Chapter 45 Dare to Struggle, Unyielding
Evelyn's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as she glanced at Janet.
Just that one look made Janet freeze, her face going pale. Her hands, gripping the bed rail, couldn't stop shaking.
Alaric's eyes narrowed.
Ruth glanced at Janet's fragile state, her expression filled with even more contempt.
'Pathetic and vulgar,' she thought.
Evelyn's few mocking words had left Janet a mess, proving she didn't belong in high society.
"Evelyn's right," Ruth said.
Evelyn smiled calmly. "So don't let it get to you. It's not worth it. Want me to take you home?"
Ruth nodded and, with Evelyn's help, walked out of Janet's hospital room.
When they reached the door, Ruth suddenly stopped and turned to look at Janet by the bed. Her voice was icy.
"Ms. Martin, since you didn't hold up your end of the deal, I'm taking back my gift. Get the money together and pay it back within three days."
Ruth snorted and left.
Janet watched them leave, tears welling up in her eyes.
She stepped back, nearly collapsing.
The caregiver, startled by the earlier scene, quickly rushed to help Janet when she saw her stumble.
With the caregiver's help, Janet lay back on the bed.
Her hands and feet were cold as she looked at Alaric, who hadn't left yet, with a look of deep hurt.
"Alaric," she called out, her voice breaking with sobs.
Alaric's eyes were cold as he stood there, his gaze fixed on her without any emotion.
"You took money from my grandmother?"
Janet paused, biting her lip hard. There was no point in denying it now.
"Yes. But I had my reasons. I didn't want to give up the chance to study abroad and become someone who could be worthy of you. For kids like us from poor families, it's rare to get such an opportunity."
Alaric cut her off before she could finish.
"How much money did you take?"
His voice was cold, his gaze now distant.
Janet bit her lip harder, staying silent for a long time before finally speaking softly.
"Five million dollars."
Alaric's eyes grew colder.
Five million dollars might be nothing to the Hughes family now, but back then, it was a significant amount when the family was struggling.
Janet felt a wave of panic as she looked at Alaric. "Alaric, I'll gather the money as soon as possible and repay Mrs. Hughes."
Alaric's deep eyes were as cold as ice.
He had believed her spirit was resilient and unyielding, but now he realized his mistake.
Alaric had no interest in hearing her continue. He turned and walked toward the door.
Janet immediately threw off the covers and got out of bed, but a sharp pain in her ankle made her fall to the ground.
The caregiver quickly helped her up.
Alaric paused for a moment, glanced at her without any expression, then left.
Janet sat on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
Alaric didn't close the door when he left, and many family members of other patients were now watching Janet's pitiful state.
The caregiver, flustered and unsure of what to do, quickly closed the door to block out the prying eyes.
Cordelia had been waiting in the car for a while, worried that Evelyn might do something drastic after drinking at the event.
She and Alaric were already getting divorced.
Cordelia refused to be dragged into the toxic relationship between Alaric and Janet.
She opened the car door and walked into the hospital, just in time to see Evelyn and Ruth laughing as they came out of the elevator.
Seeing this, Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief.
Ruth's face lit up when she saw Cordelia.
"Cordelia!"
Cordelia smiled and walked over to Ruth.
Ruth held Cordelia's hand and spoke for a while, mostly scolding Alaric for wasting Cordelia's time.
"Tomorrow, come to The Hughes Manor with the agreement. I brought you two together, and now I'll help you end it."
She finished speaking and patted Cordelia's hand, her eyes filled with regret and helplessness.
Cordelia pressed her lips together.
"Grandma, even if I divorce Alaric, I'll always be your granddaughter."
Evelyn chimed in, "Me too."
Ruth laughed, "With two such outstanding granddaughters, I'm satisfied!"
Cordelia was relieved to see Ruth in good spirits.
She hoped Donald would accept her and Alaric's divorce as easily as Ruth had.
It was getting late, and Ruth needed to return to The Hughes Manor to rest.
Cordelia and Evelyn helped Ruth into the car.
Soon, the driver started the car and drove away.
As Ruth's car disappeared from view, Evelyn patted Cordelia's shoulder, signaling her to get in the car.
Cordelia saw Alaric coming out of the hospital as she got in.
His deep, cold eyes looked in their direction.
Cordelia hesitated, seeing his unpleasant expression, then quickly looked away and got in the car.
"Drive."
She instructed softly, and the driver immediately started the car.
Alaric paused, watching Cordelia's hurried departure, his eyes growing darker.
The next day.
Cordelia had just entered the hospital when Hannah rushed over, looking regretful.
"Too bad I wasn't on duty last night! I could have witnessed some big news!"
The messages in the group chat had been nonstop all night.
Someone had mistaken Evelyn for Alaric's wife, praising her beauty endlessly.
They couldn't understand how Alaric could be attracted to someone as bland as Janet when he had such a stunning wife.
Hannah had immediately guessed that Evelyn had been at the hospital.
Cordelia and Evelyn looked quite similar.
But Cordelia's work required her to dress plainly, while Evelyn, as the CEO of Stone Group, was always impeccably groomed and dressed, making her beauty more striking.
"I heard Janet transferred to another hospital last night. You won't have to worry about her bothering you anymore."
Cordelia nodded. "It's good that she transferred."
Janet had always asked her about Alaric's wife, and she never knew how to respond.
Moreover, Evelyn had told her about the situation in the hospital room last night.
Janet's pride had likely been hurt, prompting her to transfer hospitals overnight.