484 Strange Things
Selma Payne’s POV:
Now, those superficial verbal attacks were already out of date, and the contest for power had finally arrived.
One might be confused. Using a woman as a surrogate might be controversial, but how could it be considered a serious matter of human experimentation?
Carey’s experience made her understand that it wasn’t as simple as just combining sperm and ovum. The research done at Lester’s research institute was only on the surface, and the ‘legal procedures’ at the institute did not affect what the Evaria Family did behind closed doors. All in all, everything was chilling, filled with the blood and wails of women.
In addition, the Evaria Family was also accused of human trafficking, kidnapping, illegal imprisonment, and other crimes. The murder was pending because although we all thought the missing girls were likely to die, there was no conclusive evidence to confirm that the Evaria Family was the murderer.
This was a war that I couldn’t relax in. The family history of countless rich and powerful families made me understand that a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. Fairness and justice weren’t very solid in the face of money and power. The moment there was the slightest bit of relaxation, everything would be in vain.
Carey’s wound healed quickly. She did not want to live in the city where the Evaria Family was and wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
When I asked her about her decision, she rejected the option of being the daughter of a wealthy merchant, hoping to become a small noble in name.
“Don’t laugh at me for being greedy. It’s just that identity might give me a more secure feeling than money.”
She clenched her hands and smiled bitterly in embarrassment. “With your gift, I won’t be short of money for the rest of my life. I hope to have a solid identity to give me the courage to continue living. You don’t know to what extent some people in the world can bully the weak and fear the strong. In some people’s eyes, a single and rich lady is a target for them to pester and harass. However, they would not dare to say anything wrong to a ‘noble’ upper class, even if she is the daughter or sister of an unknown lord.”
Even though I thought I had seen too many sarcastic remarks in the first twenty years of my life, in front of a strong girl struggling to survive at the bottom of society, the youthful thoughts I disturbed myself were so laughable.
In this world, some people would do their best to survive.
I had my men prepare two identification documents. I handed the one that Carey had chosen to her.
“From now on, your surname will be ‘Teal’. At your request, you don’t need to change your name. Miss Carey Teal is the posthumous daughter of a lord from a branch of the Teal Family. As your mother was afraid that you would be persecuted for your property, she kept you in the countryside under a different name until you became an adult at age twenty. You’ve been receiving family education at home, so you don’t have a primary or secondary school diploma. As for whether you want to go to college in the future, it’s up to you.
“You’re not nineteen this year, but twenty. Your mother passed away in January due to illness. In your grief, you decided to return to your mother’s hometown to live in seclusion, which is the Spring Rain Pack, previously known as the Saber Tooth Pack. Madam Sheedy Charlies is your distant cousin. She pitied you for being an orphan, so she often takes care of you. Madam Charlies’ niece, Jordin Charlies, is one of the people in charge of the Spring Rain Pack. You can look to her for help if you have any difficulties.
“That’s all the background. The details are in the file. You can slowly study it.”
Holding the kraft paper bag, Carey’s eyes reddened. She mumbled for a long time and choked, “I don’t know how to repay you, Your Highness… I can only give you my useless body to do as you please. Please don’t think that my return is too little. I just don’t know… Goddess, is all the suffering in my life for today?”
I hugged Carey and patted her back to comfort her.
“Don’t talk about repaying me, my dear. You don’t owe me anything. From now on, you just have to live a good life for yourself. A beautiful tomorrow is waiting for you.”
It took a long time for Carey to calm down. She hesitated for a while before saying hesitantly, “There’s something I don’t know if I should tell you.”
“Do you have any requests? Don’t worry, please speak.”
“No, no, this is all very good!” Carey shook her head and subconsciously touched her belly. “The other day, you told me the child in my belly might kill me. This made me think of something… Strange.
“I wanted to die when I was still imprisoned by the Evaria Family. However, I had a strange dream that night. Someone said something to me. I always felt this was like the hypnosis or mental suggestion I read in novels. Because after that night, I inexplicably calmed down. Although I still wanted to die, I couldn’t take action no matter what.
“After that, I heard from my servants that the girl imprisoned with me ‘disappeared’. I was so scared that I almost broke down. However, I had this dream at night, and then I inexplicably calmed down.
“After these two dreams, I had a serious pregnancy symptom. The second time, I almost died, and those people had no choice but to send me to Dr. Lester for treatment.”
