Chapter 129: Chapter 129

When the situation escalated beyond her expectations, Old Madam Forrest was left utterly exhausted. Seeing Patrick and Katherine so clearly taking sides, she felt frustrated and helpless. With outsiders present and trying to mediate, she couldn’t press the matter any further, and her anger gradually subsided.

"Jenson, hurry up and take Crystal to a room! Find a doctor to examine her before something really happens," Katherine urged. She grew even more anxious seeing Crystal look so weak she could barely open her eyes. After all, the child in Crystal’s womb was her only hope of saving her youngest child.

Patrick also said in a low voice, "Stop making a scene here. Get her out of sight."

Just as Jenson was about to move, Old Madam Forrest suddenly spoke up again. "Hold on!"

Everyone looked at Old Madam Forrest, but she turned to Zinnia, who had been pushed to the periphery. She reached out, pulled Zinnia back to her side, and only then did she turn her gaze back to Crystal in Jenson’s arms. "I may be old, and it seems no one is willing to listen to me anymore, but I’m not so senile that I’d allow a child of questionable origin to be mixed into the Forrest family’s bloodline! Since Miss Sutton insists the child is Jenson’s, then let’s do an amniocentesis and a paternity test."

Old Madam Forrest was no longer insisting on an abortion; instead, she demanded an amniocentesis.

A flicker of panic crossed Crystal’s face, quickly replaced by a hurt expression as she said haltingly, "Old Madam Forrest, what kind of person do you take me for? Why must you insist on humiliating me ..."

Zinnia hadn’t expected Old Madam Forrest to suddenly bring up a paternity test again. The child wasn’t Jenson’s at all, so of course Crystal wouldn’t dare agree to it. And there was no way Patrick and Katherine would object to a test; they’d be thrilled. There’s no denying it, the older are always the wiser.

Zinnia glanced at Old Madam Forrest, who patted her hand comfortingly. The old madam then scowled, staring at Crystal with disgust. "Enough with the crying and wailing. It’s a bad omen! You keep insisting the child is Jenson’s, so why are you scared now?"

Katherine also wanted Crystal to get the paternity test to confirm the child was truly Jenson’s. She even wanted to ask the doctor later if the sample from the amniocentesis could be used for tissue matching with Julia.

Patrick also spoke in a low, firm voice, "In that case, take her to the operating room."

How could she possibly agree to an amniocentesis? Crystal clutched Jenson’s sleeve and cried, "Jenson, I don’t want to! I’m scared of the pain, and my stomach hurts so much right now! I’m dizzy and nauseous, too. I nearly had a miscarriage a few days ago. What if the amniocentesis makes me miscarry for real? I’m so scared."

When Katherine heard her mention a near-miscarriage, she hesitated and looked toward Old Madam Forrest. "Mom, maybe we should..."

But Old Madam Forrest was not so easily fooled. She cut Katherine off. "The doctors will decide if she might miscarry. If her physical condition truly isn’t suitable for the procedure, the doctor will naturally terminate it! Director Lowell, you will perform the procedure yourself."

As an authority in obstetrics, Director Lowell stepped forward. "Old Madam Forrest, rest assured, I will ensure Miss Sutton’s safety."

With things having come to this, Crystal’s anxiety was useless. She could only turn to Jenson, tears streaming down her face. Zinnia was also watching Jenson, a hint of schadenfreude in her heart. Now that it’s come to this, let’s see how he’ll continue to shield and indulge Crystal. This content belongs to NoveI-Fire.ɴet

"Jenson, just hand Miss Sutton over to the doctors. Don’t make your grandmother any angrier," Jenson’s godmother, Mrs. Sterling, also chimed in.

Jenson looked toward Mrs. Sterling. Even though she was blind and couldn’t see him, he still nodded and said softly, "Alright."

Jenson turned and placed Crystal on a gurney, signaling for a nurse to come and wheel her away.

