Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother-Chapter 434: Another of Aeldric’s Plan

A black luxury car entered the gates of a cozy manor on the outskirts of the city.

"Madam, Mr. Riverdale is here," the servant announced.

Hearing it, Marina’s brows furrowed. "What is he doing here?" She stood up from her chair to go outside, but before she could, Aeldric had already entered the drawing room.

"Why are you here?" she asked, clearly displeased by his presence.

"I’m here to see my wife. Can’t I even do that now?" the old man asked as he walked toward her.

"No, you can’t. You’re not welcome here, and you know it well," the old woman replied, her voice filled with both arrogance and anger.

The woman who used to love him now saw him as an eyesore.

But Aeldric didn’t back down, as usual, and said, "You’re forgetting—this home was given to you by me."

"You weren’t doing me a favor. I wasted my entire life on you," she retorted. "You can’t make up for it even with all the Riverdale assets."

Aeldric smirked slightly. He didn’t mind her words. In fact, he preferred it that way. It was an assurance that she wouldn’t leave this place just because it had been given to her by him. She had found her right over it.

"I came to tell you something you’ve been waiting for a long time," Aeldric said.

"I’m waiting for nothing—except for you to bring back my Alex alive from his grave," she said.

"Are you forgetting about his daughter?" Aeldric asked.

The moment she heard it, Marina’s body froze. She had been telling herself that one day, this old man would show mercy and bring that little girl back.

"Where is she?" Marina asked.

"She’s at the Riverdale estate," the man replied. "Didn’t your grandson tell you?"

Marina felt puzzled, as Justin hadn’t told her about it.

"Seems like he didn’t," the old man said, looking around. "Where’s that woman?"

Marina snapped back to her senses, knowing who he was referring to. "She’s resting. Don’t disturb her."

Aeldric ignored her and walked toward the garden, where Serena was sitting in the sunlight.

He went to her and stood a few steps away, facing her. "After killing my son, here you are—living a comfortable life. What a shameless woman."

"Aeldric, mind your words," Marina warned.

"She doesn’t even react to what I said. What are you so worried about?" Aeldric said. "Even if it hurts her, she deserves it. She killed our son."

"You killed our son," Marina countered. "Only if you had allowed him to live the way he wanted."

Aeldric glared at her. "Don’t you want to see your granddaughter?"

Marina swallowed her words, while Aeldric looked at Serena. "Do you even remember you have a daughter? The daughter you never got to see—thanks to me."

Serena, who had been quiet and unaffected until now, lifted her gaze and looked at Aeldric. No words came out of her mouth, but her eyes conveyed that she understood his words.

Aeldric chuckled. "So you do remember her. Good. Soon, you’ll see how I destroy her life."

Serena’s hands tightened their grip on the armrest, her gaze turning restless.

Marina noticed it well—that for the first time, Serena had reacted to something this way. Or perhaps, she was still stuck in the past, remembering only her husband.

Aeldric, satisfied with her reaction, looked at Marina. "If you want to meet her, come to the Riverdale estate," the old man said, and left.

Marina was left stunned. She went to Serena first. "Calm down. I can see you remember you have a daughter. Don’t worry, I’ll bring her to you soon."

Serena still didn’t look calm, as if something more was on her mind.

Marina called Justin and asked him to come home—and surprisingly, he was already on his way there. He already got the information of Aeldric’s visit to Marina’s home and he left to come here for the sake of his mother.

He arrived, only to find Marina worried. "That old man was here," Justin said.

"Yes, and he said your sister is in the Riverdale estate. Is it true? Did he bring her back from hiding?" Marina asked.

Justin was surprised Aeldric had revealed Meira’s presence to Marina. Why would he? Was he not afraid that the truth he’d been trying to hide would be exposed? When Natalie blackmailed him, the old man had obeyed—just to keep his wife from learning of his failure.

What’s going on in his mind?

"You didn’t answer me," Marina said. "Has he really brought the girl back?"

Justin hummed, deciding to keep the truth from her for now.

Marina immediately stood up. "Take me to her. I want to see her. My girl... where has that old man kept her... how did she live until now..."

Justin held her hand and coaxed her gently, "Grandma, calm down. I’ll take you to her, but you have to wait a little. I need to first know what that old man is up to."

Marina knew her husband well, so she agreed. "Can you show me her picture at least?"

Justin realized he didn’t have Meira’s picture. "Give me a minute. I’ll get it."

He sent a message on his cellphone and waited for a reply.

Justin turned to her, and Marina asked, "What else did he say?"

Marina told him what Aeldric had said to Serena, and how she had finally reacted.

Justin thought for a moment and then asked, "Grandma, how exactly was my mother’s mental state during her pregnancy with my sister?"

Marina shook her head. "I told you—she was in shock after she lost Alex and you kids, but she was sane enough to care for the child in her belly. She never talked, but she obeyed everything that benefitted the baby."

"Did she ever operate any devices like cell phones, laptops, or anything?" Justin asked.

Marina shook her head sadly. "She didn’t even have her own cell phone or anything that you’re talking about. She had no sense of all these things—not even enough to recognize them. Moreover, Aeldric’s people were always around, keeping watch on her.

"Would he even allow her to use those things? She was more like a prisoner, even when she was staying here with me. But then, all I cared about was her and her child’s well-being. As long as they didn’t harm her, I was fine with having them around."

"How did she end up like this? Was there any accident after she gave birth?" Justin asked.

"During childbirth, she had a brain hemorrhage," Marina answered. "And she turned like this after that. She was already weak, and childbirth was surely not safe for her... but..."

Justin simply hummed, though his mind had already pieced together the situation involving his mother, his sister, and Patrick Hunt- that why Patrick Hunt must have came here to abduct his sister.