638 Chapter 637
Keira stared at the woman before her.
She wore her hair in a ponytail, her face bright with a dazzling smile. Her eyes were clear, reminiscent of a girl untouched by the harsh realities of the world. Innocent and naiveâthis was Keiraâs first impression of her when they first met. But now, she could scarcely believe that this woman was actually Fox.
Holding her phone, Keira stepped closer and asked, âErin, are you really Fox?â
âIndeed,â Erin replied. She was no longer pretending. She hung up the call and greeted Uncle Olsen beside Keira, âHello, Uncle.â
She appeared polite and sensible, like a well-mannered junior.
Uncle Olsen looked puzzled and glanced at Keira before looking back at Erin. âIâm not well,â he said.
Erin was taken aback.
Uncle Olsen frowned. âThe poison in me, was it you who administered it?â
With a slight smile, Erin said, âYes, Uncle, you donât need to thank me for enhancing your health!â
Uncle Olsenâs face darkened. âIf I hadnât known the whole story, I might have believed you. You nearly killed me. Is that what you call improving my health?â
Erin pursed her lips, âUncle, you are Charlesâs uncle, which makes you family. Why would I harm you?â
Turning to Keira, she continued with a smile, âArenât you curious, with so many poisons and mind-controlling drugs at my disposal, why I specifically chose Seven Days? It was to enhance Uncleâs health. Consider it a gift to the Olsen family! Oh, and by the wayâŠâ
She looked at Keira with a smile. âEven if the antidote you gave Uncle was the wrong one, itâs alright because that would still be an antidote.â
Keira narrowed her eyes, catching on. âYou and my sister, are you not in a hostile relationship?â
âOf course not. Fox and the Rabbitâweâre both from the South family in Crera. Weâve been allies since we left the family at age five.â
Still cautious, Keira asked, âWhy should I believe you?â
âBecause of Amy.â
Erin chuckled. âYou must know Amyâs full name, right?â
Keiraâs jaw tightened.
Amy was her sisterâs only daughter, the person Keera cared about most before she died. She had asked Keira to take good care of Amy and ensure she wouldnât suffer.
Upon her return home, Keira discovered Amyâs name on her formal ID was Erin.
Erin smiled, âSheâs also called Erin, like me. This is how your sister showed her submission and loyalty to me.â
Keira was shocked. âWhat?â
Erin spread her hands, âYour sister knew she wasnât capable, so she surrendered to me long ago. Amy is the heir she gave birth to for me.â
Confused, Keira asked, âIf thatâs the case, why didnât you just come clean? Why engage in this struggle with me?â
Erin explained, âWhen Fox and Rabbit left the South family, Rabbit agreed to bear a child for Fox as a sign of loyalty and name the baby after Fox. But itâs been seventeen years; how could I know if she hadnât changed her mind? Rabbit started acting strangely these past few months.â
She patted her chest, âI thought Rabbit had betrayed me, that she was reneging on our agreement. It scared me to death! I feared our agreement was over. I didnât know you replaced her.â
Keira was speechless.
She watched Erin closely, noting the unsophisticated look in her eyes, which suggested honesty. But Erin had always seemed harmless, making it difficult for Keira to know if she could trust herâŠ
As Keira pondered, Erin walked over and sat on the couch.
They were in the living room, where the servants were working at a distance. Their position could prevent eavesdropping while offering an open view.
Keira continued to stare at her. âSo, when you realized I wasnât my sister, you came to see me?â
âNot exactly.â Erin rested her chin on her hands, smiling broadly at Keira. âBesides that, you already knew I was Fox, didnât you? Whatâs the point of continuing the charade? Letâs lay all our cards on the table!â
Keira didnât respond.
Erin continued, âThereâs no need to deny it. If you didnât know I was Fox, you wouldnât have told Charles about Vera South, intending for him to relay the message to me. But Iâm curious: where did I slip up? Was it the âSouthâ in my name?â
âNo.â
Keira met her gaze. âIâve suspected you for a while.â
âSince when?â Erin asked, intrigued.
Keira explained, âBack in the day, to fit the persona of an innocent young lady, you insisted on helping a wife who was a victim of domestic abuse. You remember that, right?â
âOf course,â Erin smiled, âI thought, as an innocent young lady, I should intervene, so I chose to help them. You even lectured me afterward, didnât you? What? Didnât I seem convincing enough?â
âYou were too convincing,â Keira replied, âThe environment of the Martin family couldnât possibly nurture true innocence. The fact that you grew up innocent is a discrepancy. You threw a smokescreen, making me think that Fox, like Rabbit, would marry into the Martin family to gain support. But it dawned on me when I later found out that the older generation had been laying the groundwork and that old Mr. Martinâs granddaughter was me. Rabbitâs elders would pave the way for her, but Foxâs elders would do the same for Fox. Like your mother marrying into the Martin family, right?â
Erin smiled, âYouâre really smart. But you got one thing wrong: my mother didnât marry into the Martin family. She had a one-night stand with Scott Martinâs father. By the time I was born, I already had the identity of Erin as a cover. No one knew where Fox was all these yearsâŠâ
Keira looked at her, âSo what now? You show up and make a big scene by coming here; what does that mean?â
Erin stared back, âI want to know, if Charles and I truly love each other, Uncle Olsen, will you support Rabbit or me?â
Uncle Olsen hadnât spoken yet when Erin laughed again, âBut thereâs no rush. When my grandfather arrives, Iâll ask him this question. Between me and Rabbit, a choice has to be made.â