"Why are you even angry?" Emmeline chuckled. "I didn't take a single cent from you while growing up."
"You're still part of the Louise family, aren't you?" Alondra said. "I know I'm only your stepmother, but I'd be happy for you if you marry a good man. On the other hand, I'd be embarrassed if you marry someone ugly. I wonder what would Mrs. Plummer and Mrs. Guido say…"
"So you're worried that I might embarrass you? That's easy, all you have to do is disown me. Then it won't matter to you who I marry!" Emmeline said.
"But I've already told everyone that you'll be marrying Abel Ryker! Now it's turning out not to be the case, what am I supposed to say?"
"That's for you to figure out," Emmeline said. "I'm free to marry whoever I want, and you have no right to interfere."
"But… if you marry that ugly man, am I still going to get the bridal gifts from the Adelmar family?"
"Hahaha!" Emmeline laughed. "So it's about money after all!"
Alondra's face turned slightly pale. "I'm still worried for you, you know."
"You don't have to worry about me. The money isn't yours either!"
"Emma, I don't think you've thought this through," Ethan interjected. "What actually happened that made you act on impulse?"
Emmeline took Ethan's hand and led him to a chair.
She poured a glass of water for him and said, "Ethan, I know you're genuinely worried about me, but I can't tell you the whole story now. All you have to do is place your trust in me, and I'll explain it to you after everything blows over."
"What are you going to do about Abel then? Is it over for you two now? What about my four nephews?"
Emmeline did not have an answer to those questions.
She was also not sure how Abel would react to her marriage with that ugly man.
Ethan, sensing Emmeline's hesitation, knew Abel was not going to be pleased.
"You can tell me if you need any help, Emma. I'll go and talk to Abel. You've given birth to four sons for him, and I'm not going to let him force you into marrying an ugly man!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Ambush of the Quadruplets