Chapter 28
After my vocal cords were removed, no one came to check on me. Even the only pain pump I had was taken away and given to Roselyn Morven.
It turned out that all the love and affection I once believed I had were nothing but scraps–leftovers their beloved Rosie did not want The operating room was eerily quiet. I stopped fighting the rare resistance my body had to anesthesia and let the numbness pull me
under…}
I had no idea a how long I drifted in that darkness. Somewhere outside the door, I heard Elric and my adoptive mother arguing with the doctor.&
“Mr. Solvain, if she takes this medication long–term, it will comode her tongue and esophagus.”
“I can’t, in good conscience, prescribe this to Mi
Thessaly.”
“No, Rosie can’t lose control of the Morven Family’s company.
“You’re not the one enduring this. I know she’ll understand.”
“This is the only way to stop Eloise from needing an electronic voice box and from ever going back to the company to steal the spotlight again.
So that was what my voice and career meant to Elnic Solvain–just a threat, something that might upstage Roselyn.
Moments later, Elric and my adoptive mother walked in, their expressions cold, only to freeze when they saw I was awake.
As a mother, I failed to protect my daughter. What good is this hard–earned promotion now?” my adoptive mother said dramatically, clutching a promotion letter and pretending to tear it up in sorrow.
“It was my fault for not being there when you needed me. Let’s skip all the public attention. Just the two of us, quietly, a wedding for us alone,” Elric added, his voice thick with fake sincerity
Staring at the hypocrisy of the two people I once trusted most, I could only smile bitterly, tears gathering in my eyes.
But Elric, there won’t be a wedding. There’s no future for us 2
I picked up a pen and wrote on the message board. I don’t blame you and I don’t want a wedding:13
After reading it, Elric seemed to mistake my words for forgiveness. A flicker of quilt passed through his eyes and he said quietly, “From now on, we’ll live a peaceful life, just the two of us. I’ll be your voice forever.”
My adoptive mother came forward with a cup of dark medicine. My poor girl. Drink this while it’s still warm.
A single tear slid down my cheek I only had myself to blame for being so blind–for mistaking wolves, tigers and leopards for beloved family.
I kept writing on the board, I don’t want to drink it. Don’t worry, I won’t try to speak.j
My adoptive mother’s expression hardened, “What nonsense are you writing? This prescription was carefully sourced to help recover your
Elric frowned and said, “Can’t you just be well–behaved and obedient for once, like Rosie? Do we really have to coax a grown woman to take her medicine?
In the end, despite all my resistance, Elric forced the medicine down my throat
Afterward, I blacked out in my hazy state, I heard unfamiliar voices whispering nearby
“I heard that gold–digger in the bed tricked Mr. Solvain into dumping Miss Morven)She pretended to clean up her act and almost married him. Thank God the engagement party was ruined or she would’ve gotten away with it’s.
“Mr. Solvain’s wedding with Miss Morven is tomorrow He specifically ordered extra anesthesia for that women, just to punish her
A stabbing pain tore through the backs of my hands and feet. My mind was a blur of disbelief and confusion.
That confusion did not clear until I heard my adoptive mother and Elric’s cold exchange, 1 leaked a story online saying Eloise had undergone seven private surgeries to restore her virginity just to marry into money and claimed she got engaged to you to strike it rich.” “I deleted the original post. Now public opinion thinks Eloise’s greed and shamelessness are what led those men to carve that word on her during the party.”
“If Rosie hadn’t repaid the favor by leaking the Morven Group’s trade secrets to save my company, I’d never have agreed to marry her or help her escape that arranged marriage.”
“Still, I don’t want Eloise being called a gold–digger… or having the entire internet come down on her.”
So, as long as Roselyn needed to be the victim, I would be the one sacrificed
I lay on that hospital bed like a lifeless puppet, the sharp tang of blood rising in my throat. My heart felt as if it had been sawn clean in
