Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 102: Chapter 102

A woman appeared at the doorway, her age hovering around twenty-five or twenty-six. Even with a touch of makeup, her weariness was still visible, but it couldn't mask her beauty.
Her hair was neatly pinned up, and she wore a light blue dress that highlighted her graceful figure. From a distance, she looked effortlessly elegant. She stood still at the entrance, watching Lorraine approach with a gentle, affectionate smile.
Eugene thought the woman looked familiar, but before he could figure it out, Lorraine froze for a moment, then rushed over with uncontained joy. She threw her arms around the woman's, her eyes sparkling as she exclaimed, "Sandy, you're back!"
Sandy, Lorraine's elder sister, reached out and gently stroked Lorraine's soft hair, her smile warm and tender. "Yeah, I heard you were back, so I came to see you," she said softly.
Lorraine's eyes narrowed sharply at the sound of that. She spun around to face Elsie, Zackery, and Raquel behind her. Her gaze shifted from confusion to realization, and then to anger.
In Elsie's eyes, she saw clear malice, while Zackery and Raquel couldn't hide their smug delight at her distress.
'Before this, I'd come back several times, but they never told Sandy. I remember Zackery has banned her from entering the Shaw residence. To them, she's the family's disgrace. But to me... she's my sister, the only family I have left."
Eugene watched the sisters' reunion, his brow slightly raised in surprise, but he stayed where he was.
"Sandy, you're back. Come in and have a seat," Raquel called out, her smile warm and seemingly sincere as she ushered Sandy into the living room.
Lorraine helped Sandy onto the sofa and sat close, pressing against her side.
Elsie, Zackery, and Raquel sat together on a separate sofa, putting distance from Lorraine and Sandy. Naturally, Eugene moved to sit beside Lorraine, but just as he was about to take his seat, Elsie's sharp voice cut in. "Eugene, don't!"
The atmosphere grew slightly awkward. Eugene arched an eyebrow, straightened up from his half-bent position, and locked his gaze on Elsie. His eyes swept over Zackery and Raquel's visibly tense faces.
Pressing his lips together, he casually pointed to the spot beside Lorraine and asked in a cold, commanding tone, "Is there a problem with me sitting here?"
"Of course, Eugene, you'd better sit with me," Elsie said, her eyes showing concern but mostly brimming with barely contained excitement.
Zackery quickly stood up, his tone dripping with obsequious flattery. "Indeed, Mr. Moore, do take this seat—it's much more suitable for you. That other spot... it's really not appropriate for you."
Eugene pursed his lips and gazed down at Lorraine beside him, his deep eyes glinting with quiet scrutiny.
Lorraine deliberately avoided looking at him. Her nerves suddenly tensed as she unconsciously tightened her grip on Sandy's hand.
Biting her lip, she fixed her gaze on her father. A creeping sense of unease welled up in her chest, rising and spreading through her entire body like a chill.
It was only then that Sandy realized the handsome, aloof man was none other than Eugene, the business tycoon whose name was whispered in awe.
But she didn't believe the Shaw family had gotten involved with someone like him. Then she remembered seeing Lorraine in his arms when she walked in, and her mind raced with possibilities.
Panic began to set in. She didn't want to bring any trouble to Lorraine.
Eugene, however, seemed unfazed. He simply leaned down and took the seat next to Lorraine.
Elsie cried out urgently, "No, Eugene! Get away from there—Sandy's sick. You shouldn't go near her."
For a moment, the living room was utterly still. Raquel glanced at Lorraine and Sandy, her eyes flickering with a cold, hidden malice. She forced a smile and said, with a touch of feigned concern, "Mr. Moore, maybe you should sit over here. Sandy isn't... well."
Lorraine was shaking uncontrollably. Eugene glanced at her, catching the raw shock and fury in her eyes. His brow furrowed involuntarily.
"Mom, stop trying to be nice," Elsie said sharply, her voice tinged with panic. "Eugene, get away from there. Sandy has AIDS. It's contagious."
If it weren't for their plan to drive a wedge between Eugene and Lorraine, the Shaw family would never have let Sandy cross their threshold.
Elsie felt like the very air around her was tainted, suffocating and filthy.
She thought to herself, 'Let's see if Eugene still wants anything to do with Lorraine now.'
Eugene just looked down, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips, as if what he'd heard was nothing more than idle gossip.
He glanced at Lorraine, his gaze flickering over Sandy's pale face before settling coldly on Elsie. His voice dropped, low and dangerous. "Is that so?"
Elsie sneered, "Of course. Lorraine is the disgrace of our family, a worthless slut who willingly debased herself to serve—"
Seeing Eugene's face darken, Zackery knew they'd gone too far. He slapped Elsie across the face. She clutched her cheek, staring at him in shock and pain. "Enough!" he barked.
Sandy stood there, eyes filled with regret, her face pale as paper, lips bitten until they bled. She felt like she was made of stone.
