Broken Oath: I Left, He Regretted-Chapter 170: Survival After Despair

Sophia immediately chimed in, "Yeah! That old woman from the Sinclair Family should have died long ago! If it weren’t for her, how would Julian Sinclair have become so ruthless?"

Timothy Xavier seemed to be pondering his mother’s and Serena Sawyer’s words.

But he ultimately didn’t want Zoe Ellison to hate him so much, so he said, "My target is not that old woman; I just want Zoe Ellison to understand the consequences of betraying me."

Serena Sawyer silently contemplated.

It seemed that Timothy Xavier was truly driven by love into hatred towards Zoe Ellison. Even if he marries her, she’ll just be a resentful decoration, with plenty of opportunities to torment her in the future.

And for herself, maybe she could help Timothy Xavier take action and finally vent the anger that’s been building up over the years.

Just like that, Serena Sawyer leaned closer to Timothy Xavier and said softly, "Timothy, since the wedding is decided, how about you let me handle the arrangements? Women understand each other’s thoughts. At the time of makeup trials and dress selection, I can accompany Miss Ellison. After all, we will be living together in the future, and I want to take this opportunity to show Miss Ellison my sincerity."

Timothy Xavier looked at her obedient appearance. Though his heart felt no waves, he was too lazy to refuse and just said plainly, "As you wish."

Serena Sawyer immediately beamed, holding onto his arm and hiding her intentions.

For the first time, she looked forward to Zoe Ellison returning to Timothy Xavier’s side!

...

Late at night.

I was typing on my computer when suddenly, a pop-up notification of entertainment gossip appeared on my phone.

The headline blatantly read, "Julian Sinclair spotted late at night in Zoe Ellison’s residential area, suspected of tangled ties with President Xavier’s wife."

All websites were flooded with comments from curious netizens:

"Oh my God, why is he going to see Zoe Ellison again? The couple is now inseparable and about to get married. What is he doing?"

"Such a scoundrel! Claiming to be a reputable lawyer, does being born into a renowned family mean anything? Are all the women in the world gone? Why must he focus on his niece-in-law?"

"Do you remember Madam Sinclair’s previous statement? Saying Julian Sinclair had no ties with Zoe Ellison? That old woman at her age still has the cheek! Claiming her grandson’s innocence, I scoff!"

These vicious comments struck like needles, leaving my hand shaking as I held the phone.

Thinking that Madam Sinclair often goes online, I wondered what would happen if she saw these comments?

I immediately called Julian Sinclair.

Quickly, the call connected, and a man’s deep, gentle voice came through.

Upon hearing my inquiry about Madam Sinclair, his tone became a bit somber, "Aren’t you worried about me?"

I felt exasperated, not in the mood for banter, and said, "Julian Sinclair, what time do you think it is?"

Just as I finished speaking, my doorbell rang unexpectedly.

Who could it be at this hour?

Clutching my phone, I approached the door, only to find Julian Sinclair standing at the entrance.

My breath caught for a moment.

He wore a dark jacket, his tall figure appearing unfazed.

Even amid the swirling rumors about him, he showed no sign of evasion.

Almost fumbling, I opened the door, my worried tone spilling out first: "Are you crazy?"

I instinctively glanced behind him, fearing unfamiliar cameras. "If Timothy Xavier really makes a fuss, even if we’re not afraid, we need to think about Grandma! At her age, how can she withstand online bullying?"

Julian Sinclair raised his hand, gently brushing my furrowed brow with his finger, his gaze showing a hint of sympathy, "I’m here to put your mind at ease."

"I’ve already had it."

I hurriedly tilted my head to avoid his touch, reaching out to push his arm, "You should leave now!"

My strength was inadequate in his presence.

The next second, his warm hand gripped my waist, gently pulling, causing me to fall into his embrace.

His breath fell upon my hair, assertively saying, "Timothy Xavier won’t dare to continue the online bullying."

I stiffened in his embrace and asked, "Why?"

"Because he doesn’t dare to confront us openly."

Julian Sinclair’s voice grew cold inch by inch, "If you’re truly pushed to a dead end, with nothing left to lose, can he still control you?"

My heart trembled slightly, acknowledging his reasoning but still asked, "Can you tell me what you truly intend to do? You can’t leave me guessing forever."

He didn’t answer directly, instead tightening his hold, pulling me closer.

The room’s lighting mirrored a sea of stars in his eyes as he said, "Do you trust me?"

