Chapter 421 Why Her?

Half a month later, the quarantine ward was finally lifted.

Elsie woke up from a deep sleep and realized she wasn’t in the cold laboratory anymore–she was back at the Saunders family estate.

Staring at the familiar ceiling, she suddenly sat up straight, thinking she had to be dreaming.

“Elsie?”

“Elsie!”

Lily and Owen’s voices rang in her ears. Elsie turned toward them in fear, eyes wide.

After a few seconds, she realized she had really escaped that hell. With a loud wail, she threw herself into Owen’s arms. “Owen, I thought I’d never see you again!”

Lily was so startled by the sound of her voice that her face turned pale. “Elsie, your voice…”

Elsie’s voice was hoarse and broken, like an old, decaying bellows–completely devoid of any youthful tone.

Elsie cried out, furious, “They used me for experiments! They cut open my trachea, and that’s why my voice is like this! They’re monsters, Owen, Mom–you have to help me get justice!”

Lily wrapped her in her arms, eyes red with rage. “How could they do this to you? How could they?”

Owen watched the two of them, his expression conflicted. As someone who had also experienced the illness firsthand, he knew that, horrible as Elsie’s situation was, she had actually been lucky.

He gently comforted her, “Elsie, don’t cry. Everyone in our group of patients came out of this with different complications, but we’re the lucky ones. At least we survived, didn’t we?”

There were many others who had it far worse–some would spend the rest of their lives on ventilators.

Both he and Elsie had been among the first wave of infected. Honestly, they owed a lot to Wellinges Pharma.

Hearing his words, Elsie quickly adjusted her tone. Realizing Owen was defending Wyatt, she choked out, “What about Yunice? Did Yunice end up with any complications?”

She and Owen had both been infected—there was no way Yunice had gotten off clean.

She better not be dead. Ideally, she’d be disabled, disfigured, lying in a hospital bed unable to move. Only then would things feel fair!

But Owen smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Yunice was luckier than us. She was the only one in our group who didn’t get infected.”

Elsie froze. Then her eyes filled with a deep resentment and rage. “How is that possible? We all got infected—why didn’t she?!”

Owen had never seen such a twisted, furious expression on Elsie’s face. He hesitated, then said, “She was careful with her protective gear. Maybe she didn’t come into contact with any contaminated sources. Elsie, why are you getting so worked up?”

Rage surged in Elsie’s chest. Her left ear was partially deaf, her voice destroyed, her body covered in surgical scars. She had been ravaged by the disease, left looking like a ghost. Why did Yunice get to walk away untouched?

Why?!

Owen frowned as he watched the contorted look on her face, clearly puzzled.

Elsie was always so kind. She used to care about Yunice more than anyone. Shouldn’t she be happy to hear Yunice was safe?

He reached out and touched her forehead. “Elsie, have you been sick too long? Maybe the stress is getting to you?”

Owen could relate. He’d been irritable too during his recovery.

Feeling his hand on her, Elsie snapped out of it. No–she couldn’t let her hatred for Yunice show. She couldn’t ruin her image.

She still needed Owen on her side.

She swallowed hard, adjusted her emotions, and returned to her usual obedient tone. “Mom, Owen, how did I end up back at the Saunders family estate?”

Owen didn’t know either. Early that morning, Lily had found Elsie’s bedroom door open. When she went in, Elsie was lying in her bed.

Lily had called Owen right away, and he’d arranged for early discharge so he could come home.

Elsie said nervously, “It must’ve been Wyatt. He probably didn’t want anyone to find out what he did to me, so he snuck me back.”

Owen pressed his lips together. “Elsie, don’t say that. Wyatt saved you. Yunice was the one who begged him to help us.”

He sighed. “Yunice might act tough, but deep down, she cares about us. If it weren’t for her, the two of us would be dead.”

Elsie’s eyes turned red. “Owen, how can you defend that devil Wyatt? You’ve been fooled by Yunice. Wyatt used me as a test subject. I was a lab rat to him. The only reason you’re alive is because of me–not Yunice!”

Owen looked at her in shock, clearly disagreeing.

In extreme situations, extreme measures were necessary. Of all people, they should understand that. If they hadn’t taken the risk of experimental treatment, wouldn’t Elsie be dead by now?