Chapter 63
While Authiey was tutoring hen, Brecke trek the opportunity to ask Zoe about Arey’s past
Since Audrey didn’t
dn’t shy
-away from discussing her divorce, Zoe figured there was no harm in sharing what the knew. After all, it wasn’t Audrey’s fault.
Zoe didn’t know much about Valerie’s situation. All she knew was that Clayton had sent Audrey to Ashwood Mental Hospital for a month a injured Valene’s hand
heard the Ashwood Mental Hospital staff abuse patients. There was even a case where a child was beaten to death” said Zo
Brooke’s face turned pale in an instant. She had sent her son to Ashwood Mental Hospital, ton
han had been rebellious before, but after coming back from Ashwood Mental Hospital, he be
udrey
became cold and distant, shutting Brooke out completely
Brooke had never understood why van changed so much. Now, she might have found the reason, and the truth terrified her even more
Just imagining her son being mistreated made her hands go ice–cold. “Is that true?” Brooke said.
“It’s all over the news. Ashwood Mental Hospital was shut down, and I heard even the people who pulled strings for them are under investigation,” said
The sharp beeping of a timer came from the kitchen, and Zoe hurried off to tend to it.
Brooke had been so focused on gaming her husband’s approval and her son’s respect that she’d never paid attention to the news
Each piercing ble fake a ticking time bomb, echoing her growing panic.
Brooke couldn’t bear to imagine how her husband would react if he found out she had sent their son to such a hellish place to be mistreated.
*Would he yell at me, hit me, or just hate me? Or worse, would he divorce me, just like Audrey did?” she wondered.
The beeping abruptly stopped, and faint murmurs from Zoe drited in from the kitchen. Brooke shuddered violently, as if her soul had just been yanked back into her body.
With trembling hands, she grabbed her phone and frantically searched for news about Ashwood Mental Hospital.
The legal representative Alice and the manager Leo have both been detained for investigation. Leo’s mistress sold off all her assets and fled with her illegitimate child
“I’ll go buy some mangoes. Mrs. Pa–I mean, Ms. Henderson likes them,” said Zoe,
“Oh, sure, go ahead” Brooke quickly flipped her phone over, trying to appear calm. The moment Zoe stepped out, she picked her phone back up.
Not only were Ashwood Mental Hospital’s management under investigation, but word had it that two high–ranking officials who approved its operations had also been removed from their positions. It seemed the rumors weren’t baseless.
When Zoe returned with the groceries, Brooke was still sitting on the sofa. Audrey had finished an entire lesson, yet Brooke hadn’t moved an inch
“What’s
́s wrong?” Audrey asked, noticing Brooke’s pale face.
“Hit’s nothing. Ms. Henderson, Brooke stammered, unsure how to continue
Brooke wanted to ask Audrey if Ashwood Mental Hospital was really as dark as the rumors suggested.
But then Brooke remembered that Audrey’s ex husband had sent her there, which led to their divorce. If Audrey found out I had sent van there tog would she hate me for 17 Brooke wondered
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20:51 Sat, 31 May
Chapter 63
Brooke wanted to confirm the truth, but at the same time, she hoped Audrey would help her keep it a secret,
Brooke nflicted and uneasy. Countless wards saveled in her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to say a single one
Audrey poured Penoke a glass of coffee and handed it to her. Their fingers brushed, and Audrey noticed how cold Brooke’s hand was
lyan came out to use the bathroom, glancing at them briefly. Brooke opened her mouth to speak, but swallowed her words again
27%量
After Ivan returned to his room, Audrey finally said, “You were curious before, right? About why Ivan asked me to tutor him? it’s because we first met at Ashwood Mental Hospital”
Brooke gripped the water cup tightly. The hot toffee inside couldn’t warm her cold hands,
Brooke’s lips trembled, and after a long pause, she finally asked, “W was he bullied, too?”
Audrey didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked, “How were your grades in school?”
“My grades are really
are really bad,” Brooke replied
ied bluntly, her tone both defensive and firm. “The
“That’s exactly why I want him to do well.”
