Chapter 53 Chapter 53

Chapter 53 Chapter 53
Averie gently stepped away from the Levie’s touch, instinctively putting distance between them. She didn’t want anyone, especially this man to get too close to her again. Her voice trembled, but her resolve was firm.

“Please,” she said quietly, “just do your best to make my mother better. Even if she doesn’t remember me now, maybe one day she will.”

Doctor Levie nodded, but instead of offering reassurance, he heaved a long breath.
“Well,” he said carefully, “Your best chance is still Sabrina. If you can get the evidence…” he started to speak but Averie cut him off immediately.

“That’s impossible,” she snapped. “I’m not close to her. She hates me and she wouldn’t leave a single slip in my presence. The only way out of this… is if you come clean.” she said.

Silence swallowed the room.

Doctor Levie’s eyes widened slightly.
“Come clean?” he repeated. “Turn myself in?”

She nodded. “Seeking redemption is not just about tracking down everyone you’ve wronged doctor. How many can you track? Turning yourself in is the right thing” She never finished when Levie let out a frustrated groan.

He marched across the room, slammed the door shut with a sharp thud, and pressed his back against it. He squeezed his eyes shut as though trying to hold his world together.

“Miss Quinn,” he muttered, “if I turn myself in, my life is over.”
He pointed at himself with a trembling hand. “Do you think I survived all these years so that I could throw it away? I wasn’t given a second chance at life so I could sabotage it because of one mistake!”

“One mistake?” Averie echoed bitterly. “You think murdering a man and hiding his body would be considered a mistake?”

He gritted his teeth. “Back then, I did what I had to. I protected what I had. My job, my reputation, and everything! And I won’t lose it again.” He straightened and glared at her.

“If you don’t come up with a solution soon,” he warned coldly, “I will no longer cooperate with you” he announced, and his selfish words hit her like ice water.

But before she could reply, the door burst open.

Esther rushed in, out of breath.
“Averie! Doctor! You need to come…now!”

Both ran down the hall with her, hearts pounding.

Inside Felicia’s ward, chaos had erupted. She thrashed in bed, fear and confusion swirling in her cloudy eyes.

“No… don’t take her… don’t take my baby again…” she cried, clutching her sheets like a lifeline.

Averie froze in shock and terror.
“Mom… Mom, please…”

But Felicia didn’t recognize her and her panic only grew.
Doctor Levie hurried to inject a sedative while Esther held her friend who trembled violently, unable to breathe watching her biological mother fall apart.

Minutes passed like hours before Felicia finally drifted into heavy, unnatural sleep. Averie approached her bed, brushing a trembling hand over her mother’s arm.
“Is she okay?” she whispered.

The doctor forced a sympathetic expression.

“She’s sedated… to keep her calm,” he said plainly, rubbing the back of his head but Averie saw the truth in his eyes. The truth sent cold air down her spine. He would use her mother’s fragile state to pressure her. The realization poisoned her stomach.

Esther touched her back gently, guiding her away.
“Let’s go,” she whispered. “You need rest.”

Defeated, crushed, and furious, Averie allowed herself to be led by Esther.


Almost immediately after they left, the door swung open again and Sabrina stepped in, clapping slowly, a twisted smile on her face.

“Well, well,” she mocked. “Look at you. A loser helping a loser. Birds of a feather flock together indeed.”

Doctor Levie stiffened “ Sabrina… how did” he was shocked to see her because Sabrina always notified him anytime she would be visiting but it was different today. She showed up without prior notice.

Sabrina fixed the distance between them and raised her hand. The sound of a slap echoed sharply across the room.

“You idiot,” she hissed. “You dare side with Averie? While I,” she jabbed a finger at her chest, “hold everything that can ruin you?”

He shook, stumbling backward.
“I’m sorry Sabtina but can you please just destroy the evidence. I’ll do anything you want” he pleaded seriously.

A smirk crept up her lips as she walked around him “Oh. she must have promised you that she’ll help you out of my grip” she let out a mocking laugh.

Doctor Levie clasped his hands together, rubbing them on her face “I’ll treat your infertility by all means possible! I’ll even marry you if that’s what you want!”

Sabrina burst into laughter, so loud that the cruel mockery echoed through the room.

“Marry you? Please. You think I’m desperate?” she sneered. “And infertility? That’s nothing in this modern world. There are endless solutions to having a child”

She leaned close, voice dripping with threat.

“Here’s what I want. Stay loyal to me, and I’ll hand over your evidence. And even pretend none of this ever happened.”

Doctor Levie straightened immediately, relief flooding his features.

“Yes…yes, of course! Just tell me what you need.”

Sabrina smiled darkly.

“I’ll let you know soon.”

Outside the hospital>>
The cool air did little to calm Averie’s racing heart. Esther held her shoulders tightly.

“Averie, listen to me. You should tell Darian. Maybe he can help…”

“No,” She cut her off and Esther blinked. “Why not?”

“Because I’m already… taking too much from him,” she whispered. “I’m becoming a burden.”

Her mind circled back to everything Darian Graham had done for her so far since she came back. His secret room which she had also discovered, shows his obsession with her.

Telling him now felt like taking advantage of that fragile imbalance.

“When will you tell him about your mother?” Esther asked gently.

“When I fix this,” Averie murmured. “When everything settles. Then he can meet her properly.”

Her friend didn’t agree but she didn’t argue either. She simply pats her back soothingly.



At home, Darian grew anxious when Averie didn’t return. He called multiple times but she didn’t pick up.

When her car finally pulled in, he rushed out to the driveway with his phone in hand. He waited quietly for Averie to get down from the car and when she did, he moved closer.

“Where have you been?” he asked, worry etched on his face.
Averie looked shocked to see him up and waiting for her but she wasn’t that flustered.
“Just… a busy day and  I met Esther,” she said hastily.

Darian didn’t pry. He smiled softly, took her bag, and guided her inside.

“Uh… my bag” she muttered with her hand hanging midair but Darian didn’t mind her. He nodded and nudged her towards the entrance door.

His kindness stabbed her with guilt. It saddened her that she was lying to him more each day.

The next morning, Darian woke early and went to Averie’s room. He found her curled peacefully under the blanket, her hair spilled across the pillow like a delicate halo.

Unable to help himself, he pushed off from the doorway and walked over to her bed. The space beside her dipped as he quietly lay beside her, studying her soft features.

His hand hovered, almost touching her cheek when her eyes suddenly opened.

Darian jerked back slightly, flustered.
Averie blinked.

“What… what are you doing here?” she asked awkwardly.

He held up the digital clock.
“You’re  late.”

She gasped, then scrambled out of bed in panic while Darian laughed behind her, amused by her frantic energy.

Today, she had to confirm her shipment at the shore, and Darian insisted on taking her himself.

Some minutes later,
Outside, Darian walked her to the car, opening her door like always. He circled the vehicle, ready to join her when a message popped up from an unknown number.

Curious, he opened it. And a video played.

Fiona was sitting on a chair and a man, clearly a doctor was standing too close to her. Touching her shoulder… contorting her.

Darian’s eyes widened.

It was the same man from the previous scandal—the dinner at the restaurant.

His knuckles turned white from such a tight grip. He froze, staring at the phone, his breath trapped in his chest.

Everything inside him split.