Chapter 451 Fortunately, There Is a Backup
Tears splashed into the gaps between the tiles, mixing with the water stains to create dark smudges. The burning sensation in my throat hadn't subsided yet, but out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly noticed a cold, blue light at the edge of the coffee table in the living room. The miniature recording device had somehow been pushed to the edge, its metal casing gleaming dangerously in the faint light filtering through the rain.
My blood froze instantly. I stumbled out of the bathroom, not even feeling the sharp pain as my knee hit the corner of the coffee table. With trembling hands, I picked up the device. As the screen lit up, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest. The last recording file was still displayed on the interface, and I let out a sigh of relief.
"It's still here."
My voice was hoarse, tinged with the relief of surviving a disaster. I leaned back against the sofa, slowly sitting down, my fingers hovering above the play button, afraid to press it, fearing it was just another trap Jeffrey had set before he left. Thunder roared outside, and lightning illuminated the device's screen. Gritting my teeth, I pressed the button.
But the expected conversation didn't play. Instead, there was ten minutes of static noise. I frantically dragged the progress bar, but all I heard was the piercing hum until the very last second. Sweat soaked the device's casing, and when the "File Corrupted" message popped up, I finally noticed the tiny scratch in the corner of the screen. It was the mark left by Jeffrey's ring when he had fiddled with Skylar's stuffed bear.
"Jeffrey!"
I screamed, hurling the device at the wall. The fragments scattered across the beige sofa, leaving small marks.
The taste of blood mixed with anger burned in my chest, and the joy of surviving a disaster instantly turned into overwhelming hatred. He hadn't just destroyed my defenses; he had crushed my last hope with the gentlest cruelty before he left.
The remnants of the device glinted coldly on the carpet. I collapsed amidst the wreckage, the static noise still echoing in my ears. The broken screen kept flashing the "File Corrupted" message, mocking my futile efforts. My phone vibrated beside me; it was a message from Melissa:
"Mr. Howard is awake. He's urgently looking for you. Come to the hospital."
I grabbed the blood-stained cashmere sweater and threw it on, stumbling out the door. The hallway's motion-sensor lights flickered on and off. As I pushed open the building's door, cold raindrops hit my face, and the water droplets fell from the eaves, creating tiny splashes on the stone pavement. The chill crept up my spine, and I couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were watching me from the shadows. If Jeffrey could sneak into my home, could he be hiding somewhere, watching me flee in panic?
Red and blue police lights cut through the rain more frequently than usual, and car headlights swept across the wet road, turning the puddles into flowing blood. The sound of police car tires splashing through the water mixed with the rhythm of raindrops hitting umbrellas, echoing clearly in the silent street. I hugged my arms tightly and quickened my pace, the cashmere sweater shedding Jeffrey's cigar ashes with every movement.
The police lights, usually reassuring, now made my heart race. Jeffrey's parting words, "Do you know who those people downstairs are?" echoed in my mind. Had the police been infiltrated by the criminal forces? Every passing police car could be carrying his and Nicholas's informants.
As the rain eased, I finally reached the hospital. The smell of disinfectant hit me, and my legs trembled, barely able to support my weight. Melissa stood by the hospital room door, her expression hesitant. She opened her mouth but ultimately stepped aside silently.
The sharp scent of disinfectant mixed with the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. As I pushed open the ICU door, my tense nerves finally relaxed. Edward lay on the bed, propped up against a white pillow, his left shoulder wrapped in thick bandages, his right leg in a brace. Despite his pale, paper-like complexion, his deep eyes still held a familiar spark.
"You're awake!"
I rushed to the bedside, my fingers gently brushing the side of Edward's pillow. Memories flooded back—during the warehouse fight, he had shielded me, taking a bullet.
My voice trembled:
"It's all my fault. I couldn't protect you."
Tears fell uncontrollably onto his hand, blurring my vision as I stared at his blood-soaked bandages.
Edward's pale lips moved, trying to smile, but the expression was more heartbreaking than tears. He weakly shook his head, attempting to wipe my tears with his uninjured right hand. As he lifted his arm, the pain from his wound made his face turn even paler, and his movement froze mid-air.
"Don't blame yourself."
Edward's voice was weak and hoarse, each word accompanied by labored breaths.
"It's not your fault. I couldn't protect you. Where's the recorder? We need to expose them."
After a moment of silence, I bit my lip, my voice choked with sobs:
"Edward, I'm sorry. Jeffrey destroyed the recording. There's nothing left."
Edward's calm eyes instantly ignited with anger. He struggled to sit up, but the bandages and brace pulled at his wounds, making his face turn even paler. Violent coughs erupted from his chest. He gripped the bedsheet tightly, veins bulging on his pale hand.
"Damn it! Jeffrey."
Edward's hoarse shout was full of rage, but his injured body forced him to collapse back onto the pillow. He weakly gestured for me to come closer. I hurriedly leaned in, watching him shakily reach for his phone by the pillow. He unlocked it and pulled up a recording file.
"Thank goodness for backups. Send this to Lila."
Edward's voice was barely audible.
"Lila? No way!"
I jerked my head up, my heart racing.
"After Lucas left, Nicholas has a deep grudge against her. If Lila gets involved, she might not survive!"
The wind outside battered the windows, as if anxious about the danger.
Edward struggled to lift his hand, his trembling fingers resting on my shaking shoulder, trying to calm me.
"Lawyer privileges can get the evidence through proper channels. Lila's authority can bypass searches. Only she can handle this recording properly." Edward's eyes were stubbornly determined, despite his labored breathing. "Now is not the time for impulsiveness."
I bit my lip, my mind flashing with images of Nicholas's cold face and Lila's calm smile.
After a moment of silence, I finally nodded:
"Okay."
My fingers moved quickly on the phone screen. I pretended to only send the file to Lila, but in a split second, I also sent it to my own device.
Edward's tense shoulders relaxed, a hint of relief appearing on his pale face, only to be interrupted by violent coughing. The monitor's alarm blared, but his hand still clung to my clothes, silently conveying the weight of his trust and responsibility. I slipped the phone into my pocket, keeping the secret of the extra backup hidden in my heart.
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