Luna glared at the two people embracing each other, her eyes burning with venomous hatred.
That damned little bastard!
She fixed her gaze, pretending to be excited as she walked forward, reaching out her hand to Zola: "Zola, come to Mommy."
Zola trembled at her voice, viciously flinging away her hand: "You're not my mom!"
"Zola... I carried you for ten months, you're my child. How can you, how can you call some scheming woman 'mom'?!"
Luna looked deeply aggrieved, chokingly accusing Vera: "Sister, I know you hate me, but Zola is my child. You can't steal her away."
Vera's lips twitched; she truly couldn't bear to watch Luna's pathetic act.
She really didn't get it—was Luna actually Zola's biological mother?
Why did Zola so fiercely reject her, and Luna herself showed absolutely no concern for Zola?
She could see right through Luna's performance, but Mrs. Morgan wrapped her arms around Luna in sorrow: "Luna, don't cry. You gave birth to my child—in the Morgan family, you're the only daughter-in-law I acknowledge! Zola is your son, no one can take him away!"
Vera rolled her eyes, too lazy to watch this dramatic display of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law affection.
"President Morgan, this matter hasn't been cleared up yet, shouldn't we bail both kids out first?"
Victor Morgan cast a surprised glance at Vera, nodded, and instructed the lawyer coolly: "Go sign the bail papers..."
"No!"
Mrs. Morgan cut him off sharply, her face tight with fury: "Zola has been set up by this pair! He can go home, but this woman's daughter must stay here and be investigated!"
"Mrs. Morgan!" Vera sprang to her feet, anger glinting fiercely in her eyes: "What evidence do you have proving we framed Zola? Don't forget, my daughter's also a victim!"
Zola clenched her fists and stood, pointing furiously at Luna: "It was obviously her who set us up!"
"My precious grandson, you've been tricked by this woman!" Mrs. Morgan saw Zola defending Vera, which confirmed all her suspicions.
She declared resolutely, "Anyway, I will never let sinister women manipulate you again! They absolutely can't leave the station!"
Vera's eyes flashed, ignited by anger, she turned sharply to Victor Morgan, barely controlling her rage: "President Morgan, does anyone in your family understand reason?!"
Victor Morgan's brows tightened. Just as he was about to reply, a commotion suddenly sounded outside the interrogation room.
"Chief? Why are you here!"
"I heard you arrested a young kid? I came to see what's going on!"
...
As they spoke, the interrogation room door was pushed open.
Several figures appeared at the door, led by a man of scholarly elegance, radiating calm and clarity.
This man was strikingly handsome, gentle yet cool in his features, radiating a refined air. Standing there, he exuded an aura of culture, as if he'd walked out of a beautifully painted scroll.
"Uncle Lockwood!"
Chloe Warner's eyes lit up. She ran toward the man and leapt straight into his arms.
"You little rascal, slow down." Ian Lockwood caught Chloe Warner in one motion, dotingly flicked her nose, then his gaze dropped to the handcuffs on her wrists, his eyes narrowing.
The police chief noticed his gaze, waved his hand: "Take off her handcuffs! She's just a kid, what's with the handcuffs?"
Once Chloe Warner's hands were freed, she wrapped her arms tightly around Ian Lockwood's neck, pouting as she acted spoiled: "Uncle Lockwood, do you even want to be my dad anymore? Mom and I have been back so long and haven't even seen you yet."
"That's my fault. As soon as I heard you were in trouble, I rushed over without stopping..." Ian Lockwood's smile was gentle as jade. He paused, then his warm gaze rested on Vera: "And your mom too."
Those few words revealed Ian Lockwood's feelings for Vera loud and clear.
Mrs. Morgan's face was unpleasant.
If the Morgan family ranked first in business circles in Aethelgard, then the Lockwood family was the city's premier scholarly clan.
The Lockwood family wasn't as powerful as the Morgans, but its name was the epitome of refinement, and heir Ian Lockwood was the brightest of their cultured crowd, with plenty of ties to the political world.
If Ian Lockwood was serious about Vera, then Vera might not go to such trouble for Victor Morgan.
Where did things go wrong?
Meanwhile, Luna was barely able to contain her twisted expression, her heart nearly devoured by jealousy.
How could this happen?!
How did Vera know Ian Lockwood?
That bitch—how could she be so lucky? It was already enough that Victor Morgan had a soft spot for her; now even Ian Lockwood was interested!
She hated it. Hated her enough to wish her dead!
"Vera, the lawyer has it sorted, the car's waiting outside, let's go." Ian Lockwood's gaze landed on Vera, smiling, bringing warmth into the tense room.
Before Vera could answer, Victor Morgan suddenly spoke: "Wait."
Ian Lockwood looked calmly at Victor Morgan. His demeanor was refined, but his presence was not overshadowed at all by Victor Morgan.
Their gazes clashed, both recognizing the hostility in the other's eyes.
"President Morgan, is there something else?" Ian Lockwood's smile stayed steady.
Victor Morgan's gaze lingered on Vera, whose attitude had softened since Ian Lockwood's arrival, then on Chloe Warner, still clinging to Ian Lockwood's neck.
Something strange flickered in his heart, a hint of anger rising unbidden.
"Vera, you think you can just leave like this?"