Chapter 530 Carter Stands Up for His Wife and Patricia
"What?" Lassie thought she had misheard, staring at her father in disbelief.
Joseph repeated, "I want you to divorce Carter."
"Why?" Lassie asked.
"It's clear," Joseph said. "Didn't you hear Christine? She's fond of Carter. You need to step aside so she can marry him."
"Your father's right," Kyla said. "It would have been Christine leading your life if you hadn't been switched at birth. Everything you have belongs to her, so the right thing to do is to return it all to her."
Kyla had not been aware of Christine's feelings for Carter, but now that she was, she felt obligated to do whatever it took to make her darling daughter happy, compensating for years of neglect.
"When I first learned of the switch, I wanted to go back," Lassie said. "You're the ones who pleaded with me to stay. You promised you would treat Christine and me equally, but now you're claiming I stole her life."
Kyla declared with righteous indignation, "Isn't it obvious? If it hadn't been for that mix-up twenty years ago, everything you have would belong to Christine."
Lassie glared, her eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. As she glared, a sudden laugh escaped her.
Joseph, Kyla, and Christine all looked at her, utterly perplexed.
"I used to think that your efforts to make amends were driven by regret," Lassie said, her laughter giving way to tears. "I foolishly thought you loved me. Maybe not as much as Christine, but I believed there was still some love. After all, you raised me for twenty years. But now, I see the truth—you never loved me."
With that, she started for the door.
Joseph bellowed from behind her, "If you walk out that door, you can never return. Think long and hard about it."
"I've thought it through already," Lassie retorted without slowing down. "No one matters to me as much as Carter does. I won't use him as a bargaining chip."
Just then, Ryan and Carter came into view.
Startled, Lassie rubbed her eyes vigorously. When she realized it wasn't a trick of her mind and that Ryan and Carter were indeed standing before her, she fought back tears and managed a weak smile. "How did you guys find me?"
After a period of recovery, Carter looked much better and was nearly back to full health. With a bit more time, he'd be completely healed.
Seeing Lassie's messy hair, torn clothes, and swollen face, his heart twisted in pain, and a surge of anger rushed to his chest. However, he quickly masked his displeasure, not prone to showing emotions.
Christine's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she rushed over with a sweet greeting.
Carter's brows furrowed slightly at her approach, causing her face to fall.
Carter stepped forward, took Lassie's hand, and, with a forced smile, said to Joseph, "If you have something to say, you can tell me directly. Lassie is my wife, and I won't stand to see her mistreated."
The Moores were a family with a century-long legacy. While the Robinsons had carved out a significant niche for themselves in the drone and robotics sectors over the years, establishing a notable presence in Ivara City, they still needed help to match the stride of the Moore family.
Even in the presence of Carter, it was important to offer a modicum of respect.
"I know you care about her, but what she did was inexcusable. Look at the state she left Christine in."
Carter glanced at Christine. She was indeed a mess, but it was nothing compared to Lassie's state. Yet, Joseph and Kyla seemed oblivious, focusing solely on Christine.
"It seems to me that my wife's injuries are far more severe, wouldn't you say?" Carter said.
"Hurt? Wher..." Kyla began, when her gaze fell on Lassie's beaten figure.
Joseph finally noticed as well, realizing that Lassie, too, had been injured—and seemingly more severely than Christine.
Carter cradled Lassie's face in his hands, gazing intently into her eyes.
"Tell me, did anyone else lay a hand on you?" His voice was deep and sad, unable to conceal his distress.
Kyla shuddered violently, shrinking into herself.
Lassie glanced at them, a bitter smile in her heart, shaking her head. "Let it go, let it go..."
They might not have been her biological parents, but they had nurtured her. She couldn't betray their kindness.
Even though she remained silent, Carter could see her resolve and didn't push further, stating, "Let's put today's incident behind us. But just because I don't pursue it now doesn't mean it's forgotten. If this happens again, I will seek justice fully."
He directed those words squarely at Joseph, the head of the family. Lassie would not have been harmed without his consent.
Joseph's pride was stung, but unwilling to confront Carter openly, he managed a strained chuckle. "Of course, nothing like this will happen again."
Carter added, "I've heard that Patricia wants to meet with you. When are you available?"
Joseph was contemplating how to decline when Carter said, "Since you seem free, let's have it now."
"Now?" Joseph glanced outside. It was pitch dark; the night had deepened.
"I've already arranged the place," Carter said. "Ryan?"
Ryan popped up immediately. "Right here."
"Escort my father-in-law, please."
Joseph was speechless.
Ryan promptly saluted. "Roger that, the mission will be accomplished."
He gestured to Joseph to follow him. Under Carter's piercing gaze, Joseph reluctantly followed.
Ryan shot Carter an amused look. Tough love was the only way to deal with a snake like Joseph.
Carter took Lassie's hand, ready to leave, when Christine said, "Carter, you're leaving already? Won't you stay a bit longer?"
Ignoring her, Carter walked away with Lassie. Christine trembled with fury, her hands clenched into tight fists.
Meanwhile, Patricia, originally waiting for Lassie at the Moore family's place, received a call from Carter informing her that he had arranged a meeting with Joseph on her behalf. She immediately drove to the designated spot, thanking him and Lassie over the phone.
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