Elsie's POV
"Hey, you! Grab everything Maggie was looking at earlier and make Elsie pay for it."
"Actually, forget it. Just hand over your black card to Maggie. So, she can buy whatever she wants herself."
They were already reaching for my card when I finally snapped out of it.
“Wait a second! My dad’s been dead for years. If you're claiming you're pregnant with his child, then show me proof. Where’s the evidence?”
At the mention of my dad’s death, Maggie launched into another loud rant, giving me a headache. I rubbed my temples, irritated.
“If you’ve really got the guts, why don’t you call him here right now? Let him tell me himself. If he says it’s true, I’ll give you not just my card and the bags. You can have everything!”
She hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped aside and made a phone call. Then she looked back at me smugly.
“Just wait. Your dad’s nearby. He’ll be here in half an hour.”
As such, we all went back into the VIP room to wait. A little while later, the door opened, and Maggie squealed, “Marshall!”
I turned at the sound and, out of habit, blurted out, “Dad.”
As soon as I said it, Maggie’s smirk grew wider.
Gone was the arrogant attitude. Now she played the part of the pitiful, fragile woman. She shuffled over to Marshall Ramsey, clinging to his arm.
“Marshall, thank goodness you’re here. The babies and I almost didn’t make it.”
Marshall didn’t even glance at me. He looked Maggie over, making sure she was okay, and finally let out a relieved sigh.
“What happened? You called and said you’d fallen and were at risk of losing the babies.”
Then suddenly, tears streamed down her face.
“It was close. Elsie found out about us and completely lost it. She screamed at me in front of everyone. If it weren’t for these classmates stepping in, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
I had expected her to twist the truth, but this place was covered in security cameras, so her lies wouldn’t hold up. I frowned and started to speak.
“Just now—”
But before I could even finish the sentence, Maggie suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me.
“Elsie, I know you’ve always looked down on me as I’m just a poor girl from the countryside. I know you sponsored me, but only to look good, not because you actually cared about me. I get it. And now that I’m with your dad, you must think I’m just some gold-digger. But I swear, it’s not about money. Marshall and I really love each other. Love doesn’t care about age, status, or background.”
She then reached for my hand and pitifully begged, “Please, I’m begging you… Let us be together. I don't care if you hate me, just not my babies. They’re your brothers, Elsie. One day, they’ll be the ones you can lean on.”
She was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.
Meanwhile, the classmates around her were glaring at me like I was the villain who nearly killed a pregnant woman and her unborn children.
I was raised to be calm and respectful, so I tried hard to keep my temper in check. But before I could say anything, Marshall grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the VIP room. He led me into the empty room next door and shut the door behind us.
Frustrated, I folded my arms. “How did you and Maggie even end up together? And why is she going around saying she’s my stepmother? And you—”
Before I could finish, Marshall suddenly dropped to his knees.
“Elsie, please. Don’t deny that I’m your father. Just think of your mom. Think of all the years I raised you like my own. Besides, you’ve called me ‘dad’ for so long.”
He wasn’t wrong. I had called him “dad” for years. But the truth was, we were not related by blood.
After my biological father passed away, my mom met Marshall. They fell in love and eventually got married. He always treated me like I was his own daughter. Even after my mom died, and he moved out, we still stayed in touch.
