Chapter 134 Threatening with Death
Nicole was in the ER after a blood transfusion, still in critical condition. When she arrived, she was ghostly pale with deep, gruesome cuts on her wrists.
In the hallway, Karen, Bray, Patrick, and Debra waited anxiously. Karen was heartbroken, repeatedly crying out Nicole's name.
"Calm down, Karen. You're not young anymore, and this isn't helping," Bray said, trying to stay composed.
"Helping? Our daughter is fighting for her life, and all you care about is your image? Do you even have a heart?" Karen snapped, grabbing Bray's collar and sobbing. "Our son is already gone! If anything happens to Nicole, I won't live either!"
Bray's face darkened. Nicole had tried to kill herself over Edward, and Karen's outburst wasn't helping. Feeling humiliated and powerless, he shoved Karen to the ground. "Stop making a scene! This is a hospital, not a marketplace! Have some dignity!"
Karen sat on the floor, stunned. "You actually pushed me."
"Enough! The priority is Nicole's recovery," Debra said, helping Karen up while secretly sneering. 'If it weren't for Tiffany's situation and Patrick dragging me here, I wouldn't care about Nicole.'
"Patrick, you need to explain this!" Bray yelled, venting his anger. "Nicole and Edward have been together for years. She gave him the best years of her life, and now their engagement is public knowledge. We agreed to wait until after Byron's birthday for the divorce, but Edward and Evelyn delayed it. Now the divorce is final, and Edward backs out? How can any decent girl tolerate that? This is betrayal!"
Patrick, frustrated and grim, didn't know what to say.
"We may not be as powerful as Ms. Taylor's family, but we have our pride! Edward's treatment of Nicole is unacceptable!" Karen added, her eyes red with anger. "If Nicole breaks up with Edward, we'll make a big deal out of it! No one will have a good time!"
Karen thought, 'Nicole's suicide attempt is to force Edward into marriage. They grew up together, and if Edward still cares, he won't ignore this. Even if the marriage is affected, I'll get the most out of the Wellington family, saving the Adams family from crisis. It's a win no matter what!'
Patrick sighed, worried. 'With Tiffany's situation urgent, if rumors spread that Edward drove his fiancée to suicide, the Wellington family's reputation would plummet, and their stock price would take a hit. It's no longer up to Edward.'
Steeling himself, he promised, "Don't worry. When Nicole wakes up, tell her I'll back her up. Her marriage to Edward will proceed as planned."
Karen and Bray's expressions softened a bit, but Karen still felt uneasy. Edward was no longer the weak, powerless illegitimate child. Even if Patrick wanted to back her up, Edward might not comply.
At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. Edward, his face as cold as ice, walked towards them, followed by Bart.
"How's Nicole?" Edward asked.
Before Patrick could respond, Karen, eyes red and furious, grabbed Edward's collar. "Edward! What did my daughter ever do to you? Look at what you've done! Are you trying to drive her to death just to be with your ex-wife?"
Bart quickly stepped in, pulling Karen away from Edward. "Please calm down!"
"Calm down? Nicole's fighting for her life! She's cried all her tears, bled all her blood, and now she might not survive! How do you expect me to calm down?" Karen shouted, pointing at Edward. "If you aren't sincere with Nicole, why do you deceive her into thinking you'd marry her? How can you back out now? Nicole saved your life when you tried to kill yourself! She's been so good to you, and you repay her like this? Do you have a conscience??"
Edward's head throbbed with pain, his chest tightening with dark memories from his childhood. He struggled to breathe as fragments of his past cut through his mind.
Meanwhile, Evelyn had been taken to the hospital by Gilbert for emergency treatment. She didn't let William follow her, asking him to stay with Jennifer to keep her calm. Jennifer, tender-hearted and timid, had been crying and blaming herself, breaking William's heart.
Fortunately, Evelyn's wound wasn't too deep. After treatment, her arm was bandaged, and her coat was ruined. She wore a slender burgundy dress, her delicate beauty accentuated by a subtle flush on her cheeks.
Gilbert, deep in thought, lowered his eyes to her long lashes. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "It's cold outside, wear this."
"No need, I'm not cold," Evelyn said, trying to take it off.
But Gilbert held the lapels, wrapping her tighter. "Your arm is bandaged. Aren't you worried your sister and secretary will be concerned? Just wear it."
Evelyn hesitated but didn't resist. Gilbert's consideration made it hard to refuse.
"Why were you there?" she asked.
"I also live in that villa area," Gilbert lied. He didn't actually live there, though it was a project of the Alexander family.
"Oh? What a coincidence," she said, not probing further.
"When they treated your wound, I felt pain just watching, yet you didn't flinch. You're the strongest girl I've ever met," Gilbert said, his gaze never leaving her.
"Many girls are strong at heart. You'll meet many like me," Evelyn replied with a polite smile.
Gilbert's lips curved up. 'But I don't want to meet others, just you.'
"Thank you for taking care of me, but holding an unfamiliar girl like that is not a gentleman's doing, even with good intentions, I don't like being too close to strangers," Evelyn said gently, but clearly.
"Sorry, I acted hastily seeing you injured," Gilbert said, adjusting his glasses. "I'll be more mindful in the future."
Evelyn smiled warmly. Gilbert's sincerity made it hard to hold a grudge.
"Oh right, I still don't know your name. Can you tell me?" she asked.
Gilbert's heart trembled, about to speak, when a cold, deep voice interrupted from behind. "Evelyn."
