Chapter 91 Deception Unveiled
Liora Valentine’s face drained of color, fear etched across her features. Stammering, she whispered, “H-how did you find me?”
Elijah advanced, delivering a swift kick, his eyes ablaze. “You thought you could deceive me?”
Liora Valentine crumpled to the ground, scrambling to rise. “I didn’t deceive you…”
Elijah absorbed her words, seething with anger. In that moment, he wished she would vanish.
“Linda, keep an eye on her!”
Elijah summoned Xander to handle Liora .
After the call, he turned to Freya Stone, weak and sprawled on the ground. Hesitating, he approached, his hand hovering before gently touching her face. In a tremulous tone, he uttered, “Freya Stone.”
The revelation hit him-Freya was the one from that night.
Freya watched as the figure before her gradually blurred, fading into darkness until she was completely engulfed. Elijah hoisted her up, swiftly heading out. “Driver, get the car ready!”
The driver hastened to start the engine.
In the car, Elijah cradled Freya.
“To the hospital.”
The driver acknowledged, “Yes,” speeding towards the hospital.
At the hospital, Freya underwent a thorough examination. Anxiously, Elijah inquired, “Is she in danger?”
The doctor replied, “For now, it seems not. Her body is weakened, likely from recent childbirth. Preliminary assessment indicates a hairline fracture in her left shin; healing will take time.”
Elijah’s heart quivered.
“Doctor, what do you mean? She just gave birth?”
“According to the examination, it appears so.” The doctor affirmed,.
Elijah was stunned.
“Doctor, you’re saying she recently gave birth?”
“Judging by the results, yes.”
Elijah, suppressing his turmoil, urged, “Use the best treatment. Ensure her full recovery.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Freya was taken to the operating room for leg treatment. Exiting the examination room, Elijah, seemingly composed, was inwardly in chaos.
This woman had saved him. Despite their intimacy, he had treated her as expendable. What if she had suffered serious harm… He closed his eyes, overwhelmed with helplessness.
“Mr Silverton.” Xander rushed over. “Liora Valentine is in custody. How’s Miss Stone?”
Elijah took a moment to steady himself. “Xander, you’re improving in handling matters.”
Xander lowered his head apologetically. “I failed to thoroughly investigate that night, allowing Liora Valentine to deceive us.”
Although they had checked before, no one expected Liora Valentine to conceal the fact that she had found a substitute.
“I don’t want to see Liora Valentine again. If you can’t handle this properly, don’t appear before me again!” Elijah’s tone carried weight.
“Yes,” Xander replied firmly. He harbored resentment towards Liora Valentine for daring to tell such a lie, claiming to be the woman from that night.
Xander escorted the imprisoned Liora Valentine away, charging her with medical malpractice resulting in death. Efficiently, he wrapped up the matter in a day.
He reported to Elijah at the hospital.
Elijah stayed overnight.
The next afternoon, Freya awoke, feeling the scent of disinfectant that lingered. Spotting Elijah, fear flickered in her eyes. The memory of him pushing her down the stairs haunted her.
“Freya,” Elijah called softly. “Were you at Grace Hospital on the night of July 6th?”Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.
Freya’s expression wavered.
“I was still a doctor then. Isn’t it normal for me to be at the hospital?” Freya retorted, clearing her throat. She had no idea why Elijah brought up that night.
“In other words, you were there that night. Not on duty, but substituting for Liora Valentine?” Elijah sought confirmation.
Freya Stone, nervously pulling at her chapped lips, admitted, “Yes. It was our wedding night, and you didn’t come home. Liora Valentine urgently messaged me, asking me to cover for her. So, I went to the hospital.”
“That night, you encountered an injured man…”
“How do you know?” Freya interrupted, squinting. “Did you investigate me?”
“Just tell me if it’s true.” Elijah remained composed and mild.
Freya confessed, “Yes. He was being pursued, took me hostage, but didn’t harm me. I thought he might be a good person, so I decided to help. During the rescue, he developed feelings for me, and I didn’t resist. I thought, since my husband doesn’t care for me, I might as well have a relationship with this man to upset my newlywed husband. So, on our wedding night, I had an affair. That’s what happened.”
Elijah, hearing details known only to them, confirmed Freya’s involvement.
It was indeed her that night.
“Have you never been with another man before? Was he your first?” Elijah asked, suppressing his emotions.
Xander’s investigation had shown Freya Stone had a clean past.
Freya nodded, “He was the first. I got pregnant, it was his child. Won’t you divorce me?”
She looked at Elijah, expecting his pride to shatter.
Elijah clutched his chest, where an inexplicable ache spread.
So, the miscarriage last time-was it his child?
“Did the doctor lie about your recent childbirth? Did you lie about the miscarriage?” Elijah hoped Freya had deceived him to protect the child, that the child was born. She concealed the truth to prevent him from harming their child. After all, this man had a heart cruel enough to wish for his own demise.
“I didn’t lie to you. I was pregnant with twins. One was lost during that incident. I wanted to protect the other. I was afraid that if you found out I was carrying another man’s child, it would disgust you, and my child would be harmed. That’s why I ran away without telling you. Unfortunately, I was unlucky. The child I tried so hard to protect didn’t make it into this world. I just gave birth, but the child passed away shortly after.” She turned her head away.
She repeated her words in her mind, rejecting the curses she seemed to be casting upon her own child. She didn’t want to curse her own child. It was a lie she had to tell to cover up the fact that the doctors had found out she had recently given birth.
Elijah tightly pressed his lips together. So, he almost became a father. He once had a pair of twins, but because of his ignorance, they were lost? He wanted to say something, but his throat couldn’t produce a sound, dry as a well. A fleeting glint of moisture appeared in his eyes. His emotions weighed heavily on him. He remained silent for a long time, eventually leaving the room without saying anything.
Elijah opened the door, and Xander immediately approached. “Mr Silverton…”
Elijah raised his hand, signaling him not to speak. He needed some time alone.
Xander stepped back, not daring to make a sound. Elijah’s emotions were obviously not quite right.
…
Elijah stood for a long time. Xander felt his legs going numb, cautiously approaching. “I’ve taken care of Liora Valentine. Is Miss Stone okay?”
The last sentence was what he really wanted to ask. Why would Elijah be so emotionally downcast unless something had happened to Miss Stone? It was even more suffocating than the days when Freya Stone disappeared.
Elijah didn’t respond, seemingly oblivious.
Xander felt anxious but didn’t dare to ask further.
Suddenly, a sound of breaking objects came from the hospital room.