Chapter 9 I Didn't Push Her

Aria wore a hospital gown, being slowly aided by Edward Harper as they walked towards this side. Aria slipped slightly, and Edward quickly caught her in his arms, gently scolding, "Why are you so careless?"

His eyes were filled with doting affection.

He still had Aria's bag slung over his shoulder, accommodating her pace. Every action exuded tenderness.

The two mingled in the crowd, a living example of a loving couple.

Clara Knox stared blankly, a voice in her mind replayed,

"He accompanied her for the pregnancy check-up."

So he could be gentle with others, just not with her.

Suddenly, Edward looked this way, and their eyes met unexpectedly.

Pretending not to see him was too late now, Edward let go of Aria and strode towards her. The tenderness on his face was gone,

"What are you doing here?"

Clara abruptly stood up, hiding the test report behind her back, nervously retreating a step.

Edward squinted his eyes, pressing, "What are you hiding, let me see."

Clara softly replied, "Nothing, gy—gynecological disease."

At this moment, Aria followed, hooking one hand in the crook of Edward's arm, her brows and eyes smiling,

"Brother Edward, why are you so harsh on a girl, you're scaring her."

Edward's expression immediately softened a bit, "Forgot to introduce you guys,

Aria, this is Clara Knox."

Aria beamed a smile, "No need for your introduction."

Turning to Clara with a friendly greeting, "Sister, it's been so long since us sisters met, I missed you. You know I came back and you didn't invite me home, I even prepared a gift for you."

Edward raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping between the two women's faces.

Aria smiled, explaining,

"Don't you think we look alike? She is my biological sister. I took after Dad's surname, she took after Mom's."

A glimmer of surprise flashed in Edward's eyes. Three years ago, when Grandpa forced him to marry Clara, he called him to the study and instructed,

"Clara is my old friend's granddaughter. This girl has no family, you must take good care of her, don't let her suffer, or I can't explain to my old friend in the afterlife."

Just now, Aria's words made him think Clara was deceiving him into marriage. Didn't she have a mom and dad and a sister? He wondered how she fooled Grandpa then.

Clara stood awkwardly by, pressing her lips without speaking.

Aria shook Edward's arm, coquettishly, "Brother Edward, I'm a bit cold, can you go to the ward and get me a jacket."

Edward nodded, before leaving, he took out a thermos from the bag, placing it in Aria's hand, reminding her to be careful with the hot temperature.

Watching Edward walk away, Aria opened the thermos and took a sip,

"Brother Edward is so meticulous, knowing I love drinks at 60% temperature, he let it cool from boiling before packing."

Then she reproachfully questioned Clara,

"Sister, these years while I was abroad for treatment and not at home, why didn't you accompany Dad? He misses you, he also misses Granny. That year when Dad brought Mom and me back, Granny severed ties with us out of anger, leading you out to live alone, Dad barely ate or drank for a month."

Clara sneered,

"Edward has already walked away, you don't need to act. That year after we left, Brandon didn't make a single call to Granny. Until later when Granny became seriously ill, I begged him to find a doctor; he didn't even glance at the ward, his lack of appetite was probably because he coveted Granny's 10% shareholding, wasn't it?"

Brandon operated a company that barely went public.

When Clara was in junior high, her mother died in a sudden car accident. The day after the burial, Brandon brought Aria and her mother home.

Granny couldn't accept Aria and her mother, felt ashamed, had a fierce quarrel with Brandon, then left with Clara to live alone, and they never contacted again.

Clara fumed as she recollected. Her mother's death was suspicious, and she always suspected that car accident had a connection with Aria and her mother, but all these years she hadn't found any useful evidence.

Clara hit the nail on the head, successfully stirring Aria's anger.

"How can you talk about Dad like this? You are his biological daughter. He worked hard making money, taking care of you and your mom who only knows cooking, mopping, and wiping tables, was it easy? He loved you for thirteen years, how could he raise an ungrateful creature? I truly feel sorry for Dad."

Clara, not wanting to tangle with her, was just about to leave, but hearing her slander her mother, her heart entangled tightly,

"I warn you not to talk about my mom. She was a good person; Brandon didn't deserve her. Besides, regarding that car accident, as long as I live, I will continue to investigate, certainly bringing the culprit to justice, not letting any villain escape."

"What do you mean by that? Your mom died early because she had bad luck, who can she blame? The dividend from Granny's shares, wasn't it used by you all these years? Give the money back!"

Clara found it ridiculously funny,

"You think Brandon started from scratch? Initially, he took my mom's money to start a business. You're only a year younger than me. While using my mom's money to do business, he also supported a mistress and had an illegitimate daughter. You were raised on my mom's money, how dare you demand I return the money?"

Aria was thoroughly provoked,

"Who are you calling a mistress? Make it clear!"

Her lower abdomen ached faintly again, Clara clutched the examination report as she walked to a less crowded place, feeling a bit suffocated. The doctor had just advised her to avoid emotional agitation. She wanted to shake off this crazy woman and leave quickly; if she harmed her own baby, she would regret it to death.

Aria relentlessly followed, grabbing her arm, "Make it clear before leaving. Dad and Mom are truly in love, who are you calling a mistress?"

The wound on Clara's arm was pulled, causing her to instinctively flick her hand in pain,

"A mistress is a mistress, wrecking another's family, everyone should punish, doing it but afraid of people mentioning it?"

Thud—

Clara turned around, instantly dumbfounded. Somehow, Aria fell to the ground, the thermos cup rolling far away.

She was stunned, she hadn't even used much strength, just the wound hurt, wanting to shake off her hand, that little strength shouldn't have pushed her down.

Sensing a murderous aura closing in on her, she looked up to see Edward's face, ready to devour her.

"Clara Knox!"

He called her name, Clara shivered in fear, standing still and daring not to move.

"I didn't… push her."

She quivered in her explanation, and the words came out even she felt unconvincing.