Chapter 157 You Are Not Qualified to Compete with Her!
"What's up? Just say it," Edward demanded, staring at Evelyn.
Eric hesitated, unsure.
"Edward! Edward!" A sobbing cry broke the silence, making Eric's skin crawl.
Edward's face tightened, his body stiffening like he'd been shocked.
Molly woke up, trembling in Evelyn's arms. She clutched Evelyn's collar. "What happened? Is Byron okay?!"
"It's alright, Molly. I'm here. Byron's fine," Evelyn reassured her, shooting a cold glance at Nicole. "Molly, let's find you a place to rest. You'll see Byron when he wakes up."
As Evelyn walked away, Edward felt like his chest was being crushed.
"Edward!" Nicole's eyes were swollen from crying. She tried to rush to him, but Eric blocked her.
"Ms. Adams, you should check on Bray at the hospital and get a lawyer for Karen," Eric said firmly.
Nicole ignored him, still crying out to Edward. "I was framed! I'm a victim! Edward, you have to believe me. I love you too much to betray you!"
Edward turned away, teeth clenched, eyes cold.
Hearing Nicole profess her love only made Edward feel disgusted.
"You've already had a child. If you had any shame, you wouldn't talk about love. It makes me sick," Eric snapped. "You should be grateful Edward is kind. If it were me, I'd kick the entire Adams family out of Mugden."
Nicole was stunned, trembling and sobbing.
After a moment, Edward turned back to her, eyes icy. "Leave."
"No! I won't leave!" Nicole's voice had a desperate edge.
Edward had already texted Bart, who arrived with two bodyguards.
"Get her out. Don't disturb the other patients," Edward ordered coldly.
"Yes, Edward!" Bart, furious, grabbed Nicole's arms with another bodyguard and dragged her out.
"I had nothing with Virgil! He wanted me to be his girlfriend. I refused, and he raped me! That's how I got pregnant! He blackmailed me, and when I refused, he tried to destroy me! Edward, I'm a victim too! Why won't you believe me?!" Nicole pleaded.
"Nicole," Edward's voice was filled with cold despair. "I broke up with you, and it has nothing to do with Virgil or that child."
Nicole stood there, confused, staring blankly at Edward.
"I wouldn't blame you for leaving me to go to Mythorica, falling in love with someone else, or even having a child without telling me," Edward said, eyes red with anger, fists clenched. "But lying about severe depression to manipulate me into marriage? That's unforgivable."
"No, it's not like that," Nicole stammered, face pale with fear.
She realized she had made a huge mistake! She lied about having depression to keep Edward's heart, forgetting that Edward and his mother, Amanda Robinson, were the most tragic victims of depression! He feared she would end up like Amanda, which was why he tolerated her, even abandoning Evelyn, who loved him deeply. But now that this lie was exposed, she had toyed with Edward's feelings and insulted Amanda! How could he ever forgive her? It was impossible!
"My mother's illness and mine became tools for you to manipulate," Edward said, a bitter laugh escaping him. "Nicole, you made me feel like a fool."
"Edward, no, it's not like that," Nicole weakly protested.
Eric shook his head in anger. "Nicole, you grew up with Edward. You know how much he suffered. If you had any conscience, you wouldn't have used lies to torment and deceive him. How could you use your past as a weapon against him? Did you ever truly love Edward? Is this how you treat someone you love?"
"Eric, stop," Edward interrupted, not wanting to dwell on Nicole's past. "Bart, I don't want to see her again. Get her out of my sight."
"Yes, Edward!" Bart grabbed Nicole and dragged her out.
"Edward! How can you treat me like this?!" Nicole screamed, her last facade crumbling. "You're just using this as an excuse to dump me! You fell for Evelyn! What's so great about her? She approached you with a false identity and ulterior motives! Wasn't she deceiving you too?!"
"Shut up! You have no right to compare yourself to her!" Edward roared, eyes bloodshot. "Say one more bad word about Evelyn, and I'll make sure the Adams family never finds a place in Mugden again! Get out now!"
Edward's furious words hit Nicole like a ton of bricks. If Bart hadn't been holding her, she would have collapsed.
She never imagined Evelyn would mean so much to Edward!
Nicole was dragged away, and the hallway fell silent.
"Edward, no matter what, I have to congratulate you," Eric said, relieved, placing a hand on Edward's shoulder. "No matter how much you were deceived, as long as you can turn back, it's never too late."
"Never too late?" Edward let out a bitter laugh, shoulders trembling. 'But why do I feel like it's already too late?'
