However, Camila's fear only lasted a few seconds as she forced herself to calm down.Even if Hugo were bold, he wouldn't dare to kill anyone openly in Haven City, especially not in a busy hospital. There was no way he would act on his own. Perhaps his arrival could even offer her a chance to turn the tables.Suddenly, a wicked idea took shape in Camila's mind."Hugo, are you here to check on me? To see if I'm still alive?" she said with a sneer.Hugo snarled back, "Stop flattering yourself! If it weren't for Jennifer, I wouldn't waste a second here. Maybe I'll send you flowers when you finally kick the bucket. "I don't get how the fire didn't finish you off. You're just the kind of evil person who keeps living while the good ones die young."Camila's smile widened as she replied, "So, you're admitting that the arson was your doing, then?""Bullshit! If I wanted you dead, would I need to start a fire? Why would I give you a chance to escape?"Hugo gritted his teeth and continue
"I'll fucking kill you today!"Hugo's eyes were bloodshot as he gripped Camila's neck, consumed by an urge to take her down with him.Camila's pupils rolled back. She even felt she was on the brink of death. Yet, despite the dire circumstances, a smirk curled at the corners of her mouth, as if she had somehow triumphed.Summoning every ounce of strength left in her, she pressed the call button.Moments later, nurses and doctors burst into the ward. They froze in horror at the scene and quickly rushed forward to pull Hugo away.Camila, deprived of oxygen, had already slipped into shock.At that moment, Hugo remained dazed. He realized he had lost all rationality. But even now, the urge to take her down with him lingered.…Meanwhile, Maxwell had just picked up Jennifer, and they were on their way to get the kids. As they drove, he recounted Hugo's reckless rampage at Lance Group."Knowing Hugo's temperament, did he lay a hand on you?" Jennifer asked with concern.Maxwell could
But what had Maxwell done wrong? He had worked so hard to atone for Camila's mistakes. Yet, they treated him the same way they had treated her, branding him a sinner.At that moment, the doctor called Maxwell over. It seemed Camila had suffered from oxygen deprivation for too long, nearly resulting in cardiac arrest. Hence, he needed to sign an advance directive. After signing it, Maxwell ignored Jennifer and hurried toward Camila's ward.Left alone in the corridor, Jennifer sat in silence. At that point, her hands and feet were icy cold. She wanted to leave, but couldn't bring herself to go until she knew if Camila would wake up.Earlier, Maxwell's demeanor had made it clear. If anything happened to Camila, he wouldn't let Hugo off the hook.It felt as if Maxwell had reverted to the cold, ruthless man he once was. Jennifer couldn't even bear to recall the look he had given her just moments ago.Right then, Michael approached her slowly. He offered a cup of warm milk and said,
Jennifer wiped away her tears, her voice trembling as she said, "Michael, thank you for telling me."With that, she took the milk from his hand and began to sip it. Right then, Maxwell walked over.Michael quickly stepped back. It was clear he wanted to avoid getting caught in the middle.Feeling the weight of Maxwell's intense and conflicted gaze, Jennifer rose immediately. She lowered her head and muttered, "You should stay. I need to head back. Cassidy and Caleb can't be left alone."But as she turned to leave, Maxwell grabbed her hand.Confused, Jennifer glanced up at him.In a low voice, he uttered, "Let's go together. I promised Cassidy I'd tell her a bedtime story tonight."Jennifer was momentarily stunned. "B-But she hasn't even woken up yet. Shouldn't you stay here?""She just woke up," Maxwell replied flatly, his expression still tense. "I've asked Michael to stay and keep an eye on her. Let's go."And so, he led Jennifer away. She had no choice but to follow.…
"Alright, I'll talk to Simon and see if he can find a way for you to meet Hugo," Maxwell replied.As the car came to a stop, he looked at Jennifer earnestly and added, "But you have to promise me one thing. No matter what happens, our family can't fall apart. "I won't forgive my mom for the harm she caused you and Hugo in the past, not even after she almost lost her life this time. Most importantly, I need you to stand by me. No more tantrums, running away, or hiding out at Nimbus Lounge, okay?"Jennifer shot back, "You were the one who raised your voice at me today!"Maxwell's face reflected a blend of irritation and affection. He ruffled her hair before pulling her into an embrace. "Okay, I'm sorry, honey. I was wrong. From now on, I'll try—no, I'll make sure to keep my temper in check, alright?"Once they cleared the air, they finally headed home.…Cassidy and Caleb observed their parents, noting that the tension seemed to have eased. Both children let out a sigh of relief.
Soon, Lucy Reed came over. Given that Jennifer was generally kind and generous, she felt at ease.With a smile, she asked, "Mrs. Lance, did you need me?""Are you close to Madison?" Jennifer questioned, her gaze fixed intently on Lucy's face.Sure enough, Lucy's expression changed drastically. She immediately denied, "N-No, I've only spoken to her a few times when we worked together. We're just acquaintances, nothing more.""Is that so? If you're just acquaintances, why does she keep coming back to find you? What did you two talk about?" Jennifer pressed, ruthlessly revealing the truth. Lucy, visibly agitated, rushed to defend herself. "Mrs. Lance, this is a misunderstanding. Madison was always the one who sought me out. I-I really don't know anything, and I haven't told her anything."Jennifer felt increasingly convinced that something was off between them. "Why are you so nervous if you haven't done anything?" she asked sharply."You'd better tell me the truth. Otherwise, you
Lucy finally sighed in relief before quickly making her exit.Right then, Maxwell slowly turned to Jennifer and said, "Looks like your kindness has, once again, become someone else's weapon. We should've never let Madison off the hook."Jennifer pressed her lips together, unable to deny it. She hadn't expected that sparing Madison out of pity for Maya and Herta would backfire this badly. Madison just wouldn't let up.She sighed. "What is she trying to do, prying all those questions out of Lucy? We already know what she is like. Even if things between us are strained, she knows there's no future with you. Do you think Madison is trying to find your mother and get her to help her claw her way back in?"Maxell narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing in them. "That's exactly why we need to dig deeper into this.…The next day, thanks to Maxwell's connections, Jennifer managed to visit Hugo in jail.Hugo's eyes were swollen and bloodshot. He looked utterly beaten, refusing to say a
As soon as Jennifer brought it up, Hugo's irritation was palpable. "You're right. How could we ever match her cruelty? Years ago, she threw herself down the stairs just to make my father lose all trust in me. She was several months pregnant at the time!"After that, she not only lost her baby but also her ability to conceive. That's not something an ordinary person would do. "Jennifer, if this is too much for you, why not just divorce Maxwell? With a mother-in-law like her, I can't even imagine what you'll go through in the future."Jennifer was too stunned to respond. But in the next moment, her gaze sharpened, firm and resolute. Word by word, she declared, "Don't worry. I'll get you out of here. I'll also make sure Maxwell sees his mother's true colors. In the end, it'll be Camila who ends up in prison!"She vowed to see Camila behind bars.…After leaving the police station, Jennifer drove straight to the hospital where Camila was admitted. At the door, the two bodyguards h