Chapter 656

"Don't lose hope! You still have assets. You have a huge lab. You..."

"What assets?" Ishara snapped, her eyes red as she glared at Eleanor. "It's all because of your scandal with Patrick! If you check the news now, the rumor that I'm an illegitimate child is probably everywhere.  How am I supposed to live with that? The nobility of Ms. Blanchet from the Blanchet family is gone forever! And the baby in my belly is a burden now.

Why? I schemed endlessly for wealth and power, pretending to be sick since I was a kid, manipulating people, managing Winnie, even winning over Lawrence. Why did I end up like this? What good is a lab? Without reputation and status, I can't take a single step. Everyone knows I'm carrying Mr. Rodriguez's child, who can't even protect himself now. Tell me, which nobleman would marry me now? Do I still have a chance to turn things around?"

"You do! Ishara, get a grip." Eleanor grabbed her arm, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"Mars. Mars should be your next target. He's definitely the new top young nobleman. If we're going to aim, we aim for the best."

"I don't like him! I think you're the one who's not thinking straight. I'm carrying a bastard child. Do you think Mars would be interested in someone like me? I've heard he's the most ruthless and sinister. Do you think he's easy to deal with?"

"One step at a time. If you want to get Mars, you have to offer him something he's interested in." As Eleanor spoke, a ruthless look flashed in her eyes as she glanced at Ishara's belly.

Ishara, immersed in her rage, didn't notice her calculating look.

Winnie came out of the conference room at 9 PM, and Lysander piled a bunch of recent Blanchet family documents and financial reports in her new office.

Winnie rubbed her temples, realizing she might not make it home tonight.

She planned to call Elliott to check on the two little sons at home and see if Olivia had returned and if Oscar had contacted Sidney.

As she dialed, she took the elevator down to grab a bite near the office. As she exited the lobby, she bumped into Melanie, who was surrounded by a little girl.

The Blanchet family reception staff were all watching because the little girl clinging to Melanie was wailing. "Mommy, why don't you want Anna? Anna is the cutest child. Why did you sleep with Daddy and then not recognize me? I'm your four-year-old daughter."

"Little girl?" Melanie was completely stunned and embarrassed. "Little girl, you really have the wrong person. I'm not your mommy. I haven't married and don't even have a boyfriend."

"But Daddy said you're the only woman he's ever been with! He told me to find you. You must be my mommy. Daddy said you just forgot me. You can't abandon me. I'm still young and lacks maternal love. Will you come with me?"

Melanie's face turned pale. She had to admit that the adorable Anna was very pretty.

In fact, at a glance, she did look a bit like her!

She was startled and quickly sobered herself up. But parents can't be randomly recognized. How could a single girl like her suddenly become someone's mom?

Winnie had finally defeated Ishara. After enduring the Blanchet family for over twenty years, Melanie had emerged from Ishara's shadow and Angela's oppression. She hoped to marry into a respectable family, but now she was suddenly 'made a mom.'

Today was her first day working at the Blanchet family. She needed to make a good impression.

"Anna, first of all, I'm really not your biological mom.

I'm only 26 years old, and I'm very sure I wasn't in a romantic relationship at 22.

Auntie doesn't know any men. Why don't you tell me your daddy's name?

Auntie wants to talk to him face-to-face. How can he let a child randomly recognize a mom?"

Anna, seeing Melanie angry, stood there helplessly, tears welling up in her eyes. She glanced in a certain direction.

Winnie's gaze followed and saw a tall figure standing outside the company's windows.

'Bentley!'

Winnie's heart skipped a beat, surprised but not surprised.

She looked at Anna again and then glared at Bentley, now truly shocked.

'She hadn't expected Bentley to be telling the truth. He really did have a child with Melanie!

But why didn't Melanie know she had given birth?'

Winnie looked at Bentley from a distance.

Bentley, sensing a gaze, met Winnie's eyes.

A dark look flashed in Bentley's deep eyes. He smiled at Winnie and gestured for her to stay quiet.

Winnie was speechless. 'Was he deliberately sending the child to find her mom? Testing Melanie?'

But Melanie's confused and tearful face clearly showed she didn't recognize the little girl Anna.

"My dad won't let me tell you his name now. He said he's afraid of scaring you away.

Mommy, what should I do? If you don't leave me alone today, I can't go home and won't have anything to eat."

Melanie was about to break down, frozen in place, unable to move.

"Anna, don't cry. How about Auntie taking you to explain this misunderstanding to the police at the station?"

"No! Anna is scared of the police."

"But."

Winnie couldn't stand it anymore. She glared at the indifferent Bentley and stepped forward, "Melanie."

Melanie, seeing Winnie, felt even more embarrassed but had to walk over quickly. "Winnie, I didn't mean to disrupt the company. I didn't want this either, but this child grabbed me as soon as she ran in, insisting I'm her mommy."

Winnie thought, 'Anna probably didn't get it wrong.'

She gave Melanie a strange look, voicing helplessly, "To avoid company gossip, take Anna upstairs and get her some dinner.

Kids stop crying when they're full. I'll think of a way to get you out of this later."

Melanie nodded helplessly.

They took the child into the elevator. Melanie looked at little Anna's face and muttered, "Winnie, why is she clinging to me?

I feel so wronged because I've never even held a boy's hand, let alone had a child at 22 years old. I was sent abroad by Angela to attend college at that age, my mind full of survival and revenge. But do you think this child looks like me?"

Winnie didn't know how to answer, hesitating for a moment. "A little bit."

Melanie's face turned pale. "But I really haven't done anything wrong."

Winnie looked at her, also puzzled. 'How could she not remember giving birth to a child?'