Chapter 235
“My mother-in-law would never do that,” Amelia said, snuggling into Gloria’s arms, “She’s always loved me like her own daughter.”
Gloria said tenderly, “Of course! You’re almost like a daughter to me.”
Donna looked guilty.
Looking at the way Gloria and Amelia got along as mother- and daughter-in-law, and then thinking about her own relationship with her daughter-in-law…
‘If I had known my second son’s family would be the useful one, I should have favored them more,’ she thought with regret.
‘Is it still possible to change things now?’ Donna wondered to herself.
“We’ll get going now, Mom,” Gloria said.
Not giving Donna any chance to say a word, Gloria took her children and daughter-in-law and left Kingsley Manor.
Kayla was delighted and teased, “Mom, when did you start giving off main character vibes? You actually dare to stand up to your mother-in-law now?”
“You little troublemaker, making fun of your own mom?” Gloria said. “Back then, you guys were still little, and I was just a rookie daughter-in-law myself… Wait a minute!”
Gloria suddenly sensed that something was off.
Landon and Amelia paused in their tracks, turning to look at Kayla.
“Did you just remember something from when you were little?” Gloria asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Kayla froze, her mind replaying memories of her mom being meek and submissive in the Kingsley family, always getting picked on by Donna and Cynthia.
“I think I do remember now…” Kayla turned to glance back at Kingsley Manor, pointing at the stone lion by the entrance. “I used to ride that lion, and Cynthia pushed me off.”
“Yeah, that’s right!” Gloria nodded vigorously. “That really happened!”
“Oh, my head… it hurts…” Kayla cried out, clutching her head and dropping into a crouch.
Everyone’s face went pale—especially Landon’s.
Landon immediately swept Kayla into his arms and, striding toward the car, shouted, “Quick, get Brian to the house, now!”
Twenty minutes later, Brian announced with a grave expression, “There’s a problem with Kayla’s chip.”
“What kind of problem?” Landon asked.
“It’s shifted. We need to remove it as soon as possible. Otherwise…” Brian trailed off, his voice heavy with concern.
The silence in the room was deafening.
Landon clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath.
No one understood the pain caused by the chip better than he did.
Kayla’s chip had been implanted for five years. Back then, the technology wasn’t as advanced, and the side effects were far worse than what he had experienced.
He only had occasional headaches, but Kayla had been in pain for five years straight.
As Aiden put it, Kayla needed a long period of rest and absolutely couldn’t take any shocks or excitement.
The chip was risky enough to put in, but taking it out was an even bigger gamble.
“It can’t be taken out,” Kayla said, looking at her family who truly loved her, a gentle smile on her face. “Mom, don’t worry. It’s just a little pain every now and then. I’ve gotten used to it.”
“You’ve gotten used to it?” Gloria echoed.
She hugged Kayla tightly, tears streaming down her face as her heart broke for her daughter.
‘How much pain has my precious girl suffered? How much has she endured?’ Gloria thought, her heart aching.
“Kayla, we really do have to take it out,” Brian said firmly.
Kayla shot him a rare glare, losing her temper for once. “You talk too much today! Get out!”
Brian made himself scarce in a hurry…
Amelia found it odd, ‘Why does Brian listen to Kayla so much?’ she wondered to herself.
“Mom, he just likes to scare people. Don’t pay him any mind,” Kayla said with a reassuring smile.
Amelia quickly added, “That’s right! I met Brian back when I was in Dreicean—he’s always been the type to blow things out of proportion.”
“Amelia, tell me, is Kayla’s condition really that serious?” Gloria asked, gripping Amelia’s arm tightly.
She actually trusted Amelia even more than her own son and daughter.
Amelia put on a breezy smile and said, “She’s been in pain for years and nothing’s happened, so really, you don’t have to worry, Mom!”
“But Brian said if they don’t take it out, then…” Gloria started, worry in her voice.
“Then what? He didn’t even finish his sentence,” Landon interjected.
“Mom, you really don’t need to worry,” Landon reassured her.
