. He got up from his chair and slid into the seat next to Elli's, dangling the omelet she had

s, remember?" With that, he placed the

oment before finally saying, "Are you nuts? Do y

t the servants to see us like thi

ess was on the line, and her father's medical fees were being paid for by the Mo family. She had to k

There was a tinge of affectio

es lit up as she hit upon a third option: escape. She rose from her chair, but

you throwing you

to get up, but he wrapped his powerful ha

etween them w

with fear, she could only sit helplessly on his lap as she tried to get her limbs to function again.

of them. Gregory froze, and then let go of

ly able to breathe again, but she knew better than to let her guard down. She

e call and put on his suit jacket. It was obvious that he

Elli's shoulders as she

ensed again. He arched an eyebrow at her as the devilish smirk rea

ed out the door wi

ght. She didn't remember Gregory being such a depraved pervert. He

appetite. She called for Alma to clear

mas, fully intending to change out of her dress and catch up o

ike to discuss with you." Jean had a youthful face for someone her age, but now she look

r-in-law, not when Jacob's death was still fresh on their minds. She said gently, "You

dlessly. The silence was beginning to feel awkward to Elli when Jean

," Elli answer

to the trap she had prepared. Elli nodded wordlessly in reply, but Jean needed a vow of commitment from her daughter-in-law. She p

aw's searching gaze. Had Jean noticed the od

reeling from the shock." Elli paused, before adding carefully, "But you have nothing

one else I can trust in the Mo family." Jean pretended to wipe tears from her eyes. After a mo

an, bewildered. "

her options. Finally, she said, "I believe th

t be right! Why

ou?" Jean saw the dubious look in Elli's eyes, and knew she needed another push. "I know what you're thinking. Gregory is the son of my husband's ex-wife. It doesn't make sense for him to kill J

dence that Gregory did it!" Elli knew Jean had a poi

." Jean's tone was calm and indifferent. Suddenly, an odd look came into her eyes as she said without warning, "To be perfectly honest, I know about your relationship with Gregory. I looked into your past before you

od what was going on with her an

t have told you to be on your guard around him if I

n't let him take over the Mo f

for a long mo

ed off un

ble to contain her curiosity. "Mom, what is

ell into Gregory's hands. He hated her guts, and wo

the same boat when it came

sounded concerned as she said hesitantly, "I thought about it all night, and I hav

htened at the thought of a solution. "I'm your daughter-in

nds over Elli's and said earnestly, "There's only one way to keep the fami

nded. Jacob was dead. How wa

the wedding. The accident happened right af

d candidate. I know it sounds degrading, but if you're willing to sleep with him and have his baby, I'll say that the baby is Jacob's and no one will question me. Once we've secured the family fortu

ned. Had she hea

ays drinking and partying with women? How

Had her mother-in-l

be ruined. I won't force you, but I want you to think it over before you decide." The look of obvious reluctance on Elli's face had displeased Jean. Her voice w

d she couldn't help wondering if her mother-in-law wasn't really as kind and gentle as she pretended to be. She had said sh

f. What had she do

er husband was dead, her marriage had ended before it had even begun, and

sn't

e gods so c

gan to stream down her cheeks, but she wiped them away defiantly. She

unbidden, but Elli rejected it at once. Running away was out

n again. Elli sat up quickly, expecting to see G

d only just left. Why