111 Hug for a Moment
Keira’s eyes shone faintly, her voice soft lest she startle the old lady. “Then, how did we get our marriage certificate?”
Old Mrs. Horton said with a smile. “I remember that day. You wore a red sweater…”
A red sweater?
Keira paused slightly. Indeed, she had a red sweater, which she bought three years ago during New Year. She stayed alone in her rented room. She wanted to dress joyfully, so it wouldn’t feel so lonely.
And sure enough, that was the sweater she was wearing in the marriage certificate photo.
Old Mrs. Horton continued. “That brat was wearing a black suit, and off you two went to get your
certificate!”
Keira frowned.
The courthouse had said that getting married definitely required the presence of both parties. What
old Mrs. Horton said meant Keira had indeed obtained
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a marriage certificate with Lewis two years ago.
Why didn’t she or Lewis know about it?
It couldn’t be something as melodramatic as both of them having amnesia, could it?
Besides, she had a good memory. She clearly remembered everything she had done two years ago!
Keira continued. “How did we meet?”
Old Mrs. Horton looked at her earnestly. “Of course, it was because of me…”
“What did you do?”
Keira asked the question, but old Mrs. Horton yawned, and her gaze went from confused to clear. “Oh my, granddaughter-in-law, what are you doing up so
early?”
Keira hadn’t managed to get the crucial information, but it wasn’t a total loss. At least she now knew their marriage had indeed been orchestrated by the old lady, but what exactly the old lady had done, Keira didn’t
know.
She might as well wait until the clinical medication was ready and cure the old lady’s illness before
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discussing it further.
Keira sighed, “Grandma, it’s time for breakfast.”
After old Mrs. Horton had freshened up, both of them sat in the dining room.
The Horton family’s housekeeper had prepared a very abundant breakfast. Keira and old Mrs. Horton chatted while waiting for Lewis.
“That brat is so tall. I think he might be over six feet three.”
Old Mrs. Horton gestured with her hand, “He’s half a meter taller than me!”
Keira smiled. “Yes, he should be that tall.”
She wasn’t short herself and stood at one five feet si but every time she stood beside Lewis, she still felt petite.
As the two were chatting, a freshly groomed Lewis
came out.
Old Mrs. Horton simply asked, “Brat, how tall are you?”
The man looked puzzled, his gaze falling on Keira.
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“What’s up?”
Keira raised her eyebrows. “Just give it to me.”
Stunned, Lewis pressed his lips together, not speaking.
Old Mrs. Horton then said, “Brat, do as your wife says!”
Lewis lowered his gaze slightly and said to Keira, “Then why don’t you stand up?”
Keira obediently stood up.
She had thought he just wanted to see how much taller he was than her, but to her surprise, the next moment, he stepped forward, wrapping his arm around her waist, and pulling her into an embrace.
Keira was dumbfounded.
Her brain buzzed for a moment.
He must have just finished working out. Even thr her clothes, she could feel the resilience of the muscles on his chest. He had just taken a shower. H hair was still dripping, and his damp skin had the grassy scent of the shower gel.
Keira’s face flushed. Puzzled, she looked up only to see the man looking down at her intently. “Is this okay?”
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Keira blinked, “Huh?”
“Shall I continue?”
Keira was perplexed.
Her brain had crashed for several seconds before she
finally realized what was happening and pushed Lewis away in embarrassment. “I mean give me your height, not this…”
Lewis then realized his blunder, and his ears instantly turned red.
Old Mrs. Horton burst into laughter beside them. “This is better, much better than a number… Hug more when you’re free. I’d like to have a great-grand
soon…”
Keira held back her laughter and hurriedly sat do
Lewis couldn’t help but glance at her. Her smile wa bright, and the tips of her amorous eyes glistened. S reminded him of a dazzling dahlia blooming on the edge of a cliff, radiant and splendid, yet not affected by worldly affairs.
He withdrew his gaze and inst as he was about to sit
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on the other side of old Mrs. Horton, a voice rang out. “You’ve just come home, so we’ve come to join you for breakfast!”
The voice arrived before the people did.
Turning their heads, they saw Jake Horton’s mother, Melissa Knight, walk in with a smile.
Following her came Lewis’s father, Nathan, Jake’s father and Lewis’s older brother, Oliver, Jake, and Isla.
