Chapter 295 The Truth
On the plane to Emerald Isle City, Seb kept having nightmares.
After landing, Seb fell ill.
With Marvin absent, Isabella had to take him to the hospital with Jack.
After treatment, Seb's emotions gradually stabilized, then he fell into a deep sleep.
Jack said, "Why don't you go back to the hotel first? I can stay with Mr. Landon."
Isabella shook her head. Even if she went back to the hotel, she wouldn't be able to sleep. She felt more at ease staying with Seb.
Jack said no more.
In the middle of the night, Isabella, half-asleep, felt someone touching her face.
She looked up to find Seb awake, lying quietly on the pillow, looking at her tenderly.
"Seb, you're awake?" Isabella immediately lost all sleepiness and leaned closer to ask, "How are you feeling now? Is there any discomfort? Should I call the doctor?"
She got up to call the doctor, but Seb grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
"Bella, you’ve worked so hard," Seb murmured tenderly as he embraced her.
Isabella's face rested on Seb's chest, listening to his strong, healthy heartbeat. Her anxious heart gradually calmed down. "Do you know that you started running a high fever as soon as you boarded the plane. You were almost delirious and kept mumbling incoherently. No matter how much I called out to you, there was no response. It was freaking me out."
"Sorry," Seb said, stroking her hair. "I made you worry. It's my fault."
Isabella shook her head and touched his forehead. " Your temperature seems to have gone down a lot. Would you like some water?"
"No need," Seb said, holding her hand tightly. "I don't need anything, just stay with me for a while."
"Okay," Isabella nodded. She took off her shoes and climbed onto the hospital bed.
Seb pulled the blanket over her thin body, and they snuggled closely together.
Though it was the middle of the night and everything was quiet, Isabella found herself wide awake. She wanted to say something but, worried about Seb's weakness, she just remained quiet and nestled against him, listening to his heartbeat as her thoughts began to wander.
After a while, Seb spoke softly, "Bella."
"What's up?" Isabella responded immediately.
Seb said, "Actually, there were two paternity test reports."
Isabella looked up at Seb's determined jawline. "One for Charles and Matthew, and the other for you and Charles?"
"Yes," Seb nodded, swallowing hard.
Isabella said, "Charles reacted so strongly at the time. Did the report say that Matthew wasn't his biological son?"
She hadn't asked about it after it happened. She could guess some of it, though not in detail.
She knew this was a sensitive topic for Seb. Unless he was ready to talk about it, anyone else bringing it up would only cause him more pain.
Isabella didn't want to touch it. If Seb wanted to talk, she would be the best listener. If he wanted to keep it to himself, she didn't mind.
Now that Seb was willing to talk, Isabella could feel his struggle and pain. She was willing to take the initiative to console him, hoping to help him overcome his emotional block sooner rather than later.
"Yes," Seb nodded, his voice low. "I've always had my suspicions. I didn't think my mom was that kind of person. Living in the Landon family for so many years, there were many clues, but I could never confirm it."
"I hate Charles!" Seb spat out the words, his body tense and rigid.
Seb continued, "He tricked me into giving her the abortion pills. He told me it was a tonic to calm her and help with the pregnancy. I believed him.
"I watched my mom drink that bowl of medicine, then she started having severe abdominal pain and bleeding." Seb's voice trembled. Even after all these years, the memory of that scene still twisted him in pain.
After calming down a bit, Seb continued, "I ran downstairs to call for help, but the phone line had been cut. Then I heard my mom's screams. When I ran back upstairs, she was lying by the bed, her eyes wide and vacant, barely alive.
"I tried to rush to her, but Charles grabbed me by the collar. He dragged me to the balcony, trying to throw me off. At that time, I had a fruit knife in my hand. I wanted to kill him, but I couldn't do it. I clung desperately to the railing, determined not to let myself fall. When the knife dropped, Charles stunned and then pulled me back, throwing me to the ground."
Seb's fingers clenched. "I'm sorry, Bella. I lied to you before. My mom wasn't beaten to death by Charles. She was killed by that abortion drug. I killed her and the baby in her womb!"
"And all these years, I've been avoiding this fact! Charles was right. No matter how high I climb, I'll always be a sinner."
Isabella shook her head, holding Seb tightly. "Seb, none of this is your fault. It's all Charles's fault. He has already perished. Don't keep these things in your heart. If Anna knew, it would break her heart to see you like this."
"Bella," Seb closed his eyes, a tear silently falling. He opened his eyes again, looking at the ceiling, a self-mocking smile on his face. "Charles was right. I'm just a bastard."
Seb said, "I always thought Emma tampered with the paternity test report. That she switched my and Matthew's reports. Until yesterday, those two reports showed that Matthew wasn't his child. And neither am I."
Isabella was also shocked. This result was something she hadn't expected.
Pain flashed in Seb's eyes. "Bella, my mom really cheated!"
Finally, Isabella understood why Seb fell ill.
She had thought it was because of Emma and Matthew's deaths, because of Charles's death, and because of the pain brought by the truth.
But now Isabella understood. What broke Seb wasn't anyone else; it was his mother, Anna, whom he had always held dear!
In Seb's heart, Anna had always been noble and pure, untainted and beyond reproach. But in the end, he found out that Anna wasn't so pure. At least, the paternity test report indeed showed that Anna had done something wrong in her marriage. And Seb was the result of that wrongdoing!
His faith collapsed, and so did Seb's world.
Isabella's heart ached, making it hard to breathe. She couldn't imagine the pain and torment Seb had been enduring these past few days.
"Seb." Isabella saw Seb's eyes darkening, and she was deeply alarmed.
If this continued, Seb would be in serious trouble!
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