Chapter 573 Oscar's Subterfuge
Leo emitted a low growl, his voice laced with frustration. "I haven't meddled with your mind, yet here you stand, bewildered and obedient to Ishara as though she's your master. What's the reason?” Leo pressed on, his tone insistent. "Your father is here to rescue you; it's a great chance to escape. If you won't go home with him, do you actually want to stay locked up?"
Oscar massaged his temple, his gaze fixed on the wall ahead. After a moment, his eyes welled with tears he fought to contain. His voice choked with emotion as he spoke, "Leo, I miss Winnie."
Leo was taken aback, a surge of anger bubbling within him. "If you miss your mom so much, and you're not really out of your mind, then just leave already! You staying here is causing me nothing but trouble, don't you see? You're going to get me killed!"
But Oscar averted his eyes, sharp and piercing like a frigid stream, and let out a bitter chuckle. "It's because I love her that I must safeguard her. You and Ishara, two vile individuals, what have you done to my mother? Until you confess, until Ishara unveils her secrets, I refuse to budge. Do you think you can hide the truth forever? I will uncover it in due time."
Leo's expression hardened. That secret, he vowed never to reveal, especially not to Winnie's son! The truth about the IVF, he intended to carry to his grave. "Winnie is fine. She's neither gravely ill nor has anyone harvested her organs. What more do you fear? Go with your father already!" Leo pleaded, his features contorted with anguish.
However, Oscar just couldn't believe him. The more Leo evaded the truth, the deeper Oscar suspected the severity of the situation, sending shivers down his spine. He resolved to stick close to Ishara, to uncover whatever she had inflicted upon Winnie.
Lawrence, his father of dubious character…
Oscar glanced out the window, his lips pressed into a tight line. He couldn't place full trust in that rogue of a father. He couldn't leave Winnie's safety solely in his hands.
In the serene atmosphere of the Rodriguez family estate, Ishara woke that morning with a buoyant spirit, still basking in the glow of the previous day's successes. The weight of convincing Winnie to acknowledge her relationship and marriage to Rock had lifted, leaving her with a sense of peace as she felt the embryo settle within her. The tranquility of the moment led her into a deep slumber that persisted until the sun reached its zenith, casting long shadows across the estate.
Midday brought an abrupt end to Ishara's peaceful repose when a frantic call from Claire shattered the tranquility like a bucket of ice water dousing her senses. Startled awake, she listened intently as Claire relayed alarming news.
"We've got trouble," Claire's urgent voice echoed through the receiver. "Soren and his team moved Oscar last night, and Mr. Rodriguez has tracked them down. It was that scoundrel Leo; he switched sides and betrayed us. He led Mr. Rodriguez right to Oscar. But thankfully, Soren only took Oscar to a convalescent home, not close to the lab. There's a silver lining: Mr. Rodriguez couldn't rescue Oscar. That foolish child, completely under our control now, keeps resisting Mr. Rodriguez, sees him as the villain and you as the good person. He's determined to stay with you."
Ishara felt as though she'd been struck in the head, her mind reeling from Claire's revelations. Her face contorted through a rapid succession of emotions, each one reflecting the turmoil within her.
"No matter what, Mr. Rodriguez is definitely going to look for you; you need to be prepared..." Claire's words hung heavily in the air, punctuating the gravity of the situation.
Knock, knock!
The sudden rap at the door jolted Ishara from her reverie, her pallid face swiveling toward the sound.
Outside stood the Rodriguez family's maid, beckoning urgently, "Mr. Rodriguez has returned home, and he's right in the foyer. He'll be up to your bedroom shortly."
Ishara's breath caught in her throat as she swiftly ended the call with Claire and erased the call log, her mind a tumult of anxiety.
Forcing herself to steady her trembling hands and racing thoughts, she scrambled out of bed and hastily dressed.
At that moment, a chill descended upon the area outside her bedroom. Even at a distance, Ishara could feel its piercing cold.
Fumbling with her blouse's buttons, her mind raced with calculations as she slowly opened the door—
Outside her bedroom, in the central hall, there was a spacious and luxurious European-style sofa.
Lawrence sat poised upon it, legs crossed, a cup of coffee delicately balanced in his slender fingers.
The bitter fragrance of black coffee wafted through the air, assaulting Ishara's senses.
Veiled behind tendrils of steam, Lawrence's gaze bore into her, his narrowed eyes smoldering with a crimson fury.
He must have gone all night without sleep, wondering what he had threatened Leo with that made Leo help him regardless of the legal risks here.
As Ishara pondered, she felt the weight of Lawrence's menacing stare.
With his resources, he could have easily manipulated Leo into compliance!
The realization dawned upon her that Lawrence must have already tracked down Oscar, leaving her with one less card to play.
Ishara shuddered involuntarily, her hand instinctively cradling her stomach.
Summoning her courage, she masked her unease and strode past him under his intense scrutiny, "Lawrence, the maid mentioned you were looking for me. What brings you here so early?"
Unwavering, Lawrence set down his coffee cup, his lips pressed into a thin line before rising to his feet with deliberate slowness.
His calculating gaze swept over Ishara, weighing which method to employ to unravel her.
Her lashes fluttered as she heard his inquiry, "What have you done to Oscar?"
Maintaining her composure, Ishara's expression remained impassive. "Lawrence, what could I possibly have done to him? In fact, these past few days, I've just been having the kid over for a visit, pampering him with food and care, fearing that something might happen to him."
Her seemingly innocent gaze stoked his ire.
Without hesitation, Lawrence reached out, his hand closing around her throat with swift precision.
A malevolent smile curled his lips as he dragged her toward the window.
"Lawrence!" Ishara let out a shriek as she was dragged by Lawrence to the edge of the bedroom window. With his other hand, he methodically opened the window.
In one swift motion, he hoisted her up, her legs dangling precariously from the second-floor window.
"No! I'm carrying your child, Lawrence! I invited Oscar over as a guest, merely extending hospitality. I don't deserve this treatment!"
"Explain how he's become like this. What did you do to him? How did you manipulate his mind?" Lawrence pressed on.
Then, with a merciless kick, Lawrence propelled her further out.
Ishara's eyes widened in terror, unable to comprehend his madness! Bob was downstairs, yet Lawrence dared to assault her, disregarding the life within her!
Glancing below, she realized the peril her unborn child faced. It was her final bargaining chip, one she couldn't afford to lose.
"But honestly, I have no idea, the surgery was performed by Leo, I'm not a doctor! I didn't want Oscar to end up like this... It was his asthma attack, leading to meningitis, forcing Leo to perform brain surgery. If Leo messed up or had some other agenda, I wouldn't know. After Oscar woke up, he had amnesia; it's all Leo's doing, nothing to do with me!"
Since Leo had betrayed her, Ishara naturally pushed all the blame onto him. As long as she had no leverage over her, Lawrence had no proof to catch her.
With a disdainful sneer, Lawrence yanked at her hair, "You think I'm a fool? Oscar sees you as his master and even treated your place as his home. You've corrupted him, destroyed a child. Now, it's time you faced the consequences."
Pallor spread across Ishara's face.
The idea that Oscar was affectionate toward her was unthinkable.
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