Chapter 4

Tristan was startled by his uncle's shout, instinctively dropping the rope. He had always been afraid of his uncle, known as the Ice King.

But when he saw Grandfather Hawthorne following Lucas, Tristan regained his composure. After all, he was the only grandson in the family, the apple of his grandfather's eye.

He rushed to embrace Grandfather Hawthorne, forcing out a few tears, "Grandpa, I've missed you so much these past three years."

Brianna also stepped forward. As the Hawthorne's adopted daughter, she wasn't as close to Grandfather Hawthorne as Tristan. She stood to the side and said:

"Grandpa, Alex and I know we were wrong. Alex has decided to come back and continue the wedding with Riley. We just didn't expect..."

Tristan added with a resentful tone, "We didn't expect this slut to be so shameless, cheating on me and getting pregnant with a bastard, trying to pass it off as a Hawthorne child!"

"But don't worry, Grandpa. I've already taken care of the bastard in her belly. The Hawthorne name won't be disgraced!"

Hearing this, Grandfather Hawthorne pushed Tristan away and finally saw me, barely alive by the pool.

Lucas ran to my side, his hands trembling as he untied the ropes binding my limbs. Seeing the blood flowing from my lower body, even his voice shook.

"Riley, how are you?"

I looked at Lucas, tears streaming down my face, "Lucas, the baby... save the baby..."

Grandfather Hawthorne stared at the scene in disbelief. He raised his cane and struck Tristan hard, "You beast! What have you done!"

Tristan dodged while glaring at me resentfully, "Grandpa, that bitch Riley used the Hawthorne name to cuckold me. She's fooled you and Uncle Lucas. I never touched her, that child in her belly isn't mine."

Brianna chimed in, "That's right, Grandpa. Alex and I just got back to the Hawthorne house today. Her belly is already six or seven months along. It must be some bastard child."

Grandfather Hawthorne struck Brianna with his cane, "The child in Riley's belly is not a bastard. It's a Hawthorne descendant."

Tristan shouted, "Grandpa, that's impossible! I never touched her!"

Lucas picked up my bleeding body and kicked Tristan to the ground, his eyes full of murderous intent as he looked at him and Brianna.

"If anything happens to the child in Riley's womb, I'll have your lives!"

With that, he carried me hurriedly to the hospital.

Tristan was so terrified by his uncle's killing intent that he didn't dare breathe. After Lucas left, he took a deep breath and looked at his grandfather.

"Grandpa, has Uncle gone mad? How can he threaten my life for that promiscuous woman and her bastard child?"

Brianna whispered beside him, "Alex, could this all be a plot by Riley and Uncle Lucas? Uncle is sterile, so maybe they're using the bastard in Riley's belly to seize your inheritance?"

Tristan immediately turned to Grandfather Hawthorne, "Grandpa, you must stand up for me. All the Hawthorne fortune belongs to me. It can't fall into outsiders' hands."

Seeing that they still hadn't grasped the situation even when facing death, Grandfather Hawthorne angrily struck Tristan's head with his cane.

"To think that I, Theodore Hawthorne, known for my wisdom, could have such a foolish descendant."

"The child in Riley's belly is not a bastard. It's Lucas's child."