chapter 2 Forced marriage

Beside them was a man and a woman in their forties, looking extremely depressed.
"Violet, listen to me. I'm reluctant to abandon Alyssa, too. But as long as you can find a good foster family for her, you can marry the son of the Zhang Group without any worries. Your life... will become easier," Zara Yang told Violet earnestly as she stared at her daughter.
Zara was the wife of George's second son, Matthew Qin. Over the years, she had endured too many grievances and humiliations because of Violet. Violet was raped, and she gave birth to the rapist's daughter amidst everyone's ridicule and abuse.
Therefore, Zara not only hated the rapist but also hated her granddaughter, who should not have been born. She even had the urge to abandon the child secretly at one time.
Violet scooped vegetables for Alyssa. Then, she raised her eyes and said, "Mom, I accept my life is miserable. I would rather stay on the street than have Alyssa leave me."
Matthew sighed on the side when he noticed how stubborn her daughter was. "Violet, although Alyssa is well-behaved and considerate, she... is still the daughter of the rapist. You can't raise her for the rest of your life!"
Hearing this, Violet's expression changed drastically. She frowned. "Dad, how can you say that? I know that Alyssa's biological father is an evil person. I don't know how he looks or what his name is, but Alyssa is my daughter! I brought her into this world. She already has a terrible father. Do you want her to have a cruel mother too?"
Violet shed unhappy tears as she spoke. No one could understand her grievances over the years.
Her friends had no sympathy, her family didn't try to understand her feelings, and there was only endless humiliation and abuse after she was raped. She even knew that that person had ruined the rest of her life.
Violet was in despair and wanted to end her life, but Alyssa's birth gave her hope again, so she shouldered all the humiliation and focused on raising her daughter, even though she hated the rapist and how he had ruined her life.
A pout gradually appeared on Alyssa's face. Although she was young, she was extremely smart. She could sense that everyone except her mother despised her.
The little girl took out a tissue and handed it to Violet. She choked with sobs and said, "Mom, I made you sad again. It's all my fault. Don't send me away, okay? I'll be obedient."
Violet's tears rolled down her eyes endlessly after hearing Alyssa's words. She hugged her daughter tightly, choking up. "No. Never. I will never abandon you."
"Everyone, be quiet. Silence, please. Next, Mr. Qin has a happy news to share with everyone."
Just then, a middle-aged man got up abruptly from his seat at the host table of the banquet and announced.
This person was George's eldest son, Max Qin. Max had an only son named Noah Qin. At this moment, Noah was looking at Violet's family with disdain.
Although Violet was a woman who had been raped, she was definitely one of the top beauties in Haihua City. He would have wanted to kiss her if she were not his cousin.
The hall suddenly became quiet. George, dressed in his suit, slowly stood up and smiled. "Today is my birthday, and I thank all of you for showing up to celebrate with me. I would like this opportunity to set up a marriage for my granddaughter, Violet."
Then, George suddenly looked at a frail man of about thirty years old at the following table and said, "Mr. Zhang, I would like to thank you for not looking down at my granddaughter for not being a virgin. From now on, she will be entrusted to you."
Horace stood up in a hurry, smiling. "Mr. Qin, I am lucky to be able to enter a marriage of convenience with the Qin Family, but..."
He glanced at Violet in the corner. Her beauty stunned him momentarily. He had admired Violet for a long time. Today, his wish to marry the beauty had come true with the help of George.
However, when Horace saw Alyssa sitting next to Violet, a trace of disgust suddenly appeared in his eyes. He stated, "Mr. Qin, my father said that we can accept Violet's traumatic past, but her child... is not welcome in the Zhang Family."
Violet could not suppress the anger she felt the moment she heard Horace's statement. She opposed this marriage, but George had used tactics to coerce her into marrying Horace.
She knew her life was a mess, so if Horace were able to treat Alyssa like his own, she would endure everything by herself. But if he could not do that, she would not agree to this marriage even if she had to stay on the street.
