Way Back Into Love (Essie)

Valery was no competition for Essie, so she definitely had to help her out!

At that moment, Valery rushed toward Zac to look at the document. She was unbelieving until she saw the clear photo and name on the marriage certificate. Hysterical, she clamped her hands over her ears, screamed like a banshee and promptly lost consciousness.

Zac alertly caught Valery in his arms before she crumpled to the floor. "Call the doctor," he instructed the hovering house help and then carried her into a guest room.

Of course, his sole concern was the baby, not the mother.

Elizabeth and Mary also followed him to take care of the patient.

Essie stayed in the living room alone. It was unnecessary for her to enter the room, anyway.

Albert did not move an inch; he only took a sip of tea and examined his daughter-in-law.

The girl spoke not a single word from beginning to end. She was quiet like a breeze, seemingly trying to shrink until she was out of sight, but the fact was she had always been the center of attention. What surprised him more was her unflappable calm throughout the discussion. Even with all of the barbs and provocation that Elizabeth and her daughter spouted, her expression did not change at all. How could his son be blind? The woman he liked must be very special.

In addition, he liked the girl. She was pure like the first strand of faint blue in the horizon at dawn, just like someone he knew.

Essie was uneasy at first, but Albert's gentle, doting look helped her calm down.

In this family, the one who was difficult to get along with was not this powerful leader, but his wife.

The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had always been a headache.

Essie realized that Mary wanted to insult her by soft words. She was perfectly satisfied with Valery, not with her.

The doctor arrived to check up on Valery. To their relief, the doctor said that her fainting spell was only due to extreme mental stress and assured them that the baby was safe.

Elizabeth's face darkened. She turned to look at her daughter with a sad look and asked, "Mary, isn't your son being too thoughtless right now? Why else would he marry another woman when Valery is pregnant with his son. Had he always intended to shirk all responsibility toward my daughter and her son like this? You know that Valery cannot give birth to this child without a respectable name. He must give her an explanation for this foolishness!"

Mary heaved a helpless sigh. Her son had always been rebellious since he was a kid. By the time he was five years old, she was no longer allowed to interfere with his affairs. Zac had always made decisions for himself. His father believed that Zac's independence was a good thing and allowed him to have his way, which resulted in his arrogant and unruly personality.

"Elizabeth, don't worry. I'll talk to him about this matter later," she replied comfortingly to the other woman's diatribe.

Elizabeth snorted, "From the first time I saw her, I knew that the woman he brought back was no good. She is the absolute opposite of Valery, who is gentle, kind, and innocent without any guile. I'm afraid that that woman harbors a grudge against the baby in Valery's belly. Mark my words, she will do anything to get between Valery and your son and harm her and the baby."

Mary answered in a steely voice, "I'm here. She wouldn't dare." Mary patted Elizabeth's hand, determination sparkling in her eyes. "I won't allow anyone to hurt Valery and my grandson."

Unseen by the other woman, Elizabeth's mouth took on an imperceptible, insidious curve.

She had sworn that her daughter would marry into this family and become the heir's wife. She would kill anyone who would get in the way of reaching that goal.

Valery woke up crying hysterically. She never thought that Zac really did not want to marry her even though she was carrying his child.

Elizabeth hurried to her side comforting her, "What is it, my love? Don't worry, we can still have her kicked out. I was able to drive away Lucy even if she had two daughters. As long as you have the trump card, the baby son, you will surely get Zac. Now, stop crying. You could hurt the baby, and you don't want to give that bitch that satisfaction, do you?"

Upon hearing these words, Valery stopped crying at once.

Her mother was right. She was the one carrying Zac's son in her womb, while that woman was nothing but a shirt that could always be replaced. Her son would never be dispensable because he was Zac's own flesh and blood. She had to endure and fight so that she could drive that woman away, but...

"What if... She herself is pregnant at this point?"

"If she is pregnant, then I will find a way to ensure that she would never give birth to any baby. Permanently." It wouldn't have been the first time for her to do such a thing. After all, that was her "masterpiece"- the reason why Lucy never gave birth again.

Considering Valery's poor health, Mary asked the mother and daughter to stay in the house for a day and instructed the kitchen staff to prepare chicken soup for the expectant mother.

Zac took Essie to his room and asked her to rest.

Since he came back from United States, he had been living at a different house outside of the villa, returning only to visit during festivals.

As soon as the door was shut, Essie's face darkened.

She hadn't forgiven his cheating yet. The intimacy that they showed just then was pure acting.

Restless, she walked over to the window and looked out at the sparkling lake in the distance.

The plot changed so fast; she didn't even have time to digest anything before she had to head to battle with her gun. Now, it was time to calm down.

Zac came to stand beside her. A frown on his handsome face, he said in a frustrated voice, "If, from the beginning, I told you who I really was and the matter between me and Valery, do you think you would have been able to face me so freely?"