Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce-Chapter 148: Release on Bail

Claire Sterling asked as they walked, "Whose child is this? Why are you being so secretive? Stop keeping me in suspense and just tell me."

"We’re here, we’re here. This is the one." Mrs. Marshall led Claire Sterling to the hospital room door. Without knocking, she pushed it right open.

Zoey had just fallen asleep.

Patients with leukemia often sleep a lot.

Aunt Zane and Ms. Morgan stood up in unison, their eyes filled with confusion.

"Excuse me, who are you looking for?"

Mrs. Marshall gave them an imperious look, her arms crossed. She commanded, "You two, step outside for a moment. Mrs. Lancaster is here to see the child."

"Mrs. Lancaster?"

Seeing that Aunt Zane and Ms. Morgan didn’t immediately react, Mrs. Marshall rolled her eyes contemptuously and explained Claire Sterling’s full identity.

When they learned the woman before them was Adrian Lancaster’s mother, Aunt Zane and Ms. Morgan exchanged a look. Not daring to say more, they complied and left the room.

However, they didn’t go far. They stood guard right outside the door, secretly watching the situation inside through the small window.

"Zoey is the child of a Lancaster family relative, so it’s only natural for Mrs. Lancaster to come visit."

"I still feel like something isn’t right."

"Let’s just keep watch here. If anything happens, we’ll rush right in."

"Okay."

Inside the hospital room, Zoey slept soundly, dreaming again that her mommy and daddy were taking her to an amusement park. She was completely unaware of the two women standing before her bed, looking down on her.

Mrs. Marshall spoke slowly, "Do you recognize this little girl?"

The moment Claire Sterling saw Zoey, she froze in shock, her mind going blank for a second.

’This little girl looks so much like Lucia when she was young.’

Long eyelashes, a round face, a small mouth, and slightly curly hair along her forehead—she was as cute and beautiful as a little doll.

"Wh-Whose child is this?"

"Director Wallace said she’s the child of a Lancaster family relative, so I brought you here to see if you recognize her."

"Which Lancaster family?"

"Your husband’s family, of course! Which other Lancaster family could it be?"

Claire Sterling racked her brain but couldn’t think of anyone who fit.

She shook her head. "I don’t recall anyone at all."

Hearing this, Mrs. Marshall couldn’t hide her excitement. ’So there is a conspiracy afoot!’

"It seems Director Wallace was deceived."

Claire Sterling’s expression was complicated, her mind in turmoil.

’Who is this child?’

Mrs. Marshall leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "I heard this little girl call Wren Sutton ’Mommy’ with my own ears. I’m certain she’s Wren Sutton’s illegitimate daughter, the one she’s been hiding."

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Claire Sterling’s face changed in astonishment, unable to process this bombshell.

"Wren Sutton wouldn’t be so bold as to do something like this. Are you sure you didn’t mishear?"

Mrs. Marshall swore, "We were in an elevator, such a small space. How could I have possibly misheard?"

"So you’re saying this little girl is Wren Sutton’s daughter?"

Mrs. Marshall nodded. "Yes."

"Then who is the child’s father?"

"Some boy toy she’s keeping on the side, of course."

Mrs. Marshall paused, then continued her analysis in a grave tone.

"Think about it. If the child’s father were Adrian, why wouldn’t Wren Sutton bring the child back to the Lancaster family instead of secretly hiding her away? Now the child is sick, and she still doesn’t dare to tell you."

"..." Claire Sterling frowned in silence. A heavy feeling settled in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

It wasn’t that she didn’t believe Mrs. Marshall, but the little girl in front of her looked so much like Lucia. On closer inspection, she even had a hint of Adrian Lancaster in her features.

Anyone would believe it if you said this child was from the Lancaster family.

Therefore, she found it truly hard to imagine this was Wren Sutton’s illegitimate daughter.

「...」

Wren Sutton walked out of the conference room, her heart heavy.

After a consultation with Director Wallace and a team of specialists, the final decision was to start Zoey on chemotherapy. If that didn’t work, she would need a bone marrow transplant.

The thought of such a small child having to endure the torment of illness, confined to a hospital bed and unable to play freely outside like other children, made Wren’s heart ache. She walked with heavy steps back to the top floor of the emergency department.

As she stepped out of the elevator, Wren saw the caregivers standing by the door to the room from a distance. Confused, she quickened her pace.

"Aunt Zane, Ms. Morgan."