Once they entered, Fiona immediately arranged for the servants to get busy.
New tableware was brought out from the kitchen one after another and placed on the dining table.
Nathan took a seat directly opposite the long dini table from old Mrs. Horton, which was considered secondary position of honor.
Oliver sat in the first seat below him, and Jake naturally sat beside him…
Melissa approached Keira and said with a smile, “Miss Olsen, could you please make some room?”
Keira paused, and before she knew it, Melissa had already moved her cutlery toward the next chair.
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Before old Mrs. Horton could speak up, Melissa was already holding her hand, grinning.
“Granny, I come with good news today!”
Hearing this, Keira glanced subconsciously at Isla’s stomach. Was it this sort of good news?
While pondering, old Mrs. Horton also asked, “What good news?”
Melissa gestured for Isla to come to her side, and Isla moved closer. “Isla has made a big contribution to the police department, and the department wants to give her a public commendation! For the Horton family, this is definitely good news!”
A prestigious family like the Hortons valued reputa
above all.
Having a heroic daughter-in-law with a positive im was hugely beneficial for them.
Isla smiled and said, “I was just doing what I should.”
But Melissa shook her head, “That’s not how you should see it. You’ve done splendidly this time. I’ll have the Horton Group’s PR team promote this matter.
You’ll marry Jake in glory! In the future, you’ll be his
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lawful wife! The hostess of this family!”
Isla’s eyes immediately lit up, and her heart bloomed with joy.
She hadn’t expected that Connor would bring her such
honor!
With a sense of triumph, she glanced at Keira and then chuckled. “Auntie, thank you for your kindness.”
Melissa’s tone suddenly took a turn. “You deserve it. With such a positive image, you’ll represent Jake whenever you step out. It’s a good investment for the family.”
After that, she looked at Keira, smiled, and added, “Lewis, your wife has been studying abroad for th past two years. She doesn’t need to rush back. Le take care of family affairs. The police have given honors, and the public has given good reviews. Sh comes from a decent background, and since she’s presentable, our Horton family will support her…”
Lewis didn’t say a word.
Melissa then made room. “Come, Isla, sit here! Keep your great-grandmother company for the meal.”
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After that, she seemed to remember something and looked toward Keira. “Oh dear, I’m sorry. I’ve overlooked Miss Olsen, our guest. But you wouldn’t mind, right?”
Keira didn’t say anything.
At that moment, her phone chimed.
Keira took a look and discovered it was Josh from Twitter sending her a message. “Ms. S. I’ve discovered a secret! Isla isn’t the hero who exposed Connor. She’s in cahoots with him. I have evidence! I’m going to release it soon!”
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112 Exposure
Josh was stubborn and felt that he must uncover the truth behind anything that seemed unreasonable.»
That was the case with Keira before.
And now, it was the same with Isla.
Keira smiled, thinking it was for the best to let it all come out, lest Isla really believed she was some kind of self-proclaimed hero.
No sooner had she put away her phone than she heard Isla’s falsely sympathetic voice. “Auntie, it’s not that
Keira is ignoring you, it’s just her personality. Please don’t take it to heart…”
Keira was perplexed.
She turned her head to find Melissa’s face darkened, retorting upon hearing those words. “Miss Olsen, didn’t your mother teach you to be polite when visiting someone’s home? It’s disrespectful to ignore someone when they’re speaking to you.”
Opposite them, Lewis glanced over with a frown. He was about to speak when that dazzling woman looked
up languidly and said, “What did you just say?”
Melissa simply sneered. “I said, Isla should sit next to Mrs. Horton. She has a lot to tell her after all. You don’t mind, do you?”
At that, Keira just shook her head.
Melissa thought she meant she didn’t mind and was
about to say more when she heard Keira say, “Sorry, I
do mind.”
Melissa was taken aback, “You!”
Keira spread her hands. “I have no manners, right? So of course, I wouldn’t know what politeness is.”
Melissa found herself speechless, stunned by the response.
In a world where high society placed immense value on dignity and appearances, why was Keira not playing by the rules?
Keira calmly corrected her crooked cutlery, which Melissa had pushed aside.