George smiled at Horace and voiced, "Don't worry, I have promised your father that the child will not follow Violet when she marries you. I will find a foster family for her."
"Thank you, Mr. Qin." Horace hurriedly thanked George with anticipation evident in his eyes.
Even though Violet was drugged and raped, everyone knew about her beauty. Horace was excited to have a woman like her as his wife.
When George finished speaking, anger flashed on Violet's face. She stood up and told George. "Grandpa, I can't decide my fate. I only have one condition. If Alyssa leaves me, I will leave the Qin Family. "
"How dare you!" George slammed his fists onto the table angrily and fumed at Violet, "Have you not brought enough shame to the Qin Family? You are a woman whose virginity is gone. You should be honored and glad that Mr. Zhang didn't look down on you and that Zhang Group is able to accept your past."
With that, George said to Noah, "Go and take that illegitimate child away from Violet and send her to the foster family."
Noah licked his lips and replied, "Leave it to me, Grandpa."
Violet turned pale with fright and hurriedly hugged Alyssa when she saw Noah striding toward them. The little girl was also so frightened that she burrowed into Violet's embrace.
"Grandpa is doing this for your good. Leave her to me." Noah walked up to Violet, grabbed Alyssa's arm, and dragged her out roughly.
"Let go of my daughter. Let go..." Violet hit Noah's arm in a crazed manner, but her physical strength was no match for a tall, strong man like Noah.
"Follow my order or face the consequences," Noah exclaimed with anger, and he forcefully pulled Alyssa away abruptly. Because of the excessive force, Alyssa's petite body immediately flew across the air and fell onto the ground six feet away.
As a result, Violet knocked into Zara. When she wanted to get up and get to Alyssa, Zara held her down tightly and said urgently, "Violet, this is for your own good. Don't let this child drag you down for the rest of your life."
"Does it hurt when you fall?"
Just when Noah was about to pick up Alyssa and leave, he turned around and saw a muscular but handsome man squatting on the ground.
The man helped Alyssa up and asked her gently.
The sudden appearance of Baldwin immediately silenced the entire hotel. Even the pale-faced Violet stared at the unknown man holding her daughter.
Tears filled Alyssa's eyes, but she endured the pain in her body and did not allow herself to cry. She looked at Baldwin, shook her head, and said, "No. It does not hurt."
"What's your name?" Baldwin tried to speak softly. To him, Alyssa was cute, and he felt bad for her.
"My name is Alyssa Qin," the little girl replied obediently.
Baldwin smiled and continued, "Where are your parents?"
Alyssa shook her head. "I don't have a father. That's my mother."
She turned around and pointed at Violet, who was hugged tightly by Zara.
Then, Alyssa spoke again. "They all say that my father is a bad person, but my mother says that my father is a hero."
Baldwin asked, "Whose words do you believe in?"
"I believe in my mother," Alyssa responded without hesitation.
The corners of Baldwin's mouth slowly raised. A kind mother would never create unpleasant memories for her child, even if she hated that person.
He adored Alyssa, but he was not 100% sure that she was his and Violet's daughter.
Noah laughed sarcastically suddenly. "Hero? What a joke. Your father is a rapist. Why is he regarded as a hero?"
As soon as the word "rapist" appeared, realization dawned on Baldwin. His originally gentle face turned cold instantly, and his eyes became even frostier, like he was a ferocious beast.
This rapid change in Baldwin's expression made Noah shudder as he retreated backward instinctively.
Baldwin enunciated his words slowly, asking Alyssa, "Is your mother's name Violet Qin?"
Alyssa pursed her lips and nodded when she heard his words. "Uncle, do you know my mother?"
"Sure enough..." Baldwin's cold eyes flashed with a hint of tenderness and a sense of extreme guilt. But his guilt instantly turned into spine-chilling murderous intent.