Chapter 529: Tuberculosis

A week later, Daisy was discharged from the hospital.

Gabriel and Briar, still weak, needed to stay for further observation.

Initially, everyone thought it best to wait until the twins could leave together, but Daisy couldn't stand being in the hospital any longer. She preferred visiting the babies daily rather than staying another day.

However, Pippa insisted she rest at home and follow the traditional one-month recovery period strictly.

Daisy, now holding Pippa in high regard, didn't dare to disobey. She stayed home, only able to check on Gabriel and Briar through the surveillance video.

At first, Pippa had a slight cough, thinking some medicine would fix it. But it worsened.

Realizing something was wrong, she isolated herself.

When she started coughing up blood, Daisy immediately had Alvin take Pippa to the hospital.

While Daisy was recovering, Pippa was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Pippa's children rushed over, struggling to accept the news. Pippa had always been robust; how could she suddenly have tuberculosis?

Alvin arranged for the best hospital in the city to treat Pippa.

Soon after, Daisy also showed symptoms; Pippa felt immense guilt, blaming herself for infecting Daisy. Daisy reassured her, saying modern medicine had made tuberculosis highly treatable, nothing to worry about.

But having just given birth and undergone surgery, Daisy's immune system was weak, and the illness hit her hard.

Alvin dropped everything to stay by her side day and night.

Initially, everyone thought Pippa had accidentally infected Daisy.

But when Victoria showed similar symptoms, things became suspicious.

Victoria was forcibly taken to the hospital by her colleagues.

"I'm fine, you guys are overreacting."

She was both amused and annoyed, "I've just been coughing a lot and feeling short of breath occasionally. It's just work stress."

As she defended her health, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.

A man approached, his face stern, jaw clenched, eyes filled with concern and worry. "What's going on?"

Victoria stared at him, her feelings for him buried deep inside.

Feigning calm, she said, "It's nothing serious, just work stress making me feel unwell. Marcella and the others overreacted and dragged me here."

William's brow furrowed, hands on his hips, his sharp gaze exuding pressure.

Just then, a nurse called for the test results.

Before Victoria could stand, William strode to the nurse's station.

When Victoria learned she, Daisy, and Pippa all had tuberculosis, she was speechless.

How could this be? No, how could they all be so unlucky?

William's face fell, gripping the report so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Victoria found her voice, softly asking, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

She looked up at him, not believing this was a mere coincidence.

One person falling ill might be due to a latent condition, and short-term transmission to another could be plausible.

But three people getting sick almost simultaneously was too strange.

Even she sensed something was off; how could William not?

As Victoria received her IV, William and Alvin stood outside the room.

"I checked the surveillance. Orla visited the room the next day," Alvin said gravely. "I also asked Pippa. She said Orla acted strangely, overly polite, and reluctant to leave."

He turned to William, "And Pippa said Orla claimed Alice sent her."

William's eyes narrowed as he looked out the window, his voice low, "I see."

Alvin's expression was stern. "If you can't handle this, let me."

Alvin was barely containing his anger. Initially thinking it was a simple infection, Victoria's symptoms made it clear that they were targeted.

What kind of hatred would drive someone to such madness?

But if Alice was behind it, it all made sense.

"No need." William's voice was firm, "I'll handle it."

"Can you?" Alvin's gaze was mocking, "Will you be able to? If you had been decisive, it wouldn't have come to this."

Alvin was truly angry, "Daisy just had a baby and is weak. If someone is this ruthless, they must be ready to face the consequences."

William lowered his gaze, hiding his emotions.

"This time, I'll give you an answer."

"It better be." Alvin said coldly, "If I don't see results in three days, I'll handle it myself."

William said nothing more, turning and leaving quickly.

When Alice received William's call, she already guessed his purpose.

"Ms. Garcia, does Mr. Scott know something?"

Orla was naturally nervous.

After the incident, she regretted her impulsiveness but also felt a sense of satisfaction.

Victoria and Marcella had almost sent her to jail; they were ruthless then.

She just wanted revenge! But she knew William's temper. If provoked, he wouldn't show mercy, not even Thora would be spared from his wrath.

Orla looked at Alice, eyes pleading, "Ms. Garcia, you'll help me, right?"

Alice looked at her, a hint of helplessness in her expression, "Ms. Wallace, how can I help you? What you did was too bold. Deliberately spreading an infectious disease is a serious crime, punishable by imprisonment!"

"Imprisonment? It's not that serious. I just wanted to teach Victoria a lesson for being so arrogant. I did it for you."

"Ms. Wallace, please don't say that. Whatever issues Victoria and I have, they're between us. I never asked you to do something so terrible."

"Terrible? Ms. Garcia, what do you mean? I've always been loyal to you. You can't abandon me now!"

Alice sighed, "I know you've been good to me, but this is too big. I can't take responsibility for it."

She turned away, not looking at Orla.

Orla panicked, standing up, "Ms. Garcia! You can't abandon me!"

"Ms. Wallace, don't make it hard for me."

"Hard? When I stood up for you and made enemies, you didn't say I was making it hard. Now I need help, and you're pushing me away. How can you do this? Do you think this is fair?"

Alice almost rolled her eyes, but held back. She softly said, "Ms. Wallace, your words hurt me. I've always treated you like family. When you needed your house renovated, I covered all the costs. When Mia caused trouble, did I ever complain? I helped her like a sister, finding her training, a job, and a place to live. How have I wronged you?"

Alice's words left Orla speechless.

She knew how much she had benefited from Alice. But without Alice's help, she couldn't face William.

"Ms. Garcia, I'm just anxious. I'm worried about you. If William targets me, who will help you like I do? Your relatives don't care about you. Only I support you unconditionally."

Orla finished, and Alice was silent for a moment.