Suddenly There Are Three (Bailey and Artemis) novel Chapter 883

Chapter 883 Tricked

Zoey burst into hearty laughter as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

“Sofie Carr, do you really take me for a fool? You'd probably sell me out in a heartbeat if I hand it over to you just like that.”

Sofie's face darkened, and she gritted her teeth as she said, “Watch your behavior. I am your mother.”

Zoey's laughter grew increasingly hysterical as tears streamed down her face.

“If you hadn't gone to Hallsbay and helped me come up with plots and schemes, perhaps I would have reined in in time and earned the Shurmer family's forgiveness. All in all, I've ended up in this predicament all thanks to you. I truly despise you. If you have a shred of conscience left, don't force me to hand over the Encyclopedia of Poison. It's the only thing I can rely on now.”

Actually, Sofie's confidant had already called her the moment he captured Zoey, telling her that he couldn't find the whereabouts of the Encyclopedia of Poison.

Hence, she speculated that Zoey had probably hidden it somewhere safe.

If I push too hard, I might make things worse. It'd be more effective to keep employing an emotional approach, soothing her feelings, and then gently probing to get the information about the Encyclopedia of Poison from her.

With that in mind, Sofie slowly rose to her feet, strolled over to Zoey, and gently embraced her.

“Zozo, the past is in the past. Let's both take a step back. We're mother and daughter, so we shouldn't tear each other apart. I brought you back because I wanted to provide you with a stable living environment. Truth be told, it hurt to know you were out there on your own.”

Zoey nestled expressionlessly in the older woman's arms, listening to her nauseatingly sentimental words.

If it weren't for the top-secret documents in the woman's possession, Zoey would've poisoned her to death already.

What mother-daughter bond? What a joke! All that's left in my world is devastation after my journey through hell. Family, love, and friendship are nothing more than a joke in my eyes. All I want now is to set the world ablaze and drag everyone who forced me into this state down with me.

“Will you truly see me as your daughter and make up for everything you owe me these few years?” she asked.

When Sofie heard Zoey's question, her heart leaped with joy and she quickly replied, “Of course! Starting today, I will personally take care of your daily life. I was wrong before this, but thankfully, fate has reunited us. Let's nurture our mother-daughter bond from now on and put an end to the animosity between us.”

Zoey gradually relaxed her tense nerves, slumping limply in Sofie's arms.

Since she's still putting on an act, I'll play along. I'm curious to see whether she would get the Encyclopedia of Poison from me first, or I would get the confidential documents from her first. Time will bear witness and determine who is the winner someday. When the time comes, we shall see who has the last laugh.

A sinister smile crept up Zoey's face as she thought to herself.

“Okay, I'll let go of any grudges. From now on, I'll be compliant. I'll go along with whoever you wish for me to marry. I won't put up a fight anymore.”

“Silly girl. Mommy will never force you to marry someone you don't want to, ever again. If you met a boy you like in the future, just let me know. I'll definitely support you.”

Suppressing her disgust, Zoey made a silent vow in her heart that as soon as she got her hands on the confidential documents, she would immediately send this woman to her doom.

In the infirmary's ward at the research base, Matilda and Aisley were putting on a splendid show.

“You unfilial girl! How dare you disrupt the wedding and elope with your ex-boyfriend? How should we explain this to the royal family?”

After she finished speaking, she strode over to the bed and harshly slapped her daughter.

Instinctively, Aisley covered her face with her hands, playing along with her mother as she sobbed. “The royal family sent an illegitimate child to marry me. It's an outright insult to my dignity! This marriage pact is utterly meaningless! My future will be in ruins if I don't intervene and stop this wedding.”

Matilda pointed at her daughter, putting on a furious facade as her voice trembled. “H-How dare you talk back? I'll beat you to death!”

With that, she lifted her hand in an attempt to slap her daughter again.

Aisley hastily extended her other hand to block.

Amidst the scuffle, the wound on her wrist split open again. Crimson red blood instantly soaked through the white bandage.

“My hand hurts so much! Mommy, must you force me to my death? I've told you that Simon and I are truly in love. Why are you trying to tear us apart?”

Matilda glared at Aisley viciously. “You have to marry whoever the family wants you to! Your feelings are not to be accommodated! I heard you tried to kill yourself by slashing your wrist. Fine. If you don't want to live, then I, as your mother, will end you with my own hands and sent your corpse to the royal palace as an explanation to Prince Fabian.”

As soon as her words fell, she began grabbing at the wound on her daughter's wrist.

Hearing the commotion, Simon rushed over to see the gory scene in the room. Panicking, he dashed forward to pull Matilda away.

“Mrs. Lockett, you shouldn't force Aisley since she doesn't want to marry Prince Fabian. If you continue to pressure her, you'll only make her go insane!”

Scoffing, Matilda narrowed her eyes as she glowered at Simon, asking in a deep voice, “Are you implying that you intend to marry her, Mr. Simon?”

Simon furrowed his brows and wondered how he should respond to that question.

If he said no, the Lockett family would still force Aisley to form a marital alliance with the royal family.

The relationship between the Lockett family and the royal family was now on the verge of collapse. If Aisley married into the royal family, her life would be ruined.

Although his feelings for this woman had waned significantly, they had after all, shared experiences and memories.

He couldn't bear to watch her fall to her doom without doing anything.

After a moment of silence, he ventured, “I will explain things to the royal family and ask them to call off the engagement. Please, Mrs. Lockett, stop pressuring her.”

Snorting sarcastically, Matilda said in a chilly tone, “Mr. Simon, you make it sound so easy. The reason the Lockett family arranges this marriage is to protect ourselves because the royal family wants to eliminate us. What if the royal family exacts revenge on us if you force them to call off the engagement?”

Simon was stumped by the question.

Aisley struggled to get out of bed, stumbling as she threw her arms around Simon.

Then, she turned to Matilda and said, “Mommy, as long as I marry Simon, the royal family will leave us alone. Will you please agree to our union?”

Matilda looked at Simon and questioned, “Mr. Simon, will you marry my daughter and ensure the safety of the Lockett family? If you can't, then don't try to prevent me from taking her away. She has only two options: either she dies, or she obediently marries Prince Fabian. There are no other choices for her.”

Simon fell into silence.

The situation had escalated to a point of no return, and he could no longer detach himself from the predicament.

He found it difficult to make a decision.

Bailey leaned against the door outside and eavesdropped on their conversation. Sighing, she shook her head. “Simon is still too young and naive. He's being played like a fiddle by those two. If I don't step in today, they'll chew him up until there's nothing left.”

Artemis arched his eyebrows and chuckled. “An elder sibling is like a parent figure. I implore you to lend that blockhead a helping hand. Don't let him fall into their trap.”

In response, Bailey huffed and pushed the door open before entering.