Chapter 618 Give Yvette Your Own Medicine
Clifford's words left Felix and Gabrielle wearing expressions of profound complexity.
Gabrielle's lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words.
Felix lowered his head in silence, repeatedly clenching his fists—a nervous habit that betrayed his mounting anxiety.
Their faces bore the weight of serious contemplation, clearly wrestling with the implications of what their son had just said.
Clifford drew a deep breath and asked with unwavering resolve, "I'm going to ask you one final time—will you help Yvette get the same medication I'm taking?"
Felix and Gabrielle exchanged another loaded glance, the complexity in their eyes deepening. They recognized their son's determination and understood exactly why he was so adamant.
Seeing their continued hesitation, Clifford's emotions flared again. He took another breath, but the rage building in his chest refused to be contained. His face flushed crimson, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Fine. Since you won't help, I'll give her my own medication," he declared, moving toward the door.
Gabrielle startled and quickly reached out to block his path. She knew her son well enough to recognize that once he'd made up his mind, there was no dissuading him.
Her grip on his arm was fierce, like someone clutching a lifeline. Her eyes brimmed with concern and worry, silently pleading with him not to act rashly.
"Clifford, you can't do this," she said, her voice nearly breaking. "That medication is keeping you alive. Your condition is far more severe than hers—you cannot stop taking it!"
Clifford met her gaze steadily. "Mom, I'm not going to keep repeating myself. If you won't contact the Swift family for me, then I'll give her my pills."
The living room fell into heavy silence.
Gradually, Clifford's breathing steadied, though his resolve only seemed to strengthen.
In that moment, Felix and Gabrielle realized with crystal clarity that nothing they said would change their son's mind.
Their eyes filled with helplessness and heartache as they recognized that Clifford had grown up—he had his own convictions and choices now. They could no longer interfere with his decisions the way they had when he was a child.
Felix finally closed his eyes and broke the silence. He drew a deep breath before speaking slowly, "Clifford, are you absolutely certain about this?"
"Yes," Clifford replied without hesitation.
"We can contact the Swift family for you, but whether Ms. Swift agrees is beyond our control. Your life depends on the medication she's providing." Felix's voice carried a note of grave warning. "I'm asking if you've truly thought this through because the consequences might extend far beyond simply being denied the drug. If she's willing to give Yvette the medication, that would be ideal. But you know how toxic their relationship is. What if she not only refuses to help Yvette but cuts off your supply entirely? What then?"
Clifford's brow furrowed as he looked up at his father.
Felix shook his head grimly. "Their animosity runs deeper than you can imagine. We no longer have any leverage over Violet—nothing left to bargain with."
A cold smile crossed Clifford's lips. "What if I told you I have a way to make her afraid?"
Felix and Gabrielle's faces went ashen.
The Swift Mansion.
Violet and Clifford sat facing each other on the sofa, with Felix and Gabrielle flanking their son. The atmosphere in the Swift mansion was thick with tension.
Clifford fixed Violet with a penetrating stare, his voice low and measured. "Ms. Swift, thank you for providing the medication. My condition has shown significant improvement."
Violet returned his gaze, and for some inexplicable reason, David's words echoed in her mind: Clifford and Albert were remarkably similar.
She arched an eyebrow with calculated interest. "I'm delighted to hear that, Mr. Hayes. Please do take excellent care of yourself."
"Thank you for your concern," Clifford replied, the corner of his mouth lifting in what couldn't quite be called a smile. "Ms. Swift, I came today not only to express my gratitude for the medication but also to ask a favor."
"A favor?" Violet's eyes lit up as she leaned forward, closing the distance between them. "Please, tell me what I might do for you."
"I understand that I'm currently the only patient receiving this treatment, and that Ms. Orlando hasn't been given access to the medication." Clifford's tone remained conversational. "Ms. Swift, might I ask if this is due to production limitations or some other reason?"
The smile froze on Violet's face. She hadn't anticipated that Clifford would come to her on Yvette's behalf.
"And in what capacity, Mr. Hayes, are you questioning my decision not to provide Yvette with medication?" she countered.
"You misunderstand me, Ms. Swift. I'm not questioning your decision," Clifford replied, his voice cool as winter air. "I'm simply inquiring about the reasoning. This is life-saving medication, and I hoped you might be generous enough to help those of us who are suffering."
Violet remained unmoved, letting out a derisive laugh. "Haven't your parents explained the situation to you?"
Her gaze swept over Felix and Gabrielle, who immediately lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
"I'm afraid I don't follow your meaning, Ms. Swift," Clifford said, blinking with apparent innocence.
Violet's brow furrowed in displeasure. "I made it crystal clear from the beginning—the condition for providing you with medication was that Yvette would never receive access to this treatment. If you want her to have it, then you forfeit yours."
She leaned back slightly, her eyelids drooping in a display of superiority. "After all, no other facility can manufacture this drug. The supply is extremely limited, and I cannot possibly provide it to everyone."
Despite her irritation, Violet managed to restrain herself. Clifford represented an excellent substitute for what she'd lost. Even if his personality and appearance differed from Albert's, didn't his mannerisms and behavior mirror Albert's perfectly?
With this thought, she laughed softly, tempering her sharp edges. "I simply want to ensure you can continue this treatment long-term. It would be such a tragedy to lose such a beautiful life."
Clifford's eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled.
"I believe I understand your position now, Ms. Swift." His voice remained gentle, but his words cut like a blade. "You're threatening me—if I share the medication with Ms. Orlando, I won't receive any either. Is that correct?"
Violet was pleased by how quickly Clifford seemed to grasp the situation. She nodded with satisfaction, her threat explicit. "That's precisely how you should understand it. Consider it this way: to prevent Yvette from accessing this medication, I would even be willing to terminate your treatment."
"Well then, Ms. Swift," Clifford raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a sword's edge, "what if I told you that should you refuse to provide her with medication—or even cut off my supply—I would offer both the remaining pills and myself to Mr. Valdemar."
His smile turned predatory. "I'm confident that with his resources and financial backing, using the remaining medication and my body for pharmaceutical testing, he could reverse-engineer an identical drug quite rapidly, don't you think?"
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