Chapter 284: Chapter 284

Shelby chuckled at their antics, her heart warming up considerably, but then Gabriel’s small voice chimed in again,

"Why is Daddy crying?"

The atmosphere in the room seemed to pause entirely as Shelby stepped back. Then, she noticed a single tear gently rolling down Ian’s cheek.

Even Ian himself was surprised at that reaction! He let go of Shelby briefly and brought his finger to his face as if to wipe it, but Shelby beat him to it. She gingerly and softly wiped the tear,

"I’m sorry...." Shelby whispered, knowing that she was the cause of this. Her heart ached gently. She could clearly sense Ian’s distress, but it was so much more than that. His emotions were all over the place, and that made her want to mold him into herself to protect him. Shelby knew that she was in no position to do that, but that only increased the self-blame and guilt.

Murray had informed her through their link on what had happened to Ian after her near-death experience, and that had shaken Shelby to the core. To know that he had also nearly died because of her was just too much. That ’sorry’ she had whispered had contained a lot and the two did not need more words to understand each other in that moment.

"Why are you sorry? Silly girl. You had no control over anything! I am very happy that you came back to me."

"Mama? Is Daddy sick?"

Gabriel shook himself free from Ingrid and crawled up to them while also asking, "Daddy, are you hurt? Let Gabriel blow on it for you. Where are you hurt?"

Ian sighed, knowing that any alone time he had with Shelby had come to an end.

"I’m okay, little guy. There is nothing wrong with me."

"Then why are you crying?"

"Sometimes, adults cry when they are happy too."

"That’s weird," Gabriel murmured to himself. His doubts were clear, but he chose to believe his dad. He squeezed between Ian and Shelby as soon as he was able to wiggle himself off of Ingrid.

Ian chuckled and loosened his hold on Shelby more so that Gabriel could have more room.

"I reallyyyyyy missed you, Mama."

Shelby noticed that Gabriel had dropped her name and had started calling her Mama, similar to Ingrid’s address. She had unknowingly bridged a small gap in his little heart.

Shelby pulled Gabriel in for a hug. At that time, she had somehow turned to face Ian, so Gabriel was sandwiched between them.

"Come here, baby," Shelby turned and called for Ingrid gently. Ingrid did not need another call. She crawled over fast and sat on her heels by Shelby, who gave her a side hug. She missed her mother too, but Ingrid was obviously not as vocal as Gabriel was. She relished in the warmth of her new mother, feeling even closer to her.

Shelby could feel a slight tension ease from Ingrid as the little girl moulded into her.

She felt so content at that time that she did not want their little cozy time to end.

They did not need words to describe how they felt for each other at the moment, but Shelby could feel the two kids cling to her as if she would disappear if they looked away for a bit.

"It’s okay, let my wife rest a little."

That was met with silence, but the children clung even tighter, and Shelby’s melodious laughter chimed in around them.

"It’s okay, Ian, let them be."

"But you need to rest more!"

"It’s okay. I have slept for days. A few more hours staying up will be me more good than harm!"

Ian reluctantly agreed but joined the three.

"I’ll listen to all your arrangements, and I understand your reasonings for tolerating that brat, but what do you plan to handle her?" Ian suddenly asked, moving off the headboard so that Shelby could turn and rest her back.

"We left her out of the surveillance tape given to the police because I had a hunch that you would like to handle her yourself."

Shelby smiled, "You know me best!"

"Mummy, I don’t like that woman!"

"Daddy is with you on this one, little guy."

Shelby turned grimly, "We’ll do exactly what she wanted to do to me. I think it’s only fair to do that."

Ian smiled, "You know what she wanted to do, right? As I said, do not worry I will take ca-"

"Not that, Ian. Of what use will it be if she dies and cannot live the suffering?"

Shelby turned mischievous.

Shelby nodded, and Ian brightened, "Wouldn’t that be letting her off too easily?"

"You think so? I will just be expressing her ’well-wishes’ for herself. I cannot be blamed nor judged for that."

Ian nodded, and then thoughts whirled in his mind. He knew exactly what Elfin was referring to, and he would make Brianna live a life more than death, but then, Ian had ordered an investigation into Brianna, and he was no one to judge, but for such a girl, that was the least he had expected from her.

".... She put a target on Ava and Suzie, but your thoughtful brother managed to take that off."