Isla then chimed in. “Auntie, please don’t take offense
at Keira, it’s my fault. Her mother’s background is special. She didn’t teach Keira well from the start, and as her sister, I failed to supervise her properly…”
Melissa scoffed. “What does it have to do with you? An illegitimate daughter simply can’t be seen in public!”
At these words, Lewis abruptly turned to her, his deep eyes flashing a coldness. “Is what you just said appropriate for the public? To malign a guest to their face, is that the Knight family’s teaching?”
Melissa choked, then looked pitifully at Nathan, “Dad…”
The sixty-something-year-old Nathan slapped the table hard. “Lewis, who taught you to talk to your
sister-in-law like that?”
Lewis’s expression remained indifferent, and he said
nothing.
But Old Mrs. Horton, nearly eighty-five, smacked her hands on the table. “Enough! Did you all come here to eat, or to pick fights? Keira is Lewis’s wife, and she’s the master of this household! You all will show her the respect she deserves!”
Everybody was taken aback, looking at Keira in unison,
“Wife?”
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Isla quickly explained, “Great-grandma mistook Keira for Mr. Horton’s wife…”
And then, it dawned on everyone.
Melissa spoke in a sardonic tone. “I was wondering why you were suddenly so nice to a stranger, but some people should have some self-awareness and know exactly what their status is… Lewis, you just silently allow old Mrs. Horton to mistake her identity. How are you going to explain it to your wife when she returns to the country?”
Lewis glanced at Keira and said indifferently, “She won’t mind.”
Melissa wanted to say something more when old Mrs. Horton turned to her. “I see you’re clearly not her r the meal. Speak up. What’s your real purpose for coming here? Spit it out quickly and leave. Don’t ru the mood for me and my granddaughter-in-law!”
Melissa immediately smiled sheepishly, looking towar
Oliver.
Oliver cleared his throat and said, “Grandma, here’s the thing. Isla is an excellent graduate of Oceanion
University, and now she has made a great impact
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online. You’re unaware that the internet is full of praise for our family’s good values, claiming that we pick our wives for their character, and Isla’s assistance with the police case has spread far and wide. Shouldn’t such an outstanding great-granddaughter-in-law be rewarded somewhat?”
Old Mrs. Horton frowned. “You reward her, then!”
Oliver’s mouth twitched, and he said nothing, once again looking at Melissa.
Melissa felt exasperated at how difficult it was to get her husband to speak, but she had to resume the conversation. “Grandma, we have given her a reward, but shouldn’t you also show some gesture?”
Old Mrs. Horton didn’t understand. “What kind of gesture should I show?”
“When Lewis married his wife, you gave her three percent of the shares. Now it’s Isla’s turn. Didn’t you say last time that you wanted to give her two percent?
Old Mrs. Horton took a deep breath and glanced at Isla. “I’m not giving her any.”
Melissa was stunned, “Why not?”
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Old Mrs. Horton said, “I don’t like her.”
Isla suddenly bit her lip and bowed her head, a hint of hatred showing in her eyes.
The old hag!
With a sense of being wronged, she pleaded. “Great-grandma, I know I made mistakes before, but I’ve changed… How am I supposed to establish myself in the Horton family after this?”
She bowed her head, wiping away tears.
Jake frowned. “Great-grandma, you…”
Before he could finish, Lewis’s stern glance came sweeping over, scaring him into shutting his mouth.
It was actually Melissa who spoke out recklessly, “Grandma, you can’t be so partial! You’ve always favored Lewis since he was young, and we understood because of his age, but what about now? The wives all married into the family from the outside. With such favoritism, are you holding a grudge against our first
branch?”
After that, she started crying and turned to Nathan. “Dad, I didn’t get any shares when I married Oliver.
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Now that you’ve set a precedent with Lewis, it was agreed that Jake would get two percent upon marriage. Isla is so excellent, so gifting her the shares would sound so good when mentioned! Why are you so biased, Grandma? Does the first branch still have any standing in this family? Or is it that to you, only Lewis is your grandson, and we from the first branch
aren’t?”
Upon hearing this, Nathan turned to old Mrs. Horton, “Mom, as the head of the family, you can’t show such favoritism! Previously, you said you disliked Isla and didn’t give her any; that’s fine. But now that Isla has shown excellence and everyone outside is praising her, as the matriarch of the family, if you don’t make a gesture, it’s utterly inappropriate! Even for the sake of the Horton family, you should symbolically offer som
reward!”
