ she couldn’t help muttering inwardly.
She looked at Jeremy, unable to suppress her curiosity, and asked, “Uncle Jeremy, why are you here!”
Jeremy replied, “I heard it’s Mrs. Gwen Jackson’s birthday today, and since I was nearby for some business, I thought I’d drop by to offer my congratulations.
He didn’t mention a word about why he was looking for Austin.
What Jeremy didn’t want to talk about was off–limits, so Irene didn’t press furthe
“Austin,” Irene pointed at his track suit and said, “There are a lot of pharmaceutical company bosses here today. Remember to change into proper attire before you go downstairs.”
With that seemingly caring remark, Irene left.
Austin gazed thoughtfully in the spot where Irene had stood, his eyes flickering with deep contemplation.
Behind him, Jeremy suddenly remarked. “Isn’t your big sis at odds with the Jackson brothers? But it seems she’s quite nice to
you.
Chapter 6
Earlier, Austin and Jeremy had been chatting by the window and had just witnessed Irene adjusting Noah’s tie at the entrance.
Irene’s previous visits to the Jackson family were marked by indifference towards the family members. Today, however, was indeed unusual.
Austin turned back with a polite smile towards Jeremy.
Then, he said with a slight seriousness, “Mr. Tucker, you’re joking. Those are just rumors outside. Irene is the only girl in the Jackson family, and our relationship has always been good.”
Despite being young, Austin understood the principle that a family’s reputation rose and fell together.
Even if Irene really had a falling out with the Jackson family, he wouldn’t say a single bad word about her to outsiders.
Realizing Austin was defending Irene’s reputation, Jeremy smiled, somewhat gratified. “You’re a good kid.
He appreciated Austin’s character.
Austin replied, “The Mr. Barnes downstairs is he your nephew, right? His excellence shines among us peers.”
Jeremy’s smile faded slightly at his words. “Your fields of expertise are different. You kids in research are more pure–hearted.”
Austin didn’t argue
He closed the book, put it back on the shelf, and turned to Jeremy. “Mr. Tucker, I’ll convey your request to my teacher.
“Also, thank you for coming to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday. With that, Austin made a gesture to see him out. “Let me see you
out, Mr. Tucker.”
Receiving the hint to leave, Jeremy wasn’t angry. “Thanks, then. I’ll leave through the side door.”
Knowing Jeremy didn’t want to reveal his itinerary, Austin saw him out through the side door.
When he walked out of the side door of the villa and arrived at the camphor tree in the alley, Jeremy suddenly looked back at the small study on the third floor.
Despite the good soundproofing, he had heard Irene’s confrontation with the Jackson couple.
He was quite surprised that Irene had such a tortuous and difficult background.
However, what intrigued him more was that Irene seemed to have become smarter and more assertive.
For someone to grow up so quickly in a short time, it meant they must have experienced some significant events.
He couldn’t help wondering what exactly Irene had gone through.
