Chapter 110 He’ll Have No Choice But To Marry You
“Mom, didn’t I ask you to stay out of my business? If you insist on getting involved, then I’ll have no choice but to tell Dad about the car accident.” William’s voice grew firm, his patience wearing thin.
The mention of Eric made Esme freeze. The guilt gnawed at her–she hadn’t dared to inform Eric yet. If he found out, his anger would be uncontrollable, and who could predict the consequences?
“Fine,” Esme said, her tone sharp. “I won’t say anything anymore. But what about Sylvia? You can’t just ignore her. You grew up together, after all.”
Sylvia’s voice, soft and filled with feigned sorrow, broke through. “Mrs. Mitchell…” Her eyes were cast down, a hint of tears threatening to spill. She looked as though she might break down at any moment.
William’s gaze flicked toward Sylvia, his indifference stark. The affection he once had for her, when he saw her as the sweet, innocent little sister, had long faded.
Lately, he had been thinking back to those days, questioning whether he and Esme had pampered Sylvia too much, making her the entitled, willful woman she had become. Did their indulgence lead to her misguided romantic feelings for him?
“Sylvia,” He finally said, his tone firm but not without a trace of compassion.
Sylvia’s head snapped up, her eyes glistening as they met his. The vulnerability in her gaze was enough to soften even the hardest of hearts, and any man could be moved by such an expression.
Despite the warmth he still felt for her as someone he once cherished deeply, William steeled himself. “I’ve spoken with your brother. He’ll take care of you. Once you’re with him, I’ll be more at ease.”
“No… William…” Sylvia’s voice cracked, and the panic in her eyes was now unmistakably genuine.
“William, what is this? Why are you sending her away?” Esme, her brow furrowed with growing concern, demanded.
William’s response was unwavering. “Mom, it’s for Sylvia’s own good. She should be with her own family. I can’t take care of her here in Tofral. I have too much on my plate.”
“I don’t need you to take care of me, William!” Sylvia cried out, her voice desperate. “I can manage on my own. Please don’t send me away!”
William, already resolved, shook his head. “Let’s leave it at that. You should start packing. And now if you’ll excuse me, I still have things to attend to.” Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Sylvia, stunned and heartbroken, could see the finality in his decision. She collapsed into Esme’s arms, her sobs shaking her body.
Sylvia’s voice trembled with desperation, her words barely audible through her sobs. “Mrs. Mitchell, I don’t want to leave… I want to stay with you… I love spending time with you, really. I want to shop with you every day. I never had a mother growing up, and I’ve always seen you as my mom, Mrs. Mitchell… I don’t want to leave you…”
Sylvia’s words reached deep into Esme’s heart, stirring a compassion she could scarcely contain. Tenderly, she wrapped her arms around Sylvia, her concern growing with every passing second. To Esme, Sylvia wasn’t just any girl; she was like the daughter she had never had.
“I know, Sylvia… I know. But William… He refuses to listen to me,” Esme muttered, her voice laced with helplessness.
Sylvia’s sobs grew louder, as if her heart might break under the weight of her frustrations. Esme, glancing around nervously to make sure no one noticed them, led Sylvia away to a quieter spot. Gently, she whispered, “Don’t cry, Sylvia. Everything will be alright. Just calm down.”
“Mrs. Mitchell,” Sylvia continued, her voice filled with desperation, “William must still want to reconcile with Renee, but she already has a child with another man. Do you really think it’s appropriate for William to raise another man’s child? Mrs. Mitchell, think about the Mitchell family’s reputation!”
Esme was struck as though Sylvia’s words were a sudden shock. The idea of William raising a child that wasn’t even a Mitchell? The very thought made her blood run cold. She couldn’t accept it–not for someone of William’s stature. If the word got out, his
reputation–along with the entire Mitchell family’s–would be tarnished beyond repair.
“That’s absolutely out of the question. He can’t be tied to someone else’s child,” Esme spat, her eyes gleaming with determination. Then, as if a sudden thought had just struck her, she gripped Sylvia’s hand, her excitement evident. “Sylvia, if you carry his child, everything changes. He won’t be able to ignore you, and for the sake of the baby, he’ll have no choice but to marry you.”
“But… Mrs. Mitchell… how do I even begin?”
Sylvia’s head dropped shyly, and though she appeared demure, her eyes, usually so innocent and meek, now gleamed with a hidden agenda. She might have played the part of a helpless, fragile girl, but the gears were turning in her mind, calculating her
next steps.
