Chapter 523 Carlos’s Illness
Her mind was clouded with gloom. Her birth was a hindrance. She needed to tighten her grasp on Lawrence.
Otherwise, she didn't dare to imagine what would happen if the Blanchet Group shareholders discovered she was the product of her mother's affair with her uncle.
Winie might be brought back into the company while she would be kicked out.
No, she couldn’t let her position be jeopardized. Before that happened, she had to become Mrs. Rodriguez, the leading lady of the family.
With narrowed eyes, Ishara calmed her emotions and managed a smile. “Mom, I know uncle’s been good to me. My previous outburst was impulsive. Just give me some time to think it over. I’ll come around to accepting my uncle.”
Seeing Ishara’s mood lighten, Eleanor relaxed, comforting her, “Of course, my dear. Carlos would be a better fit for your father in terms of image and capability, but other than that, he is not a good father. Patrick will be overjoyed to hear you say this. I'll go tell him right now. Ishara, to secure our place in the Blanchet family, we have to get along with Patrick, starting now.”
“Yeah, I know. Go ahead,” Ishara said.
Eleanor left.
Ishara's deer-like eyes shimmered with a profound glow, her fingers gripping tightly.
Then, came a knock on the door.
Shortly after, Angela’s head appeared at the door. “Ishara…"
Ishara, lost in thought about the errand she had tasked Angela with, motioned her in. "Angela, come in and talk."
Angela, her face flushed with anger, shut the door behind her. "The bodyguard I sent out reported that Lawrence. didn't leave Winnie's hotel until evening. During that time, Mr. Lawrence's friend and Winnie's BFF both went downstairs, gone for about two hours."
"That means Mr. Lawrence and Winnie were alone together for two whole hours. It's outrageous! How can Mr. Lawrence do this to you? Doesn’t he even consider you, his fiancée?"
Angela was too consumed with fury to notice the twisted pain in Ishara's eyes.
Lawrence. had walked out on the Rodriguez Group to spend five or six hours at Winnie's place.
'What were they doing? Was he trying to win Winnie back?' The thought alone ignited a fierce jealousy in Ishara.
Angela saw the distress on Ishara's face and hesitated, "And... I overheard some socialites talking about you, Ishara..."
"What did they say?"
Angela stuttered, "Somehow, they're all clued in. They're laughing behind your back about how you went to the Rodriguez Group today and got the cold shoulder from Mr. Rodriguez.
"They're saying you've fallen out of favor with him. They're mocking that he's tired of you and nowadays, you don't even show up together. Your engagement is just a sham.
"Their fathers, all influential businessmen, wanted to capitalize on your hot streak when you became the new executive, to partner with the Blanchet family.
"Now, they're all watching and waiting, doubting you'll ever be Mrs. Rodriguez."
Ishara's fists clenched tightly.
Angela consoled her, "Ishara, don't be heartbroken! They don't know the real story, but I do. This is all Winnie's fault!"
Ishara gave a bitter laugh. "I don't understand why Winnie wants to compete for a man with me. But she's my sister, after all. All I can do is bear it.
"Angela, Grandpa Kathy must be worried about me too, right? Help me reassure them, and while you're at it, mending things with Mr. Lawrence might actually require Grandpa Kathy's help."
Without a second thought, Angela leaned in. "Ishara, how do you want Grandpa Kathy to help you? I'll pass on the message!"
Ishara squinted her eyes, a hint of calculation flickered through them, "Mr. Lawrence has been really busy at the company lately, that's why he's been so distant with me. It's hard to even get an appointment with him. But when it comes to Grandpa's reputation, Mr. Lawrence will definitely accommodate. Just tell Grandpa this..."
She lowered her voice, whispering something to Angela.
Angela narrowed her eyes and nodded vigorously, "All right, I'll meet with him tonight."
-
In the Trento City General Hospital, Lawrence had arranged for Dr. Ivan, a renowned international neurosurgeon, to come and examine Carlos. Upon receiving a call from Luke, Winnie rushed to the hospital.
After personally examining Carlos's brain, Dr. Ivan concluded, "The situation isn't as bad as it gets. I aim to apply surgical techniques to modulate the cranial nerves, gradually treating Mr. Carlos. He has a chance to wake up, but it won’t be quick. It'll take at least six months. Are you okay with that?"
Overjoyed, Winnie replied, "Yes! Dr. Ivan, please do everything in your power to wake my father up."
"Here's your consultation fee. I can pay five million upfront," Winnie said, offering a card.
Dr. Ivan shook his head. "Mr. Rodriguez has already covered it with ten million, which is more than enough. Are you a friend of his? I will do my utmost."
Winnie felt a swirl of emotions. She needed Dr. Ivan, so she couldn’t decline Lawrence's generosity. Reluctantly, she took back the card. After a moment of thought, instructed Dr. Ivan, "Please keep it confidential that my father needs six months to recover. If anyone asks, say he'll wake up within two weeks."
Dr. Ivan was puzzled, but as a family request, he agreed.
Just then, Grandpa Blanchet pushed open the door to the ward, his joy turning into confusion. "Winnie, what's the meaning of spreading false information?"
Turning to face him, Winnie looked stern. "Grandpa, who do you think is most likely to harm my dad? Do you buy the police's closure on the case, blaming it on a shareholder seeking revenge?"
Grandpa Blanchet furrowed his brow.
He didn't believe it. That shareholder was too minor a player in the Blanchet Group to justify ordering a hit on Carlos, even if he felt slighted.
He had a nagging feeling there was someone else pulling the strings. Recalling Winnie's words from the other day, Grandpa Blanchet frowned. "Do you think it's Eleanor? If Carlos was dead, she would be the primary heir, indeed."
"Pop, don’t listen to Winnie’s nonsense," a stern voice cut through the room as Stephanie entered, shooting a chilled glance at Winnie. "Didn't you overhear Angela last night? She admitted to seducing Mr. Lawrence. With a character like hers, I wouldn't be surprised if she talks trash about Eleanor. She holds a grudge against her. So no, I don’t buy a word Winnie says."
Winnie rolled her eyes in silent exasperation. Stephanie had been brainwashed by Eleanor and Ishara too deeply.
She turned to Grandpa Blanchet. "Grandpa, I did this to force the hand of whoever is lurking behind the scenes. If it's Eleanor, she'd certainly make another move knowing that dad is about to wake up. That way, she could claim his inheritance. Besides, if there’s another culprit, they would want to control the Blanchet Group within a fortnight. As for who it is, their true face will soon be revealed."
A light of realization shone in Grandpa Blanchet's eyes, and he began to look at Winnie differently. The girl was clever, setting traps based on her father medical condition to catch a guilty party. Perhaps she even had more guts than Ishara in business matters.
"And one more thing, Grandpa," she continued, "don't tell anyone about our talk today, not even Uncle Patrick."
Stephanie's face was stern. "It’s one thing to suspect Eleanor, but do you have to cast doubt on Patrick too? That's impossible. Patrick’s been disabled since childhood---introverted, and without children. Why would he want the Blanchet Group? We even pushed him to manage the company, but he refused, not wanting to tarnish Carlos's reputation with potential failure. Don't cause trouble here!"
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