Exposing the Charade of Deep Affection (PDF)
Chapter 46

Chapter 46 Just a Counterfeit After All

The epitome of refined selfishness, that probably describes a person like Carley.

She had calculated everything just right, not allowing herself to be at a disadvantage in any situation.

Who knows, would she have had a breakdown if she knew that Walter used ten percent of the Hinton Group's shares as collateral for me?

After talking with Carley, I left the main house. I never liked staying in this old mansion, even more so now. I'm afraid I won't be coming back to this yard in the future. I still have some things in the room in the side yard.

It was also taken away incidentally today.

In the side courtyard living room, the family doctor was listening to Ashley's fetal heartbeat. Probably hearing footsteps, Ashley, stroking her belly, turned around with a smile on her face and said, "Walter, you're here..."

The moment she saw it was me, her face suddenly fell, her eyes wide open in anger, "Why is it you? Didn't Carley forbid you from coming to the old house? How dare you come in shamelessly?"

I had become numb to her harsh words, having heard them too often.

The family doctor was tactful enough to leave after giving Ashley a few instructions.

In the hall, only Ashley and I were left. She looked at me, caressing her slightly protruding belly, and sneered, "Tabatha, what's the point of

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you being pregnant with me? Walter has no interest in you. In the past, you had the Conner Group to rely on, which allowed you to stay by his side with dignity. Now, your reputation is ruined, and the Conner Group you relied on is also on the verge of collapse. I'm curious, what face do you have left to stay by Walter's side?"

I didn't come here to argue with her, I ignored her and went straight upstairs to pack up my things to take away.

Ashley was the type to take advantage and still play innocent. Seeing that I remained silent, she became more enthusiastic. She followed me upstairs, continuing to chatter away behind me. Ignoring her, I packed up my things and was ready to leave.

She stood in the bedroom doorway, looking at me provocatively and said, "Tabatha, weren't you quite talkative? Why are you silent now? Huh? Where did your arrogant and domineering attitude go?" The more she spoke, the more excited she became.

Looking at me wildly, he said, "True, your father is dead, the Conner Group is nothing but an empty shell now, the Hinton family doesn't want you either. You are no different from a homeless dog now. I warned you, but you didn't appreciate it and chose your own path to destruction."

I furrowed my brows and pursed my lips, looking at her. In a suppressed voice, I asked, "How do you know about the Conner Group?" It was obvious what the outcome would be with the Hinton family forcing me and Walter, but I had just found out about the Conner Group myself. She had never been to the company, so how did she know?

When I questioned her, she was taken aback for a moment, then snorted coldly, "Tabatha, don't forget, you're not the only daughter in the Conner family."

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It was better when she didn't speak. As soon as she did, my face fell, and I glared at her angrily, "The daughter of the Conner family? You think you're worthy? Ashley, Dad didn't have a daughter who would infuriate him to death like you!"

Her face faltered for a moment, but just a moment later, she was glaring at me fiercely, saying, "So what? Tabatha, what can you do to

me?"

Indeed, I couldn't do anything to her, after all, my father's death was inevitable.

Catching sight of the man near the bedroom, I squinted involuntarily, placing a hand on Ashley's shoulder, my fingertips pressing on her gunshot wound. I said, "Indeed, I can't do anything to you, but Ashley, you're impersonating someone else as Walter's so-called lifesaver. Aren't you afraid that one day, when he replaces out the truth, he will kick you out?"

Once this matter was brought up, Ashley's emotions were almost uncontrollable. She violently knocked my hand away, pushed me back, and said with a guarded expression, "Tabatha, what exactly are you trying to say?"

I smiled faintly, looking at the man standing outside the door, and said to Ashley, "What I want to say, you should know very well. I am aware of your capabilities. Given your conscience, it's impossible for you to risk your life to save a stranger, let alone go through all the trouble to bring him back to the border. My father once said, you only spent half a month at the border five years ago.

"Tabatha, if you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth apart," Ashley, somewhat losing her temper, charged at me, ready to

tear into me.

I stepped back a few paces, not overly panicked. The man standing

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outside the door quickly pulled away the frenzied Ashley.

Seeing Walter suddenly appear, Ashley's face turned pale, stuttering, "Walter, how did you..."

Walter ignored her, steadying her before turning his dark eyes towards me, his voice low and restrained, "What did you mean by what you said just now?"

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