Chapter 1619: Chapter 1619: The Noble Lady who is the Talk of the Imperial City
Xaviera Evans asked hurriedly, "But why did mom grow up by your side?"
Letitia Russell lowered her eyes, "Ruby got married into the Hughes family and had four children in a row. But when she was pregnant with Nina, her husband had an affair. Enraged, she had a difficult labor and nearly died on the operation table. So, she harbored resentment towards Nina and wanted to abandon her."
Xaviera was stunned. She blamed her difficult labor and husbandâs infidelity on the child?
"She accused Nina of being a disaster, a devil sent by heaven to punish her. Coupled with post-partum depression, she hated Nina even more. I couldnât bear to see Nina suffer by her side, so I took Nina in and claimed her as my daughter. Ruby and I look exactly alike, and Nina resembles me, so no one doubted her identity."
Xavieraâs face grew serious, asking perplexedly, "But mom was still a child of the Hughes family. If Mrs. Hughes didnât like her, didnât the head of the Hughes family and Madame Hughes object?"
Letitia Russell shook her head, "Nina was just a child. For Ruby, making her die accidentally would be easy. In the Hughes family from the Imperial City, such a wealthy family, no one would care about the life or death of a child. Even if Madame Hughes kept Nina by her side, she couldnât guarantee her safety. When I proposed to take Nina away, Ruby didnât object, but had a condition - that the Russell family leaves the Imperial City forever and let Nina never appear in front of her!"
After saying this, Letitia Russell scoffed coldly: "Strange isnât it? How can there be such a ruthless mother in the world? Nina is clearly so obedient but is so hated by her own mother!"
"Then, after mom left, she never returned to the Hughes family in the Imperial City?" Xaviera asked.
Letitia Russell reflected for a moment, "When Nina was about twenty, the elderly Madame Hughes and Lord Hughes fell severely ill. They wanted to see Nina, so Ruby brought her back. But in Rubyâs eyes, Nina was still a disaster. She despised Nina, and another daughter of the Hughes family, Zona Campbell, felt that Nina was usurping her identity, so she was endlessly difficult and tormented Nina. Nina had a very hard time during that period."
"The people of the Imperial Cityâs upper class knew that the Hughes family treated Nina poorly, but no one would stand up for her. They only criticized it a little behind the scenes."
"Xaviera, your mother is just like you, she wonât be wronged easily. Even though Zona Campbell constantly schemed, your mother could always dissolve it. Nina even held various competitions in the Imperial City and became a popular noble lady revered by everyone. This made Zona Campbell even more jealous of her."
"After her grandparents passed away, the Hughes family planned to kick her out. It was then that she met your birth father."
"Who is my real father?" Xaviera asked.
Letitia Russell looked at her helplessly, "Xaviera, I canât tell you your fatherâs identity yet because of the Powell familyâs matter. Zona Campbell and Ruby Russell have noticed your existence and wonât let you off easily."
"Your father is the man whom Zona Campbell has admired for many years. She initially wanted to marry your father, but he didnât like her at all and only loved your mother. Later, Zona Campbell couldnât let go of this and disguised herself as Nina to get close to your father; however, your father saw right through her."
"Zona Campbell was ruthless and did many bad things. She hired someone to assassinate Nina, but your father put her in prison. After that, there was no news of her, not even Ruby knew about where she ended up."
"Zona Campbell reaped the consequences of her jealousy. However, Ruby believed that Nina ruined Zona Campbellâs life. If Nina hadnât appeared, your father would have loved Zona Campbell, and they wouldâve got married and had kids. Thatâs why Ruby hated Nina even more."
"Although Ninaâs circumstances in the Imperial City were awkward during that time, she was delighted to be protected by your father. Furthermore, everyone in your fatherâs family liked her a lot. Your grandparents even held a grand wedding ceremony for them."
Speaking of this, Letitia Russellâs tone was filled with a hint of happiness.
Xaviera felt that her parents should have led a blissful life at this point. With Zona Campbell in prison and the protection of her motherâs powerful family, Ruby couldnât do anything to her mother. But why did her mother eventually leave the Imperial City, and even the name Nina Hughes became taboo in the Imperial City?
"But, something big happened twenty-three years ago." Letitia Russellâs voice suddenly turned cold.