My eyelashes quivered, silent for a few seconds before I nodded firmly, "I trust you, but... I can’t proceed with the wedding with Timothy Xavier, not even pretending to. I... can’t get past this in my heart."

"It’s also up to him whether he has the ability to make the wedding happen."

Julian Sinclair’s tone carried undeniable certainty.

Seeing the fleeting ruthlessness in his eyes, I panicked and quickly warned, "Don’t do anything foolish! I know you have ways, but don’t risk lives; Timothy Xavier isn’t worth it..."

Julian Sinclair chuckled softly at my words.

He pinched my reddened ear lobe, teasingly saying, "In your heart, am I that violent?"

I pressed my lips together, remaining silent, with concern lingering in my eyes.

He wiped away his smile, telling me, "Calm down. The more Timothy Xavier jumps around now, the harder he’ll fall in the future. We hold him back and let him continue his madness."

At this point, his gaze deepened, his voice hoarse yet soothingly powerful, "But, this wedding, it won’t happen. Anything you don’t want to do, I won’t allow anyone to force you."

My chaotic heart seemed to be steadily held by him, slowly calming down.

That night, I had a rare restful sleep.

The next morning, the online comments were once again forcefully cleared by Julian Sinclair.

After dropping the kids off at kindergarten, I went straight home due to the recent heavy novel update schedule, so I took a few days off.

The sofa in my home was in disarray with various dolls and toys from Doris and Sharon.

While tidying the sofa, I suddenly saw a Black Jade Cufflink.

That’s when I recalled it might have fallen from Julian Sinclair’s sleeve last night.

Holding the cufflink, I was just about to message him, when the doorbell suddenly rang.

I instinctively thought it was Julian, wondering why he would come personally to retrieve it?

Without even checking the door camera, I opened the door.

Once the door was open, I froze.

Serena Sawyer was standing there, dressed in an eye-catching red dress, her makeup exquisitely done as if she were attending a banquet.

Her gaze fell immediately on the cufflink I placed on the cabinet in the entrance, then she gave a meaningful smile, "Miss Ellison, this isn’t Timothy’s, is it? I’ve never seen him wear something like this."

I said coldly, "What do you want from me?"

"Of course, I’m here to help you out, Miss Ellison."

Serena put on a justified look and said, "Timothy specifically arranged for me to accompany you to select a wedding dress and choose jewelry. A wedding is such a big event; you can’t possibly handle it alone. Do you have time now? Shall we look at the jewelry first?"

I stared at the undisguised smugness in her eyes and suddenly found it amusing, so I asked back, "Miss Sawyer, I don’t mind going shopping, but are you sure you want to come with me? Your reputation is already rotten, stepping out would only subject you to humiliation, wouldn’t it?"

Serena was instinctively annoyed, but the next moment, she forced herself to calm down, with an even deeper smile, "Don’t worry, Miss Ellison, we don’t have to go to the mall. The store clerks for the jewelry and wedding dresses are already waiting at the door! Timothy said you’re Mrs. Xavier, how could he let you personally go to the mall to pick things? Oh, and because this wedding is rushed, we couldn’t get a designer for the dress, please bear with it!"

My scrutinizing gaze landed on her face, and I said, "Are you so eager to be a mistress for life?"

The sneer on Serena’s face suddenly disappeared, she leaned closer, her voice pressed low so only the two of us could hear, "Timothy hasn’t loved you for a long time. Keeping you around is just a way to slowly torment you, to make you pay for past actions. It’s only those unloved who are the mistress!"

She paused and added, "What makes me even happier is that you’ve fallen in love with Julian Sinclair. But unfortunately, no matter how much you like him, you can never be with him in this life. Timothy won’t let you get your way; you’ll stay obediently in the Xavier Family as a nominal Mrs. Xavier, watching as I fly away with him."

Listening to Serena’s words, I considered when Julian Sinclair could ultimately help me break free?

Even though Timothy Xavier and Serena Sawyer’s madness startled me, with Julian Sinclair’s constant reassurance, I was almost certain that Timothy’s ’wedding’ would end up being nothing.

Thus, when faced with Serena’s provocation, I didn’t even let a ripple of emotion show in my eyes.

Seeing that I wasn’t angry, her tone became even more vicious, "Zoe Ellison, as long as I can watch you guard that empty title of Mrs. Xavier like a living dead, listening to me and Timothy laughing in the room next door every day, what does it matter if I’m called a mistress?"

