Chapter 458:

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She did not intend to hide this from Connor. Whatever the final result might be, he had the right to know the truth and prepare for what was coming.

Yet she also understood that seeing his mother’s ruthlessness laid bare would cut him deeper than any threat Evelyn had made.

A long, tired breath slipped from Joslyn’s lips.

The housekeeper, who had been waiting anxiously in Lexie’s room, noticed the silence outside and carefully opened the door before hurrying downstairs.

When she found Joslyn sitting alone on the sofa, her face pale and her whole body looking drained of strength, the housekeeper’s expression changed at once. “Joslyn, are you alright? That woman did not do anything to you, did she?”

Joslyn blinked slowly, as though only then being pulled back into the present. After a moment, she forced out a small, strained smile, her voice still hoarse. “I am fine. How is my grandma?”

“She drank some warm milk and has just lain down,” the housekeeper replied, though the worry in her eyes had not faded. “She was still a little frightened, so I stayed with her for a while. She should be falling asleep soon.”

“You should rest too.” Joslyn turned toward Lexie’s room. “I will sit with her.”

𝖱𝖾𝘢𝗱 𝘧𝘳𝘦e nov𝖾𝘭𝘀 о𝘯 𝗀a𝗹𝘯о𝘷e𝗅𝗌.𝖼𝗼𝘮

She pushed the door open with care. Inside, the room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of a small nightlight.

Lexie lay curled on her side with her eyes closed, but even in sleep, her brows were lightly drawn together as if the fear had not fully left her.

Joslyn sat down quietly at the edge of the bed and reached for Lexie’s hand.

The moment her fingers touched Lexie’s, the old lady’s hand twitched, and then tightened around hers. A second later, Lexie’s eyes slowly fluttered open. “Is that mean woman gone?”

“Yes, she’s gone.” Joslyn lowered her voice, gently covering Lexie’s hand with both of hers to warm it. “You are safe now, Grandma. She will not come back.”

“She’s bad…” Lexie murmured weakly. “She bullied you, Josy…”

“No, I’m okay. She didn’t bully me.” The words had barely left Joslyn’s mouth before a lump rose in her throat. She bent down and carefully wrapped her arms around Lexie, patting her back with a soft, steady rhythm. “Sleep, Grandma. I am right here with you.”

“Mm… You are here…” Lexie’s voice grew faint. “Then I am not scared…”

Her murmurs gradually faded. Under Joslyn’s gentle comfort, her eyelids grew heavy and slowly closed again.

Still, Joslyn did not move. She remained beside the bed, holding Lexie.

Yet in the silence, Evelyn’s words returned to her mind one by one.

“Choose another head…”

“Can you truly bear to watch Connor lose everything because of you?”

“Leave because you chose to, without forcing him to witness the struggle. Only then will he be able to move on without blaming himself.”

A sharp ache spread through Joslyn’s chest, so painful that even breathing became difficult.

She did not want to leave Connor.

But she could not bear the thought of being the reason he lost everything he had fought for.

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