Crystal grabbed his arm. Jenson looked down at her. "It’s alright. The doctors will be responsible for you and the child."

Crystal looked at Jenson as if she had just figured something out. She nodded and said, "In that case, I trust you, Jenson. I’ll do whatever you say."

She obediently lay down on the gurney as the doctors and nurses moved to wheel her away. As they passed Zinnia, Crystal turned her head slightly to look at her. Meeting Zinnia’s utterly surprised expression, Crystal’s lips curved into a faint smile. Her eyes were filled with provocation and mockery.

Zinnia dug her nails into her palm and pulled her gaze away. That’s right. With Jenson around, forging a paternity test result would be a trivial matter. He really is determined to play the doting father to Crystal’s child. How could she not be gloating?

"Lillian, you see? Jenson still listens to you more!" Katherine said to Mrs. Sterling nearby.

Mrs. Sterling laughed. "Are you really jealous of me? It’s always . You’re his mother, and I’m just his godmother. Children, no matter how old, tend to be a little rebellious with their own parents. COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... COUGH."

Her health had always been poor, and she began to cough violently before she could finish.

Patrick hurriedly said to Theodore Sterling, "I’m sorry you and your wife had to go through all this today, especially with her poor health." He then instructed Jenson, "Take your godmother back to her room first."

Theodore Sterling quickly waved his hand, telling Jenson, "There’s no need. Jenson, you should take your grandmother back first. Madam Forrest, Lillian and I will come to visit you at home next time," he added, apologizing to Old Madam Forrest.

Only then did Old Madam Forrest notice that Mrs. Sterling was wearing a hospital gown under her thick coat, a clear sign she was also a patient. Feeling guilty for having troubled so many people, the old madam quickly said, "Alright, this is no time for formalities. Hurry and take Lillian back."

After the Sterlings left, Katherine stepped forward to help Old Madam Forrest. "Mom, we don’t know when Crystal will be out, and the paternity test results won’t be ready for a while. Let me take you back to your room."

But Old Madam Forrest brushed her hand away. She turned and tightly gripped Zinnia’s hand instead, waving dismissively at the others. "All of you can leave now. Go do whatever it is you do. Just looking at you makes me angry! Zinnia is all the company I need."

Katherine’s expression stiffened. Zinnia and Jenson are divorced; she’s not the old madam’s granddaughter-in-law anymore. How can she still act ? She really can’t tell who her real family is. Katherine shot Zinnia a look, her expression unreadable, and said coolly, "Well then, Zinnia. Take good care of Old Madam Forrest."

Zinnia simply gave her a slight nod. She knew she was once again an eyesore to Katherine, and she knew exactly why the woman disliked her so much. Katherine’s maternal family had long since fallen into ruin, her relationship with Patrick was mediocre at best, and she had no career to speak of. The only reason she could maintain her dignified standing in her social circles was because of her capable son, Jenson. However, Jenson hadn’t been raised by her, so they weren’t close, and he refused to help her maternal family. In comparison, Zinnia’s own family background was even more insignificant and embarrassing. But within the Forrest family, Old Madam Forrest—whom Katherine had spent a lifetime trying to please—had always disdained her, while genuinely doting on Zinnia. As the daughter-in-law, Katherine could never compete with the granddaughter-in-law for favor, and even her own son used to protect Zinnia. Naturally, Katherine resented this. In the past, the better Old Madam Forrest and Jenson treated Zinnia, the more Katherine couldn’t stand the sight of her. Over the years, this had become an irreconcilable conflict. But thankfully, it was all about to end. Once the divorce was finalized, she would no longer have to deal with such a suffocating relationship with her mother-in-law.

"Grandma, let’s go. I’ll take you back," Zinnia said, supporting Old Madam Forrest as they walked toward the elevator.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind them. Zinnia instinctively glanced back and her eyes met Jenson’s. She was surprised. Crystal was still in the operating room. Why wasn’t he waiting outside? What was he doing following them?