Chapter 557
Lucy wanted to give Celine a hard slap on the face. However, she didn’t hit it because her wrist was grabbed by a hand.
Startled, Lucy looked up and saw Nigel standing there. He had positioned himself in front of Celine, blocking the slap entirely.
Lucy’s expression changed instantly. She hadn’t expected Nigel to step in for Celine.
As far as she knew, he had barely interacted with her before. Right now, it was Carly who had his favor, and she was still unconscious. As his daughter, Nigel should have sided with her and not protected Celine.
Lucy’s heart pounded with frustration. “Mr. Hampton, Celine actually poisoned Carly! She’s still unconscious because of her. I just wanted to teach her a lesson.”
Sonia immediately chimed in. “That’s right, Mr. Hampton. If we hadn’t caught it in time, Carly’s life would have been in danger, so she must be punished!”
Celine stood behind Nigel, who was shielding her. He was tall enough to block her completely from view, and from where she stood, she could see the broad line of his shoulders.
His presence, refined by years of experience, carried a sense of unwavering authority that made people feel secure.
Suddenly, she thought of her father, Aaron. His shoulders had been just as broad and strong.
However, he had been gone for many years.
While she was lost in thought, Nigel coldly shoved Lucy aside, forcing her to stumble back a few steps.
Both Lucy and Sonia paused for a moment, unsure of what he was thinking. “Mr. Hampton, aren’t you going to punish Celine?”
Nigel ignored them. Instead, he turned to Celine. “Did you poison Carly?” he asked.
Celine was caught off guard.
She had expected Nigel to condemn her outright, just like the rest of the family. However, he didn’t condemn her but asked her.
It was so ridiculous. These people were supposed to be her family, yet Nigel, an outsider, was treating her better than any of them ever had.
She looked at him and shook her head. “It wasn’t me.”
Nigel said nothing.
Celine remarked, “Are you doubting my medical skills? I’m the medical prodigy Dr.
C. If I had really poisoned Carly, do you think she’d still be alive?”
Sonia hesitated. “Well…”
Celine looked at them and said, “If Carly being alive causes me so much trouble, why would I poison her just to leave her half-dead? IfF really wanted to get rid of her, d make sure she was dead on the spot rather than leave her hanging by a thread and get caught by you all. Come on, I’m not that stupid.”
Not to mention, she would never use such a crude method. Killing Carly outright would be too easy because she didn’t deserve such a quick end.
Lucy had seen Celine’s sharp tongue in action before, but this time, it was on full display. “Celine, y-you’re just making excuses! Mr. Hampton, don’t believe her!”
Sonia said, “Mr. Hampton, don’t get carried away with her smooth talk! Carly is your daughter. You have to stand up for her.”
Celine turned to Nigel, waiting for her reaction.
He met her gaze briefly before
shifting his attention to Sonia and Lucy. “Isn’t Celine part of your
family? Why do you treat her so
coldly while going out of your way to
protect Carly? You act like Carly is your real daughter instead.
The sudden question sent a chill through the air.
Both Sonia and Lucy were taken aback, frozen in place.
Nigel’s piercing gaze landed on Lucy, scrutinizing her from above. “Celine isn’t
your biological daughter, is she?”
Lucy’s face turned pale because she wasn’t sure if Nigel had actually caught on to
something. She immediately replied, “She is my daughter.”
Nigel asked, “So this is how you treat your own child?”
Lucy stammered. “I-I…”
Lucy wanted to explain, but her mind was in chaos. Under the
overwhelming pressure of the world’s wealthiest man, she didn’t dare speak carelessly. The more she said, the more she risked exposing herself.