Chapter 126 Vomited Blood


    Only Irene and Steven were left in the ward. Steven looked at Irene and apologized, "Irene, I''m sorry!


    It''s all my fault! I was bewitched..."


    "Let the bygones be bygones," Irene interrupted Steven. "You don''t have to apologize to me. I should


    apologize to you instead because I am the reason that this matter was exposed. Presumably, I''ve


    embarrassed you, didn''t I?"


    "Irene, I''m so regretful. When I received the usation letter back then, I had no choice but to marry


    Deborah. In fact, I only have your mother in my heart all the time..."


    "Alright, Mr. Cook!" Irene interrupted Steven once again. "I have noted your apologies. You did not do


    anything wrong at that time. Everyone is selfish and will do everything for one''s own good. For the sake


    of your own future, you have done nothing wrong. I don''t me you."


    Steven''s face flushed. Instead of looking in his direction, in a very calm voice, she added, "Now, let''s


    talk about the solution of this matter!"


    "Irene, do you have a way to solve all these negative impacts?" Steven stared at Irene in disbelief.


    "When did I say that I will solve all these negative impacts?" Irene retorted, "It''s a fact that your


    daughter, Miss Lily and Edric had an affair and got pregnant before getting married. I won''t do anything


    to save her image. Everyone has to pay the price for their own behavior. Since she was bold enough to


    seduce Edric back then, she should bear the consequences of being a mistress," Irene replied.


    "Then what do you mean by that?" Steven asked.


    "I''m talking about you and me. I''ve caused you a lot of trouble since my return to the Cook family. It


    seems that my appearance is indeed a disaster for you. Not only did I affect your reputation but also


    your career. Therefore, we''d better go back to the past. It''s good for everyone that we part way," Irene


    answered.


    Steven gawked at Irene in shock and chirped, "Irene, that''s not what I want!"


    "I don''t care, but I''m going to do what''s the best for both of us."


    "That''s enough!" Steven covered his chest with his hand and coughed violently.


    "Steven, what happened to you?" Deborah, who was standing outside and heard Steven''s coughing,


    immediately pushed the door open and broke in. She held Steven while patting his back with her hand.


    Steven continued to fight for his air before he took out a handkerchief from his pocket to cover his


    mouth. Then, Irene saw bright red blood on it. Frankly, it looked quite shocking.


    "Steven, you''ve vomited blood! Somebody, pleasee in!" Deborah shouted for help heartbreakingly.


    "Dad, please! Nothing should happen to you!" Hearing themotion, Lily rushed in too.


    Irene stood there nkly. Steven had always been in good health. When did he be so sick that he


    actually vomited blood?


    After that, some medical staff came into the ward. Irene retreated to the side. In the corridor outside the


    ward, she saw Jordan. "How''s Mr. Cook?"


    "He just vomited blood again!" Irene answered.


    "How could it be?" Jordan was shocked.


    "Yes, how could it be?" Irene also found it rather incredulous. When the door opened, Lily dashed out


    furiously.


    "Irene, I admit that it was my fault that I bribed the reporters to take pictures of you secretly, but you


    can''t do this to me no matter how much you hate me. How can you even do that to our father? How is


    he going to face others again in the future? He is a person who has a status..." Lily med.


    "Lily!" Deborah came out to stop Lily and told Irene, "Irene, don''t mind Lily. She''s just anxious from


    seeing Steven vomiting blood. That''s why she is spurting nonsense. Lily is actually not that wicked


    deep down!"


    Irene felt a little guilty as she had forgotten that Steven was a patient. Her emotions had taken the


    better of her a while ago.


    "Irene, I know you hate Mom and me," Lily said. When she saw that Irene remained quiet, she


    continued to question Irene, "You can''t hate Dad even though you hate us, can you? He is your


    biological father anyway. How can you do this to him?"


    "That''s enough, Lily!" Deborah stopped Lily. "Irene, the person who hurt you and your mother is me. It


    has nothing to do with Steven and Lily. If you have to hate someone, just hate me! Steven really loves


    you!"


