Exposing the Charade of Deep Affection (PDF)
Chapter 77

Chapter 77 Ashley Also Knew How to Ask for Help

After speaking, she cried even more pitifully, her voice choked with sobs, "Tabatha, can you please pity me and the child in my belly?"

I watched her crying as if her heart was breaking, my brow twitching uncontrollably. What was she planning to pull this time?

Taking a step back, I looked at her and calmly asked, "Why doesn't sister want to go abroad?"

She sobbed, devoid of her usual pretense, looking utterly pitiful. "I'm scared... Henry, he forcibly took me abroad years ago. For the two years I was with him, he tortured me day and night. I barely managed to escape and return home, I don't want to go back. If he finds me now, not only will I not survive, but the child in my belly won't either. Tabatha, you're about to become a mother too, I beg you, don't make me leave the country, please. I beg you to save us, mother and child."

I pursed my lips, looking at her. If it weren't for the conversation I overheard between her and Henry in the small building that day, I would have truly believed her in this moment.

Seeing her tear-streaked face and pitiful appearance, I didn't rush to speak. Instead, I turned to Walter and asked, "Is there any red date bird's nest left in the kitchen? Could you serve a portion for my sister?" Walter's handsome brows furrowed, not understanding why I would say such a thing at this time. But seeing me staring straight at him, he still nodded, turned around, and went to the kitchen. Seeing Walter leave, I crouched down, moved closer to Ashley, and playfully toyed with her somewhat messy hair. With a sarcastic smile, I said, "Sister, stop pretending. Walter has already told me everything. If

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the child in your belly is Henry's, how could he bear to hurt you?"

Ashley's face stiffened, her eyes widened as she stared at me, a look of disbelief on her face, "What did Walter say to you?"

I smiled faintly, "He told me that the child in your belly is not his, and he also said that he would live a good life with me, so, you must leave."

Her face changed, I had thought she would glare at me as before, but unexpectedly, she still looked at me with a face full of pleading, "Tabatha, I know I've wronged you. Since Walter has already told you, ther there's no need for you and Walter to send me abroad, right? My existence won't endanger you at all, please, just let me stay in the old house, wait until the child is safely born, okay? Once I go abroad, neither I nor the child will survive, Tabatha, I know you hate me, but the child is innocent, isn't it?"

"Because of Henry?" I looked at him as I spoke.

She nodded, her face full of fear, "Henry is a devil. If I go abroad and he finds me, he will kill me and this child. He has no humanity at all, he won't care whether the child in my belly is his or not." "Really?" I looked at her, unable to help but admire her superb acting skills in my heart.

She still nodded with tears dripping down, afraid that I wouldn't believe her. She continued, "Tabatha, I know you resent me, resent me for how I treated you back then, resent me for provoking dad. I was wrong, I really was. As long as you let me stay in the country, let me safely give birth to the child in my belly in the old house, I promise I will never interfere with your life with Walter."

I pursed my lips, silently watching her performance, pondering in my mind. Why did she change so suddenly? Was it to stay in the Hinton

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family's old house? Or was it to stay by Walter's side? What was her purpose?

Perhaps I had been silent for too long. She looked at me, momentarily unsure of what to do, thinking I had softened. She looked at me and said, "Tabatha, you..."

"What is your purpose?" I asked, squinting as I observed every expression of hers.

Seeing her, I was taken aback for a moment, a few seconds of panic flashed by, then her stunning face was replaced with confusion. She looked at me in bewilderment and said, "Tabatha, what purpose? What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Watching her reaction, I had basically confirmed some things. I, as a person, was least skilled at acting and didn't have much patience.

He didn't plan to play riddles with her, and spoke directly, "You don't want to go abroad because you're afraid of Henry, that's correct. But you're not afraid that he will kill you, but that it will ruin your purpose of returning to the country, right?"

A trace of coldness flashed across her face, but she still looked at me with a bewildered expression, saying, "Tabatha, I don't understand what you're saying!"

I smiled faintly, straightened up, and looked down at her, saying, "Ashley, if you like playing dumb, then continue. But I have to remind you, you'd better follow Walter's arrangements honestly. Otherwise, I don't mind giving the police a heads up. If the police knew that Henry has returned to the country, it would be a dream for him to leave again in this lifetime, wouldn't it?"

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