Chapter 353 Luring Für Elise out (Part 2)

Chapter 353 Luring Für Elise out (Part 2)
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the ICU. Screams echoed through the hallway.
Maria had collapsed.
She couldn’t bear the news—her son might not survive the night.
David reacted instantly. He picked her up in his arms and rushed toward the emergency room. The others followed behind, their faces pale with panic.
Inside the monitoring room, Anna sat anxiously, her hands clenched in her lap. The second everyone left, she turned to Michael, unable to sit still anymore.
“Is Maria okay?” she asked, tugging at his sleeve. “Should we check on her?”
Michael shook his head and pointed toward the screen. “Don’t worry. David’s with her. He’ll take care of it. Right now, we need to stay here and watch James. If anything happens… Laura won’t be able to handle it alone.”
Anna nodded slowly, but then her expression suddenly changed. Her brows furrowed, and she clutched her stomach.
“Michael… I—” Before she could finish, she doubled over in pain.
Michael jumped to his feet, grabbing her arm. “What is it? Where does it hurt?!”
“My stomach—” she gasped, sweat beading on her forehead. “It hurts… a lot. I think the baby’s coming—!”
“But it’s too early!” Michael’s face went pale. “Sht—it’s early labor!”
Without hesitating, he scooped Anna up in his arms and sprinted toward the emergency room.
Now, the hallway was empty. Everyone had vanished in a panic.
Only two people remained in the ICU: James, silent and unmoving—and Laura, who hadn’t noticed the chaos outside at all. Her entire focus was on the man lying in the hospital bed. She neither blinked nor looked away.
Then, quiet footsteps echoed behind her.
Someone entered the room and came to a halt.
Laura didn’t turn. She already knew who it was.
Robert.
He stood by the door, looking at her. “James…”
Still seated beside the bed, Laura exhaled a shaky breath. Her voice was dull.
“The doctor said there’s no hope. We’re just… waiting now.”
No one noticed the subtle shift in her expression, the flash of disappointment in her eyes. It wasn’t Robert she had been hoping to see.
Robert’s body tensed. His lips trembled.
“How did this happen so suddenly?”
“A car accident,” she replied, her voice thick with suppressed grief. “He’s always been a careful driver. Who would’ve thought…” She trailed off, then looked at Robert. “How did you even find out?”
“I saw it on the news,” he said softly. “I rushed over as soon as I could. I was out on a business trip today—got back just now.”
His voice was somber, but there was something off. The emotion he showed—grief, yes, but with a strange undercurrent. Not the sorrow of a friend… more like regret. Like mourning something he never got the chance to claim.
But Laura didn’t notice. She nodded faintly.
“It’s fine. He wouldn’t have expected you to come see him off anyway.”
That last sentence broke something in her. Her throat tightened. She pressed her lips together, forcing back the tears.
Robert stared at James for a long time. Then, in a low voice, he asked,
“Can I get closer?”
Laura stepped aside without a word.
Robert’s steps were hesitant, as if approaching an altar. He stopped beside the bed, eyes fixed on James’ pale, lifeless face. His hand trembled slightly before he reached out and stroked James’ cheek.
“James…” he whispered, his fingers lingering. “You can’t be dying. You were doing fine. Everything was fine…”
His hand remained on James’ face, unmoving. The room was silent.
Then—his expression changed.
He smiled.
It wasn’t warm. It wasn’t kind. It was slow, deliberate… and unsettling.
Behind him, Laura’s voice cut through the silence.
“What are you smiling at?”
She didn’t look up. Her gaze remained on James.
“Do you think this is funny? That James ended up like this? If so… you should leave. I’m sure James would’ve appreciated your visit, but it’s late. You should go.”
Robert turned to her, a strange look in his eyes.
“Why are you trying to get rid of me?” he asked softly. “Is it because I’m not the person you were waiting for?”
Laura blinked.
“What are you talking about?”
She barely had time to process the words before Robert lunged.
He grabbed her arm. She felt a sharp stab—then searing pain.
Laura screamed.
She looked down and saw the glint of metal—a syringe. He was holding a syringe.
Her scream echoed through the ward, but no one came.
No one was there.
Everyone had left.
And Laura—was alone.
Robert caught her as her knees buckled. Her vision blurred. The room spun. She tried to speak, but her mouth wouldn’t move. Then everything went dark.