Chapter 18
Back in Halston, at the Whitmore estate.
By the time Charles arrived, Elise looked like a demon dragged straight out of hell–hair wild, clothes in tatters, face streaked with dirt
and tears.
She had locked herself inside a room, clutching Aiden tightly in her arms, refusing to let anyone in no matter how much they pleaded.
Margaret, upon seeing Charles return, finally looked like she could breathe. “Charles, she’s gone mad–but Aiden is innocent. You have to get him out of there!”
Charles looked worn out, the bloodshot in his tired eyes making him appear even more haggard. He gave a small nod, ordered the door to be broken down, and slowly walked in.
“Elise, didn’t you want to see me? I’m here. Now let Alden go.”
Elise jerked her head up, her gaze locking onto his–and suddenly, she burst into hysterical laughter.
“Ha Ha ha! Ha!”
Her laugh was sharp, deranged, echoing through the room and sending chills down everyone’s spine. “Charles, I heard you went all the way to London, only to be kicked out by Irene. Ha! That’s karma for you!” “She’ll never forgive you for the rest of her life!”
Her words were dripping with venom and hatred, as if she wanted to pour all her despair onto him. Aiden, terrified by Elise’s madness, sobbed in her arms. “Mommy… I’m Aiden, it’s me… I’m Aiden… His little voice trembled with fear and confusion, trying desperately to bring her back to her senses. But Elise had already lost it. She shook him violently, her eyes wild with resentment.
“Shut up! It’s your fault! If you weren’t so useless, I could’ve been Mrs. Whitmore! it’s all your fault!”
Her words grew more frantic, her face twisting with rage. The kitchen knife in her hand left a shallow cut across Aiden’s neck, causing him to wail in pain.
Charles w
instantly reminded of that moment a month ago when Elise had held Irene hostage in the same crazed way.
Back then, he had watched coldly from the sidelines. But this time, he had no choice but to act
“Elise, get a grip! Aident is your son!”
She suddenly let out a cracked laugh, trembling all over. “Son? Oh right… he’s my son.
“But I don’t want to live anymore. So he’s coming with me!”
Charles rushed forward, step by step closing the distance.
Elise panicked the mornent she noticed his approach. The deep–rooted fear of him flared up, making her completely lose it. She began. waving the knife wildly in front of her.
“Don’t come any closer! Stay back!”
Charles moved swiftly. He grabbed Aiden’s arm and pushed him out of the way. But in the very next second, the blade pierced straight into his chest. Blood spurted everywhere.
Elise froze, her eyes widening in horror.
“No! You ran into it! It’s not my fault! You ran into it yourself!”
“Mr. Whitmore!” his assistant cried out and immediately shouted for someone to call an ambulance. Charles was rushed to the
MoboPeel-
hospital.
The one handling the emergency surgery was none other than Julian. Seeing Charles covered in blood, Julian cursed under his breath.
“What a damn mess you’ve made of yourself…‘
An entire day and night passed before the operating room doors finally opened.
Margaret had been waiting there the whole time. She looked utterly drained, like she’d aged a decade overnight. “Julian… my son… is
Her voice trembled, and she looked like she might faint at any second.
Julian let out a long sigh. His expression was grim. “We managed to save him. Whether he wakes up… we’ll have to wait and see.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Margaret looked like she’d been struck by lightning. She staggered, almost collapsing.
She covered her face with both hands and burst into tears. “This is all my fault… I was the one who pushed him… If I’d just let him be with Irene… What’s the point of holding onto the Whitmore name if he’s gone?”
Her wailing echoed down the hallway, filled with agony and regret.
But no matter how hard she cried, Charles lay unresponsive in that hospital bed–lost in a darkness he couldn’t escape.