Seeing an opportunity, Isla immediately approached old Mrs. Horton. “Great-grandma, I know I’ve made a mistake. If you’re still angry, then punish me… I’ll do anything as long as you’re no longer upset. Should I continue kneeling in the ancestral hall?”
At these words, Melissa blurted out, “You’re seen as a
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hero in the public eye; if news of you kneeling in the ancestral hall comes out, what face will the Horton family have left? Is this how you treat a hero who is about to be honored by the police and greatly acknowledged by society? What will we do if the media writes something about it? Grandma, can’t you consider the Horton family’s reputation a bit more?”
Just as the group of people were berating old Mrs. Horton, Keira’s phone rang again.
She picked it up and saw a Twitter message from Josh, and it read #Miss Olsen has never provided any evidence; she deceived everyone!#
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113 Fairness
Keira opened the Twitter post and saw that it was a video shot by Josh.
In the video, Isla and Connor met each other, hiding in a corner. Due to the distance, it was unclear what they were saying; one could only see that Connor was very agitated.
Josh tried to get closer, and the camera slowly moved through an inconspicuous corner. After closing in, one could hear the voices of the two people talking, with Isla saying, “Don’t panic. As long as you don’t slip up, the police won’t have any evidence. The job you did
was seamless!”
Connor replied anxiously, “But now the journalists are
all after me…”
Suddenly, Isla yelled out, “Who’s there?”
They both turned around to look at the camera.
Immediately, Josh’s camera shifted to the side, capturing the ground.
Then Isla’s voice followed, “What did you manage to
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capture?”
Josh spoke up. “I’m a journalist. I have the right to disclose anything I capture!”
Isla took a deep breath. “How much do you want? I can give it to you! Just delete the video!”
Connor also came closer, saying, “Right. Delete the video, or you won’t be leaving here today!”
His voice carried a chilling malice.
Josh was clearly nervous. “Alright, I’ll delete it now.”
His camera went black.
However, what Connor and Isla might not realize was that the technology for follow-up filming had
improved greatly. At least, the footage shot by journalists could be instantly transmitted to online.
storage.
After posting the video, Josh immediately tweeted, “Miss Olsen and Connor were plotting together, showing a fierce demeanor. At that time, I feigned cooperation and deleted the video. Later, I received an anonymous recording and handed it over to the police myself! Yet Miss Olsen shamelessly snatched the
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credit!”
Josh didn’t have many followers, so this tweet didn’t attract much attention after it was posted.
Josh sent Keira the link to the Twitter post and then made a request. “Ms. S, the voice of one person might not be heard by society. Could you help me by sharing
it?”
Keira’s Twitter account had several million followers.
Back when she was working part-time as a journalist, her posts were known to be fair and objective, which made them popular, and she later went viral for exposing a major corporation for discharging polluted
water.
People had a lot of trust in her messages.
Over the years, whenever there were reports that struggled to gain attention, people in the journalist circle liked to seek her help.
Keira would have someone investigate the matter thoroughly and, if it turned out to be true, she would agree to share it.
Every post she shared would draw public attention.
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Of course, Josh’s post didn’t need any investigation.
Keira had been a participant all along and was very clear about the truth, so she chose to share it right away. Almost the instant she did, people started to
react.
“Ms. S is playing the hero again!”
“Let’s see what the incident is this time?”
“The internet has been abuzz with the story of a Miss Olsen bravely stepping forward and handing in a recording, turns out it’s fake?! Damn! No wonder the police haven’t issued any reward notice! It’s been hyped so much that I actually thought it was true!”
“Someone has already said that Miss Olsen is going to marry into the Horton family, as in Oceanion’s riches the Hortons. Would they accept someone with such character?”
After retweeting, Keira didn’t look at the comments online anymore.
She leisurely put away her phone and looked at the exquisite breakfast on the dining table.
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If the quarrel continued and she didn’t eat, it would get cold. What a waste!
She was thinking about that when a fork suddenly appeared and placed a croissant onto her plate.
Keira was slightly startled.
But when she looked up, she met Lewis’s eyes, which were filled with a smile.
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