Chapter 57
“It’s exactly as you see,” he said, his voice tinged with a blend of sorrow and weariness. “We, the Ferguson family, failed Alice. It was my failure to discipline my own son!”
Yeah, Alice was my late mother-in-law. Hearing this, I was plunged into deep shock.
I had always thought she died from complications during childbirth.
But she didn’t. She was pushed down the stairs when she was nine months pregnant.
And the person who did it? It was Teresa, the very woman who had been like a second. mother to Bryant, making herself a martyr to save him, only to end up in a vegetative State
My mind was a mess.
How could she show such kindness to Bryant, yet be the one who killed his birth mother? It defied all human logic…
Before I could sort through my thoughts, Timothy continued, “Can’t figure out why she could be so kind to Bryant, huh?”
“Yes…”
He scoffed, “Nothing but self-interest and calculation.”
“After the death of Bryant’s mother, my bewildered son insisted on marrying Teresa into the family. Teresa had tampered with the surveillance before acting, thinking she had covered her tracks. She played all her cards -crying, making scenes, even threatening to hang herself-pressuring me to give in.”
At this point, it dawned on me. “You managed to restore the surveillance footage?” I asked.
“Yes.”
Timothy nodded, his disappointment palpable as he spoke through clenched teeth, “But my son was so bewitched, even with the evidence right before his eyes, he still wanted to marry Teresa!”
In a fit of rage, Timothy hurled his teacup across the room!
Seeing how angry he still could get made me realize just how furious he must have been at the time.
Worried that he might get too worked up, Gary quickly patted his back and took over the conversation.
“Mr. Ferguson was really cornered, that’s why he finally agreed to let Teresa into the family. But there were conditions. One, a prenuptial agreement stating that the Ferouson
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Chapter 57
family’s wealth had nothing to do with her.”
“The other was ensuring Bryant’s safety and wellbeing. Otherwise, all the evidence would be handed over to the police.”
Premeditated murder.
That would be enough to put Teresa away for good.
I felt a chill listening to all this.
I had never imagined the depth of animosity and rejection Timothy had for Teresa and her daughter, Margaret.
The “loving mother” Bryant remembered was merely a façade put up after being found out by Timothy.
Hesitantly, I asked, “Does Bryant know about any of this…?”
“Mr. Ferguson couldn’t bear to tell him.”
Gary seemed to hold back, offering only this explanation.
I felt there was more to it but didn’t press further.
Not just Timothy, I too felt a pang of pity for Bryant.
To lose his mother so young, and to realize the stepmother he was so grateful to might have never truly cared for him…
And what about Margaret?
Did she know all this?
Thinking about it made my scalp tingle.
But then, I realized it wasn’t my place to interfere.
At least, Bryant genuinely cared for Margaret.
“Margaret was raised solely by Teresa; her mind is definitely not simple,” Timothy sighed, “That’s why I was so against Bryant marrying her. Now that Bryant marries a good girl like you, I’m even more hesitant…”
He paused, then continued pleadingly, “Jane, can we postpone the divorce talk?”
“Timothy…”
“Don’t worry, just a postponement.” He continued, almost as if he was making a promise, “After my eightieth birthday, if that boy still hasn’t made you happy, you can think about divorce again, and I won’t stop you.”
“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
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I didn’t hesitate and agreed right away.
Ever since I joined the Ferguson family, Timothy had shown me nothing but love, never making demands or allowing anyone to trouble me.
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