Chapter 233


    Whitney closed her eyes, a wave of exhaustion washing over her as shey back on the hospital bed.


    The test results were as expected; the medication from this morning was fine.


    She shook her head wryly, a mix of sorrow and helplessness in her gaze as she looked at Ludwik. “You


    don’t believe a word I say, do you? That child is yours, and even if you don’t want


    it, at least don’t let ine harm it!”


    He did want his children; that was why he had brought her here. How could this damned woman


    understand his turmoil?


    “Ms. Valentine, I’ve told you repeatedly that I would ept this child and raise it well. Why must you


    relentlessly use me?” ine glided into the room with a soft grace, casting a nce at the man


    before her thinly veiled sarcasm hit its mark.


    “Perhaps you’re just upset and taking it out on the staff? The surveince and medication are both fine.


    Ludwik has been patient with you.


    Maybe you just want to leave, right? I heard your bestie cornered Felixst night inquiring about Bryce.


    You’re pretty concerned about him, aren’t you? Desperate to rush to his rescue?”


    Ludwik’s eyes turned frosty.


    So the ims about the medication and surveince were all excuses?


    Of course, her thoughts were consumed with saving Bryce; how could she contentedly remain here?


    “Drop that fantasy of running off with him,” he snapped, releasing Whitney. “Stay put and behave!”


    “This is all her design; why can’t you see that? I don’t want to stay here because it’s dangerous.


    Everyone is out to get me, don’t you understand?” Whitney said, grabbing his arm in desperation.


    “Everyone is out to get you?” Ludwik looked at her with disdain. “It seems your paranoia is worsening.”


    He could not let go of her; from the moment she woke up, she had been unreasonable and aggressive.


    The doctor approached, speaking in hushed tones. “Based onst night’s evaluation, Mr. Lippert, Ms.


    Valentine is indeed showing signs of depression. This can lead to paranoia, extreme unrest, and even


    aggression.”


    All the symptoms fit Whitney to a tee. Ludwik rubbed his temples, weary.


    Staying here only meant endless quarrels, bringing nothing but displeasure.


    17-23


    He stood up and left the room, disappointment trailing behind him.


    ine quickly followed, trying to console him. “Ludwik, don’t be angry. She’s sick, after all. I’m not even


    upset with her usations. Maybe you should stop visiting for a while? Let her cool off; it might even


    be better for the baby. We have the surveince, and we should trust the doctors.”


    Ludwik thought that perhaps he was a source of stress for her. That woman was impervious to reason


    and only fixated on Bryce.


    He stormed off.


    ine turned back to the ward, her face morphing into a cold smile as she taunted the disoriented


    Whitney, “How does it feel to be seen as a depressed patient?


    Right now, he won’t believe a word you say, and why would he? I’m the kind–hearted, gentle woman


    who gave a kidney to his mother, and I’m even epting of his child. Poor thing, pregnant and


    powerless, trapped here and utterly alone. How does that feel?”


    Whitney’s breathing grew rapid, her hands clutching the bed sheets. Hindered by her pregnancy, she


    was almost defenseless. She despised her current vulnerability!


    “You’re nearly finished,” ine whispered cruelly. “That medication fromst night–it was indeed


    designed to induce premature birth, but it’s undetectable. And soon, both of you will die as you wish.”


    “ine, you’ll get what’sing to you. Do you think you can deceive everyone forever? If you don’t


    want anyone to know, don’t do it!” Whitney retorted.


    ine paused for a moment, rattled by the veiled threat in Whitney’s words.


    “Still trying to confuse the situation, even at death’s door. You’re locked in here, powerless to change


    anything.” ine’s smile was casual as she walked out.


    Once the door closed, Whitney quickly looked up at the ceiling where the surveince camera was


    situated. Sure enough, ine had turned it off during their conversation.


    The mention of the kidney transnt rang rm bells in her mind.


    She jumped out of bed, rummaging through her coat for the watch Tiana had given her, having


    forgotten about it in the chaos of the previous night.


    With her phone confiscated and her whereabouts unknown, she needed to reach Tiana.


