Chapter_12
Chapter 12
“The one who’s allergic to kiwi is you!” Rosaline snapped, tugging at her son Abel’s shirt. “Did you make a mistake? Why does Hesperus seem like your shadow?!”
Abel furrowed his brow, trying to process the accusation. “How is that possible? I’ve only touched that woman!”
“But Emmeline…” Rosaline’s voice trailed off, suspicion lingering in her eyes.
“This could just be a coincidence,” Abel said, his voice flat, trying to dismiss her concern.
Rosaline nodded, though her unease didn’t dissipate. There was something unsettling about the situation, and her instincts told her there was more to this than met the eye.
The butler re-entered the room, calling for the family doctor once more. He quickly administered antihistamines to Hesperus, and within moments, the child was sound asleep, his breathing steady.
Emmeline stood up, gently lifting Hesperus into her arms. “We should be going,” she said, turning to the others. “Let’s go home.”
“Wait,” Abel suddenly spoke, standing up quickly. “That would be impolite.”
Emmeline’s voice was cool as ice. “Excuse me, Mr. Abel?”
“Abel.” Alana interjected, her tone tight. “Will you be driving them back? My car is…”
“It’s already storming outside,” Abel cut her off, his eyes flicking to Hesperus. “Hesperus shouldn’t be exposed to the cold in his condition. I’ll have the butler prepare a guest room.”
It was then that Emmeline noticed the rain, softly tapping against the glass window. The storm had come in without her noticing, but it was too late now. Hesperus’s face was still swollen, his condition precarious. She couldn’t risk him getting worse, especially with his blood disorder.
Reluctantly, she acquiesced. “Fine,” she said, though she still didn’t want to stay. But it was the only option, as much as she hated it.
Abel’s phone suddenly rang, breaking the tension in the room. It was his grandfather, Oscar.
“Have you carried out the task I gave you, brat?” Oscar’s voice boomed through the speaker.
Abel sighed, rubbing his temples. “Grandad, it’s only been one day. You need to give me time!”
Oscar didn’t give him a moment to explain. “And time is my great grandson! Call Wonder Doctor’s assistant and have him arrange an appointment for you!”
Abel’s frown deepened. “But…”
“No buts! I’ll be back in an hour! Don’t pick me up. I have my men for that!” Oscar hung up abruptly.
Rosaline, her interest piqued, turned to her son. “What did your grandfather say?”
Abel sighed. “He wants me to propose to Wonder Doctor. He also said he would be back soon.”
Everyone in the room was stunned into silence.
Frederick was being incredibly stubborn, especially considering his health was still recovering.
Rosaline, however, wasn’t one to sit idly by. She quickly gave orders to the butler. “Search Oscar’s room and see if there’s anything wrong with it.”
Alana’s heart raced as she processed the news. Oscar was pushing Abel toward Wonder Doctor. What did this mean for her?
Emmeline, though confused and caught in the whirlwind of everything, felt her own disbelief deepen. Oscar Ryker wants Abel to propose to me? she thought. What the hell is going on?
Back on the couch, Abel continued his conversation with Wonder Doctor’s assistant.
“I’m Abel Ryker…” he began, a faint sense of urgency in his voice.
“Mr. Oscar’s health has been restored,” Benjamin interrupted, his tone cautious. “Mr. Wonder Doctor has no reason to see him again.”
“I know,” Abel replied, trying to keep his cool. “But I need to see her. Please arrange an appointment for me and Ms. Wonder Doctor.”
“Miss?” Benjamin was taken aback. “The Rykers know Wonder Doctor is a woman?”
Abel’s sharp reply was cold and clipped. “Yes. Do what you need to do and get back to me.”
“I’ll have to ask Wonder Doctor. I’ll get back to you shortly, Mr. Abel.”
“Thank you,” Abel said before ending the call.
Meanwhile, Emmeline had switched her phone to silent mode, but as expected, Benjamin’s call came through shortly after. She knew what was coming.
She ignored the call but replied with a quick text: “Type.”
Benjamin’s response was swift and direct. “Not good, Boss. Mr. Abel Ryker wants to see you. He knows you’re a woman!”
“I know,” she replied, her tone tired.
“He’s waiting for me to answer him.”
“Tell him I don’t have time!”
