There was anger, there was repression, and there was a readiness to strike., This was a side of Shirley I had never seen before, and for some reason, it made me incredibly tense., I swallowed hard,

"If you hate him so much, and you know what he's done, why would you...

", I trailed off, unsure of her thoughts., Given her hatred, she shouldn't have had Nancy. Another child meant she couldn't make a clean break. But she did have her.,

"Why have Nancy, right?

" Shirley picked up on my thoughts., I nodded, glancing towards where Nancy was,

"If you two really fall out, what's going to happen to her? She's innocent.

",

"Do you think I wanted to have her?

" Shirley drained her glass of wine in one go., Watching her painfully swallow the wine, I felt a pang in my heart., Shirley shook her head, replying,

"When I first got pregnant, he had the doctor take my blood, found out it was a girl, and then hired six nannies. Officially, they were to take care of me, but in reality, they were there to watch me.

", I was shocked,

"You didn't want the child at that time?

",

"How could I want to have his child after the way he got me?

" Shirley said, her gaze drifting towards Nancy,

"You know, if she had been a boy, she would have died already.

", Remembering she had mentioned arguing with Lord, a thought struck me, and I looked towards her belly,

"You're pregnant again?

", Shirley gave me a thumbs up,

"You're smart.

", That was a compliment I didn't need. I looked at her,

"Lord doesn't want this child, wants you to get rid of it, right?

",

"Yes, he said he'd bring someone first thing tomorrow,

" Shirley said, reaching for the bottle again., I stopped her hand,

"You're pregnant, you shouldn't be drinking.

",

"What's the point? He won't let it stay,

" Shirley gestured to her belly., She had said having Nancy was against her will, forced by Lord, and now, with this child, when Lord wanted it gone, she seemed reluctant., This woman was indeed full of contradictions.,

"Do you want to keep this baby?

" I asked her., Shirley didn't respond immediately, her eyes fixed on Nancy. After a long pause, she said,

"I want to ensure Nancy has a close, true relative by her side as she grows up.

" , Her words were laced with despair. Thinking back to how she hated Lord, I suddenly understood., Shirley didn't plan on staying with Lord for the long haul, nor did she plan on living long., Perhaps, she was waiting for the day she and Lord would end it all., This Shirley inspired a kind of respect in me, one that comes from not settling for fleeting riches and comfort, from not abandoning vengeance.

"Then you could fight Lord for it,

" I suggested., Shirley shook her head,

"It's no use, He told me when I was pregnant et, with Nancy that everything he has would go to his son, and no one could dispute that.

" ,

"Allen is his son, but isn't Nancy his too? And the child you're carrying?

" My frustration grew.,

"What does it matter if he can't decide?

" Shirley's words confused me.,

"You mean Lord can't decide? Then who can?

" I asked, puzzled., Shirley poured another drink,

"It's, Lord's official wife. She's always et, known about his affairs. She doesn't care, but there's one rule: noo children.

" ,

"But Nancy...

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