    After her recent attempt to reason with Ludwik, she had lost all hope; he was too trusting of ine to


    investigate anything. She would never find answers in him.


    Now, herst hope was to expose ine’s true face. Tiana must have made progress on that girl at the


    hospital.


    Holding the watch, herst card, she knew that every extra day she stayed put the child in greater


    danger. Damn Ludwik for his ignorance.


    She had to escape and expose ine’s sham kidney donation. Only then might Ludwik realize that her


    supposed depression was a ploy to harm her!


    Fiddling with the watch, Whitney finally caught a faint signal while hiding in the bathroom.


    At Tiana’s apartment, the signal from the watch broke the silence. Overjoyed, Tiana eximed,


    “Whitney! Where are you? How are you?”


    “Save me, Tiana. The baby is in danger. Ludwik doesn’t believe me. I need proof…”


    But Whitney’s words cut out as the signal dropped.


    Tiana was frantic, scanning herputer for Whitney’s location. Once she had a rough idea, she


    grabbed herptop and bolted out the door.


    Valerie called after her, “Where are you going?”


    “The girl from TriMed Hospital confessed everything. ine’s kidney donation was a sham, just as


    Whitney suspected. The organ transnted into Natalie was sold by that girl, and I’ve got proof of a


    $300,000 payment to her from Dr. Horatio.


    All I need is evidence of ine’s dealings with Dr. Horatio, and the truth will be out.


    Whitney said there’s poison in Natalie’s system, causing organ failure. She’s kept quiet for her safety.


    Now, we’ll take this evidence to Ludwik, and the truth wille to light!


    He trusts ine because he can’t imagine someone harming another and then sacrificing their own


    kidney. But ine never donated, did she? Such a vile woman; it’s time to open that jerk’s eyes!”


    Valerie inhaled deeply. “Looks like you’ve been silently working everything out. I’ve been worried about


    Whitney, pregnant and vulnerable, but thankfully, she’s been one step ahead.”


    “If it were not for her carrying that jerk’s baby, she wouldn’t be so helpless against ine,” Tiana said


    with a determined look in her eyes. “I’m going to get that girl to safety right now and then rescue


    Whitney. The kid’s welfare is paramount! Once she’s free, and we have the evidence, we can negotiate


    terms with Ludwik!”


    Valerie frowned. “If it were not for my fear that Ashton might tip ine off, I’d help, too. You have to be


    careful!”


    “Better you stay out of it. The fewer people involved, the better.”


    In the afternoon, ine was lounging contentedly in her vi when suddenly her phone rang. It was


    Jaxon, his tone unusually grave.


    “ine, Dr. Horatio, that fool, screwed up. He told me the girl tried to ckmail him for a hundred grand


    more, and he refused. Yesterday, he identally discovered she had a medical exam proving she only


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    had one kidney. The bill, I checked, was paid by Tiana,” he exined.


    ine’s mind raced, and her sunny disposition quickly clouded over. “What are you saying?


    17:22


    Tiana is looking into this?”


    “Yeah, Parker had been to TriMed Hospital before, but he didn’t find anything in the nephrology


    department. How on earth did Tiana trace it back to that girl?”


    If Tiana was looking into it, that meant Whitney was behind it.


    Damn it, that woman had been holding onto such a trump card all this time, and ine had been none


    the wiser.


    How had Whitney guessed the fake kidney donation?


    ine could not figure out where she had slipped up. Then she remembered the day Ludwik was about


    to abort the child. Whitney had indeed sneered at her, asking if both kidneys were intact.


    That cunning bitch!


    ine’s headache intensified. “What’s the situation now? Find that girl immediately; don’t let Tiana beat


    us to it.”


    “It might be toote, ine,” Jaxon said, wiping sweat from his brow. “It’s all because Dr. Horatio was


    so hesitant. He’s only telling me now, and by the time I went looking for the girl, Tiana had already


    moved her.”


    “What?” ine’s face darkened, “Find her! Now!”


    She stood up, herposure shaken. If Whitney had the evidence against her at this critical juncture,


    she would lose everything to Ludwik. That simply could not happen.