Chapter 586

Gabriel and Travis exchanged uneasy glances before trailing behind Claire and the nanny out of the bedroom.

The room fell into a hushed silence, broken only by Zoey's soft, rhythmic breathing.

Henry sat by the bed, gently holding Zoey's hand.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting playful shadows on the dolphin-patterned bedspread.

In the distance, the sound of waves and children's laughter drifted in, while Zoey, exhausted and frail, finally slipped into a deep sleep.

Joseph quietly exited the room, closing the door softly behind him.

In the living room, Claire was telling Gabriel and Travis a story, her voice as soothing as a gentle morning breeze in Marigoldia.

The smell of disinfectant permeated the small hospital room, and the shadows of palm trees outside created striped patterns on the wall through the blinds.

Upton leaned against the hospital bed, an IV needle in his hand. He looked better than when he was admitted yesterday, but his expression was even darker.

"The doctor says you can go home after a few more hours of observation," Mabel said, sitting by the bed and peeling an apple with practiced ease. "Your flight back is tomorrow morning. Finnegan already rescheduled it."

The apple peel fell in uneven strips.

Upton stared at the peel, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Go back? Just like that?"

Mabel's hand paused. "What else? Last night's fiasco was bad enough."

She lowered her voice, "Finnegan's furious, saying if it weren't for you pushing him to ask for a dowry, none of this would have happened."

"None of what?" Upton sat up abruptly, causing the IV line to sway. "None of discovering Claire has eight hundred million dollars?"

His voice was hoarse, dripping with sarcasm. "Mabel, are you really content to serve Finnegan for the rest of your life?"

Mabel instinctively glanced at the closed hospital room door, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the diamond ring on her left hand.

That three-carat diamond was the 30th birthday gift Finnegan gave her. At the time, she thought it was impressive, but now she realized it was just a tiny fraction of that eight hundred million dollars.

"Upton, you don't understand. I have Jett." Mabel's voice softened.

"A thirteen-year-old kid. Take him with you." A shrewd look flashed in Upton's eyes as he grabbed Mabel's hand.

"Mabel, you're only thirty-nine. Finnegan is fifty-three. Once we get that eight hundred million, you can find any young, handsome guy you want."

Mabel's breathing quickened, her meticulously groomed eyelashes trembling slightly.

The sound of waves outside was faintly audible, but it couldn't dispel the growing desire in the room.

"What do you plan to do?" Mabel finally asked, her voice barely audible. "Joseph isn't someone to mess with. You saw that last night, and there's Zoey too."

Upton released Mabel's hand and leaned back against the pillow, his gaze dark as he looked out the window. "There will be times when they're not around."

"You're going after Claire?" Mabel gasped. "Are you crazy? She's Joseph's wife now!"

Joseph wasn't just the top medical professor in the country; he came from a prestigious family with a century-long legacy in pharmaceuticals. Many powerful figures in Stellaria owed their lives to Joseph. If they found out Upton had harmed Claire, Joseph would make sure Upton paid dearly, just as he warned last night.

And then there was Zoey. Despite being only twenty-one like Claire, she was even more formidable.

Claire's ability to rake in eight hundred million dollars in just a few years was largely thanks to Zoey.

If Zoey hadn't given Claire shares in her company, Claire would never have made that kind of money on her own.

Zoey's company was booming, and Claire's future earnings would far exceed eight hundred million dollars.

Thinking about this, Mabel felt a pang of regret. She never liked Finnegan and Evangeline's daughter, but if she had known Claire had so much money, she would have treated her differently.

If she could improve Claire's impression of her, getting a few million dollars wouldn't be difficult.

But it was too late now. They had already offended Claire deeply. It was a miracle Claire hadn't sought revenge.

It was Finnegan's fault. If he had cared more about Claire, they wouldn't be in this mess, and Mabel could have benefited greatly.

"Wife?" Upton snorted. "Newlyweds are bound to be alone sometimes."

He touched his still-aching ribs. "I want Claire to know what a real lesson is."

The apple in Mabel's hand had already turned yellow from oxidation, but she didn't notice. "Upton, don't do anything rash. This is Marigoldia, not back home."

Upton closed his eyes, as if the conversation had been mere idle chatter. "I'm tired, Mabel. You should go. Finnegan must be waiting."

Mabel stood up mechanically, her legs feeling heavy.

At the door, she couldn't help but turn back. "Upton, what exactly are you planning?"

"Tomorrow, you go back with Finnegan," Upton said without opening his eyes, his voice clear. "Tell him my injuries haven't healed completely, and I need to stay for two more days."

"But—"

Upton finally opened his eyes, his gaze chilling her to the bone. "Mabel, Do you want to live in a house three times bigger than now? Do you want to buy those bags you only dare to look at in magazines?"

Mabel's lips trembled, but she said nothing, quietly closing the hospital room door.

In the hallway, a nurse pushing a medication cart glanced curiously at the elegantly dressed but pale-faced woman from Noxis.

Mabel instinctively straightened her back and touched the diamond earrings on her earlobes, a gift from Finnegan after three months of pleading last year.

Stepping out of the hospital, the scorching sunlight hit her face.

Mabel stood on the steps, looking at the blue sea and the playful tourists in the distance, suddenly feeling that everything was so unreal.

How many diamonds could eight hundred million dollars buy? How many times could it silence her snobbish sisters?

Mabel took out her phone, hesitated for a long time, and finally sent a message to Finnegan: [Upton's condition has worsened a bit. The doctor says it's best to observe for two more days. Should we go back tomorrow?]

The message had barely been sent when her phone vibrated.

Finnegan's reply was blunt: [Whatever! Just don't let Upton cause more trouble!]

Mabel took a deep breath and sent another message: [Finnegan, Jett's summer camp fees are due.]

This time, Finnegan's reply came even faster: [All you do is ask for money! Get it from Upton!]

Mabel gripped her phone tightly, her nails digging into her palm.

In the sunlight, the three-carat diamond ring suddenly seemed glaringly cheap.

The waves continued to lap at the white sandy beach, and the laughter of tourists drifted on the wind.

In this paradise-like setting, a dark thought was quietly taking root.