Chapter 228
Chapter 228:
She reached for Albert’s arm, but he recoiled from her touch. Undeterred, she dissolved into tears, her voice breaking. “All these years, my mother couldn’t be with you—she had her reasons! After all those years of marriage… now she’s confined to her bed, calling your name day after day. Can’t you find it in your heart to visit her, even just once p>
Albert, compassionate by nature, began to waver under the weight of her carefully crafted desperation.
As he hesitated, teetering on the edge of acquiescence, Helena—who had been observing from behind—stepped forward decisively.
Positioning herself as a shield before her father, she addressed Emily with unwavering resolve. “Return and tell Gemma to cease tormenting my father. He will not see her—not for a single moment p>
Helena’s sudden appearance momentarily threw Emily off balance.
After appraising Helena briefly, Emily let out a mocking smile. “Oh, Helena… instead of interfering in your father’s affairs, perhaps you should address your own precarious situation first p>
She honed in on Helena’s vulnerability with surgical precision. “Being Mrs. Wilson hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, has it? Just recently, I witnessed your public evisceration online. What creative insults did Mr. Wilson’s admirers hurl at you?” She tapped her chin in mock contemplation. “Let me recall…” She snapped her fingers with theatrical timing. “Ah, yes! They branded you a gold-digger, declared you unworthy of Mr. Wilson, and accused you of shameless opportunism p>
“That’s enough!” Albert erupted first, his entire frame trembling with barely contained fury.
Helena ignored Emily’s barbs, instead placing a calming hand on her father’s chest. “Dad, don’t let her provoke you. Your health is still fragile—you can’t afford to become agitated now p>
“Ha!” Emily’s shoulders lifted in a dismissive shrug as her lips curled. “No wonder you excel in media, Helena—your acting skills are remarkable! I mention Mr. Wilson, and you feign indifference, but beneath that facade, you’re terrified, aren’t you? Back then, Mr. Wilson merely needed someone to play a part—he wanted his family to believe he was lovesick, to lower their defenses. Now that his revenge is complete, you’re nothing but a discarded pawn, aren’t you p>
Helena maintained her silence, which Emily interpreted as confirmation of her cutting assessment.
Emily closed in on Helena, her words cutting like a blade. “With Mr. Wilson’s wealth and status these days, marrying a lady from a real high-society family is his destiny. The only reason he hasn’t cast you aside yet is to maintain appearances. He simply doesn’t want things to turn ugly too quickly p>
𝒍𝒂tｅ𝒔t 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏
She narrowed her eyes, poison dripping from every syllable. “But what if your marriage were exposed now? Mr. Wilson would sacrifice anything to shield his reputation. He’d discard you without a second thought, wouldn’t he p>
Emily had sought out Albert with a calculated purpose—to manipulate him into pressuring Helena for money.
Though doubting Alden truly loved Helena, she recognized that as long as Helena remained Alden’s wife, financial opportunity existed.
When Helena intercepted her plan, Emily abandoned subtlety.
She believed direct threats would force Helena to surrender the money. Her voice transformed, suddenly honey-sweet. “We’re sisters. Just help Mom and me this once, and your secret stays safe—what do you say p>