Chapter 394 Shooting
If Michael got this exact news, could he handle it? Would his depression flare up again?
What could she possibly give back to him and Eloise? Francis' life? Then what was the point of everything Eloise did?
"Eloise, you've left us with an impossible problem," Elizabeth murmured to herself.
The black sedan pulled up in front of the old mansion.
Michael, dressed in all black, stepped out and headed straight for the main house.
He entered the hall and stood at the foot of the stairs, staring intently at the steps.
William approached him, looking puzzled. "Michael, what are you doing here? You should've given me a heads-up so I could get ready."
He noticed Michael's intense gaze. "Michael, are you thinking about Mom? Honestly, it's been ages since you last visited."
Michael didn't even look at him. "Do you hate Mom?"
William thought he misheard. "What did you say?"
Michael turned his head, glaring at him. "Do you hate Mom?"
William was baffled. "That's our mom! Why would I hate her?"
Michael gritted his teeth. "She left seventy percent of her estate to you! But you still killed her! Tell me, why?"
William immediately denied it. "I didn't! It wasn't me!"
Michael understood. "Then it was your son, Anthony!"
With that, he stormed upstairs, heading straight for Anthony's room. He pulled out a handgun from his waistband and released the safety.
William saw the gun and knew Michael was out for blood. He couldn't stop him in time and could only shout from downstairs, "Anthony, run!"
Michael kicked open Anthony's door, sending a sculpture in the entryway flying.
Anthony was hiding behind the couch, trembling.
Michael roared, "Anthony, come out! When you killed your grandmother, did you think this day wouldn't come?"
Anthony was terrified, stammering, "It wasn't me, it was Calla! Calla killed Grandma! She forced me!"
Michael didn't listen to his excuses. "Calla is dead, and there's no proof! You can go to hell and argue with her there!"
He raised his gun and fired in Anthony's direction.
A gunshot rang out, but Anthony was unharmed.
He shakily stood up and saw Karen lying beside him, blood gushing from her chest.
He collapsed to the floor, powerless, watching the blood flow from Karen's wound.
He had his ears covered and eyes closed; he didn't even know when Karen had thrown herself in front of him.
He cried out, "Mom! Mom!"
Karen raised her hand, trying to touch his face. "Anthony, take care of yourself."
Her hand fell to the ground, and her eyes closed.
William rushed in and saw Karen lying in a pool of blood. He shouted, "Anthony! Call 911!"
Anthony, sobbing, fumbled for his phone.
William picked up Karen and ran downstairs. Michael didn't stop him.
He watched the chaos unfold with William, Anthony, and Karen, then holstered his gun and left the mansion.
Back in the car, the bodyguard asked, "Mr. Thomas, are you still seeking revenge for Mrs. Thomas?"
Michael shook his head. "A life for a life. Let it be."
Eloise had left, her fate unknown. He had lost interest in everything.
Francis was moved to a regular ward, easing some of Elizabeth's anxiety.
She returned to Whispering Pines Estates.
Nolan and Pearl hadn't seen her for days. When they saw her come back, they immediately ran to her.
"Mommy!"
"Mommy! You're finally back!"
Pearl hugged Elizabeth's waist, looking up at her. "Mommy, why do you look sad even though Francis is born?"
Nolan had already learned about Francis' condition from the adults' conversations.
He gently pulled Pearl aside. "Pearl, let Mommy rest first."
Pearl, always obedient to him, reluctantly let go.
Elizabeth didn't leave. She pulled Nolan and Pearl to the couch.
"Your brother Francis was born early, so he has some complications. The doctors said it was dangerous, but he's stable now and in a regular ward. He'll be home soon."
Pearl clapped her hands in joy. "Francis is amazing!"
Nolan, however, was deep in thought. 'If Francis is safe, why does Mommy still look so worried? There must be something else.'
After dinner, Nolan went to Dean's room.
"Dean, tell me, what's going on? Why does Mommy look so sad?"
Dean never treated Nolan like a child. He sighed and answered seriously, "Nolan, I heard from Daniel that Eloise gave blood to save Francis. But her body couldn't handle it, and she's in critical condition."
Nolan was shocked.
The Eloise who always smiled sweetly at him, even though he often gave her the cold shoulder, never got angry with him, and always treated him with kindness—was she going to die?
Nolan ran to his room, shut the door, didn't turn on the light, and sat on the carpet, hugging his knees, crying uncontrollably.
Eloise had said she was Michael's sister, so she was his aunt.
She had often half-jokingly asked him to call her "Aunt Eloise." He always refused with a scowl.
He always treated her with impatience, thinking she had stolen the happiness that should have been Elizabeth's.
But later, he understood. Eloise wasn't at fault. It was Michael who never gave Eloise and Elizabeth the truth, leaving Elizabeth in the dark.
Michael also never publicly acknowledged him and Pearl.
Why should they recognize him as their father?
But Eloise was innocent, sweet, kind, and sincere.
Nolan was filled with regret, crying so hard he could barely breathe.
Upstairs in the master bedroom, Elizabeth was packing some of Francis' clothes to take to the hospital.
The phone rang.
She picked it up and saw it was Anthony.
"Anthony, why are you calling me?"
Anthony's sobs came through the line. "Elizabeth, my mom is dead. I don't have a mom anymore."
Elizabeth wanted to ask why he was telling her this. Then she realized Anthony probably had no one else to talk to. Out of sympathy, she decided to be patient.
"How did your mom die so suddenly?"
"Elizabeth, don't you know? It was Michael! He killed my mom!"
Elizabeth was shocked. "Why? Did he have a grudge against your mom?"
She thought to herself, 'Could it be that Michael, having lost Eloise, is in such a bad mood that he's killing people out of spite?'
No! She immediately dismissed that horrifying thought.
No matter how crazy Michael was, he wouldn't take a life so lightly.
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