Chapter 459


    Frederick’s pupils dted in an instant, a surge of anger flooding his eyes as he demanded, “What do


    you mean?”


    Barnes, filled with righteous indignation, blurted out, “Mr. Winston, Hayes, he was… was…”


    But his words were abruptly cut off. A searing pain suddenly spread from Barnes‘ throat, climbing


    upwards with brutal speed, choking the breath from his lungs.


    sping his handcuffed hands to his neck, his body began to convulse.


    “Argh… it hurts! It hurts…”


    He muttered repeatedly, then slowly fell silent, copsing to the ground, his condition unclear.


    “Someone call a doctor! Chuck, dial 911!” Marguerite, never having witnessed such a scene, fumbled in


    panic, urging Chuck to call for an ambnce.


    Chaos reigned in an instant. But unnoticed in the corner, Yuna’s face was streaked with tears, her


    eyes, however, sparkled with a sinister triumph.


    The drug had taken effect at the perfect moment!


    He wanted to rat her out? Well then, she’d make sure he’d never speak again!


    The ambnce arrived swiftly, and the paramedics immediately conducted a thorough examination of


    Barnes.


    “Mr. Winston, his throat has sustained permanent damage, and he’s in aa. I’m afraid he might


    never speak again,” one reported grimly.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “How long until he wakes up?”


    If he couldn’t speak, he could still write, right? Frederick could wait.


    The doctor’s expression was troubled as he replied, “It could be… a very long time.”


    Frederick’s anger red at the vague answer, his voice a low growl, “I need a precise time!”


    The doctor, visibly shaken, stammered, “Well… Mr. Winston, the EEG shows brain activity, but his body


    isn’t responding at all. He’s… in a vegetative state. I can’t predict when, or if he’ll ever wake up.”


    Vegetative state? Damn it! The truth was so close, yet always just out of reach.


    Marguerite, witnessing Frederick’s emotional spiral, instinctively reached out and sped Frederick’s


    clenched fist, squeezing gently.


    Then she turned to the doctor, her voice soft, “What caused him to fall into this state? Is there any way


    to find out?”


    The doctor shook his head, relieved at the kinder face before him, “We can’t determine the cause right


    now. Unless he passes away, an autopsy could reveal if he ingested any harmful substances.


    Otherwise, we can only wait for him to wake up.”


    Frederick’s face was taut with barely contained fury, a seething rage threatening to erupt.


    Unable to contain himself, he spun around and seized Yuna by the throat, his tone cruel and wild, “Spill


    it! What were you and Barnes up to?”


    Yuna, gasping for air under his grip, coughed painfully, tears streaming down her face, “Freddie, it’s a


    misunderstanding! I’ve told you everything, he was threatening me! And for years, he’d threatened me


    with my parents. When Hayes and Manley were born, he started using the kids as leverage. Just


    now… he admitted it, he was using the kids to ckmail me!”


    “What did he mean with hisst words? Why mention Hayes? Manley and Hayes are both your


    children, he had no reason to threaten just one!”


    Yuna couldn’t exin herself and resorted to feigning ignorance to deflect.


    She shook her head frantically, the very picture of distress, “Freddie, I really don’t know what’s going


    on, I’m just as confused. Hayes is my own flesh and blood; even if I’ve been a bit biased, I’d never hurt


    him!”