"Mrs. Lancaster, you’re finally back."

"Why are you two standing outside?"

"Mrs. Lancaster came to see the child. Her friend said we were in the way and kicked us out."

’Mrs. Lancaster?’

Wren quickly realized they meant Claire Sterling.

’Why would she show up out of the blue? This has to have something to do with Mrs. Marshall.’

’That woman is like a persistent rash, impossible to get rid of. She’s everywhere.’

"Open the door. We’re going in."

Just as Wren finished speaking and Aunt Zane and Ms. Morgan were about to push the door, it suddenly opened from the inside. Claire Sterling and Mrs. Marshall walked out.

"You’re back just in time. Your mother-in-law has something to ask you. Come with us." Mrs. Marshall ordered Wren haughtily, using her status to pull rank.

Wren paid her no mind and coldly refused, "I don’t have time to go with you. If you want to ask something, ask it here."

Mrs. Marshall’s composure crumbled, unable to stomach the loss of face. "Wren Sutton, what kind of attitude is that? Do you see who’s standing in front of you?"

Wren couldn’t be bothered to deal with her. She shifted her gaze to Aunt Zane and Ms. Morgan, signaling for them to go inside first.

Aunt Zane and Ms. Morgan entered the room and closed the door behind them.

Now, three people stood at the door in a two-against-one standoff.

"What did you want to ask, Ms. Sterling?" Wren decided to get this over with quickly.

Before Claire Sterling could speak, Mrs. Marshall couldn’t hold back. "So ill-mannered. You don’t even call her ’Mom’."

Wren retorted, "Don’t worry, my upbringing was better than yours."

"You..." Mrs. Marshall seethed. "Still acting tough at a time like this. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act."

Claire Sterling, annoyed, interrupted their argument. She asked Wren with a grave expression, "Whose child is that little girl in there, and does she have anything to do with you?"

"I did not give birth to the child," Wren said succinctly, her tone firm.

"Then why does she call you ’Mommy’?"

"Perhaps because I look a bit like her real mother."

Mrs. Marshall jumped in again. "Nonsense! What child just randomly claims someone as their mother? It’s not like she’s intellectually disabled."

Wren shot her a displeased glare. "Of course Zoey isn’t intellectually disabled." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Zoey got separated from her family. I felt sorry for her, so I took her home. I filed a police report at the time. The station has a record of it; you can go check."

Claire Sterling blurted out, "Does Adrian know about this?"

Wren: "He knows."

Claire Sterling breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as she’s not an illegitimate child. Otherwise, the Lancaster family would be disgraced along with you."

Mrs. Marshall’s face was awkward, her expression unnatural. After all that, it turned out the little girl was just someone they found on the street.

She had miscalculated again.

Claire Sterling gave Mrs. Marshall a disappointed look, glad she hadn’t believed her words.

Mrs. Marshall, having completely lost face, couldn’t swallow her indignation.

Wren prepared to enter the hospital room, but Mrs. Marshall blocked her way. "We’re not finished here. You harmed my daughter like that; you have to give me an explanation."

Wren countered logically, "While I’m out on bail, no one except the judicial authorities has the right to question me."

Mrs. Marshall’s eyes widened, rage burning in her chest. "Who got you released on bail?!"

"I did." A deep, commanding voice echoed in the hallway.

Adrian Lancaster strode over, his steps sharp and purposeful.

His appearance was like adding fuel to the fire, pushing the already agitated Mrs. Marshall to the brink of collapse.

She roared hatefully, "Wren Sutton is the murderer! Why did you get her released on bail? How can you face Maya?"

Adrian Lancaster took Wren Sutton’s hand, pulling her protectively to his side.

"You’re not a judge. What gives you the right to convict Wren Sutton and call her a murderer?"

"From the sound of it, you want to settle this in court. Fine. We’ve had the indictment ready for a while. Just wait for the court summons."

After her furious declaration, Mrs. Marshall turned and left, as if she had made some sort of firm decision.

Claire Sterling’s expression was also ugly. She reprimanded Adrian Lancaster on the spot. "Why would you say such crazy things? If you push the Marshall family too far, they might actually sue Wren Sutton. It’s the Lancaster family that will be disgraced then."

"The Lancaster family isn’t afraid of a lawsuit, and we certainly won’t lose."

Just like the outcome of a bid, the winner could only be him, Adrian Lancaster.