Chapter 589:
Freda's lips pursed tightly; her eyes fixed on Gavin as resentment surged through her.
Glancing at his watch, Gavin said impatiently, "Please leave. I don't need your help, and I don't deserve your time and effort."
Inside, Freda scoffed at Gavin's self-assuredness. Despite his words, she refused to obey.
Arching her eyebrows, Freda retorted angrily, "What gives you the right to dismiss me? You should be honored that I'm willing to help you!"
A faint chuckle escaped Gavin as he observed Freda's commanding presence. "You're quite the nuisance, aren't you? We're worlds apart, and your relentless pursuit is testing my patience."
Stunned by Gavin's blunt dismissal, Freda felt her mind reel. Freda Jimenez, rejected? Not just by anyone, but by the man she'd once considered beneath her.
Sensing Freda's hesitation, Gavin pressed on, "Spending time with you clarifies why Theo Ward rejected you. Your temper is atrocious."
His words hit Freda like a dagger. Theo's rejection was a deep wound, a memory she desperately wanted to forget. Gavin seemed to relish hurting her.
Freda reached her breaking point. With force, she pressed her stiletto heel into Gavin's leather shoe, leaving a noticeable gray mark.
"I hate you!" she seethed, her voice quivering. "A man like you is beneath me. I offered my assistance out of pity!" With that, Freda stormed away.
As her figure disappeared, Gavin exhaled deeply, relieved. Freda had been hounding him for days, her presence an unwelcome shadow. Her relentless pursuit stemmed from a trivial matter—she believed he'd shown her insufficient respect during the last competition. Her behavior was that of a spoiled princess, but Gavin refused to yield to her demands. He felt a wave of relief at finally driving her away, hoping for some peace.
From the safety of her home, Morgan texted Tobin. She knew about Elyse and Jayden's ordeal but had avoided the hospital. Her presence could endanger their meticulously planned strategy. Such an act might attract Lanny, who was stalking her relentlessly. His unpredictable actions, given the circumstances, were a serious concern.
To prevent this, Morgan maintained her usual routine, inadvertently providing Lanny with clues to her schedule. She hadn't been in a hurry, aiming to keep Lanny at bay while preparations progressed. However, her focus had shifted: detaining Lanny quickly to reach Elyse and Jayden.
As Morgan waited for an update, her phone vibrated with Tobin's message, signaling her daily outing. Responding with "OK," she grabbed her handbag and left her apartment. Stepping outside, her phone rang; it was Tobin.
"Morgan, we just saw Lanny leave after a phone call. He seems to be heading home," Tobin said, confused.
Morgan considered Lanny's unexpected departure. "Why would he leave now? What does this mean for our plan?"
Tobin sighed. "We're not sure why he left, but his departure means you're no longer under surveillance. You can visit the hospital and see Elyse and Jayden now."
Morgan weighed his words. Immediately, she hailed a taxi and went to the hospital.
Morgan went directly to Elyse's room. Nearing the door, she heard Elyse's subdued sobs. The sounds were agonizing; Elyse seemed to be stifling her cries by biting her arm.
Knowing Elyse had lost her baby, Morgan hesitated at the door. Unsure how to offer comfort, she lingered, torn between wanting to support her friend and fearing she might say the wrong thing.
The ".noveldrama" notations were removed as they seem out of place within the cleaned-up text.