?Chapter 80:


    “The external injuries aren’t critical, but the real concern is the internal bleeding in her brain. The surgery isplex, and given her age, it’s beyond our capabilities. I rmend reaching out to Professor Walters. Ideally, the surgery should be performed within the next 72 hours.” The doctor handed Ellie a business card, his tone somber.


    Ellie looked at Cecelia in the ICU, a wave of helplessness and dizziness washing over her.


    Erick, overhearing the conversation, saw an opportunity.


    “Unfortunately, Professor Walters was diagnosed with stomach cancer earlier this year and is currently receiving treatment abroad. He can’t return now,” he interjected.


    Ellie turned to him, puzzled. “How do you know that?”


    “My cousin is his protégé,” Erick replied, his gaze intense. “Ellie, my cousin could save your grandmother. But her fate now depends on you.”


    Ellie, sensing an ulterior motive, asked hesitantly, “What are you suggesting?”


    “There’s value in the unattainable, Ellie,” Erick said, reaching for her hand. “Trade a night with me for your grandmother’s life. It’s a fair deal. After all, given your history—like drugging Demi—you’re not exactly innocent.”


    Erick had always been captivated by Ellie, the one who had eluded him.


    The idea of a no-strings-attached encounter was tantalizing.


    Only someone devoid of morals could propose such a thing so bluntly. Ellie tried to pull her hand away, but Erick held it tightly.


    She didn’t bother to correct his misconceptions about the drugging incident. Keeping herposure, she coldly reminded him, “Erick, she’s Demi’s grandmother too.”


    “Thinking you can sway me with Demi? Laughable,” Erick scoffed, as if he’d heard a ridiculous joke. “Ellie, do you know why your grandmother suddenly left the nursing home?”


    The glint in Ellie’s eyes shifted like shadows on a wall. She remarked, “What’s the deal, Erick?”


    “Demi told Cecelia that you married Kaiden because of her. After the wedding, you became Kaiden’s persona non grata, aughingstock in the social circuit. Cecelia, all anxious, rushed to see you.”


    Erick’s words slithered in, injecting venom into Ellie’s heart and squeezing the air out of her.


    Your next story starts here: g?lnσν???s


    “Ellie, the truth is, you hurt Cecelia!”


    Erick had sought Ellie out for this very reason — he knew what had happened. Otherwise, how could there have been such a coincidental encounter where Ellie just happened to bump into him?


    Ellie’s lips quivered as she asked, “How… how could Demi stoop so low?” Cecelia was Demi’s grandmother!


    Even if their ties weren’t tight, Demi shouldn’t have been so cruel to an elderly woman.


    In a sudden epiphany, Ellie recalled Demi’s phone call.


    Demi had hoped she would regret what she had done.


    Little did Ellie expect that Demi would harm her elderly family.


    “Ellie, we both know why you walked down the aisle with Kaiden,” Erick continued, relishing in Ellie’s disarray. “You were forced to marry that loser to settle the Gordon family’s debt.” Erick believed Ellie should be quietly by his side.


    “True, I was forced,” Ellie retorted, finding the situation absurd. “And where were you when I was being pushed into wedlock by the Gordon family? Busy bedding another woman!”


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