    Irene did not reply to them. She felt that her mind was in a knot. To be honest, Steven indeed treated


    her good enough. There was no need for her to hate Steven.


    After all, she had already passed the age of needing to be taken care of by others. She might as well


    forget about the past. As soon as she thought of this, a familiar voice rang out, "How''s Mr. Cook?"


    Irene raised her head and saw that Lily had already thrown herself into Edric''s arms. "Edric, what took


    you long enough? Dad has vomited blood..." Lily trailed off.


    Irene frowned. Lily didn''t seem to have joined an acting ss, as most of the acting ss students


    wouldn''t be able to have acting skills as good as hers. A mocking smile appeared on Jordan''s face. He


    muttered in Irene''s ear, "Lily is really good at it!"


    Irene responded to him with a smile, "You only realized it now?"


    Edricforted Lily gently while looking at Irene and Jordan. When he saw them whispering, he put on


    a slightly long face. "I''ll go and have a look there. I''lle backter," Jordan said and glowered at


    Edric before he strode away.


    The doctor who entered the ward finally left. Lily, Deborah, and Edric went in to see Steven. Irene stood


    outside waiting for them patiently.


    There were footsteps from behind. It was Jordan who came back. He mumbled a few words into Irene''s


    ear, and Irene opened her eyes wide, asking, "For real?"


    "Will I lie to you?" Jordan asked.


    At this moment, Edric came out from the ward while glimpsing at Irene and Jordan ndly. Right then,


    he turned to Irene and asked, "I''m going to buy something to eat. What do you want?"


    "No, I''ll leave right away!" Irene answered, her voice as t as the stove lid.


    Edric was dumbstruck. Obviously, he didn''t expect Irene to leave right away. Steven was still in a dire


    situation in the ward. How could she, as his daughter, leave? But thinking that she was not in good


    health either, he dismissed his doubts in the end.


    Irene nced at Jordan and said, "Wait for me outside for a few minutes. I wille out immediately


    after a few words with Mr. Cook."


    After that, she pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing hering in, Steven showed a weak


    smile to her and murmured, "Irene, I''m fine."


    Irene ignored him and turned to look at Deborah and Lily. "Both of you, please go out. I want to talk to


    Mr. Cook inprivate."


    She sounded rather cold and aloof, her face void of any expression. Deborah nced at her and at


    Steven before reminding her, "Steven isn''t in his best state. Don''t agitate him..."


    "Can you guys please go out?" Irene repeated.


    "Both of you, leave!" Steven ordered. With that, Deborah and Lily left the ward.


    After that, they closed the door. Irene looked at Steven lying on the bed with a sneer on her face and


    spat, "Mr. Cook, stop acting. I know you are not ill!"


    Steven was stupefied for a moment before an embarrassed look shed across his face. "Irene, I''m


    sorry, listen to my exnation!"


    "Go ahead!"


    "The reason I pretended to be ill was not to lie to you. I''ve encountered some trouble this time and


    wanted to stay low for a little while. Moreover, it''s so happened that this matter between you and Lily


    had been made known publicly, therefore..."


    Irene couldn''t help but guffaw. This was her father. When she heard that he was ill and vomited blood,


    she sped over to check on him immediately. But in fact, he was just pretending to be sick.


    There was an unspeakable disappointment in her heart. If it weren''t for Jordan, she would have been


    kept in the dark and felt guilty for it. She might even think of a way to make up for it. Fortunately, Jordan


    was here to expose his act and lies!


    "Mr. Cook, if I don''t expose you, are you going to keep on lying to me like this? Do you expect me to


    apologize to those two b*tches out there?" Irene questioned.


    "No, Irene, you''ve mistaken me. I never wanted you to apologize or give in for anything. I have no


    choice this time..."


    Irene cut him off mercilessly, "I only have a question for you. Do Deborah and Lily know about you


    pretending to be ill?"


    "They don''t know yet," Steven answered.


    Steven was indeed a politician. He did not even mind lying to his families in order to achieve his goal.


    Irene looked at him mockingly and was at a loss of words all of a sudden.


