The Ex-Wife's Redemption: A Love Reborn Chapter 204

"Oh! If that's the case, then your dream of becoming Mrs. Harding will be shattered. After all, direct blood relatives cannot marry each other."

From the moment I first met Catherine, I'd noticed how she constantly defended Isabella. Even when Grace and Isabella had conflicts, Catherine always sided with Isabella over her own daughter.

What kind of mother favors someone else's child over her own flesh and blood?

This could only mean one thing—Catherine and Isabella shared a special bond.

What bond could be stronger than blood?

I couldn't think of any other explanation. A mother wouldn't tirelessly support someone with no blood relation like that—who would believe such selflessness?

Combined with Catherine's shocked reaction just now, it was hard not to connect the dots.

Looking at them side by side, there was definitely a resemblance—the same nose, similar mouth shape. They shared about forty percent of their features.

Catherine stood frozen, staring at my face with intensity. But she recovered quickly, screaming at me with venom in her voice.

"You worthless bitch! Stop spreading these filthy lies!" She was practically foaming at the mouth. "Henry and Isabella have no blood relation whatsoever. Say another word and I'll tear your mouth apart!" Her face contorted with rage. "Don't think Henry's presence means you have protection. I'm his mother—I make the decisions in this family!" She turned toward the door and shouted, "Security! Get in here now!"

At Catherine's command, Harding security personnel filed into the room, standing at attention before her. "What are your orders, ma'am?"

Catherine jabbed her finger in my direction. "Take this woman and throw her out! She's not to set foot in this hospital room again!"

Richard and William were not present, no one was here to back me up. Catherine clearly thought she could handle me without consequence. The security guards exchanged uncomfortable glances, reluctant to take action.

Both Catherine and I were the mistresses of the Harding household. The guards couldn't afford to offend either of us. They shifted uncomfortably, caught in an impossible position.

Seeing the security personnel hesitate, Catherine's face flushed with anger. "Why aren't you following my orders? Keep this up and I'll dock your pay! I'll have all of you fired!"

I didn't want to put the guards in a difficult position. I'd had enough of this circus anyway. I forcefully yanked my hand from Isabella's grip and gave Catherine a cold smile.

"No need to force them into this mess. I'll leave on my own." I let my gaze sweep over her. "But I have to say, Mrs. Harding, I find it strange—your son is doubled over in pain and you don't even care. You're busy arguing with me instead. Is that how a real mother behaves?"

Catherine's face instantly drained of color. She stood rooted to the spot, glaring at me hatefully but offering no reply. Without waiting for her response, I walked past her with my head held high. As I passed, I deliberately bumped my shoulder against hers, hard enough to make her stagger.

"Don't block my way!" I said coldly.

I could read the resentment and anger in her eyes, but I no longer cared.

Once outside the hospital room, I couldn't stop thinking about what kind of mother ignores her child when he's in pain? If Billy were suffering like that, nothing else would matter—I wouldn't waste a second on petty arguments. My entire focus would be on my son, trying to ease his suffering.

Yet just now, Catherine had completely ignored Henry as he curled into himself in agony. Instead of tending to him, she'd chosen to confront me.

What kind of mother does that?

Could it be that Henry wasn't actually her biological son? I quickly dismissed that thought. If Henry weren't Richard's biological child, how could Richard possibly tolerate a woman who had betrayed him?

Once Sophia left, Isabella rushed to Henry's bedside. She gripped the bed rails tightly, looking down at Henry curled up in agony, her face a mask of concern.

"Henry, how are you feeling? Are you still in pain?" Her voice trembled with emotion. "I'll call a doctor right away!"

Because of that slap just now, half her face was burning with pain, but Sophia had already left, so she couldn't exact revenge.

Instead, she channeled all her energy toward Henry. This time, she was determined to make the most of the opportunity Catherine had given her, to perform well enough to make Henry fall in love with her again.

The doctor entered the room and immediately ordered Henry to be rushed to the third-floor emergency room. His body was convulsing with pain.

"What's wrong with you people?" the doctor snapped at Catherine and Isabella. "He's been in this condition for at least ten minutes! Are you the patient's family members? Couldn't you see how much pain he was in?" Without waiting for a response, he hurried after Henry's gurney.

Once they were gone, the hospital room fell silent. Isabella remained quiet for a long while before turning to Catherine, who stood motionless by the wall.

"What Sophia said just now... is it true?" Isabella's voice was barely above a whisper. "Am I your biological daughter? And Henry isn't your biological son, is he?"

Years ago, when she first appeared at the Harding estate as Henry's girlfriend, she'd noticed certain similarities between herself and Catherine. Particularly their noses and mouths—they were almost perfect copies. At the time, she hadn't given it much thought, dismissing it as coincidence.

From her very first visit, Catherine had been unusually warm toward her, constantly checking if she was comfortable, if she needed anything. Isabella had assumed her future mother-in-law simply liked her. In her mind, winning over the mother meant securing her position in the wealthy family.

Catherine's affection had seemed genuine—anyone could see that. And Isabella, eager to please her future mother-in-law, had gone out of her way to reciprocate. Whenever Henry bought her designer jewelry, she would select a few pieces to gift to Catherine.

And Catherine, after receiving these luxury items, would always help Isabella even more tirelessly.

If they weren't mother and daughter, why would Catherine help her so relentlessly?

Catherine stared at Isabella's reddened eyes, sighed deeply, and remained silent.

Some things couldn't be spoken aloud!

The consequences of such a revelation would be too severe for both of them to bear.

Even if Isabella were her biological daughter, what good would acknowledging it do now? Could she publicly claim this child without losing her position as Mrs. Harding?

Catherine's silence was confirmation enough for Isabella. What had started as mere suspicion was now certainty, transforming her initial confusion into shock.

"I really am your daughter, aren't I?" Her voice cracked with emotion. "No wonder my mother always said I was worthless, that I was just a burden. It's because you abandoned me. My father never liked me either. I was treated like a criminal in my own home!"

All the years of pent-up pain came flooding out at once, tears streaming down her face.

From her earliest memories, her mother had shown her no affection, her father had ignored her completely, and everyone around her had looked at her with belittling eyes.

This treatment only changed after she met Henry.

Suddenly, those same people were falling over themselves to be nice to her, eager to connect with the Harding family through her.

Only then had her life become somewhat bearable.

All the childhood suffering, the discrimination, the humiliation—everything erupted in this moment, transforming her face with rage. She glared at Catherine, her eyes filled with hatred.

"If you're my mother, why did you abandon me?" She grabbed Catherine's clothes, screaming in her face. "You knew I was your daughter, yet you let Henry marry Sophia instead. What about me? What am I to you?" Each accusation made her body continuously bend, as if her pain was like weights crushing her down.

Isabella hurled questions at Catherine, who remained speechless. Only when Isabella had exhausted herself, collapsing against Catherine's shoulder with heart-wrenching sobs, did she finally speak.

"Child," she whispered, "I never wanted to abandon you. I had no choice. I was desperate, with no other options." Her voice trembled.

"If I'd had any other way, I would never have left you. Never."