註 Chapter 9 " Mom ! " Steven stepped forward , shielding us behind him , his voice turning cold . " Her name is Lily Walsh , my daughter . This is Susan Manning , my wife . " " Wife ? " Steven's mother let out a derisive laugh , slamming her hand on the table as she shot to her feet , pointing at my nose . " I will never acknowledge her ! A woman who only causes trouble and raised a lying daughter - she's worthy of entering the Walsh family door?! " I looked at Steven , gripping his sleeve tightly . But he smiled - a smile devoid of any warmth . " Fine . " Right in front of his mother , he dialed his lawyer , putting it on speaker . " Attorney Liam , initiate the procedure . I , Steven Walsh , voluntarily renounce all inheritance rights to Walsh Industries ' shares and assets , effective immediately . All documents should be delivered to the family estate within one hour . " The lawyer's shocked exclamation came through the phone , along with Steven's mother's shrill scream , " Have you lost your mind ?! " " I'm perfectly sane . " Steven hung up and stared directly at his mother's twisted face , his voice calm . " I came back today to inform you . From now on , Susan and Lily are my red line . Anyone who touches them is crossing me . ' He took off his suit jacket and threw it on the ground . He took my hand and bent down to lift Lily into his arms . My daughter , who had been silent all this time , suddenly spoke . Her little face flushed red , but she bravely met the old woman's shocked gaze and said loudly , " I made the teacher angry ! But my answer wasn't wrong ! My mommy lost her job protecting me ! She's the best mommy in the whole world ! You're not allowed to bully her !!! Her clear voice rang out , slapping Steven's mother across the face and hitting me straight in the heart . My tears burst forth instantly . Steven's eyes reddened . He kissed Lily's forehead and , without sparing his mother another glance , held her and took my Chapter 9 Download 7.38 % hand , turning resolutely away . Behind us came his mother's furious roar , " Steven ! Stop right there ! For this woman and her bastard , you're abandoning your own family ?! " Steven didn't look back , his voice ringing with conviction . " Where they are - that's my home . " We finally walked out of that suffocating prison . He took us to a riverside apartment , complete with a castle - like children's room . After Lily fell asleep , he held me from behind , his face buried in my neck , his voice husky . " Susan , there's no Walsh family here , just us . I've cut away everything you feared . Give me one more chance -marry me , will you ? " I looked at him through my tears . This man who would fight the world for me . I didn't answer . Instead , I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him fiercely . When I woke in the morning , Steven still held me tightly , our daughter somehow curled up between us , sleeping peacefully . The morning paper's headline showed the principal and his accomplices ' pathetic faces as they were led away . I smiled , even as tears slid down my cheeks . He pulled both me and our daughter tightly into his arms . " Mommy ... " Lily nuzzled against us drowsily and asked , " Can we stay together forever now ? " " Yes , " Steven and I spoke in unison , absolutely certain . " We'll always , always be together . " I looked out at the shimmering river , at the two most important people in my life in my arms . I knew that from this moment on , our family's new chapter was just beginning . Chapter 9