Chapter 488 Eight: Finding Ishara
Carlos was shaken to his core by her chilling words. He looked at Winnie and made his decision, "If I have been married to such a vile woman for the last twenty years, then it’s better I end the marriage without hesitation. It took me so long to find and bring you back into the Blanchet family, and before I could even make amends, you are faced with repeated danger. Let's do as you suggest – let’s expose the truth."
Winnie squeezed his hands, "Just act natural when you get home."
With a heavy heart, Carlos stood up.
At that moment, little Sidney woke up on the sofa, having caught parts of their conversation. He saw Carlos, thought of something, and jumped off the sofa, "Grandpa, are you heading back to the Blanchet home?"
"Yes, I came to check on your mom. Want to come home with grandpa for a visit?"
"Sure!" Sidney walked over and took Carlos's hand, giving Winnie a meaningful wink.
Winnie remembered Sidney telling her that he wanted to visit the Blanchet family to verify if the fabric that Oscar had torn matched the embroidery they had. But Eleanor's boldness in orchestrating such kidnapping had Winnie genuinely worried for Sidney.
Knowing he had to be discreet but sensing her concern, Sidney ran to her and whispered, "I'll be very careful, don't worry. Maybe I can even help grandpa catch the wicked witch!"
Winnie was at a loss for words as she faced her son's determined expression.
She pondered about the situation. Eleanor was currently overwhelmed with her own tribulations, so Sidney's intrusion into the Blanchet household in search for something was oddly opportune.
So, she let him go.
After Carlos left with his grandchild, only Jeremy and Melanie remained in the hospital room.
It was clear that Jeremy had something to say.
Recognizing the cue, Melanie seized an excuse, "I'm going to get Winnie some water."
Once the door to the room clicked shut, a peaceful hush settled in.
Jeremy broke the silence, "Your process of elimination works wonders, and it's always spot-on. Looks like your dad's heading for a divorce with Ishara's mom this time. I can't believe she'd be so bold as to kidnap you and leave you for dead!"
Winnie corrected him, "No, Ishara and her mother—they both wanted me dead."
Jeremy's gaze sharpened. Thinking it over, it made sense. He had seen in Ishara's eyes her obsession with Lawrence, her covetous desire laid bare.
Her jealousy of Winnie, her rejection of Winnie's return to the Blanchet family—it all added up.
To Jeremy, Ishara was far from simple. She had the power to change Lawrence so profoundly...
He changed his approach, "Winnie, if you suspect Ishara wants you dead, why not snatch Lawrence from her grasp? It's only by holding onto Lawrence that you can truly outplay Ishara."
"Isn't one Darcy enough?" Winnie retorted sharply. "Besides, isn't he off to Lymington searching for Ishara? Even you can't stop him."
"This is different from Darcy's case," Jeremy frowned. "Before Lawrence left, he told me not to follow. My guess is, first, he's afraid I'll discover something. Second, he asked me to stay back to protect you—he's still worried about you!"
Worried about her? Then why, upon awakening, the first word from his mouth was Ishara, infuriating her in the process? He even said not to harbor any illusions about his feelings, because it was Ishara he was in love with!
Winnie fought back tears, her eyes reddened but determined, "Mr. DeRoss, you've fooled me once already. I mustered the courage to confront him, asking if his kindness toward Ishara had anything to do with his mother's condition—he denied it!"
Jeremy sighed deeply, "When I asked him, he denied it too. I don’t know why he denied, but whatever harsh words he's said to you, you might as well take them as the opposite. His rush to Lymington must be linked to Madam Rodriguez, not because he's anxious about Ishara. He's trying to mislead you—is it possible he'd rather have you hate him than let you stumble upon the truth?"
So this truth definitely has something to do with Ishara, huh?
Winnie believed they needed to look into Ms. Rodriguez's condition—her symptoms were clearly getting worse!
And what role was Ishara playing in all this?
"Calm down," he said, "Last night, he saved you. He was worried sick about you—and that was no act. You could see it."
She could... She knew he'd go to any lengths to ease her pain. In that tense moment, they had shared a touch that was awkward yet intimate.
Jeremy kept stressing how deeply concerned Lawrence Rodriguez was for her.
But the moment he woke up, he was like a different person, recognizing only Ishara.
Who was right in the end?
Winnie didn’t know who to trust anymore, as her once unflinching courage to take a chance on Lawrence Rodriguez had faded. Too many blows had made her retreat into her shell. Contrary to being a paragon of emotional strength, his harsh words always cut her to the core.
"Last night, it was Luke who accompanied Ishara to Lymington. I just retrieved Mr. Rodriguez's phone. The last call was from Luke."
She recalled the call, remembered how his face had paled in the ambulance.
Jeremy handed her Lawrence's phone.
Winnie checked the log; it was indeed Luke. And she too remembered the drastic change in his expression last night.
What had Luke said to provoke Lawrence to wake up today dead set on finding Ishara?
"Wait for Luke to get back. As Mr. Rodriguez's right-hand man, he must know something. You can ask him then," Jeremy suggested. "For now, rest. You can't travel to Lymington, not with the case still being investigated. I'll protect you."
Winnie looked at him, her mind a whirl of conflicting emotions. Impatient, she sent a text message to Olivia.
[Can you head to Ms. Rodriguez's hospital and find out what condition she actually has, and why she's in a coma?]
-
Lymington.
Lawrence Rodriguez sat in a wheelchair, positioned in front of a suite at a high-end hotel.
The man's features were weak, his demeanor frosty.
Accompanied by a bodyguard and a doctor, Luke spoke softly, "We've found out that after sneaking away from the airport, Ishara has been staying here. Since blood donation is voluntary, I couldn't physically bring her back to the hospital last night."
Lawrence Reynolds's lips were a thin, icy line. Not just Luke—he couldn't lay hands on her either. Blood donation was voluntary.
"Ishara, open the door," he commanded, his voice strained to suppress the fury.
Claire was quick to unlock the door from the inside.
Ishara nestled weakly into the couch, suppressing the shock on her face as she saw Lawrence R's injuries, her heart pounding viciously.
Earlier that morning, her mother had delivered the news: Winnie had been rescued, and it was Mr. Rodriguez who had saved her!
However, Ishara hadn't expected that Mr. Rodriguez had been stabbed and was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery, just escaping death, while doing a valiant attempt to save Winnie.
Jealousy brewed within Ishara to the point of madness.
She had sized up the situation, and when Lawrence walked in, Ishara mustered her strength, "Lawrence, you're seriously hurt. Why did you come all the way to Lymington to see me?"
Lawrence squinted his eyes, scrutinizing the girl for the first time with piercing intensity.
She had fled the scene at a crucial moment, and knowing that his mother was in dire need of transfusion, Ishara suddenly refused to donate blood.
This was a far cry from her previous demeanor—fearful of him, docile, and obedient.
She questioned why he had come to Lymington, but in reality, her actions were a ploy to force him into personally begging for her help.
Lawrence never tolerated threats. He had his share of tough dealings, but when it came to his mother's well-being, he couldn't take any chances.
After all, the blood transfusion required was running through Ishara's veins.
If there were alternatives to her rare blood type, he wouldn't be at her mercy.
A slight, chilling smile formed on Lawrence's lips, "Ishara, what exactly are you dissatisfied with?"
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