Her words grew more excited, almost chuckling, "Ethan Xavier’s incompetence won’t last long, and the Xavier family business will sooner or later belong to Timothy. By then, as I hold the real power in the family, you’ll even have to beg me to buy new clothes. Once I’m pregnant with a Xavier heir, you’ll not even get to touch Timothy’s hand! Then I’ll let you see, who’s really the mistress?"

After speaking, she raised her voice and shouted towards the door, "Come in."

The next second, the store’s clerks filed in, the jewelry, and dresses on the racks they carried sparkled under the lights, dazzling the eyes.

When their eyes swept over me, they carried a hint of sympathy and detachment, but when they turned to Serena Sawyer, their faces immediately filled with sycophantic smiles, clearly having been prepped by her, treating her as the future mistress of the Xavier Family.

One of the clerks held a white dress adorned with small diamonds up to Serena, asking, "Miss Sawyer, this is the main piece from this year’s couture series, does it seem suitable? Considering a senior family member of the Xavier Family has recently passed, it’s better for the bride to dress more plainly for the wedding. This one suits Mrs. Xavier well."

Serena put on a businesslike air, saying, "I have to first ask Timothy’s opinion. After all, you’re officially marrying into the Xavier Family, and it wouldn’t do to have the wedding dress be too plain, otherwise, it might bring shame to Timothy."

With these words, the clerks’ glances subtly turned to me, carrying hints of curiosity and a sense of watching a spectacle.

I directly said, "I’ll take the plainest one, the rest you can decide. I have a draft to rush, so you all can leave!"

Serena sneered, her tone full of disdain, "What’s the hurry? You are Mrs. Xavier now, do you still need to make that little bit of money writing novels?"

Before I could retort, she had already taken out her phone and quickly dialed Timothy Xavier’s video call.

On the other side of the video, Timothy sat behind a desk.

Though he no longer held the title of president, his air of dignity and arrogance hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

He glanced at the dress in the camera, slightly furrowing his brow, his tone clearly impatient, "Such things like selecting a dress, let her decide."

Serena put on a fragile demeanor, her voice oozing with sweetness, "Timothy, but the one Miss Ellison picked is too plain, on the wedding day the whole nation will be watching, others might say our Xavier Family is stingy."

As she spoke, she kept stealing glances at my reaction out of the corner of her eye, clearly waiting to see me embarrassed.

Timothy’s gaze turned colder, following her words, "Even if I was outplayed, it doesn’t mean I have to skimp on the wedding. Choose the best!"

Serena’s lips curled into a satisfied smile, she turned to me, "Did you hear that, Miss Ellison? This is Timothy’s intention!"

I said nonchalantly to the camera, "I was actually thinking of saving you some costs, but since money isn’t an issue, I won’t hold back."

"I can afford to support my wife."

Timothy’s tone was curt, clearly mocking me.

"Of course, I believe that," I said, "after all, President Xavier can even afford to support mistresses, how could I not get my fair share?"

On the other side of the video, Timothy’s face turned instantly grim, Serena’s smile froze on her face as if she was publicly slapped.

Timothy cut off my topic, "I have a meeting soon, pick whatever you see fit."

Then he abruptly ended the video.

Serena’s face dropped a few notches, "Miss Ellison, the nation’s eyes will be on the wedding at the end of the month, don’t embarrass Timothy."

She thought this would hit my sore spot, but I remained calm throughout.

With the assurance Julian Sinclair gave me, why should I fear these trifling specters?

I turned to the clerks standing by and said, "Since President Xavier isn’t short on money, I’ll take all the dresses and jewelry you brought today."

The clerks froze in place instantly, their eyes widened like saucers, almost dropping their clipboards.

These high-end couture dresses and jewelry were worth millions in total, they had never seen someone so simply "take it all" in their careers.

Serena looked at me as if she’d seen a ghost, quick-stepping forward and lowering her voice, "Zoe Ellison, don’t push it!"

"I’m spending my husband’s money, why are you distressed?"

I raised my eyebrows at her, my tone carrying a hint of mockery, "Or do you want to call Timothy again? To see if his words earlier mean anything now?"

Serena’s face turned a series of pale and green, gritting her teeth, "Timothy asked you to choose, but not to waste! These things are tremendously expensive; I must report to him!"

I sat on the sofa, casually flipping through a magazine, my tone indifferent, "Feel free."

Serena immediately dialed the video again, but as soon as the call connected, Timothy’s impatient voice came through, "Didn’t I say let her choose? I’m in a meeting, why are you calling again?"

Serena’s voice immediately weakened, carrying a hint of grievance and urgency, "But Miss Ellison wants all the jewelry and dresses, that’s too extravagant..."