Just as Velvet was about to jump in and add more, her phone buzzed with a new message. She glanced at it and her expression instantly darkened. Turning toward me with clear frustration, she said,
"So it was all your doing, wasn't it, sister-in-law?"
At those words, Portia and Dorian's faces went pale.
They both exclaimed in unison, "What’s going on?"
Velvet, brimming with anger, declared,
"My contacts found evidence of sister-in-law checking into a hotel with Iris!"
With that, she held up her phone for everyone to see.
On the screen, there were records of my hotel check-in under my real name, along with surveillance footage showing me entering and leaving the hotel with my daughter.
After reading the messages, Portia shot me an incredulous look and yelled.
“Calista, how could you do this? No wonder when Iris mentioned her stomach hurting this morning, you handed her a pregnancy test. After she found out she was pregnant, you calmly made her chicken soup to 'nourish the baby.' So it turns out you’re the mastermind behind all this! Tell me—why would you do something like this?”
Velvet’s disappointment was palpable as she turned her gaze on me, saying,
“Sister-in-law, did we do something to upset you? What’s going on?”
“If you’re bothered, just tell us. This is an adult issue; don’t take it out on the child. Why would you ruin her life like this?”
Seeing their anxious and worried faces, I couldn’t help but find their concern absurd.
But before I could respond, my daughter, who had been quietly observing, suddenly stood up.
She positioned herself protectively in front of me, facing Portia and sister-in-law without flinching.
“Grandma, Aunt, this is all my fault. If you have something to say, direct it at me!”
“Don’t be mean to Mom!”
Velvet and mother-in-law exchanged concerned glances at their daughter, then turned to me with reproach.
“Look at what you've done.”
“Iris is still protecting you!”
“Do you deserve such a filial and well-behaved daughter?”
I remained unruffled and replied, “I have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Seeing my indifferent demeanor, Dorian’s anger surged. He stepped in front of me, his eyes red with fury, demanding, “What on earth is going on?”
“Who did you bring Iris to meet at the hotel? How did she get pregnant?!”
I coldly stared at Dorian’s enraged face and said calmly, “I just took my daughter to the hotel to rest; how would I know how she got pregnant?”