A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 294

In the grand foyer of the Crowe mansion, tension crackled like a live wire about to snap. A ring of people encircled Orson and Logan, muscles tensed, ready to leap into action. Elodie stood to the side, her heart hammering in her chest. "Orson, for the last time, do you refuse to be a part of the Crowe family?"

"Yeah," Orson laughed bitterly, a rare display of emotion. "You might as well take me out right here and drag my dead body back to the Crowe mansion. Because living or dead, I'm not setting foot in that revolting place again."

Logan clutched at Orson's shirt, his voice quivering, "Uncle Orson... please, don't get hurt... don't die on me..."

Suddenly, Orson's mind flashed to Matilda's deceased brother.

He was the perfect stand-in for Logan and Matilda, and if he were to die, Logan's little face would crumple like a discarded paper bag, the image of a forsaken creature, too painful to bear.

He had to see this charade through to the bitter end.

Even if it meant playing Gideon's understudy for life.

Fueled by determination, Orson's attacks grew more vicious. Elodie watched in horror as her son spiraled out of her control. It was ludicrous that for the sake of another woman's child, her son was ready to turn his back on her.

"I'll tell you this," she spat venomously. "If you die, that bastard child you're holding won't last long either!"

Pointing at Logan, she cursed, "You're too clever for your age, a bad omen! Just wait till you grow up, no good will come of it!"

Logan shivered under her tirade. Orson, with a burst of strength, knocked a man to the ground, coughing up blood from his injuries. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he lifted his gaze to meet Elodie's.

His look was reminiscent of a cornered wild beast, surrounded and battered, fighting with ferocity.

Elodie stumbled back, chilled by the murderous intent in her son's eyes. As she regained her composure, her face turned ashen. "You dare to look at me with such hatred for the sake of an unknown child? Orson, have you no place for your mother in your eyes?"