Chapter 236
Elle's POV
My world crumbled around me.
"Doctor," Brad's voice cut through the silence with lethal precision. "Explain everything. Leave nothing out."
The physician swallowed hard under Brad's intimidating stare. "Preserving both mother and child will severely deplete Mrs. West's body. Her constitution is already compromised from years of malnutrition and physical strain. The pregnancy, combined with the potential complications from hemolytic disease..."
"What?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"The treatment required could potentially shorten her lifespan significantly," he continued reluctantly. "Additionally, we've detected unusual substances in her blood work. It appears she may have ingested some form of specialized medication in her younger years, which could explain her chronic weakness and undernourished appearance."
My hands flew to my mouth. "What kind of medication?"
"We'll need further testing to determine the exact nature, but the residual compounds suggest something that shouldn't be in a human's system." The doctor gathered his equipment. "I'll need to run more comprehensive analyses at the lab."
After he left, I sank onto the couch, my mind reeling. Brad sat beside me, his warm hand finding mine.
"Elle, breathe," he murmured, pulling me against his chest. "The Rayne medical facilities have handled cases like this before. We have resources that can manage these complications."
"But what if—"
"Listen to me." His voice was firm but gentle. "Have you forgotten about the Blair family?"
I looked up at him, confused through my panic.
"The Blairs have centuries of alchemical and pharmaceutical knowledge," Brad continued. "Remember how they extended Dakota's life?"
Hope flickered in my chest. "You think they might have something that could help Susan?"
"It's worth exploring every option."
Before I could respond, Susan emerged from her bedroom, her face glowing with happiness. When she saw us, she smiled brightly.
"You can relax now," she said, settling into her favorite chair. "Everything's going to be fine."
I opened my mouth to tell her the truth, but the words stuck in my throat. How could I destroy her joy when she'd waited so long for this moment?
Brad squeezed my hand and stepped in smoothly. "Susan, does Malcolm know about the pregnancy yet?"
A strange expression flickered across Susan's face. "I've been trying to reach him for days, but he's not answering his phone. He hasn't been home for almost a week."
My stomach dropped. "A week? What do you mean he hasn't been home?"
"I thought he might be busy with work," Susan said, but uncertainty crept into her voice. "But it's not like him to disappear without saying anything."
I looked at Brad, feeling a growing sense of dread.
"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation," Brad said diplomatically. "Why don't you focus on taking care of yourself? Both you and Elle need proper nutrition right now."
Susan's face brightened. "Actually, I was going to make lunch. I'm so excited I can barely sit still!"
She bustled toward the kitchen, humming softly. I watched her go, my heart breaking. She looked so happy, so hopeful. How could I tell her that this pregnancy might kill her?
Once Susan was out of earshot, I grabbed Brad's arm. "You have to help me find Malcolm. He's the father of this baby - he needs to be part of any decision we make."
Brad's expression hardened. "Malcolm is avoiding this on purpose."
"What? No, that's not possible. You should see how he looks at Susan, how gentle he is with her. He wouldn't just abandon her when she needs him most."
"Elle." Brad's voice was cold as ice. "There are only two reasons Malcolm would disappear right now. Either he's hiding deliberately, or someone is forcing him to hide. Either way, he's not going to be part of any decision-making process."
I shook my head vehemently. "You're wrong. Malcolm loves Susan. I've seen them together."
Brad studied my face for a moment, then pulled out his phone. "Alex, I need you to run a full background check on Malcolm. I want to know where he is, what he's doing, and who he's been in contact with."
He hung up and turned back to me, his expression grim.
"Brad, please," I whispered. "Susan finally has a chance at happiness. If Malcolm really has abandoned her..."
He pulled me into his arms, his voice softer now. "There's something else you need to know about Malcolm. Something that's been bothering me since the day I met him."
"What?"
"The timing of his appearance in Susan's life was too convenient. Think about it - he shows up right when you're most vulnerable, right when you need Susan to be stable and happy. Susan is one of your biggest weaknesses, Elle. Anyone who wanted to manipulate you would know that."
The implication hit me like a physical blow. "You think Malcolm approached Susan because of me?"
"I think you need to start considering the possibility that this pregnancy isn't an accident." Brad's voice was deadly serious.
Before I could respond, Alex appeared in the doorway. He approached Brad and whispered something in his ear. I watched Brad's face transform - shock, then fury, then a carefully controlled calm that was somehow more terrifying than his anger.
"What is it?" I demanded. "What did he find?"
Brad's jaw clenched. "He was right on target - he came for you."
"I don't care if he's targeting me," I said quickly. "As long as he's not hurting Susan, I can handle whatever—"
"Elle." Brad's voice was dry as dust. "I think we need to arrange for Susan to have a conversation with the Blair family."
Something in his tone made my skin crawl. "Why? What does this have to do with the Blairs?"
Brad's eyes were complex as he looked at me. "I think I know why Susan's health has been so poor all these years." He paused, his voice becoming hollow. "Tony and Susan were never meant to have children together. Tony was just a coincidence, but Susan... Susan was inevitable."
The room felt like it was spinning. "What are you saying?"
"The unusual substances in her blood, her chronic weakness, the timing of Malcolm's appearance..." Brad's expression was grave. "Someone has been preparing for this moment for a very long time."
My hands began to shake as the full implications of his words sank in.
And somehow, it all traced back to me.