BOOKSDRAMA Chapter 341
Chapter 341
“Mrs. Mercer?” Sebastian called out again, noticing that Iris had not responded.
Octavia, quick to seize the moment, immediately stepped in to answer, “The things from the past, those happened decades ago.
It was all managed by my mother’s ex–husband. She’s just an ordinary woman, and she doesn’t know anything about this.
Anyway, she raised Joycelyn from childhood, there’s no doubt about that.”
Sebastian shot her a sharp look, his irritation clear. “I didn’t ask you to speak. Please remain quiet,” he commanded in a cold
vode.
Octavia’s smile faltered, and she gave a sheepish grin, replying, “Okay,”
“Mrs. Mercer,” Sebastian continued, his voice icy and sharp, “If you can’t answer these questions, then we have every reason to
suspect that you didn’t legally adopt Joycelyn–that maybe you bought her from human traffickers or kidnapped her. That’s a
crime.”
Iris’s face went pale as Sebastian’s words hit her like a slap.
Back at the mansion, Joycelyn, watching the scene unfold on the screen, felt a pang of curiosity. How had she been adopted all
those years ago?
But despite her best efforts, she couldn’t remember a thing. Her family had moved away shortly after, and they had no contact
with relatives. She had been cut off from her past, with only her adoptive parents as a point of reference.
Iris, visibly trembling, quickly responded, “No, we didn’t commit any crimes. We didn’t steal or kidnap her.” She was desperate to
defend herself, as though trying to avoid being labeled a criminal.
Sebastian, without showing any emotion, pressed on. “Then how did you adopt her? Explain it clearly.”
Iris, becoming more anxious by the second, finally gave in and told the whole story. “At the time, both my late husband and I
were orphans with no family.
“We had been married for several years without a child, and one New Year’s Eve, we were passing down a quiet road when we
saw someone throwing a bundle into a ravine. We didn’t think much of it at first, but then we heard a child crying from the bottom
of the hill.
“My late husband climbed down to check, and it was a little girl with blood all over her head. We felt sorry for her, thinking she
was just a child someone had abandoned, so we brought her home.”
“Why didn’t you call the police?” Sebastian asked, his voice cutting through the air.
“In those days, no one cared much about a girl. We thought she was just unwanted, so we took her in. After we nursed her back
to health, she was so cute, we couldn’t bear to send her to an orphanage. I couldn’t have children of my own, so we decided to
raise her ourselves,” Iris explained, her voice filled with a mix of guilt and resignation.
She knew well that people with money had the means to dig into everything, and she didn’t try to hide anything.
“That’s how it happened,” she concluded.
Octavia, unable to contain herself, spoke up, “Even though it wasn’t the most proper adoption, my mom and 1 Joycelyn’s life and
raised her. That’s an undeniable act of kindness.”
saved
“The truth will be investigated. We do indeed thank you for raising Joycelyn,” Timothy said, his voice firm, signaling his assistant
to pass over a prepared document.
When Octavia and Iris saw the sealed envelope, their eyes widened.
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“This is a set of the best real estate in the city center, registered under Mrs Meroy’s name, dong with a
自
crust
fund for your retirement The Schultz family will also arrange for you to live in the beet murning home and provide the best care
for you in your later years. Timothy said, handing it over
Octavia immediately grabbed the document, eyeing it suspiciously. “You, the Schultz family, and the Grant family are on rich, and
this is all you’re offering? It’s just a suite. Why not at least give us a villa?
Iris, who didn’t have strong feelings about the offer at first, began to agree with Octavia, feeling the amount was a bit too linle
“To little? Even though you raised Joycelyn, our investigation shows that after the entered the Mercer family, the Stred under
poor conditions, Jeff suddenly spoke, his tone stern.
Octavia and Iris froze, their expressions shifting uncomfortably. The words clearly uruck a nerve
Jeff, his anger rising, continued, “Joycelyn had to take out student loans, work part–time to pay for food, and even gave her
earnings to the Mercer family. After starting work, she had to give up most of her salary, and her meals were never more than 2
dollars.
your late husband’s involvement. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see a penny?
His words, biting and full of resentment, hung in the air like ice.
The atmosphere in the room grew even colder.
Joycelyn felt a warmth inside as she watched this unfold.
Ellison, noticing something was off, quickly messaged Timothy asking about the man who had tried to harm Joycelyn. “Did you
ask her about the man who tried to harm her all those years ago?” Ellison asked, watching the interaction closely.
Joycelyn, curious, glanced at the screen and then asked Ellison, “What did you message Timothy about?”
“I asked him to inquire about the man who hurt you,” Ellison replied softly.
At that moment, Timothy’s voice echoed through the room as he asked, “Do you remember the man who left Joycelyn in the
ravine?”
Iris paused, her face showing signs of hesitation as she began to recall. Before she could speak, Octavia cut in sharply. “Mr.
Schultz, my mother’s cooperating with your investigation, shouldn’t you show some appreciation?”
Octavia, sensing the shift in the situation, took advantage of it and pressed for more.
“Why don’t you just answer them?” Timothy’s voice turned icy as he looked at her. “What do you want?”
“We don’t care about the money or the house. We just want to remain a family with Joycelyn, just like before, living happily
together,” Octavia said, wrapping her arm around Iris. “My mom is getting older and wants Joycelyn to stay close. After raising
her for almost twenty years, how can she just let her go? You understand, right?”
Iris, sensing the tension in her arm, nodded quickly. “Yes, after raising her for so long, money doesn’t matter. Having my
daughter with me is what counts most.”
Joycelyn, watching from the screen, could feel the deceit and manipulation in their words. It made her laugh bitterly.
Ellison, squeezing her hand, whispered, “Your step–sister is probably eyeing one of your brothers, but she’s clev use you to get
even more later on.”
nough to
“What should we do about it? I have a feeling I wasn’t just lost... someone is trying to harm me,” Joycelyn said, her expression
tightening, her usually soft face now showing a rare seriousness.
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She had always been a cute child, and if she had fallen into the wrong hands, they would have definitely wanted to self her at a
good price–if not that, they might have wanted her dead.
“You guys aren’t helpless; don’t worry,” Ellison reassured, patting her hand and signaling her to continue watching