Chapter 93
Chapter 93
A burning anger raged in Doris‘ heart, and her eyes gradually turned red. She lowered her long, thick lashes, hiding the sorrow in her eyes.
“I want to visit Mom at the hospital,” Doris said, her voice hoarse.
“I’ll go with you.” Laura placed the two insurance policies into a black bag containing a change of clothes.
They left together.
Downstairs, Lewis was still sitting in his car, just finishing a call with Daniel. “Alright, keep watching. This time, make it thorough.”
From the corner of his eye, he spotted Laura and Doris, so he ended the call and stepped out of the car.
“Laura.” Lewis greeted politely.
Laura nodded in response.
“What’s wrong?” Lewis‘ sharp eyes caught the sadness in Doris‘ expression.
Her eyes were slightly red, as if she had cried.
Doris wanted to cry but held back, forcing back the tears that burned her
“I’m fine.” she inhaled deeply and shook her head.
eyes.
“Where are you headed now?” Lewis glanced at the bag in Laura’s hands. “The hospital?”
“Yes,” Laura answered directly.
Lewis said, “Then let’s go.”
Laura said, “Lewis, sorry to trouble you.”
“I’m off work today. It’s no trouble.” Lewis opened the car door for them, and the sisters got in.
Lewis drove them to the hospital. Doris looked at Lewis, hesitating to speak.
“Just say it,” Lewis said generously.
Doris was hesitant. “I have some personal matters to take care of-”
Lewis finished her sentence for her. “Alright, I won’t interfere.”
“Thank you,” Doris said sincerely. She didn’t want to drag Lewis into her family’s mess.
Doris and Laura arrived at Peyton’s ward.
Jimmy was there. The moment he saw Doris, he asked, “Have you finalized the divorce? Show me the divorce certificate.”
Instead of answering, Doris placed the two insurance policies on Peyton’s blanket. “Dad, Mom, can you explain this?”
Jimmy and Peyton’s expressions changed.
+13
“It’s just insurance for emergencies. What’s there to explain?” Jimmy said sternly. “Why are you snooping around the house?”
1/3
93%
Chapter 93
“Dad, I was the one who found them, not Doris,” Laura clarified.
“What are you two trying to say?” Jimmy glared at them angrily.
“Dad, even now, you’re still refusing to tell the truth? Then I’ll say it.” Disappointment filled Doris‘ eyes. “If you bought insurance just in case, then why won’t Mom get the surgery? Not only does she refuse surgery, but she even tried to kill
herself.
“Since she thinks there’s no hope, she figured she might as well exchange her life for a bigger payout. But in the end, she survived. So now, you’re using her life to force me into a divorce to help Ryan achieve his goal.
+13
“At the same time, you get to solve the one–million–dollar problem and Rupert’s job situation. What a perfect two–birds- one–stone solution. You’re willing to gamble with Mom’s life for Rupert, so manipulating me must seem like nothing, right?”
Jimmy and Peyton exchanged glances, both remaining silent. They had nothing to refute. Because that was exactly what they had planned–and what they had done.
Doris looked at her silent parents, and her suspicions were confirmed. Once again, her sincere heart was crushed by them, leaving an empty ache in her chest.
She shouldn’t have held on to any hope, yet she still longed for her parents‘ love.
“You think we wanted to do this? You forced us into it!” Jimmy shifted the blame onto Doris, accusing her. “If you hadn’t married that Hartman guy, none of this would have happened. You made the wrong choice, so we have to end it for you.
“What can he even give you? Just a plain, mediocre life. What’s so bad about leaving that Hartman guy. Everything we’re doing is for your own good–don’t be ungrateful.”
“Enough! Stop using ‘for my own good‘ as an excuse to manipulate and control me.” Doris had had enough. The light in her bright eyes dimmed. “Save your ‘kindness‘ for Rupert. I don’t need it anymore.”
Laura placed a comforting hand on Doris‘ shoulder in silent support.
“Doris.” Peyton choked up. “I love you. Can’t you feel it?”
“You love Rupert more.” Doris struck straight to the heart of the matter. “That’s fine. Give all your love to him–I don’t need it anymore.”
She smiled faintly, as if already worlds apart from them.
Peyton reached out, but she could no longer grasp Doris‘ hand, only watching helplessly as Doris drifted further away.
“Mom, the doctor said Professor Micah Holmes only has two days left. If you still want the surgery, you need to act fast–I’ll have Dr. Zain arrange it.
“If you don’t want the surgery, I won’t force you. It’s your life. If you don’t care about it, there’s no point in me worrying.” At that moment, Doris had finally let go of everything.
She continued, “You always say that I’m married off to an outsider. From now on, I won’t be able to help with family matters anymore. I’ll do what I can, but don’t force me into what I shouldn’t be responsible for. Rupert is your only son–let him handle everything.
“That’s all I have to say. I’m tired. I want to go home and rest.”
This time, Laura and Jimmy had truly shattered Doris‘ heart.
Laura understood that Doris, being both physically and emotionally drained, needed a good rest to recover.
Jimmy blocked Doris‘ way, his eyes filled with fury. “Doris, you’ve messed everything up. You think you can just walk away?”
2/3
09:34 Sat, 8 Mar M
Chapter 93
“Then, Dad, what do you want me to do? Doris calm gaze stood in stark contrast to the dorm raging in Jimmy eyes.
Jimmy said. “Pay off the one million dollars owed to Ryan, and you’ll be free of this family?
“I can tell you how to solve it. Doris said coolty. “Sell a house. Either Rupert or the one you live in telling one shout be enough to repay the deba
Suddenly, the ward door was violently pushed open from the outside
Rupert rushed in, supporting Claudis. “Doris, how dare you get efling our house? Rupert protested. If the home is sold, where will Claudia and I live? I’ve already lost my job–do you want me to be homeless ton? Yostre ton heartless”
Laura stood up for Doris. “Rupert, the money used to buy your house was borrowed from Ryan because of Doris influence Without her, you wouldn’t have even had the chance to meet Ryan, let alone borrow money for a house
“You benefited from her, yet you erased Doris‘ contribution and don’t even show basic respect. That’s called ungratefulness”
In the whole family, only Laura dared to stand by Doris under pressure.
“Laura, this is none of your business!” Jimmy scolded.
田
