I Read Their Tragic Fates, and My Family Reads My Mind?

Lillian Donovan reacted quickly. She tugged on Lucy Ingram’s sleeve, subtly pointing first at Henry Zeller, then at the uninvited guest.

In a flash of inspiration, it dawned on Lucy Ingram. Her gaze, as she looked between the two, was filled with shock.

Taking a closer look, the woman seemed quite familiar. Lucy thought she was a female employee from Henry Zeller’s department, hired during a company-wide recruitment drive a couple of years ago.

Lucy Ingram wasn’t particularly interested in the affairs of Veridian Corporation. She vaguely recalled seeing this woman when she’d taken Joyce Lowe to the office to pick Liam Lowe up. The woman was almost always by Henry Zeller’s side, like a little shadow. ’Who would have thought...’

Lucy subconsciously glanced at Henry Zeller. She noticed that while he was also a bit surprised by the woman’s sudden intrusion, he wasn’t angry. In fact, his gaze was quite gentle.

Then she recalled the girl’s anxious expression when she’d opened the door, and the "little girl" Arabella Donovan had just mentioned. ’There might be something to this!’ she thought.

She immediately cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Henry, aren’t you going to make an introduction?"

"This is Hayes from my department, Mia Hayes."

"Mia," Lucy Ingram said, deliberately drawing out the name with a teasing smile. "I just heard her call you ’Master.’ Have you been her mentor ever since she joined the company?"

Henry Zeller nodded, and Lucy Ingram’s smile deepened. "Such a deep bond between mentor and apprentice. No wonder she was so frantic when she heard you were injured."

Mia Hayes was young and had never been in a situation like this. Her face instantly turned beet red. "I’m sorry, I didn’t know the boss and his wife were here. I... I... I’ll come see my mentor another day."

She turned to leave, but Lucy Ingram stopped her. "You’re already here, why the rush to leave? Is it because you think we’re in the way? Or do you think we’re going to eat you?"

Caught off guard, Mia Hayes was pulled inside by Lucy Ingram, making her even more flustered.

Seeing this, Henry Zeller couldn’t help but speak up. "Mrs. Ingram, she’s shy. Please don’t tease her."

"I haven’t even done anything yet, and you’re already jumping to her defense?"

Mia Hayes froze for a moment, her blush deepening. But despite herself, she couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill, especially when she noticed Henry Zeller didn’t refute Lucy Ingram’s words.

’Does this mean I actually have a chance?’

Having observed for a while, Liam Lowe finally, and a bit belatedly, realized what was happening. He raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention.

"I don’t generally encourage office romances, but I can make an exception for you two."

His words were so blunt that even Henry Zeller couldn’t take it, crying out, "Boss!"

"Pfft-hahaha..."

For a moment, the hospital room was filled with laughter, even causing some other patients passing by in the hallway to stop and stare, wondering how anyone who was hospitalized could be laughing so happily.

Watching this scene, the corners of Arabella Donovan’s mouth turned up in a smile.

’This is so nice. Everyone finds their own place and lives their own life. Don’t harm others, and don’t be harmed by others. Just live peacefully, smoothly, and find happiness in contentment.’

Mrs. Donovan and Lillian Donovan were both stunned, especially Lillian.

’Contentment brings happiness. Everyone knows the principle, but how many can truly live by it?’

’Never mind anyone else; her husband would probably never understand that principle, not in this lifetime or the next.’

Lillian Donovan had assumed that Liam Lowe and his wife hadn’t been able to investigate the matter between Joyce Lowe and Caleb Croft because they were busy dealing with Henry Zeller, his rival, and the sudden attack.

But she soon realized she was wrong. After their visit with Liam Lowe, Lucy Ingram personally escorted them downstairs, deliberately slowing her pace to fall behind with Lillian.

Mrs. Donovan immediately understood her intention and led Arabella Donovan away, leaving the two of them some private space.

Once Lucy Ingram was sure the others were out of earshot and no one else was around, she breathed a sigh of relief, her expression conflicted. "Lillian, there’s something I might need to discuss with you."

Lillian Donovan was a bit surprised by her unusually serious tone. "What is it?"

"It’s about Joyce. Didn’t Serena mention before that there was someone with ill intentions around Joyce? After we got back, Liam had someone do a thorough background check on all the men Joyce has been in contact with recently. The investigation found that a young man named Caleb Croft has been deliberately trying to get close to her."

Lillian Donovan showed her surprise, but thought to herself, ’You’ve already figured it all out? Then why haven’t you done anything?’

Despite her thoughts, Lillian Donovan put on a flawless performance, asking with confusion, "His surname is Croft? And that name sounds so familiar..."

"He’s the son of Julian’s ’sister’."

Lillian Donovan’s expression darkened instantly. "So it’s him."

"Originally, during the investigation, Liam found out that Caleb had gotten drunk at a dinner party and said some truly outrageous and appalling things about women. Liam was ready to teach him a lesson he’d never forget. But out of consideration for your connection to him, he held back. He wanted to let you know first, to avoid any bad blood between our families."

Thinking about the investigation results Liam had shared with her when he got back, Lucy’s expression grew darker.

If it weren’t for her sisterly bond with Lillian Donovan, she would have had Liam tear that little bastard limb from limb long ago.

Lillian Donovan finally understood. So, it wasn’t that they hadn’t had the time to deal with Caleb Croft—she was the holdup!

Lillian Donovan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she was genuinely curious. "What did he say when he was drunk?"

Lucy Ingram remained silent, her expression grim.

"It wasn’t something like he wanted to trick a rich girl into marriage, swallow her family’s fortune, and then toss her aside once she’d served her purpose, was it?"

Lucy Ingram’s eyes widened in astonishment. "You knew?"

Lillian Donovan had a look that said ’I knew it.’ Caleb Croft was still young, after all, and couldn’t keep a secret. It was entirely possible for the truth to come out when he was drunk.

"This isn’t very pleasant to talk about, and I was going to tell you later... but I’m planning to divorce Julian Croft."

"What?!"

Lillian Donovan then briefly explained the whole messy situation with Julian Croft’s family to Lucy Ingram, who listened with a dazed expression.

"So, his ’sister’ isn’t his real sister, but his mistress, and that Caleb Croft is his biological son?"

Lucy Ingram’s voice cracked on the last few words.

"Yes."

"Those sons of bitches! That father and son duo... messing with my sister and now trying to mess with my daughter. They’ve really started a war with us now. Don’t you worry. I know exactly what to do. I’ll make them regret being born, regret ever crossing us!"

With that, Lucy Ingram turned and stormed off in her high heels, looking like she was about to go pick a fight.

Lillian Donovan watched her go, feeling both amused and touched. At the same time, she found herself looking forward to seeing how Julian Croft would come begging to her when he found out his son was in trouble. How would he break down when he realized his long-term schemes had all come to nothing?

However, before the father and son got their comeuppance, Arabella and Eloise Donovan’s birthday arrived.