Chapter 511
In the solitude of the parking lot, Laura sat in the car, her eyes riveted on the sight of Benjamin cradling Isla into the plush interior of his luxury vehicle. A surge of profound sadness washed over her, threatening to drown her in its depths.
Once, she had loved him without regret, but now, she found herself lamenting the time she had squandered on Benjamin. She questioned herself, her mind a whirlpool of confusion and regret. How had she fallen for him? Why was it that even after six months, his memory still haunted her? Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks in a silent testament to her heartache.
Elliott, ever the comforting presence, extended a tissue towards her. "Don't cry, Laura," he implored gently. "He isn't worth your tears. Remember, we're always here for you."
"Elliott," Laura's voice wavered as she sobbed, "I'm such a fool. I can't handle anything without causing trouble for those around me."
Elliott was quick to reassure her. "Don't overthink it. You haven't done anything wrong," he insisted.
Laura fell silent, her mind a tumult of thoughts.
Elliott persisted, his tone calm yet firm. "I'm telling you the truth. They hold a significant amount of power, enough to sway even some of Madison's most prominent Old Money figures. You're not strong enough to fight them yet."
Laura's frustration was palpable. "What am I supposed to do then?"
"You could return to managing the family business in Madison, or perhaps pursue further studies abroad," Elliott suggested, his gaze steady on her. "Once you've gained enough strength, the Jude family won't be able to suppress you. In fact, they might even come begging for your collaboration."
The idea stirred something within Laura, her heart pounding at the thought. But her excitement was short-lived, replaced quickly by a frown. "No, I can't leave Cassie alone in such a hostile environment. And with Nina in prison... I can't bear that guilt."
Elliott's response was blunt, his words cornering Laura. "If you're so weak, why stay here?" His question left her speechless.
Meanwhile, within the grandeur of the mansion, Cassie received a text message from Laura. Without wasting a moment, she hurried to the neighboring room in search of Joseph.
Upon pushing open the door, she found the room empty, save for a maid diligently mopping the floor. "Where is Joseph?" she inquired.
"Joseph moved to the next building, Cassie. Weren't you aware?" the maid responded, her confusion evident.
A chill ran down Cassie's spine. Joseph had always made every effort to be near her, even sneaking into her room at night. When had he stopped? Was it after Joyce's death? Did he harbor resentment towards her? Or had her actions towards Joyce strained his relationship with Michael?
Cassie sighed, admitting to herself that she was torn. She had found Joseph irritating, often wishing him away. But now that he was gone, she found the adjustment challenging.
Driven by restlessness, Cassie made her way towards the neighboring building. As she neared the entrance, the sound of crashing objects from within startled her.
Rushing inside, she found Walter and Lucas restraining Joseph, who sat on the couch, his face contorted in pain. Lucas was injecting something into his wrist.
"What... what's happening to him?" Cassie was at a loss, her heart pounding as she watched Joseph, his body slick with sweat.
"He's having a headache. I'm giving him painkillers," Lucas replied with a calmness that belied the tense situation.
Joseph's fierce glare met Cassie's worried gaze. "What are you doing here? Go back," he ordered.
Cassie's hands clenched at her sides. She hadn't known that Joseph's headaches had worsened to the point of needing painkillers. Was his condition deteriorating? A wave of unease washed over her. Would Joseph forget her and their unborn child?
"I'm not going back." Defiant, Cassie approached him, taking his trembling hand into her own.
Joseph's eyelashes fluttered, his gaze dropping to meet hers.
Cassie crouched beside him, her white ruffled nightgown pooling around her. It had been a long time since she had shown such gentleness and obedience. Joseph held onto Cassie's hand, his eyes closing in surrender to the pain.
Twenty minutes later, the injection was complete. Lucas carefully packed away the needles. "Take care of yourself. I've already contacted Nyasia. She'll be here next week."
"Okay," Joseph responded weakly.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
