Nathan scrambled out of bed and rushed to find his doctor.


    The doctor was in his office, reviewing charts. "Mr. Scott, is something wrong?" he asked as Nathan burst in.


    "Dr. Peterson, you''re my primary physician. Tell me, what''s happening to me?" Nathan pleaded, his voice trembling. "Lately, I''ve been having hallucinations, seeing strange things that disappear when I look again. Just now, for a moment, I didn''t even recognize my own daughter."


    He gripped the doctor''s arm tightly, his knuckles white. He had to know what was wrong. The events of the past few weeks had pushed him to his breaking point.


    Dr. Peterson''s expression turned serious. "Mr. Scott, based on your recent tests, you not only have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar, but also a heart condition. At your age, there''s a risk of developing dementia. It''s crucial that you adjust your diet immediately. Stick to simple, light foods."


    Nathan thought of his love for rich food, especially seafood and braised beef. Maybe if he ate more inly, he would get better.


    "Yes, yes, of course, Dr. Peterson. I''ll do whatever it takes. I''ll cooperate fully," Nathan promised, terrified of what the future held if he didn''t help his son achieve his dreams.


    Dr. Peterson nodded and told him to go back and rest.


    After Nathan left, Wendy slipped into the office. She had overheard their entire conversation. She already knew about his health issues and had been carefully managing his diet, which had kept his condition stable. But after discovering his betrayal, she had stopped caring. In just two months, his health had deteriorated. But it wasn''t enough. She wanted Nathan and that other woman to pay dearly.


    "Dr. Peterson, my husband''s condition... is it treatable?" she asked, really wanting to know if the doctor had detected the poison.


    Dr. Peterson remained nomittal. "Madam, with careful attention to his diet and medication, his condition should gradually improve."


    Wendy understood. They hadn''t found anything. The poison Nathan had been feeding her, which she had secretly been giving back to him, was truly undetectable. A wave of relief washed overn


    She thanked


    the doctor with a smile and left the


    hospital.


    At the entrance, she ran into Jared Scott.


    "Mom, how''s Dad? Is he any better?" Jared''s tone was much softer than usual.


    Wendy looked at him. Her second


    son resembled Natalie the most, but his personality was just like, Nathan''s. Her gaze was deep and filled with a sense of helplessness that made Jared''s skin crawl.


    "Did you go see Natalie this morning?" Wendy asked.


    "Yes. If she''s going to leave, she should leave the city for good. She shouldn''t be


    sticking around and interfering with Sebastian and Joanna''s rtionship."


    Wendy felt a pang in her heart. It


    wasn''t that her sons couldn''t see through Joanna''s facade; it was that they unconditionally favored her No matter what Natalie did, it was always wrong in their eyes.


    Wendy''s eyes reddened, and her voice choked with emotion. "When you saw her... what else did she say?"


    Jared''s anger red. "Mom, she actually cursed me. She said she wouldn''t waste her time arguing with a dying man."


    Wendy''s breath caught in her throat. She lowered her head and walked away.


    What Natalie said was true. But how could she possibly know? Was Monica also one of Joanna''s pawns?


    Her legs suddenly felt weak, and she crumpled to the ground. "Ah!" A sharp pain shot through her knee, and her face went pale.