In the hospital.
Though Chelsea managed to survive, she was suffering excruciating pain because the left side of her face had been burned. The doctor had told her that there would be a scar on her left cheek and it was unsalvageable.
She had been tending to her looks with extra care since she was young, and couldn’t accept the fact that her face was ruined.
It was more devastating than death, but even death didn’t come easy.
“You should realize the reality now, Chelsea!” Mrs. Tierney sat by the bed and said in a cold voice, “I told you to stay away from Elyette Foster long ago and you wouldn’t listen. With how you’ve turned out right now, I truly worry for your life from now on.”
Mrs. Tierney was the biological mother of Chelsea and a step-mother to Charlie, but she favored Charlie because the legacy of the Tierney Family rested in Charlie’s hands.
She treated Charlie as though he was his biological son in hope that he would in turn protect her in the future.
“Just forget that you have a daughter like me from now on!” Chelsea said in desperation,” Charlie treats you well any way. All you need is him.”
“You are still my daughter. Of course, I wouldn’t want you to lead a miserable life.” Mrs. Tierney lowered her gaze. “Your brother broke one of his legs and will be a cripple for the rest of his life.”
“So what, if he’s a cripple? It doesn’t affect his right to inherit the family properties; my face is ruined. There won’t be any rich man out there willing to take me. There’s no way I can find a proper job like the one I had before either,” Chelsea sobbed, “I’m useless. Is this my karma?
“Chelsea, your self-pitying is very unbecoming.” Mrs. Tierney scowled. “Your brother will definitely take care of you. No matter how bad it gets, you will have someone to rely on. Don’t act as though the others owe you something.”
“Mom, I really hate you. Do you really not know why I follow Elyette around? It’s because what he gave me was way more than what you and Dad have given me. When I was by his side, you two would never look down on me. Elyette can ensure that I am respected.”
“What gives you the right to be mad at me and your father? Without the Tierney Family, do you really think that you can approach Elyette to begin with?” Mrs. Tierney said sarcastically,” you have such a stubborn and strange character. I wonder who you got that from. I have nothing else to say to you.”
Mrs. Tierney said in contempt, before getting up to leave the room.
If the day she broke all ties with Elyette was the gloomiest day in Chelsea’s life, then today was truly the end to her world.
Fame and money might get her respect from others, but what truly made one feel safe was a healthy body.
How was she supposed to live out the rest of her life?
Mrs. Tierney stepped out of Chelsea’s room and came to Charlie’s.
She was surprised when she saw someone visiting and it happened to be Elyette.
The fruit basket and flowers he brought oozed a strong fragrance.
Mrs. Tierney walked towards him with despair in her eyes. “Mr. Foster, my son’s disabled and my daughter’s face is ruined, are you still not satisfied? How is this different from killing them?”
On the bed, Charlie widened his eyes while tears welled up in them. His lips trembled as though he was trying to say something to Elyette, but in the end, he could only manage to make weird gurgling noises.
“They used to be my friends, and it pains me to see them turn out like this,” Elyette said calmly, “Charlie seems a bit agitated, so I will leave him alone now.”
With that, he strode out of the room.
The reason that he came to visit Charlie was to check his current condition. The content inside of the box was taken and there were only two suspects in his mind: Wanda, or Charlie.
From what he had seen, Charlie couldn‘t speak, so he wouldn‘t be able to make any command or steal the content of the box.
“Mr. Foster, Chelsea is right next door, would you like to go see her?” The bodyguard asked Elyette, “I heard that her face is ruined. For someone who empathizes beauty so much, a scar on her face would be a living hell for her.”
The bodyguard only mentioned it because he knew that Elyette hated Chelsea.
Elyette had no intention of visiting Chelsea at first, but stopped at the bodyguard’s suggestion, before stepping towards Chelsea’s room and opening the door.
Chelsea glanced over and met his eyes; instantly, her eyes were filled with fear.
She covered her bandages–wrapped face and subconsciously avoided eye contact.
“I thought you ran to another country?” Elyette swallowed hard and mocked sarcastically,” how dare you come back?”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she uttered in despair, “I‘m not running anymore, Elyette! Just kill me!”
She moved the blanket away and stepped out of bed, before stumbling her way towards him and kneeled. She grabbed onto the corner of his trousers and said, “I‘m ruined, Elyette! My whole life is ruined! Just end it already! I don‘t have the courage to end my own life…so just kill me…”
He lowered his glance at her expression and felt somewhat sympathetic at how desperately she longed to die.
“The more you wish you are dead, the more unlikely I am to kill you.” He stared down at her with his cold eyes and shoved her aside. “Live the rest of your life crawling and struggling like an ant.”
By the time he exited the hospital, the night had fallen over the city, covering it with a mysterious and chilling darkness. The branches whined in the freezing breeze and the snow on them fell onto the ground as they moved. The driver drove out of the hospital once Elyette was inside the car and asked, “where to, Mr. Foster?”
Elyette remained quiet for a few moments, as he couldn‘t decide whether to head home or go to Averie’s mansion.
The car crash had taken place near Starry River Villa and he wanted to know if they were involved in the incident.
When he sent his men to look for Wanda earlier that afternoon, he came to learn that she had already fled overseas; if Wanda was the one who took what was in the box, she wouldn’t have to escape and could directly blackmail him with the content instead. Hence, there was a great chance that Wanda did not possess it.
“Starry River Villa,” he muttered.
“Understood, Mr. Foster.” The driver turned the car around and drove towards Starry River Villa.
In Starry River Villa, Layla was on a video call with Averie using Mike‘s phone.
They would usually converse in a group in most video calls, but today, Layla had sent Mike elsewhere as she wanted to speak to her mother alone.
Hayden, on the other hand, had yet to return home because he hadn‘t finished his homework.
Just then, Layla was whispering sweetly to Averie in the living room.
“Mom, I am never going to any of my classmates‘ birthday parties again.” Layla‘s eyes turned red. “I am not going to whoever‘s birthday it is.” ,
Averie sensed that Layla was acting oddly. “What‘s wrong, Darling? Did someone bully you at your classmate‘s house today?”
Layla pouted and was about to shake her head when she caught sight of a towering figure from the corner of her eyes.
It was Elyette! Startled, Layla instantly dropped the phone to the ground.
‘Why is he here all of a sudden? I‘ve already returned the box to him!‘ Layla thought. Scared that he was here looking for trouble, she immediately ran out of the living room and shouted, “Uncle Mike!”
Layla’s scream had frightened Averie.
When Layla dropped the phone to the ground, the camera was faced at the ceiling of the living room so Averie could only attempt to guess what had happened from the noises as she couldn‘t see anything at all.
One thing that she could be certain of was that Layla was in a dangerous situation.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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