    Steven looked at Irene while a flush crept up onto his face. "Irene, I know that you are ming me. You


    hate me for being selfish. But, there are so many things that happened against my will recently. In my


    heart, there''s only you and your mother..."


    "Mr. Cook, you must be so busy that you seem rather forgetful. My mother has been dead for more


    than ten years! She is no longer in your heart," Irene chimed in and ignored his embarrassed look.


    "Since you are in perfect health, I''ll take my leave first. I don''t have time to y along with your scabby


    act here because I myself am still ill!" Irene hissed.


    After saying this, Irene turned around and left.


    "Irene!" Steven called out from behind. Irene ignored him. She found him really disgusting. How could


    she have such a father? If Irene could choose her life, she really didn''t want such a shameless father.


    s, that choice was never hers to make!


    After leaving the hospital, Irene had been keeping silent. Jordan had been secretly sizing her up.


    Finally, he couldn''t help asking, "Did you have a quarrel with Mr. Cook?"


    Irene snorted.


    "I... I didn''t mean to tell you that. I was just afraid that you would keep worrying about him," Jordan


    exined.


    "How do you know he is pretending to be ill?" asked Irene.


    "I guessed it," Jordan answered.


    "How dare you? You ask me to question him when you''re just guessing?!" Irene was utterly


    speechless. If Steven hadn''t pretended to be ill, how hurt would he be if she used him in that tone of


    hers a while ago?


    "In fact, this is the case. Recently, the officialdom had a rigorous investigation, and Mr. Cook has been


    isted from the department for investigation. In fact, Mr. Cook was not going to the meeting this time,


    but to ept the investigation. As a matter of fact, there are many people involved. Hence, the superior


    wanted him to dodge the bullet first. It''s just the right time for him to use this matter of you and Lily as a


    shield," Jordan detailed.


    "How do you know this?" Irene''s eyes widened while listening to Jordan.


    "My grandfather''s old friend is one of the superiors," Jordan replied. "Thus, my grandfather informed


    me in advance about this matter. Your father''s reputation as a politician is never too bad, so some


    superiors wish to keep him safe and sound."


    Irene smiled contemptuously. She had no words for Steven. How foolish of her to even care about him!


    Jordanforted her, "That''s how the politics work. Don''t take it to heart."


    Irene kept silent. It was a lie if she said that she didn''t care. She just tried her best not to think about it.


    "By the way, what do you think of this incident? How could someone expose the scandal between Lily


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    and Edric at such a critical moment? Was it Mr. Cook''s opponent or Lily and her mother who did it?"


    Jordan asked.


    "I don''t think it was Deborah and Lily. Although they loathe me, they don''t have to be so silly to taint


    their own reputation and shame Steven. After all, they would be ruined as well if Steven is doomed,"


    Irene analyzed after pondering for a moment.


    "I think it must be Steven''s opponent who did it," Irene continued.


    "Your analysis is indeed reasonable, but you must have heard of a saying, haven''t you?" Jordan asked.


    "What''s it?"


    "Every cloud has a silver lining!" Jordan chuckled.


    "Although Lily was exposed as a mistress, and it indeed tarnished her reputation, this news had


    instantly made her a victim, making her to be on the same side as Edric and Margaret. Think about it


    from another perspective. People tend to sympathize with the person who shares the same experience


    as them. Perhaps, Edric and Margaret might sympathize with her because of this scandal," Jordan


    probed.


    "Besides, now that this matter was exposed, Margaret will certainly hate you to the core. And as for


    Edric, he wouldn''t feel good either with this scandal being exposed to the public. He would certainly


    alienate you. Of course, there must be another purpose to this event. They did this not only to get


    Edric''s sympathy, but also to let Steven believe that you were the one who manipted all these. All in


    all, it would make you seem rather narrow-minded and insensitive about everyone''s feelings. If Steven


    despises you because of this incident..." Jordan continued.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Irene couldn''t believe it. "Are they so devious?"


    "I''m just guessing!" Jordan replied with a chortle.