It was Jeannette.
Eddy hurriedly called for the doctors and nurses, and Jeannette was rushed into the emergency room.
He made his way back to the second–floor hospital room.
Blanche sat curled up in the corner by the window, her eyes blank and unfocused, her whole body drawn tight.
Seeing that Blanche was unharmed, Eddy finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He went to her and pulled her into his arms, overcome by the feeling of having lost her and found her again.
He held her tightly.
Blanche froze for a moment, then slowly relaxed against his chest, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. “How is she?”
“She’s still in surgery,” Eddy replied softly.
Blanche rested her head on Eddy’s shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent. “She tried to push me down the stairs. I dodged, and she lost her balance and fell herself.”
Her words sounded like someone confessing the truth to family.
But Eddy’s body tensed at her explanation. “She doesn’t matter,” he said quietly. “All that matters is that you’re safe.”
“No matter what happens, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Blanche’s long lashes fluttered, a flash of sharpness breaking through her dazed
gaze.
He didn’t believe her.
Once, no matter what, Eddy would have always stood by her.
Eddy helped Blanche to her feet, and she glanced out the window at the utility pole outside the building, noticing the security camera that could have caught the incident through the window.
But it hardly mattered now.
1/3
2031
Those who trusted her didn’t need proof. Those who doubted her wouldn’t believe even if they saw it with their own eyes.
Just then, Pollock and Rhoda burst into the room. Rhoda jabbed a finger at Blanche, shrieking, “You wretched woman!”
Rhoda’s face twisted with rage as she grabbed Blanche by the collar. “If you hate me, come after me! Why push Jean down the stairs? She’s your own sister!”
“She’s pregnant, for God’s sake! How could you be so heartless?”
Eddy swatted Rhoda’s hand away, shielding Blanche behind him.
But Rhoda, blinded by fury, lunged at them anyway.
“I know exactly what you’re after! You want my daughter dead so you can keep your precious title as Mrs. Griffiths. Dream on! My daughter will pull through–she’ll take your place, just you wait!”
Rhoda’s nails raked across Eddy’s face, but Blanche was untouched.
Blanche’s expression darkened at her words. She raised her hand and slapped Rhoda across the face, hard.
The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound Blanche’s accusing voice. “You want Jean to replace me as Mrs. Griffiths because she’s pregnant? Is that your plan?”
She turned to Eddy, her eyes demanding an answer.
But Eddy didn’t look at her. Instead, he called out toward the hallway, “Security, get this lunatic out of here.“.
At the word “lunatic,” Rhoda bristled, ready to explode again, but wilted when she met Eddy’s cold glare.
The security guard hurried in.
Sensing things had turned against them, Pollock grabbed Rhoda’s arm. “Ms. Doyle’s just upset–she doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
“You’ve disappointed me so much!” Rhoda spat, voice shaking. “You’re just like your vicious mother! I never should have given up custody–you’ve turned into a cold, heartless monster!”
“If you pushed Jean down the stairs, I don’t care if you’re my own daughter, I’ll see you punished!”
Chapter 04
“You cheated on your husband–no, you’ve got an older son, Kermit Griffiths, who’s
older than me!”
“You lied to my mother, married her, then cheated on her and brought your mistress into our home as a maid. You carried on right under my mother’s nose, even had Jeannette, your illegitimate child. And you have the nerve to call my mother vicious?”
“Who’s really the soulless one here?”
The memory of Pollock admitting he’d orchestrated the kidnapping years ago flashed through Blanche’s mind, along with her mother’s dying plea that she let go of her hatred.
Her heart twisted as if she’d swallowed needles.
“You ungrateful girl! Don’t you dare slander me and Ms. Doyle!”
Just then, the police arrived.
“Officer, she’s the one who pushed my daughter down the stairs!” Pollock shouted, not a trace of fatherly warmth left. “Plenty of people saw it!”
The officer glanced at both parties. “We’ll take your statements and do a thorough investigation. We won’t let the guilty go free, and we won’t wrong the innocent.”
“Officer, he’s the best witness!” Rhoda pointed at Eddy. “He got there just in time to see Blanche push my daughter down the stairs!”
