This wasn't the first time Evelyn had heard something like this.During Bonnie's birthday party, Sally had said something similar too.Evelyn didn't bat an eye. Instead, she just flashed a smile and quipped, "Well, if that's your line of thought, then Clara and I must be kin too, given our resemblance, huh? But I reckon it's more a shared resentment than anything else."Seeing that Evelyn wasn't buying it, Chet let out a bitter laugh."Evelyn, please don't lump me in with Clara, alright? I've got a score to settle with her. Her mother killed my mom and made my sister disappear. I will never be on her team."In a bid to earn Evelyn's trust, Chet laid bare the grim details of his mother's death and the heart-wrenching story of his sister's disappearance.Evelyn glimpsed the raw pain of losing a parent in his eyes and sensed his yearning for his lost sister.It stirred something deep within her. She even felt a sense of empathy.As Chet's story unfolded, Evelyn felt her hardened d
After much persuasion, they finally got Evelyn into the VIP ward across the hall.Evelyn tossed and turned in bed, fighting for rest. It took a while, but she eventually began to feel a hint of sleepiness.…The next morning, Gertrude brought Leo to the hospital.When they arrived, Leo stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of black-clad bodyguards standing in a line outside the VIP ward.He clutched Gertrude's arm. "Grandma, do you think they'll let us in?"Gertrude snorted. "I'm Simon's mother. I'm here to see my son. Why shouldn't they let me in? If they don't, I'll sit right here and cry. Let's see who gets embarrassed, them or me."With fierce determination, she marched up to the ward door, only to be blocked by the bodyguards."Ma'am, you can't enter," one of them said firmly.Gertrude bristled. "My son is lying in there, critically ill. I've come to see him. Why won't you let me in?"The bodyguard's expression remained stony. "Sorry, Mr. Larkin has ordered no visitors
Gertrude was oblivious to Chet's identity. Seeing his refined bearing, she assumed he was just bluffing.She let out a string of curses, "Evelyn's just like her mother, a shameless slut. First Warren, now this suave pretty boy. Are you all blind? Don't you know what kind of person she really is?"As Gertrude's words trailed off, she watched in disbelief as Chet, who had been all smiles moments earlier, swiftly raised his foot and delivered a powerful kick to Leo.Caught off guard, Leo staggered backward.Before he could even process what had happened, another forceful kick struck his shin.A sharp crack reverberated through the air, followed by Leo's piercing cries of agony."Grandma, cut it out. That's Chet Sullivan, head honcho of the Sullivans. You know, the guy who smiles at your face but stabs you in the back."Gertrude was struck dumb with fear. Her eyes flicked between Chet and her grandson writhing on the ground."How could you... H-how could you hit someone?" she man
Observing Evelyn's distress, Chet grasped the situation intuitively.He swiftly fetched a blanket and tenderly wrapped it around Evelyn, offering reassurance in a soft tone, "Don't worry, the baby will be okay. Don't dwell on it, I've got everything handled, alright?"Even though Warren wasn't there, Chet's calming words had a soothing effect.Evelyn's nerves gradually settled as she basked in his comforting presence.After a good 15 minutes, Ethan strode in accompanied by the obstetrician.After a thorough examination of Evelyn, the doctor delivered her verdict, "The baby's holding steady. It's just some bleeding from all the emotional upheaval. Take it easy in bed, and I'll write you a prescription for prenatal meds. How do you feel about herbal remedies?"Evelyn nodded eagerly. "Yes, please, now if you can."The doctor gave her arm a reassuring pat. "Don't worry, a little bleeding is normal. Just relax, it'll be better for the little one.""Got it, thanks a bunch," Evelyn re
Evelyn shuddered as she stumbled backward and hit the wall. The sensation of the cold concrete brought her back to her senses.She knew that if she signed the paper, it was highly likely that her father would die on the surgical table.But if she didn't sign it, her father's life would be in even greater danger.Facing such a difficult decision, Evelyn forced herself to calm down.She walked over to the doctor. After taking the consent form, she signed it with shaky hands.A teardrop slowly rolled down her cheek and landed on the consent form.Evelyn choked out, "Could I go in and accompany my father?"The doctor frowned. "The surgery will take seven to eight hours. You can't enter in your current condition. Please wait outside. We will try our best to save him."Evelyn nodded meekly as she watched the door of the emergency room swing shut.Agonizingly, the minutes ticked by. It had only been half an hour, but she felt as though a century had passed.Evelyn paced in the corri
Chet patted Evelyn on the head. He wanted to keep his hand on her head but moved it away after a short hesitation. Charlie quickly comforted, "Ms. Jefferson, Mr. Larkin will be fine. Maybe he's escaped but doesn't have any way to signal us."Evelyn felt warm, surrounded by everyone's comforting gestures.She raised her head with teary eyes and said hoarsely, "I know he won't abandon us. He will return."Wiping her tears, she drank a few sips of water. After that, she looked at Charlie. "Mr. Crawford, I'm hungry. Please buy me something to eat."Charlie was taken aback but promptly responded, "Alright. I'll get you something now."Ten minutes later, Charlie came back brandishing a bowl of beef stew and three breadsticks.Evelyn sat on the chair in the corridor and emptied her bowl.Seeing how she forced herself to eat, everyone around her became teary-eyed.They knew Evelyn was trying to cheer herself up while waiting for her father's surgery and Warren's return.To regain he
The caller was an unknown overseas number. Even if his voice were different, Chet wouldn't mistake him for anyone else.At once, Chet raised his head. He looked at Evelyn.With a trembling voice, he answered, "She's doing fine. What about you?"Warren sounded like he was in pain. "Pass her the phone."Chet immediately walked over to Evelyn. He bent down and said, "It's Warren. He's fine."Upon hearing that, Evelyn froze.Ten long seconds passed before she returned to her senses. She immediately took the phone from Chet. With a shaky voice, she said, "Warren."Then, tears started rolling down her face.Feeling bad, Warren closed his eyes. "Evie, I'm fine. The area has been secured. I can go back in a few days. Has Dr. Elwood arrived?""Yeah. Dad's surgery was successful," Evelyn choked out."That's great. Looks like I didn't go back on my words. Evie, did you eat and sleep well?""Yeah. I had beef stew with a few breadsticks just now."When Warren heard her nasal tone, h
William gripped the doctor's wrist tightly for a moment. He understood that it wasn't possible to reach a hospital under those circumstances.There was no guarantee that the doctors from the medical team would be any more skilled, either.Hence, he slowly released the doctor's hand. In a grim tone, William said, "Perform the surgery."The doctor retrieved the tools needed and began working on Warren's wound."Hemostatic forceps!""Tweezers!""Suture.""Gauze!"William stood beside him and played the role of an assistant.The good doctor looked as though she was in her early 20s, but her manner of performing the surgery was trained and professional.William was a little surprised at that.One hour later, the bullet buried within Warren was extracted, and his wound was patched up.Only then did the doctor straighten her back and wipe the sweat off her forehead. She instructed, "He needs at least three days of bed rest. The bullet hit his internal organs, so he is not to eat a