Chapter 71 Using the Child to Return to the Thomas Family
Hayden blinked desperately. If Joshua found out he almost accidentally told someone about Finn and Cleo's existence, he definitely wouldn't see tomorrow's sunrise.
"Mom... Mom, it's not you..."
"Well, well! She kept saying she didn't want to return to the Thomas family, and now she's pregnant. I knew she was playing hard to get. No wonder Joshua protects her so much. So that's how it is! Unbelievable, just unbelievable!"
Hayden watched Ursa rush upstairs at that speed, his shoulders suddenly slumped, completely convinced he was doomed. He'd caused big trouble.
"My big mouth." Hayden slapped himself hard and hurried after her. "...Mom... Mom!"
Ava looked at Victor lying in the hospital bed, his face growing paler, and her heart clenched painfully.
"Grandpa..." Ava called softly. "I'm here to see you again."
Ava took a deep breath, tears welling up in her eyes. She opened the medicine box to examine Victor, and it was pretty much as she'd expected.
After diagnosing Victor, Ava's gaze swept to the medicinal soup a servant had just brought over.
Ava's clear eyes narrowed. "Wait."
Ava took the medicine bowl, her bright eyes staring at the soup for a few seconds, a flash of understanding crossing them. She asked calmly, "Who prescribed this medicine?"
The servant carrying the medicine answered, "Dr. Wilson."
This confirmed Ava's suspicions even more, but she said nothing. She just took the medicine bowl. "I'll feed Grandpa myself. You can go about your business."
"But..."
"Don't you trust me?" Ava raised an eyebrow.
The servant hesitated for a moment, then nodded, handed the medicine bowl to Ava, and quietly left.
Ava took out a glass test tube from her medicine box, poured some of the soup into it, sealed it to take back for testing, then poured out the remaining medicine.
Just as she suspected, this wasn't the medicine she prescribed, and there was something wrong with this soup. Although she didn't know what was in it yet, she'd find out after testing it.
Just as she finished, Joshua and Mia came in one after another. Ava calmly put everything away, glanced at Joshua, then looked meaningfully at Mia.
If she really had tampered with the medicine and caused Victor's condition to worsen, Ava definitely wouldn't let her get away with it.
She was anxious to take the soup back for testing. Plus, she'd written a new prescription, but one ingredient was extremely rare. She'd only seen it in the research institute at Astoria's general hospital, and she'd need to borrow it.
She'd already finished treating Victor, so he wouldn't be in danger for now. She originally had no intention of staying longer and picked up her medicine box to leave, but seeing Mia walking toward Victor, Ava's gaze turned cold. She raised her hand and directly blocked Mia's path.
Mia's expression was already unpleasant, and being blocked by Ava, her hateful look seemed like she wanted to tear Ava apart.
It was all her fault. If not for her, Joshua wouldn't have refused to marry her, and she wouldn't have been so humiliated today.
Full of intertwined hatred, if Joshua weren't here, Mia really wanted to slap Ava to vent her anger. But with Joshua present, she had to maintain her gentle and pleasant image. She forced out a smile and asked with feigned innocence, "Ms. Davis, what are you doing?"
Ava's face was expressionless, her voice cold. "I've already examined Grandpa. He needs rest. Don't disturb him."
Mia was so angry her chest felt tight. She squeezed out words through gritted teeth, "I'm Victor's attending physician."
"Don't worry, not for much longer." Ava looked at Mia coldly. She wouldn't let Mia near Victor again.
"I'm afraid that's not your decision to make."
Ava saw no need to argue with her further. Everything would be clear once the test results came back. She looked up at Joshua and said flatly, "Grandpa won't be in danger for now. I'll come back tomorrow to treat him. If you trust me, don't give him medicine prescribed by others for now. As for why, I'll give you an answer tomorrow."
"Joshua, don't believe her..." Mia anxiously tried to defend herself.
She was Victor's attending physician. When Ava said "medicine prescribed by others," wasn't she referring to her medicine?
What was wrong with the medicine she prescribed? What right did she have to forbid using her medicine? For the always confident Mia, this was a huge denial and insult. How dare Ava deny her? What a joke. She immediately refuted Ava.
Joshua frowned. Ever since Hayden told him about that incident, he'd been investigating. There were no cameras in Victor's room, so there was no way to tell who was lying.
But Ava's anxiety every time she came to see Victor was genuine. She truly cared about Victor, and given Ava's personality, she would never joke around with Victor's life.
Thinking about all this, Joshua's mind was full of doubts.
"Ava!"
Just as Ava reached the door, Ursa came over furiously, giving her no time to react, raising her hand and swinging it toward her face.
Ava was dazed. It happened too fast for her to dodge.
The whole room fell silent, deathly silent.
Ava instinctively flinched, but the expected pain didn't come. When she looked up, she saw Joshua's tall figure blocking her.
Ursa's hand grazed Joshua's chin, making a loud slapping sound.
"...Joshua..." Ursa froze.
Joshua turned his head slightly, his expression cold.
Ursa hadn't expected Joshua to suddenly protect Ava. She stared stiffly at her own hand, then at Joshua, her noble face showing both anger and heartache.
And all this anger would undoubtedly be vented on Ava. She glared at Ava with hatred.
"You really played a good game of hard to get, full of lies. How did I not see how scheming you were before?"
Ava was genuinely confused this time. Ursa hated her, but no matter what, with her good upbringing, she wouldn't publicly strike someone.
Ava had no idea what she'd done to make her this angry.
"I don't know why you're so furious," Ava said honestly.
At least she deserved a reason.
"Still playing dumb? Ava, what a schemer. You just want to use the child to return to the Thomas family, don't you? How despicable."
"How did you... find out?" Ava's eyes trembled. The child... How did she know about Finn and Cleo's existence?