Gloria finally felt a bit more at ease, hoping she was just overthinking things.
“Mom, let’s let Kayla rest for a while,” Amelia said softly.
“Alright,” Gloria replied.
Gloria left the room with Amelia by her side.
Landon’s expression darkened as he turned to Kayla. “Do you remember who implanted the chip in you? Or do you know anyone in the Kington Gang who’s familiar with this kind of technology?”
“Didn’t they all run off?” Kayla sighed. “Eddie took them away, just waiting for us to make the first move. We can’t fall for that trap.”
“But your condition now…” Landon started.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to die,” Kayla said casually.
But a flicker of unspeakable pain flashed in her eyes.
She’d only just gotten back home, barely had a taste of this quiet, ordinary life. She didn’t want it to end so soon—she didn’t want to die.
But she couldn’t let Landon get caught in the Kington Gang’s trap all over again, either.
“I’m going to find Aiden!” Landon growled, radiating murderous intent as he stormed out.
Kayla didn’t try to stop him.
Aiden might technically be the heir to the Kington Gang, but his parents never really cared for him at all.
In Eddie’s plans, it was Landen who was always meant to inherit the Kington Gang…
Landon stormed into the prison, radiating a dangerous aura. Aiden, after all that hard labor, looked every bit the fallen noble—disheveled and worn down, but still carrying a trace of his old pride.
When he saw Landon, Aiden managed a crooked smile. “Mr. Kingsley, need something from me?”
“The chip in my sister’s head has shifted. Her life is on the line,” Landon said, his voice tight with urgency.
Aiden’s smile froze on his face, and then he asked anxiously, “How is she now?”
It was obvious he cared about Kayla.
Landon narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
By all rights, Aiden should be using this chance to threaten him, make the Flying Tiger Sect call off their attack on the Kington Gang.
Landon thought, ‘Why is he actually worried about her?’
“Landon, just tell me—how’s Kayla?” Aiden yelled, slamming his hand on the table in frustration.
“She’s alright for now,” Landon replied.
Aiden let out a long breath.
He clenched his fists, muttering under his breath, “Thank God, thank God…”
This time, Landon was finally certain—Aiden truly saw Kayla as his own sister.
‘Now things would be a lot easier…’ Landon thought to himself.
“Aiden, I want the truth about what happened to her,” Landon said.
Aiden calmed himself, but kept his lips tightly sealed, refusing to say a word.
“She’s already started remembering things from when she was a kid. In the end, she’ll remember everything, just like I did,” Landon said. “Aiden, if you really see her as your sister, then tell me how to save her!”
“There’s nothing you can do…” Aiden shook his head, his voice heavy with regret.
“Her chip isn’t like yours. Back then, the tech was still primitive—she nearly died just from the implantation. The doctors said from the start that her chip can’t be touched,” Aiden said quietly.
Landon’s heart was in his throat, his fists clenching so tight his knuckles turned white.
“If it can’t be operated on anymore, that means it can’t be taken out,” Aiden said grimly. “And she can’t take any big shocks or excitement. All these years, she’s just been quietly recuperating at the manor.”
Aiden suddenly stiffened, shooting Landon a venomous glare. “This is all on you! Why did you have to mess up her life? If she’d just stayed at the manor, none of this would be happening right now!”
“Oh, and whose idea was it to put that chip in her head in the first place?” Landon growled back, his voice low and seething with anger.
Aiden clamped his mouth shut, saying nothing.
The two men faced off across the visitation window, the air thick with unspoken hostility.
A long moment passed before Aiden finally said, “Landen is my brother’s son. Kayla… she’s my sister-in-law.”
“I already know,” Landon replied.
Aiden blinked in surprise. “Kayla told you?”
“Yes,” said Landon.
“Looks like she’s recovered a lot more than I thought…” Aiden let out a bitter laugh, his expression turning blank and confused.
Landon didn’t have time for his feelings. “Say it!” he demanded.
“Alright, I’ll tell you,” Aiden said, taking a deep breath. He finally made up his mind to tell the truth.