Chapter 96

Chapter 96
Nicole's POV
I pushed open the hospital room door. Vera was propped up against the headboard. Though her face was still pale, her eyes now had life in them.
"Mom!"
I rushed to the bedside and gripped her hand tightly, tears streaming down my face like broken beads.
All the grievances, fears, and heartaches poured out in that moment.
"I missed you so much, really so much..."
Vera struggled to lift her hand and gently stroked my hair, her eyes tender and loving.
I cried at her bedside for a long time, until my eyes were swollen, before finally stopping.
Looking at Vera's weak state, only one thought filled my mind: I had to take her away from here.
Astoria was a place filled with lies, betrayal, and hurt.
Hodgson had completely lost faith in me. Now he had Gianna. Toward me, he felt nothing but disgust.
Without Matthew's help or Hodgson's support, I couldn't access the corporation's core projects anymore.
Staying here would only bring more pain and nothing else.
I wiped away my tears and looked at Vera, saying softly, "Mom, once you're feeling better, we'll leave this place and go back to Gardella."
I had a plan forming in my mind.
Once Vera fully recovered, I would resign from Hodgson. Then I'd find Derek and use that favor he owed me.
I would return to Gardella and join Percy Corporation. Even if I had to start from the bottom as an entry-level employee, I was determined to find that forged authorization document and clear my adoptive father's name.
After visiting hours ended, I left the room.
Walking down the hospital corridor, my mood remained heavy.
Passing by the maternity department, a familiar figure suddenly caught my eye.
It was Leighton, my biological father.
He wore casual clothes and a baseball cap, supporting a young woman as they emerged from a consultation room.
The woman looked young, wearing a loose maternity dress, her belly slightly swollen. Leighton's hand remained protectively at her waist.
I stopped abruptly and quickly hid behind a nearby pillar.
Who was that?
I was certain the Gerrard family had no such person. And judging by their intimate manner, this was definitely not an ordinary relative.
That woman... was she Leighton's mistress? And she was pregnant?
My heartbeat accelerated.
If she were just an ordinary mistress, Leighton could have taken her to the private hospital controlled by the Gerrard family. The environment was better there, and confidentiality stronger.
But he chose this public hospital instead, acting so secretive.
What did this mean?
It meant he was afraid of Doris finding out!
I pulled out my phone and, while they weren't looking, secretly snapped a photo.
In the picture, Leighton was looking down and saying something to the woman. They smiled at each other, an atmosphere of warmth I had never experienced in the cold Gerrard household.
Looking at this photo, my feelings were complicated.
Doris always carried herself as the mistress of the Gerrard family. She was domineering, tyrannical, willing to sacrifice anything for the family's interests.
But now, her husband was keeping a mistress behind her back and even had a child on the way.
It was deeply ironic.
I put away my phone and waited until they left before quietly exiting through another door.
By the time I returned to the Gerrard mansion, it was already dark.
Pushing open the door, only a dim floor lamp lit the living room.
Doris sat on the sofa, holding a glass of red wine, looking somewhat dejected.
Seeing me return, she froze, then set down her wine glass, surprise crossing her face.
"Nicole? Why are you back?"
Since I moved in with Hodgson, I rarely came here.
"I wanted to come see," I said evasively.
Doris didn't press further, just nodded, looking exhausted.
"Good that you're back. Let's have dinner together."
At the dining table, there were only three of us: Doris, Leighton, and me.
Wendy had been confined since that incident, and Cathy rarely came downstairs due to her health.
The atmosphere was oppressive.
Doris cut into the steak on her plate and suddenly asked, "Leighton, why have you been coming home so late recently? Are there really that many matters at the company?"
Leighton's hand paused, then he said matter-of-factly, "Yes, there's a big project under negotiation. I often need to work overtime and attend business dinners."
Doris frowned, clearly unsatisfied with this explanation.
"What project requires you to stay away every day? Even on weekends?"
"That west city development project. You know how competitive it is." Leighton explained somewhat impatiently. "I'm working this hard for all of you."
Doris laughed coldly. "For us? I think it's for yourself."
"What do you mean by that?" Leighton set down his utensils, his expression darkening.
"You know exactly what I mean!" Doris's temper flared too.
Leighton suddenly stood up, throwing his napkin on the table. "I'm done eating!"
He left the dining room without looking back and went straight upstairs.
Doris trembled with anger and drained her wine glass in one gulp.
I kept my head down, eating quietly, but inwardly sneering.
This was so-called elite marriage: glamorous on the surface, rotten to the core inside.
Leighton was lying. He wasn't busy with company matters at all. He was accompanying his mistress and their illegitimate child.
That secret stuck in my mind like a thorn, making me restless.
After dinner, I returned to my room and lay in bed, tossing and turning sleeplessly.
That photo kept flashing through my mind.
What would happen if I showed Doris this photo?
The Gerrard family would surely descend into chaos. Doris would go insane. Leighton would be disgraced.
This might be an opportunity for me to break free from their control.
But I hesitated.
After all, though Doris treated me poorly, she was still my biological mother.
Would doing this be too cruel?
My mind was in turmoil. I needed to talk to someone.
I thought of Cathy.
In this mansion, she was the only person I could really talk to.
I got up, threw on a jacket, and gently knocked on Cathy's door.
"Come in." Her weak voice came from inside.
I pushed the door open. Cathy was leaning against the headboard reading. Seeing me, she looked surprised.
"Nicole? What brings you here so late?"
I sat on the edge of the bed. After hesitating, I decided to tell her what I'd seen during the day.
"Cathy, there's something I want to tell you."
I described in detail seeing Leighton with a young pregnant woman at the hospital, and showed her the photo I'd taken.
"Look, this is the woman. Should I tell Doris?"
Cathy took my phone. After just one glance, her face turned deathly pale and the book in her hands fell to the floor.
"What's wrong? Do you know her?" I looked at her, puzzled.
Cathy suddenly looked up, grabbed my hand, and said urgently, "Nicole, you absolutely cannot tell Doris about this! Annie was once her best friend!"