Chapter 6 My Great-Grandson

• When I visited him, Kelvin appeared in good spirits, persistently inquiring whether Marcus had been bullying me.
• I cast a sidelong glance at Marcus, who stood by the window, incessantly checking the time. I knew he was eager to be with Taylor.
• Forcing a smile, I replied to Kelvin, "Marcus treats me very well. I'm quite content."
• "When will you have a child so I can finally meet my great-grandson? I've been waiting for so many years," Kelvin lamented, grasping my hand with a blend of hope and impatience.
• A child...
• The mere thought of children brought Taylor's pregnancy to mind, and I realized that I might never have the opportunity to bear Marcus' child in this lifetime.
• For seven years, Marcus and I had scarcely shared a bed, making it virtually impossible for me to conceive a child.
• After leaving the hospital, my mom called again to ask when Marcus and I would return for dinner. She also conveyed her gratitude to Marcus for preparing many of his favorite dishes in appreciation for helping Clement with his troubles.
• I understood my mom's eagerness, yet I knew that Marcus could no longer visit our home. I took the liberty of telling her that Marcus was busy and didn't have the time.
• She urged me to persuade him, insisting that no son-in-law should skip visiting his mother-in-law during the New Year, but ultimately, I managed to deflect her.
• I was well aware she wouldn't genuinely blame Marcus. She wouldn't dare.
• Marcus must have overheard my conversation with my mom, but he refrained from asking a single question, tacitly accepting my excuse.
• "My mom wants us to go back for dinner, but I declined," I disclosed to Marcus, hoping for a flicker of hope for change.
• "Fine. I'm actually on my way to pick up Taylor," Marcus replied with indifference.
• I fell silent, feeling utterly humiliated.
• At that moment, he seemed uninterested in maintaining any connection with my family, not even in a perfunctory manner.
• I stood in the biting cold, watching as Marcus entered his car and drove away, leaving me behind.
• Suddenly, I recognized how distant Marcus had become—so far removed that no amount of effort on my part could bridge the chasm between us.
• Rather than returning to the Eckman Residence, I headed directly to my mom's house.
• Upon my arrival, I found Clement already home, dining with the family. My mom unusually fetched me a set of utensils and served me some food.
• In the past, I certainly wouldn't have received such treatment; it was only because I had intervened to save Clement.
• I knew that my mom favored my older brother, Charles Bolton, and Clement, yet it was evident that her favoritism had enabled Clement to squander his days gambling and causing trouble.
• In front of my mom, Clement felt emboldened, turning to me with irritation. "Charlotte, are you out of your mind? I'm your biological brother! You hit me in front of Marcus! Could you at least show me some respect?"
• Upon hearing this, I shot back, "Clement, listen carefully. If you weren't my brother, your body would already be in the river."
• "Alright, Charlotte, you're getting bold, aren't you? Since marrying into the Eckman Family, your temper seems to have intensified. Do you think we're a burden to you?" Clement mocked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
• I wanted to agree.
• My mom quickly interjected, "Charlotte, why did you hit Clement? He's still a child and will inevitably make mistakes."
• "Mom, it's because you indulge him that you need to manage him more effectively. I won't offer my assistance again next time," I said, frowning as I looked at her.
• Even if I wanted to help, I couldn't; I simply had no means to clean up Clement's mess on my own.
• Marcus had already made it clear that this would be the last time he tolerated such behavior; when he spoke, he always meant what he said.
• "Clement is your brother. Shouldn't you, as his sister, help him when he's in trouble? I've already disciplined him; he won't make the same mistakes again," my mom insisted, clearly defending Clement.
• After dinner, she pulled me into her room. After chatting about some trivial matters, she abruptly asked me for money—1.5 million, to be precise.
• I was taken aback.
• "What? Can't you come up with it?" My mom frowned when she saw my shocked expression, displeasure evident in her tone.
• "Mom, where would I get that much money?" I wondered why all these problems seemed to land on my shoulders just after the New Year.
• "How could you not have money? Marcus is the heir of the Eckman Family, and you're the lady of the Eckman Family. I can't believe the Eckman Family can't even raise 1.5 million," she said, furrowing her brows, as if she thought I was simply reluctant to part with the money.
• After hearing this, I couldn't help but let out a derisive laugh. "That's the Eckman Family's money, not mine."
• "You married into the Eckman Family, which makes you part of them. Surely you have access to their funds," my mom retorted with a cold sneer.
• "Mom, what do you need that much money for?" I asked, growing increasingly impatient.
• I hadn't yet told my mom about Marcus wanting a divorce, and now she was asking me for such a large sum. I felt utterly drained.
• "C-Charles' factory has encountered some cash flow issues, and he wants to borrow some money to get by," my mom explained.
• "I warned him long ago that his factory had problems and that he should shut it down. Why didn't he listen?" I felt overwhelmed by the situation.