Chapter 549 Containment
Cordelia screamed in terror and fainted into Michael's arms.
Michael quickly caught her.
Gerald slumped onto the couch, waving weakly. "Michael, call someone to clean this up. Take Cordelia home. Her shoulder injury hasn't healed yet; she needs rest."
Michael picked up Cordelia, glanced at Everett on the floor, and strode out.
Back at their place, Michael laid Cordelia on the bed and arranged for a maid to look after her before heading to the guest room.
Dawn was breaking.
Michael sent a message to Elizabeth: [Victor is dead.]
Elizabeth called him immediately.
"Michael, what did you say? Victor is dead? Didn't Nolan say he was just going to give him a little punishment? How could he be dead?"
Elizabeth's voice was filled with fear.
"Elizabeth, don't worry. This won't implicate Nolan. Victor was poisoned by his butler. The butler has already shot himself. Remember, this has nothing to do with Nolan."
Elizabeth felt a bit more at ease. "Okay, I understand. But why would his butler suddenly poison him? Was there some deep-seated grudge?"
"I'll explain the details when I get a chance. For now, I just want you to leave this place as soon as possible."
"I'll think about it."
"Elizabeth, I've already forgotten you and everything related to you. What's the point of you staying here?"
Elizabeth didn't want to tell Michael she needed to stay for surgery, so she brushed him off. "Don't worry, I'll leave soon. And I won't show my face around the Murphy family."
She glanced at her phone. "Alright, I have to go. Nolan is calling."
Elizabeth ended the call with Michael and answered Nolan's call.
"Nolan, what are you up to?"
"Mom, you must have heard about Victor's death."
"Yes, your father just told me. Victor was poisoned by his butler."
"Mom, I instructed the butler to poison him. But I didn't tell him to kill Victor. I just wanted to teach him a lesson."
"I know, you're not that cruel."
"Mom, aren't you curious why Victor's butler would follow my orders?"
"Of course. But if you don't want to tell me, you don't have to."
"I hacked into the Murphy Castle's surveillance system and found out that Victor's butler had an unusual relationship with his wife. They would secretly meet, hug, and kiss behind Victor's back. And it seems Victor's daughter isn't his biological child; she's the butler's. I sent the videos to the butler."
"Nolan."
Elizabeth was at a loss for words. Nolan was too mature and bold for his age.
"Nolan, didn't you promise me you wouldn't use your hacking skills recklessly? It's dangerous!"
"Mom, you said not to use them 'recklessly.' I thought this through carefully. It wasn't reckless."
"Nolan, do you know the butler committed suicide?"
"I figured he would. He probably did it to protect his daughter and lover."
"Mom, let's not talk about others. When are you coming home? If you don't come soon, I'll have to go to Valoria. School has already started there."
"Sorry, Nolan, I need a bit more time before I can come back. I'll have Dean take you, okay?"
"No need. Dean is swamped and can't take care of me. I'll go with Sherry."
"Sherry? You're taking her with you?"
"Yeah. She had a miscarriage because of one of Matthew's admirers and doesn't want to see him anymore. She's from Valoria. With you and Michael not around, she has no one to rely on here and might get bullied. I asked her, and she wants to go back to Valoria. I'll support her."
"How do you plan to support her? Are you going to pay for her education?"
"No, she wants to enter the entertainment industry. I'll start a talent agency and hire people to make her a star."
Elizabeth was surprised by Nolan's foresight.
"Alright, if you need more money, call me."
At Victor's funeral in Majestic City.
Elizabeth held a black umbrella, blending into the crowd of mourners.
Gerald, having lost his son, would surely take out his anger on those around him.
Cordelia was his biological daughter, so he wouldn't scold her. That meant Michael, as the son-in-law, would bear the brunt of his anger.
Elizabeth was worried about him. She wanted to know how he was doing.
She knew Michael would attend the funeral today. She just wanted to see him from afar.
As Elizabeth stood there, craning her neck to look ahead, a hand suddenly grabbed her and pulled her aside.
She was about to scream when a large hand covered her mouth.
Elizabeth, still in shock, was about to kick the person behind her when she was shoved into a car. The door slammed shut.
She lunged for the door, trying to open it.
Juan's slow voice sounded. "What are you doing?"
Elizabeth turned abruptly, seeing Juan lounging in the seat with his legs crossed.
She exhaled in relief. "Mr. Stewart? It's you! You scared me! I thought I was being kidnapped again!"
Juan snorted. "Kidnap you? For what?"
Elizabeth sat up straight. "Mr. Stewart, you might not want anything, but others might."
Juan raised an eyebrow. "True, Gerald could grab you to threaten Michael. If Michael doesn't comply, you'd be tortured."
Elizabeth's face turned pale.
Juan spoke seriously. "I'm not exaggerating. Michael and I advised you to leave, but you didn't listen. Now, Gerald has lost his son and only has Cordelia left. The Murphy family values sons over daughters. Without an heir, what are Gerald's chances of becoming the head of the Murphy family?"
Elizabeth lowered her head, lips tightly pressed together, unable to say a word.
Cordelia couldn't be an heir, but Michael, as her husband, could.
However, Gerald wouldn't let him easily control the Murphy family's power. After all, Michael wasn't truly a Murphy.
The only way to make Michael willingly work for the Murphy family was for Cordelia to have his child, keeping the child in the Murphy family.
Once Michael had someone he cared about here, he would be controlled and loyal to Gerald.
But how could Cordelia have Michael's child?
The thought made Elizabeth's chest feel tight, making it hard to breathe.
Michael and Cordelia were legally married. They would have a child with their shared blood. They would become a family.
Over time, Michael might fall in love with Cordelia.
Would there still be a place for Elizabeth in Michael's heart then?
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