My Love for You Broke Me

Chapter 230

I paused mid-step and heard the words coming from Eliza's mouth. "At the time, he believed that I was his biological mother and clung to me desperately as a result, but I... I have been cruel to him. I only allowed him to meet me on his birthday once a year. He only appeared by your side because he mistakenly believed that the kidney in your body belonged to me. That's why he took care of you and protected you. Why else did you think he did that? Why would a man who had never even glanced at a woman suddenly be so kind to you?"
I paused mid-step and heard the words coming from Eliza's mouth. "At the time, he believed that I was his biological mother and clung to me desperately as a result, but I... I have been cruel to him. I only allowed him to meet me on his birthday once a year. He only appeared by your side because he mistakenly believed that the kidney in your body belonged to me. That's why he took care of you and protected you. Why else did you think he did that? Why would a man who had never even glanced at a woman suddenly be so kind to you?"

Shawn knew about me a long time ago!?

I asked stiffly, "What are you trying to say?"

"Do you really believe that Shawn loves you?"

I didn't turn back and maintained a stony silence.

"Let me ask you another question: Do you think Shawn understands love?"

Shawn once mentioned that he did not understand love. That was why he wanted me to teach him, but his various behaviors showed that he understood love better than I did.

I remained silent under her provocation. On the other hand, she regained her composure and continued, "Shawn is a man nurtured by the Xenos Family. He was raised in a lonely environment. As such, he has a tenacious, cold, and cruel personality. How could a man like him understand love?"

I was speechless by her barbs and her complete ignorance when it came to Shawn.

I did not know how to answer her question.

But I was sure that Shawn truly loved me.

Nevertheless, she continued her cruel questions with a vicious smile, "Most men wish to get married and start a family. What if he simply decided to be with you because he wants to build a family?"

I bit my lip, but she was not done as her smile widened a tad. "Renee, do you know that Shawn has another secret? He once thought about killing you!"

…

"He once thought about killing you..."

Those words kept repeating themselves over and over again in my head.

Anthony noticed that my expression was rather stiff when I returned. Hence, he quickly crossed the distance in large strides and asked concernedly, "Miss, did she say something to you?"

I shook my head. "It's nothing."

Afterward, Anthony and I arrived at the main hall. When I saw Shawn kneeling on the ground with his back straight inside the hall, I recalled that he had kneeled before my biological father's grave in the same manner one year ago.

To be honest, Shawn already knew that the person lying in the coffin would use me against him. Despite that, he used his identity as the head of the Xenos Family to prepare a grand funeral to send her off properly.

I wanted to go inside and stay by his side, but the words I heard from Eliza earlier caused me to withdraw.

I shook my head vigorously and warned myself that I should trust him. I shouldn't let my thoughts run wild!

I said to Anthony, "Let's go inside."

Just as I took a step forward, I heard a mocking voice coming from inside. "They said you're the disgraced head of the Xenos Family, Shawn Xenos. How dare you shamelessly return to the Xenos' Villa to keep vigil?"

Those words were clearly aimed at Shawn.

I walked inside only to see a short and chubby young man running his mouth off by the side. Judging by his looks, he did not look older than twenty.

Shawn ignored the man. On the other hand, the chubby young man did not notice my presence and continued in his grating voice, "My mother said that you dominated the resources and glory of the Xenos Family for the past few years. Otherwise, you would still be a bastard child right now!"

This chubby young man did not bother to think before he spoke. He never even stopped to consider whom he was provoking. Thus, I hurried over and reprimanded him. "Quiet."

When he heard somebody reprimanding him for his actions, he spun around and glared at me aggressively. "Who do you think you are? How dare you ask me to be quiet!?"

Are the younger members of the Xenos Family that stupid? How can they not know who I am!?

I frowned and was just about to speak when Shawn abruptly informed the chubby young man of my identity in a soft voice, "The person standing in front of you is Renee Xenos. Even your mother, Paulina Xenos, would have to follow the rules and address her as 'Miss'. Did you ask her who she thought she was to reprimand you? Indeed, she is certainly qualified to reprimand you. For her, it's as easy as crushing an ant to get rid of somebody from the extended family like you."

Since this was a formal setting, I had no choice but to accept being addressed as Renee Xenos.

The Xenos last name was one of the reasons why I had the qualifications to inherit the Xenos Family in the first place.

A middle-aged woman stepped forward and grabbed hold of the chubby young man upon hearing Shawn's lightly worded threat. She apologized with an aloof expression, "I'm sorry, Miss. Unfortunately, my child's ignorance has disturbed the late matriarch's rest. I will bring him back to his room immediately."

She was most likely Paulina Xenos, the person Shawn mentioned earlier.

The crowd in the main hall could not be considered large, but many of them were the Xenos Family's extended family members among the crowd. Be that as it may, she had allowed the chubby young man to insult Shawn without stopping him. It was not until Shawn mentioned my status that she pretended to come forward!

Hence, I clearly understood that she wanted to humiliate us.

What's more, Shawn had meant to remind the rest of the extended family about my presence when he claimed that getting rid of them was as easy as crushing an ant for me. Regrettably, the chubby young man was just the unlucky person who served as an example for the others.

He could only blame himself for being so unreserved.

Those who did not know their place and tried to bully others would always face the consequences in the end!

I looked at the mother-and-son pair with a cold expression. "The Xenos Family has always upheld strict rules and respect. The rewards and punishments have always been clearly written. Since your child has failed to adhere to the rules, he will personally be punished by the Xenos Family."

A few months ago, I heard from Anthony about this department in the Xenos Family. This department was in charge of punishing those who made mistakes, and their practices generally made life for the criminals worse than death itself.

Needless to say, Paulina understood what it meant to be punished by the Xenos Family. Her complexion went pale, and she immediately pleaded on behalf of her child, "Miss, please forgive my child."