'Why did I come here?' she thought miserably. 'I should never have listened to the servant and come looking for Lorraine.'
Lorraine was shaking, her eyes blazing with hatred as she glared at Elsie. She wanted to tear Elsie apart.
'So what if Sandy is sick?' she thought furiously. 'Who kicked a teenage girl out of this house? Who pushed her down this path? It was all them.'
Eugene felt Lorraine's pain like a punch to the gut. His eyes turned to ice. He was about to talk.
But Elsie, still defiant, screamed, "I'm not wrong! Sandy's a whore!"
Raquel saw their words had served their purpose—Eugene's brows furrowed as intended, his face darkening considerably. With feigned reproach, she quickly reached out to cover Elsie's mouth and scolded, "Elsie, that's enough. How could you say something like that?"
Zackery glared at her, his finger jabbing toward the door. "Say one more word and you're out."
Lorraine felt a wave of disgust wash over her as she watched their fake smiles.
It finally dawned on her why they'd always tried to keep her away—they'd been waiting for her to return, but not for any good reason. And Sandy had been dragged into this mess, used as a pawn in their cruel game.
'Eugene must think we're pathetic. He'll probably want nothing to do with me now,' she thought miserably, biting her lip until it bled. Tears streamed down her face, each drop a reminder of the pain and helplessness she felt, like shards of glass cutting into her heart.
"Are you done? Is this really what family does? Did you bring Sandy back just to tear us down?" Lorraine stood up, her voice trembling as she looked at the three of them.
Sandy's heart ached. 'If it weren't for me, Lorraine wouldn't be here. I never should have come,' she thought.
Sandy stood up abruptly, gave Eugene a quick nod, and hurried past the sofa. "I'm sorry, Lorraine. I shouldn't have come. See you," she whispered, her voice breaking as she ran out.
Lorraine's face flushed with anger. She glared at Zackery, Elsie, and Raquel, then turned and ran after Sandy. Eugene frowned and followed suit.
"Eugene, wait!" Elsie grabbed his arm, her voice tinged with panic. "You can't go after them. You'll get sick."
Eugene shook her off, his expression cold. He glanced at Zack, his eyes filled with disdain. "What a wonderful father you are."
Lorraine caught up with Sandy at the entrance of the Shaw family estate. Sandy was leaning against the wall, panting heavily, her face pale and beaded with sweat.
The sight of Sandy in such a weakened state made Lorraine's heart ache. "Sandy, are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine," Sandy insisted, waving her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about me. You should go be with Mr. Moore." She could tell Eugene was important to Lorraine.
"No way, Sandy. Let me take you home first," Lorraine said, stepping closer to support her. She didn't have the energy to think about Eugene or what he might think of her right now. Her only concern was her sister.
"I'm fine, really. I can manage on my own," Sandy replied softly, forcing a weak smile. She didn't want to burden Lorraine with her own troubles.
"No, I'm taking you back myself," Lorraine said stubbornly. "I won't feel right about it otherwise."
As they continued to argue, Eugene, who had followed them out, walked over at a leisurely pace. "I'll take you both," he said calmly.
"No, that's not necessary," Lorraine said, her eyes wide with surprise. "I can take Sandy back to the care facility myself."
Eugene raised an eyebrow. He wasn't asking for her opinion. "This is my decision," he said firmly.
The servant pulled the car up to the curb. Lorraine helped Sandy into the back seat and climbed in after her. Her voice quivering with anxiety, she gave Eugene the address of the care facility and held tightly onto Sandy's hand the entire way.
Eugene glanced at Lorraine occasionally as he drove. Her face was etched with sorrow, her lips pressed tightly together, and her jaw set like stone.
The ride was silent. When they arrived at the care facility, Sandy got out at the entrance and refused to let Lorraine come in with her. She turned to Eugene and thanked him sincerely, her gratitude genuine and heartfelt.
Lorraine watched her sister disappear inside, feeling a deep, almost unbearable sorrow.
On the way back, Lorraine was quiet and withdrawn, slipping into the back seat almost without a sound. Eugene's brow furrowed in irritation. "Come sit up front," he said, his tone firm.
"No need," Lorraine said, her voice low and tinged with sadness. "I'll just sit in the back."
"Does it really matter?" Eugene's voice was smooth, almost gentle, with a hint of concern that he tried to keep hidden. "Just get up here."
Lorraine bit her lip, unmoving, her fingers twisting together as she kept her head bowed low.
"Do you want me to move you?" Eugene's voice had a touch of impatience now.
After a moment's hesitation, Lorraine opened the door and climbed into the passenger seat.
She leaned her head against the cool glass of the window, staring out at the passing scenery. The vast green fields seemed to stretch on forever, but all Lorraine felt was a heavy, suffocating tightness in her chest.
"Eugene... you're not scared?" Her voice trembled as she spoke the word that hung between them like a shadow: AIDS.