FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO - Chapter 274

Chapter 274: Tongue-Tied
By noon the following day, Senator Gregory was preparing to leave for the Nova female correctional institution when he received an unexpected call from Maria Anderson.

Exhaling deeply, he received the call and brought the phone up to his ear.

“Good day, Mrs Anderson. How nice to hear from you this wonderful day.”

“There is nothing wonderful about today, senator.” Mrs Anderson’s voice was sharp, precise and very formal, lacking its usual warmth. “I know you’re a very busy man, so I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’ll go straight to the point. I’m calling in regards to my daughter-in-law.”

“Amelia?” Senator Gregory’s forehead furrowed by a fraction.

“Yes. My Amelia.”

“Hmm…” The senator chuckled but didn’t interrupt Maria.

“She came home yesterday looking very distressed and heartbroken. Although she didn’t want to bother me with her extended family issues, I did my research and found out that you are one of her problems, aside from your other worthless convicted daughter.”

“Excuse me!”

Senator Gregory, who was about to exit his office halted by the door, his hand frozen at the door knob. He was gobsmacked by Maria’s indirect insult.

“You heard me right, senator.”

“Is that what my daughter told you? That her sister and me are her problems?”

“Senator, I do not mean to be rude but I believe you are not deaf. You heard me clearly when I said I did my research thoroughly. Nevertheless, I didn’t call you to explain myself.”

“I simply called to warn you. My son and I forgave you and your family because of Amelia. Do not make me regret it. Messing with Amelia and my unborn grandchild is as good as messing with me, all over again.”

“Mrs Anderson, please, we’re not quarrelling. We are family friends, now. Amelia is also my daughter. I would never do anything to hurt her.”

“And yet here we are.” Maria hissed, her voice sounding like a venomous python about a strike its opponent.

Senator Gregory pinched his forehead, his heart heavy with confusion and slight anger.

“You may not value the gem in your life.” Maria continued talking, barely catching her breath. “But that gem is worth more than trillions to me and my son. It’s so unfortunate that you are too blind to differentiate between good and evil. Nevertheless, I won’t stand by and watch you hurt my daughter-in-law any more than you’ve already done in the past. I may not be her biological mother, but I’m twice a mother to her than you are a father.”

“Whoa! Whoa!! Slow down there, Mrs Anderson. It hasn’t gotten to this. You are highly mistaken and you are getting this all wrong.”

“No senator, it is you who is getting everything mixed up. Amelia has done you a huge favour by exposing the evil happening under your roof. She has taken her time to remove all the piranhas eating you up. But it seems you would rather dine with the devil than stand beside an angel. If you want to drown in the mud of foolishness, do it alone. Do not drag my daughter-in-law down with you. Good day, senator.”

The line abruptly disconnected leaving Senator Gregory completely baffled by Maria’s hostility and rage. He trudged back to his desk and sat down by the edge, massaging his forehead, anger bubbling in his veins.

This was the first time Maria had ever threatened him not even for her late husband but for the sake of his own daughter.

“How weird.”

He weighed Maria’s words and Amelia’s repulsive claims about Gwen being Matt’s biological daughter.

“No, Matt will not betray me like that. Moreover, I already have the paternity test for Gwen’s delivery. This was the reason why I accepted her and married Regina after Fiona’s death. Gwen is my daughter. Amelia must have gotten her facts wrong, this time. I just have to find a way to resolve the dispute between the sisters. I have to find a way to bring them back together.”

Inhaling and exhaling to ease the tension in his chest, Senator Gregory simply sent Amelia a text message, informing her that he was going to check up on Gwen before leaving the office.

–

–

After an extensive pep talk with Nora and her rotten gang of pregnant women, Gwen decided to put up a show to win all her father’s affection.

Immediately Gwen received words that her father was on his way to the infirmary, she quickly activated her plot, grunting and pretending to be in a lot of pain.

Gwen kept her eyes closed, scrunching her face every now and then, as her father came up to her bedside.

“Gwen…” Senator Gregory placed his hand on Gwen’s forehead while looking into her slightly pale face as she writhed in agony. He had already spoken to the doctor and he assured him that Gwen would be fine after a few days.

“Sweetheart, are you awake?”

Gwen shifted her body with a little difficulty before opening her eyes slowly.

“Dad…” She replied faintly as if she was completely spent. “You came.”

“Oh Gwen, I came here as fast as I could yesterday. I met you unconscious. I’m so sorry for what happened. How do you feel?”

“Like my life was ripped out from me. My baby is gone, dad. He is gone forever.”

Crying was not a difficult task for Gwen as tears flooded down the side of her temple, disappearing into the pillow.

“Oh my dear, I am very sorry.”

Senator Gregory sat down by the edge of her bed while stroking her hair and trying his best to console her.

“Why Dad? Why did he have to suffer for a crime he didn’t commit? He is innocent. He didn’t deserve such a cruel fate. I didn’t get to hold him in my arms. I didn’t get to show him to the world. Six months of pain in this hell hole all wasted for nothing. I just want to die. Let me just die with him.”

“Stop saying such nonsense Gwen.” Senator Gregory rebuked angrily but softly. “Stop talking about death. You are not going to die. You are still a young and beautiful woman. You can get married and have plenty more babies as your heart desires.”

“No, I won’t. I can’t go on living after everything Amelia told me. I can’t go on living when someone with ulterior motives had me drugged, leading to the death of my baby. I know I made a mistake but haven’t I paid enough for my crime? Did they have to kill my baby as well? Let me just die here, Dad. I have nowhere else to go.”

Gwen dropped the bait like Nora had rehearsed with her, hoping to win her father’s affection.

“Someone drugged you!”

The senator’s alarmed expression brought warmth to Gwen’s heart. She nodded her head and continued crying.

“Who! When! How!” The senator was livid with rage as his hands balled into a fist.

“I don’t know Dad. But it happened after Amelia left with threatening words that she would destroy me if I ever stepped foot into the mansion.”

“But you know your sister would never do such a wicked thing.” The senator countered.

“I don’t know what else to believe, Dad.” Gwen turned her face away from the senator disgusted by his statement.

“I was greedy and I made a huge mistake. But is that enough to destroy my life? I’m here because of her. My husband is gone because of her and now my child too. She claims you are not my father and that my mother is a whore, calling me an illegitimate bastard? All that is left for her now is to shoot me in the head with the help of her heartless husband. Wouldn’t it be better if I quietly die here?”

Gwen returned her cold and piercing gaze to her father, who felt tongue-tied and weak to defend Amelia in all of these accusations, knowing some of them were true.