Chapter 525:

Mabel tried to provoke Elyse, but Elyse remained stoically unfazed. "If I were an orphan," Elyse said, "you'd be blamed for every mistake you've made since childhood."

Mabel's expression hardened. "It's your duty," she snapped. "You're like a sponge in my family—shouldn't you take all the blame?"

"I've been away from your family for a long time, and I can no longer help you," Elyse replied with a calm smile. She narrowed her eyes and added, with a cold sneer, "If you want my help, change your attitude. Saving Glenda isn't my concern; I'll leave her fate to the police."

Mabel clenched her fists. "So what do you expect me to do?" she asked, frustration evident in her voice.

Elyse met her gaze with chilling indifference. Memories of past grievances and Mabel's injustices surged through her mind—particularly Mabel stealing her sheet music and taking credit for it. Elyse knew reconciliation was impossible.

When Elyse fell silent, Mabel's patience snapped. She raised her hand to slap Elyse, but Jayden intervened, catching Mabel's hand and delivering a swift kick to her stomach.

Mabel flew back several meters, clutching her stomach and doubling over. Elyse was stunned. "Is this how you ask for help?" she demanded, visibly angry.

Despite the pain, Mabel forced a smile. "You've been my maid your whole life," she shouted, her lips quivering. "Do you think that'll change once you're married? You'll always be my maid!"

Infuriated, Elyse was calmed by Jayden: "Don't let it get to you. It's like a crazy dog barking."

Just then, Jayden's phone rang. He answered, listening intently. His shock was evident. "What? Lanny ran over someone?"

Elyse and Mabel were both shocked. "What happened? Who did Dad hit?" Mabel asked, staggering to her feet.

Elyse felt a wave of anxiety as Jayden ended the call. Something was terribly wrong.

"We need to get to the hospital now," Jayden said gravely.

"Who did Lanny hit?" Elyse whispered.

After a tense pause, Jayden said slowly, "Dorothy. She's in the emergency room."

Elyse felt dizzy. "What happened? How did things come to this?" she murmured.

Hours earlier, Mabel had rushed from her home, pursued briefly by Lanny, who lost sight of her. Unconcerned, Lanny assumed Elyse wouldn't harm Mabel. He saw this kindness as insignificant and lacked it himself. He went to the hospital, where he'd been visiting daily, disguised with a fake beard and cap. He'd noticed Dorothy's ward was heavily guarded, finding it strange Jayden would provide such security for a dying woman. His goal: to kill Dorothy and bury the secrets of the past.

That day, Lanny waited outside the hospital for two hours, planning to attack Dorothy during a bodyguard's bathroom break. As he approached the inpatient department, a familiar voice stopped him. He saw a woman arguing with a nurse, removing her hospital gown.

"Ma'am, you must stay for a few more days. You have a brain blood clot," the nurse said.

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