Brooke set the cup down and grabbed Audrey’s hand. “I didn’t have much education. After marrying Miguel, I couldn’t help him with his work. You’ve soon his secretary–young, pretty, always around him. Of course, I feel insecure.
“If I had a degree, I could work with him, attend events by his side, and make sure no one dared to flirt with him.”
After saying this, Brooke hesitated, her face flushing with embarrassment. She let out an awkward laugh. “Ivan is a boy, so he won’t have the same
Worries I do
“But think about it–it Miguel has a mistress, and their child turns out to be more capable than han, then what? Ivan won’t even have a chance to inhent the family business.”
She continued, “I can’t help him, and if his father starts favoring his mistress and their child, Ivan will be completely sidelined. I push him to study
because I want to protect him.”
Audrey thought Brooke had too much time on her hands, so she imagined her husband cheating and conjuring up scenarios of inheritance battles after a
divorce
But the truth was, Miguel’s business wasn’t even big enough to warrant such concems. It was just a moderately sized warehouse tied to Baldwin’s
operations
“Brooke, how were you at language arts back in school?” Audrey asked.
“I was good at that,” Brooke replied, her tone brightening slightly.
“Have you ever thought about writing something?” Audrey tilted her head and smiled warmly. “Bad grades don’t mean you lack talent. Even if you don’t join Mr. Gomer’s company, there are other ways to prove your worth.
Brockefellent. She stayed quiet for a moment, her thoughts swirling. “After I got married, I became a housewife. I’ve lost touch with society. I don’t even know what’s popular these days, and I can’t even teach my own son properly.”
Audrey raised her hand gently, cutting Brooke off. “Ivan is his own person, not some trophy for you to show off your success. Sure, his achievements reflect your efforts, but that’s not all he is
“But maybe you could try growing alongside him, instead of standing on the sidelines and judging him.”
Brooke fell silent again. Audrey
y knew she wouldn’t be able to process this all at once, so she didn’t push Brooke further
After the second lesson ended, they all had lunch together.
In the afternoon, Audrey arranged another lesson for Ivan, and when Brooke invited her to go out, she didn’t refuse.
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Chapter 631
31 May
Brooke, after undergoing a polyp removal procedure, occasionally felt a sense of heaviness and returned in the hospital for a follow up checkup.
Wales, dressed in a hospital gown, staggered unsteadily toward Lillian’s hospital rooms.
Before Lillian could even process what was happening, Valeria bowed at the doorway “Mrs. Patel, it’s all my fault. Please, don’t blame Clayton he’s already under in mich pressure I beg you not to push him any further?
“What is going on here Lillian quickly motioned for the servant to help Valerie up. “Why are you wearing a hospital gown? Are you sick?”
But Valerie refused to stand, her tears streaming down her face. “Because of the Ashwood Mental Hospital scandal, Clayton’s law firm has been dragged into the spotlight.
“It’s not that he doesn’t want to personally defend Mr. Patel, Clayton’s just afraid his bad reputation will affect him,”
She added, “Watt says Clayton is selfish, but that’s not true. Clayton fought for migrant workers to get their wages. He’s kind and upright. Now, his firm. is losing projects left and right, and he’s been carrying all that pain alone
“Last night, he drank with a client until he lost control, and that’s why
As she spoke, Valerie deliberately pulled down her collar, revealing bite marks on her collarbone. “Wyatt and Alexa misunderstood him, and it breaks my hearL
The moment
Lillian saw the marks on her neck, she realized they had had sex. She froze o
completely, her body rigid with shock.
already disapproved of Audrey, but a divorced woman with a child like Valerie? She found her even more unacceptable.
“Enough of that Crying and wailing like this–do you want to embarrass us all?” Lillian shot a sharp glance at the servant, signaling her to close the door to avoid any onlookers.
Serie, however, rolled up her sleeve, raising her hand wrapped in gauze for everyone to see. “Clayton only made a mistake because of the immense. pressure he’s under
“I’m not holding him accountable. So, can you all stop forcing him to take responsibility? Otherwise, I’d rather die
“Not forcing him? Who is she fooling? This’s obviously a calculated move to trap him; Lillian wondered.
Just then, Clayton pushed through the crowd at the door. His face’turned ashen the moment he saw the scene before him.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
