A smile bloomed on Lydia’s face when she heard that, after which she waved a hand. “Oh, it’s also because Mr. Gardner was quite taken by her.”
However, what followed was a bunch of gossip.
“Queenie’s been courting Mr. Gardner for a few years now. She’s still just his fiancée. When will they tie the knot? Her status in society will be different once she is officially
Mrs. Gardner.”
“That’s right. You don’t get any protection under the law as just someone’s fiancée. She actually needs to have a marriage certificate to be officially part of the Gardner Family.”
“Is Mr. Gardner not ready to marry Queenie…”
Queenie couldn’t stop the change in her expression when she heard that, and she gave a light cough before walking further into the room. The gossiping women all quietened in an instant, and their gazes shifted to her. Queenie had a smile on her face as she spoke in a gentle and humble tone, “Good day, ladies. I’m here to see my mother today. Could you please end your game for the day and come back another time?”
The women were embarrassed by this. Oh, she must’ve overheard our conversation earlier. Now that the subject of their gossip was here, all they could do was giggle. “Since you two are busy, we shall visit another time.”
With that, the group of women collected their belongings and left.
Although Queenie had a polite smile on her face, Lydia could see Queenie’s irritation as her mother. She stepped forward to console Queenie. “They weren’t exactly wrong. There’s a difference between being Colton’s fiancée and his wife.”
Queenie bit her lip. How could she not know that there was a difference? However, Colton had never expressed when he wanted the wedding to be held. She couldn’t possibly just go up to him and ask when he would actually marry her, no?
“I know that too, but what other choice do I have?” Queenie asked through clenched teeth. Forget about marrying her – each time she got closer to Colton the last few years, he would keep her at arm’s length. If it wasn’t because he was sure that she was the one who saved him five years ago, he would have already kicked her out of his sight.
A shrew glint flashed in Lydia’s eyes as she lowered her voice. “Why don’t you find a chance to drug him or seduce him?”
Shyness and embarrassment colored Queenie’s face at such blatant words. She averted her eyes as she stuttered, “That’s… not exactly a good way to do it, right?”
Lydia struck the iron while it was hot. “My girl, you’re a fool. As long as you seize the opportunity and fall pregnant with Colton’s baby, the matter of marrying into the Gardners won’t be an issue anymore.”
Lydia’s words shook Queenie as she had a point. Queenie had been with Colton for several years, but his mother never accepted her because she hadn’t given the Gardners a child.
If Colton was unwilling to touch her, she wouldn’t be able to voice her wants, though.
To others, Queenie was above everyone as Colton’s fiancée, yet they didn’t know that Colton had never once touched her during those five years.
In the beginning, she had taken the initiative, but all she received for her efforts was disgust from him. She never brought it up again after that to maintain the stability of their relationship.
At that thought, indignance flashed across Queenie’s face as she recalled today’s incident. She hastily schooled her expression when she recalled that important matter. She was here today to discuss Nicole with Lydia.
“By the way, Mom, I came here to discuss something with you.”
“What is it? Did something happen?” Lydia could vaguely sense that something wasn’t right when she saw Queenie’s expression.
“Nicole is taking her son to undergo a DNA paternity test with Joseph this weekend!” Queenie said through clenched teeth.
Lydia was somewhat taken aback. Weren’t the results already out? How dare this little wench demand to carry out a DNA paternity test!
“Wasn’t the results of the paternity test changed already? Did that wench Nicole refuse to acknowledge the results?” Lydia asked.
Queenie nodded. She initially thought that she would be able to definitely keep her position as Colton’s future wife, but she hadn’t expected Nicole to be so mulish as to request for another test.
“What’s more, that moron Joseph actually thinks that Nicole’s son is his kid, and he wants that paternity test done!”
Queenie was irritated at the thought of her idiotic co-schemer, Joseph. He had a great face, but it was unfortunate that he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.
Lydia couldn’t stop her brows from furrowing at that news. If the truth were to come to light, both Gardner Corporation and F&M Apparel would direct their wrath at them with all the power they had. If all their misdeeds were revealed, they’d be truly done for!
“What should we do?” Lydia couldn’t think of a plan right now.
“If they plan to do the test on the spot, I can’t tamper with the results. Mom, I have an idea. Why don’t we just make the lie about Joseph and Nicole a reality before they go for the paternity test?” As Queenie said this, a cruel look streaked across her eyes.
Lydia thought that Queenie had a point, and she immediately thought of a plan. She pulled Queenie closer. “Listen, your father’s birthday is the day after. Find a way to get Nicole to come. Then, we’ll drug Nicole and Joseph and make them sleep together. It won’t matter whether or not that kid is actually Joseph’s then.”