"SHE DID WHAT?!!!!!" Shelby’s anger soared, and her eyes constricted.

"Calm down, Elfin, that brat is not worth your emotions that way."

Ian gently said, and Gabriel and Ingrid pat Shelby gently as if to soothe her anger, their tiny and cute faces tinged with worry. This was because they had never seen Shelby like that in the past.

"Don’t worry, Mummy is okay."

She managed to get out and then asked after she had calmed a little,

"Tell me the details...."

Ian did not leave any details out, but when he felt that certain details were too sordid, he used their mind link.

".... So that is what happened."

"I had no expectations for Brianna, but this is just too much!" Shelby fumed.

"Why am I even angry and surprised? That is just how Brianna is. I am just surprised that she would stoop so low as to go with the thugs on this."

"I would have targeted her parents’ business first, but I want them to taste what desperation is. They need to understand that money will not get them everything they want. Such plants need to be uprooted cleanly first!"

"Is there something else that I do not know about?"

"She dared touch my wife! That was and will be the last straw!"

However, Ian used his mind-link to tell Shelby about the main, who had found herself in the hands of the thugs. The one who was then known as Doll as the file given to Ian said.

Ian smiled a very cold and calculating smile. "I will give her a taste of her own medicine! After this is all over, that brat will understand that life’s privileges will not be abused."

Shelby nodded and then said,

"I’ll leave that to you then,"

"Your wish is my command!" Ian replied.

What Shelby did not know at that time was that Ian had already started his plan on Brianna, a three-stage plan that would ensure that the high and mighty Brianna would learn what the words ’humble’ and ’desperation’ meant.

The room stagnated for a while and Ian wanted to ask Shelby more questions, but he did not know how to ask. As for the other entity that was after Shelby, Ian decided to get concrete results before letting Shelby be in the known relating to it.

"Let me go see Clara before she leaves." Shelby suddenly said.

Ian looked at her and nodded. He knew that Shelby’s attitude towards her mother had changed because if not, she would not have referred to Clara by her given name.

Refusing to let her walk, Ian sat Shelby in a wheelchair as the children tugged along. It took mere minutes for them to get to the room.

Clara was about to get off the bed and get dressed before Ian rolled Shelby in.

"You brat! Did you finally remember that you have a mother?" Clara snapped as soon as her eyes landed on Shelby but upon seeing Ian closely behind her, she changed her stance and smiled brightly,

Shelby ignored her and then turned to the shocked and disappointed Angela. Shelby only registered a brief shock at Clara’s appearance. However, she took it way better than some of the other people, which infuriated Clara. This was because Rocky had berated and not sympathized with her, but Shelby just blatantly ignored her. Did they not see her predicament? she thought to herself.

"Did they find the cause?"

"No, Miss, but they say nothing is wrong with her."

At that same time, Ian gave her his thoughts on the matter. The silent exchange gave Shelby more than enough info.

"Ok," Shelby signalled Ian, and he started pushing her out.

"YOU! Do you want to see me die?! I AM YOUR MOTHER!" Clara roared!

"Funny you should say that, Clara, think back to the last call we had and then back to your last statement."

Shelby was not sure why she had even come there to check on Clara in the first place. Clara’s last words still rang in her head. She could not believe that a mother would do that to her child.

However, that experience had strengthened her resolve regarding Clara. Yes, Shelby was grateful because Clara had given birth to her, but that was it. She would never go above and beyond to do anything for Clara because of that relationship! Ever!

Ingrid stood beside Shelby’s chair with a rare fury directed at Clara, and Gabriel was no different.

"Mama, this woman is weird. I don’t like her!"

"I don’t like her either, my angel!" Clara fumed even more as these words reached her ears. No matter what she had done in the past, Shelby had always forgiven her but this time, she had not done anything! Or so, Clara thought.

"YOU WOULD RATHER TAKE ON SOME BRATS THAN YOUR BIOLOGICAL MOTHER?!!!!"

Without any care, Shelby threw over her shoulder, "Take care of her, Angela, but do not let yourself be wronged. If you can’t reach Rocky, just call me. But proceed with whatever Rocky has instructed you on regarding her."

Angela nodded as she folded the last piece of clothing down and then bowed to Shelby and her family’s retreating back.

Outside the room, Ian asked,

"Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?"

Ian nodded and then personally pushed Shelby back, but along the way, Shelby suddenly asked, "What of Samantha?"

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