Benjamin hesitated, then called Abel back. “Mr. Wonder Doctor’s schedule is full.”
“When does her schedule free up?” Abel pressed, frustration building in his voice. “I have one of her needles that I need to return to her.”
Emmeline’s eyes widened at the mention of the needle. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Just toss it.”
She immediately regretted her words, and when she looked up, Abel’s eyes were full of cold disdain. He shot her a look that made her stomach twist.
“What I’m saying is…” she tried to backpedal, “It’s just a needle, right?”
Abel sneered. “Do you think it’s an ordinary sewing needle?” He was clearly disgusted by her lack of understanding. “I don’t have time to deal with this.”
Emmeline, at a loss for words, shrugged and started heading upstairs with the children.
Timothy, still processing the adults’ conversations, hesitated before speaking up. “Daddy, are you really going to marry Wonder Doctor?”
Abel’s face tightened. “You’re too young to understand.”
“But I think Daddy should just marry Ms. Louise!” Timothy argued, his voice full of innocent logic.
“Timothy!” Alana screeched. “What are you saying?”
“It’s better than Daddy marrying Wonder Doctor, right?” Timothy reasoned.
“Timmy,” Abel said gently but firmly. “Daddy promised great-grandfather because he’s ill.”
“But Daddy won’t marry Wonder Doctor if great-grandfather stops forcing you, right?” Timothy pressed.
“Yes,” Abel nodded, but his voice carried a trace of reluctance.
“I still think Ms. Louise should be my Mommy,” Timothy insisted, his eyes bright with hope.
Abel smiled faintly, not sure how to explain things to a child. The truth was, the person who should be marrying Emmeline was Adrien, but something inside him stirred with jealousy at the thought of her with anyone else.
Alana, watching the exchange, seethed silently. She wasn’t going to let Abel marry either Wonder Doctor or Emmeline.
An hour later, Oscar returned from the hospital, looking much better though still in a wheelchair.
The moment he entered the room, Abel’s mind began to turn. Look how well I’m doing, Oscar seemed to say. It’s a good thing if you marry Wonder Doctor.
Abel, recognizing his grandfather’s subtle manipulation, nodded without comment.
Oscar, not missing a beat, ordered dinner, and once it was finished, he retired to his room to rest.
That night, while Emmeline and the triplets were settled in the guest room, with Alana next door, a dark plan was unfolding.
In the dead of night, Alana crept downstairs to Oscar’s bedroom, where the old man slept soundly. There were no bodyguards in sight.
With practiced ease, she slipped into his room, silently covering his mouth and nose with a towel. Oscar, still asleep, didn’t have time to react before the life drained from him. In less than two minutes, he was dead.
Alana, her hands shaking, removed her gloves and swiftly made her way to the third floor.
She reached Emmeline’s door and screamed at the top of her lungs. “Mr. Oscar suddenly died! Help! Someone! Anyone!”
Emmeline, waking in a panic, sprang to her feet and rushed down to the second floor. The door to Oscar’s room was ajar. She flicked the light on to find the old man lying motionless on the bed.
“Mr. Oscar!” she gasped, horror flooding through her.
Just as she reached for the towel covering his face, Abel’s voice thundered behind her. “What do you think you’re doing?!”
Alana’s voice followed, shrill and panicked. “Help! Emmeline killed Grandad!”
“I didn’t do it!” Emmeline cried, her hands shaking. “I didn’t do anything!”
“Still pretending, are you?” Alana sneered. “You suffocated him with that towel!”
Abel, furious and confused, grabbed Emmeline by the neck. “What grudge do you have against my grandfather?”
“She wants to marry you!” Alana shouted, her eyes wide with accusation. “That’s why she killed him. To prevent you from marrying Wonder Doctor!”
“Stop with the lies, Alana!” Emmeline shouted, struggling to free herself. But Abel’s grip tightened, cold fury in his eyes.
“Enough!” he snapped. “Send this wench to the station. Charge her with murder!”
The bodyguards immediately pinned her to the ground. Emmeline struggled, but her efforts were futile, and a guard stepped harshly on her face. She glared at Abel, desperate. “You’ll see that I’m innocent!”
“Take her away!” Abel shouted. “I’ll make sure you get the death penalty, Emmeline!”
