Chapter 235


    ine squinted her eyes, a sly grin on her lips. She had once used a bout of depression as a cover,


    bribing the doctors to administer drugs covertly, plotting the demise of the


    unsuspecting.


    But now Whitney was prepared to burn her bridges? Tonight would mark her end.


    “Director,” ine’s voice was smooth as ice, “dy sending the surveince footage of Tiana breaking


    in to Ludwik. Wait for my say–so. And make sure any trace of me here is wiped clean.”


    The Director, considering the lucrative deal promised by Bartels Hospital and the future Mrs. Lippert,


    had no choice but to nod in agreement.


    Whitney huddled in the car, gasping for air.


    “Are you okay, sweetheart?” Tiana asked, her hands shaking as she started the car.


    “Drive… fast.” Whitney clutched her belly, pain in her voice. “They injected me with something to induce


    premature birth. The baby might have been affected.”


    “That damned ine,” Tiana cursed as she floored the elerator. “We’ll meet up with the girl, grab


    the evidence, and then confront that scumbag Ludwik!”


    The car sped down the mountainside.


    Valerie’s call came through. “Tiana, did you get Whitney? Bad news–I heard Ludwik’s gone on an


    unexpected business trip down south. Something about apany emergency. What do we do now?”


    Tiana paused, a frown creasing her forehead.


    “Don’t worry,” Whitney said, trying to keep calm despite her distress. “It might be better that he’s not in


    Banyan City. We’ll take the girl and go south.”


    They both knew ine could sabotage their ns at any turn.


    “You shouldn’t be traveling in your condition,” Tiana said as they drove. “I’ve hidden the girl nearby, just


    in case… in case something happened to you.”


    Half an hourter, they arrived at a quaint lodge nestled at the mountain’s base. The girl was hiding in


    one of the cottages.


    Tiana helped Whitney out of the car and hurried to unlock the door. Inside stood a frail–looking girl, her


    fear evident as she stood up. “Ms. Melford.”


    “Come on, we need to leave. Now.”


    The girl ran to them, and the three women burst out into the night, racing towards the car–only


    to be blinded by shlight beams converging from all directions. ine’s mocking silhouette. emerged


    from the re. “Ms. Valentine, Ms. Melford, where did you think you could run?”


    “ine?” Tiana gasped, Instinctively shielding Whitney.


    A swarm of menacing thugs quickly surrounded them.


    The women barely had time to resist before they were bound and dragged into the cottage. The door


    mmed shut behind them.


    ine leaned against the door, her gaze fixed on Whitney’s pallid face. She walked over and grasped


    her chin. “I told you, your pregnancy is your greatest vulnerability. You uncovered my secret and


    thought you could expose me to Ludwik with this ‘evidence‘? You think that once he finds out I’m the


    reason Natalie is a vegetable, all his misunderstanding toward you will be evidence to doubt me?


    Wishful thinking. Tonight, you’re trapped, and all of you will be silenced.”


    “ine, you viper!” Tiana roared. “If you hurt Whitney, you’ll pay when Ludwik finds out about the


    miscarriage drugs!”


    ine kicked Tiana hard andughed coldly. “Do you know where you failed tonight? You were too


    desperate to save Whitney, worried about the baby, right? Such a pity. Alone and helpless, no one to


    Tiana pounded the floor in frustration. Whitney’s baby could die any second in that wretched hospital.


    She had to save Whitney first, then inform Ludwik and confront him with the girl as proof!


    “You’re too passive,” ine taunted. “Now that you’re in my hands, your fate is sealed.” She yanked


    Tiana’s hair and signaled a thug with a malevolent re.


    The thug struck the frail girl on the head with a heavy blow. She screamed, blood gushing, and


    copsed, twitching, theny still, no longer breathing.


    “ine!” Whitney was instantly soaked in cold sweat, her eyes filled with fear and rage.


    Tiana was silenced by shock.


    Their hard–won evidence, the girl they had found, was dead just like that?


    Whitney’s hands trembled. How innocent she was and how utterly cruel ine could be.


    “The high societydies like me, this is how we y the game. Have you learned nothing? And Tiana,


    ever since Gunner and Ste conspired to abduct you, I’ve been waiting for my chance. Monica’s


    failings have let you slip through the cracks, helping Whitney at every turn against


    1. me.


    But tonight, you’re paying for it all. You hid the girl and discovered the payments to Dr. Horatio, didn’t


    you?”


    ine swiftly pulled several bank statements and medical records from Tiana’s pocket,


    16:33


    scanning them with contempt before moving to Whitney and extracting all evidence from her coat.


    Holding the papers, she sneered at them, tearing everything to shreds right before their eyes.


    “ine, go to hell!”


    As their painstakingly gathered evidence of her sham donation crumbled, Tiana lunged at ine, fury


    in her eyes.


    ine nced at Whitney and ordered with a smirk, “Your turn, Tiana. You almost let Whitney’s secret


    slip, so you’re evidence, too. What should I do with you? Maybe let some thugs have their way with


    you? After all, you’re the only one among the three who’s still ‘pure.‘ How devastated Whitney would be


    to see you ruined, don’t you think?”


    Whitney felt despair swell within her, her eyes bloodshot with anger. “ine, if you have a grudge, take


    it out on me, not Tiana! Aren’t you afraid Ludwik will find out about all this?”


    “You think you cany hands on me? Nn and Parker are still in Banyan City tonight, and even if


    Ludwik is away, word will get out. Once they find out what you’ve done, the person you killed just now,


    they won’t let you off the hook!” Tiana screamed in desperation.


    ine was not intimidated, though. With a meaningful, icyugh, she retorted, “Really? You’re clueless


    that Ludwik purposely left Banyan City to avoid Whitney’s drama?


    Parker? Ha, these thugs are Parker’s men. I’m Ludwik’s favorite, and Nn and Parker are on my


    side.”


    “No way, Parker would never help you torment us,” Tiana shook her head in disbelief.


    ine scoffed, eyeing Whitney. “Why not? Ludwik thinks you’ve lost your mind. After I went back today,


    he already told me he doesn’t want the baby anymore because I had the doctor tell him it’ll certainly be


    born with autism. He hatesplications.”


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    “You’re lying!” Whitney felt the defenses around her heart being torn away, tears shimmering at the


    corners of her eyes, “He’s a rational adult. Why would he believe your nonsense?”


    “Maybe because he never wanted the kid in the first ce. Remember how he pressured you into


    getting an abortion? You know it, don’t you?”


    ine pressed on relentlessly.


    “Whitney, don’t listen to her. She’s trying to break you with lies. Ludwik does want the child. Don’t


    believe her!”


    Already emotionally fragile from beingmitted to a sanatorium by Ludwik himself, Whitney was on


    the verge of breaking down.


    “Bodyguards, slip her some pills, take her to those thugs‘ rooms at the club. Let her enjoy a wild night,


    turn her into a tramp just like Whitney, unfit to marry off,” ine ordered with venom, forcibly feeding


    Tiana several pills.


    16:33


    “Stop it, ine! Don’t hurt Tiana. If you touch her, I swear I’ll kill you!!”