At the mention of Lydia’s scheme, the corners of Queenie’s lips unconsciously pulled up into a bright smile. She nodded. “You’re the smartest, Mom. And we’ll record the entire thing when that happens. Supposing she didn’t end up marrying Joseph, Colton would surely spurn and detest her then. Even if she finds out in the future that her son has the Gardners’ blood in his veins, Mrs. Gardner wouldn’t allow such an uncouth woman into her family!”
“That’s settled then. Relax, Queenie. You are the only one who will be Colton’s wife,” Lydia stated in certainty as she reached out to pat Queenie in a soothing manner. She managed to squeeze Nicole’s mother out of the picture over twenty years ago. What was that spring chicken, Nicole, going to do to fight her?
“But how are we going to get Nicole to attend Dad’s birthday party?” Queenie thought of the crux of the problem. Nicole was repulsed by the Andersons. She would definitely refuse to attend the party.
“The reason behind her mother’s divorce over ten years ago was cheating. I am the only one who knows the actual truth,” Lydia said slowly.
Back then, although William was the first one to cheat, he hadn’t thought of divorcing Lydia once Queenie was born. She then pulled a few tricks to make Nicole’s mother to be perceived as the adulterer. That was how Lydia officially became the lady of the Anderson household.
“You mean to use this to draw Nicole over?” Queenie asked, having understood her mother’s intention. However, there was some hesitation apparent between her brows. “But that’s such a plain reason. It’s obvious that we’re preparing to spring a trap on her.”
Lydia was an old hand at scheming. She gave a light chuckle. If they phrased it like that, Nicole would certainly not come. But if they added a little flair to the story, then it would be a different matter.
“Go to Nicole and use this piece of news in exchange for her to stay away from Colton. She will then assume that you only willingly told her this because you think that she’s trying to snatch your place as Colton’s wife.”
A sly gleam shone in Queenie’s eyes after that. Her mother was the smart one for thinking of such a detailed plan. That way, everything would fall into place.
“All right, I’ll invite her tomorrow. She’s sure to fall for it!” Queenie’s foul mood instantly turned around. This time, Nicole will be trampled under my foot, never to rise again! So what if she’s the Chief Designer of F&M Apparel? When the time comes and everything is revealed, she’ll have to choose between getting married to the playboy that was Joseph, or to never live with her head held up high again!
At that thought, all Queenie could feel was glee and smugness.
When Nicole returned home, she saw Hayden playing on his laptop on the couch.
When Hayden saw her, he immediately jumped off the couch. His bare feet pattered as he ran over to her. “Mommy!” he called out sweetly.
“Hey there, sweetheart.” Nicole grinned as she picked her son up. Her gaze fell upon the laptop stand on the couch, and she couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “Did you spend the whole day on your laptop while I was gone?”
“Hey, I only just started gaming when you came back,” Hayden whined as he buried his head in her embrace. Although she wasn’t sure whether he was telling the truth, Nicole’s heart melted when she heard his cute voice.
After Hayden finished playing coy, he looked up at Nicole. “Mommy, it’s still working time. Why are you back?” he asked, curious.
Nicole didn’t want her son to worry, so she simply told him she was worried about leaving him alone at home.
Hayden could guess that something was up when he saw the forced smile on Nicole’s face. His black eyes darkened, but when he looked at her again, his expression had reverted to an innocent smile. “It’s not my first time being home alone. You don’t have to worry about me, Mommy,” he soothed.
The mother and son continued to banter for a little while. As she looked at her son’s innocent face, Nicole became even more determined. I must not let Joseph get his way!
The next morning, Nicole prepared to begin working after she arrived at her office. A few moments after she sat down, however, Queenie suddenly barged into her office. A red-faced Scarlett trailed after her. Scarlett’s expression had a hint of anxiety in it. Upon seeing Nicole, she lowered her head. “I couldn’t stop her, Miss Nicole,” she said regretfully.
Meanwhile, Queenie looked at Scarlett in disgruntlement. She narrowed her eyes and scoffed at her. “I’m Colton’s fiancée, the future wife of the head of Gardner Corporation. This is just a regular workplace. Why can’t I enter?”
Seeing Queenie’s tyrannical attitude, Nicole knew that Scarlett would never be able to stop her. She waved a hand to tell Scarlett that it was all right. “It’s okay. You may leave.”
Scarlett let out a breath of relief when she saw that Nicole wasn’t angry with her. She hastily left and closed the door after her.
Nicole leaned back in her seat with an eyebrow raised. Queenie wouldn’t have come to see her without a reason. She must have come to see me with some ulterior motive today.
“Speak. What is it?” Nicole went straight to the point.
“Dad was the one who wanted me to come here. He hopes that you’ll attend his birthday celebration tomorrow,” Queenie said haughtily with her arms crossed over her chest, like she was doing Nicole a favor.
Nicole couldn’t stop the guffaw that escaped her after she heard that. “Me? Attend his birthday party? Did he forget that I’m no longer part of the family?”
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