Marry My Billionaire Second Husband - Chapter 257

Chapter 257: News Leaked
Raising an eyebrow, Matteo asked, “Which is?”

“If you do find anything, I hope you will share it with me before going to the tabloids,” Horace said. “After all, this is still a personal family matter― as the head of the Hawthorne household, I would like to get to the bottom of this before all the dirty laundry is aired out as though my family is nothing but a group of court jesters.”

“That can be arranged,” Matteo promised. “Provided if Amelia agrees.”

Amelia caught sight of the exhaustion lining her grandfather’s face and nodded. “I’ll let you know if anything happens― but grandfather, I will still go to the media if Annalise or anyone else tries to slander our name. I’ve had enough of enduring their slander.”

“Very understandable.” Horace Hawthorne sighed heavily. “I only regret that I couldn’t do more to protect you. I’ve not been a good guardian for you, I’m afraid. Whatever vitriol your father spat at me in anger was entirely founded.”

“Grandpa, you were in the hospital because of a heart attack,” Amelia corrected gently. “The only thing you should have been doing was focusing on recovering. Besides… it wasn’t as though I was completely without support.”

She chanced a glance at Matteo.

“Yes… you’re right. I’m glad that you had someone with you during this trying time,” Horace said, yet the guilt refused to leave him.

He was regretful at his own lapse of duty, but thankfully his granddaughter was made of sterner stuff than he expected. A small yawn escaped his mouth, and both Amelia and Matteo sprang to attention.

“I’ll send you back home to rest,” Matteo said firmly.

“I’ll come with you,” Amelia offered. “I’ve barely had the chance to visit the Hawthorne mansion in these past few months.”

The only time she visited them was when they had a family dinner, and Emmeline had tossed Hope For Scholars into her lap like an unwanted toy. Needless to say, that was not an enjoyable experience.

“But Annalise would be there,” Matteo argued, shaking his head. “I don’t want you to be anywhere near her, especially not when the news breaks. She might turn violent.”

“If she does, I will have her thrown out of the Hawthorne estate without delay,” Horace declared. “Amelia is my rightful granddaughter, I will not have her cower and hide away from her own estate because of an interloper.”

He reached out a grainy hand and held Amelia’s own, giving her a shaky squeeze.

“They have bullied you for long enough. While you have chosen to take the high road to minimize confrontation, that is the very reason why they continue to target you,” Horace said. “You do not have to tolerate this.”

Amelia agreed wholeheartedly.

“Fine, but Sean will be coming with us.” Matteo could only agree to make Amelia happy.

And then they were off to the Hawthorne mansion.

***

“Bastards!” Emmeline screamed, distraught. She grasped her phone with trembling fingers, her chest nearly wheezing with exertion.

The machines attached to monitor her vitals began to beep frantically, telegraphing her wild heart rate.

“Emmeline, calm yourself. You can’t risk your baby―” Annalise immediately stood up, fluttering next to her daughter in panic.

She jabbed at the button to frantically call for medical assistance. Her precious daughter had gone insane when she just looked at her phone. What was wrong with her?!

“Fuck the fetus, Mother!” Emmeline howled, as she tugged at her hair in fervent desperation. “They know it’s not Matteo’s! My life is over!”

“What on earth?” Annalise’s face paled immediately. “That’s just rumors, baby, you can’t believe them―”

“The DNA test result is out for the world to see!” Emmeline shrieked, tossing her phone at her mother.

Annalise winced as the hard plastic hit her body, but she picked it up anyway. Now, her daughter’s condition was fragile, and the doctor said that it was best to keep her emotions calm.

Annalise would only swallow her anger at the disrespect. She had been pregnant once, so she knew very well how bad her mood swings could get. There was no point in scolding Emmeline for her behavior now― the only thing she could do was to help her resolve this mess. Hopefully, this was just Emmeline overreacting again.

But her eyes widened as she caught sight of the article. True enough, Lady Vanity had posted the results of the DNA test for Emmeline’s child, and it proved, without a doubt, that Matteo was not the father!

She scrolled down and realized with shaking horror that the news had already gone viral. News of her daughter’s infidelity had hit the news portals, legitimate or otherwise. The city was in shock at the twist in the case, and netizens were hurling all sorts of insults at her precious daughter.

This was a massive blow to her― Annalise didn’t care if Emmeline had gotten knocked up from a random sperm sample, what she cared about was the rest of the world knowing about it! Emmeline was already disinherited from the Hawthornes, she could only count on the goodwill of the Montgomery family.

Catherine would lose her mind!

“Get the doctors here― I want all of them to be fired! Benji Wales, you better have an explanation!” Annalise screamed. “They did this behind our backs― we’ll sue them and make them pay!”

After all, what was the point of paying for a premium ward in an expensive hospital if private medical information could be leaked so easily like this?!

The poor doctors and nurses who entered the room were stunned when they stumbled upon the sight of two hysterical women screaming loudly in the room.

“Miss Hawthorne, please calm down,” one of the doctors said weakly.

“Get Benji here!” Emmeline yelled out.

Her mother’s words had lit a fire in her. She didn’t consent to having her blood drawn, so if push came to shove, she’d make sure Matteo and Amelia pay for this crime― if she did not have Matteo, then no one else would have him!