Chapter 201

Chapter 201

Edward gave a bitter smile. "Hate is a strong emotion too, isn't it? At least it lasts longer than indifference."

"I..." Molly found herself at a loss for words.

They stared at each other, the hospital room thick with an atmosphere neither could name.

Just then, the door swung open.

Elora entered, arm-in-arm with Alicia, a doctor trailing behind them.

"Edward, how are you feeling?" Alicia rushed to the bedside, her face etched with concern. "The doctor said you're seriously ill. What's going on? Why don't you take better care of yourself?"

Her entire focus was on her son.

Elora stood beside her. The moment she spotted Molly, her gaze sharpened like a blade. "What are you doing here? I heard you were the one who brought Edward to the hospital last night?"

Molly couldn't be bothered to respond. She stood and gave Alicia a curt nod. "Mrs. Howard."

Alicia's expression flickered with something complicated.

She knew how Edward felt about Molly. She also knew how important Elora's child was—or so she believed.

As a mother, she wanted her son's happiness. But for the sake of the baby Elora supposedly carried, she had chosen to side with the younger woman.

"Molly, thank you for looking after Edward," Alicia said politely. "But now that Elora and I are here, you can go home and rest."

"Yeah, get lost already," Elora sneered. She rested a hand on her flat stomach, then gazed at Edward with exaggerated devotion. "Edward, you need to get better soon. Our baby is waiting to meet his father."

At the mention of the child, Alicia's expression softened. "That's right, Edward. For the baby's sake, you need to accept treatment."

"Baby? Who even knows if it's a Howard at all." A smooth male voice drifted in from the doorway, laced with mockery.

Everyone turned to see Michael leaning against the doorframe, a sardonic smile playing on his lips.

"Elora, how long are you planning to keep up this act?" Michael sauntered into the room, his gaze drilling into her.

Elora's face went pale. She instinctively stepped back, panic flickering in her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"To expose you, of course." Michael stopped and pulled a folder from his pocket. "You're not pregnant at all. Why are you lying?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Elora shouted, her voice shrill. "I have my ultrasound reports right here!"

"Forged ultrasound reports don't count." Michael cut her off, pulling several sheets of paper from the folder and slapping them on the table. "You claim you're pregnant, so why did you fake the ultrasound?"

The words dropped like a bomb. The room fell deathly silent.

Alicia stared at Elora in shock. "Elora, explain yourself. What is going on?"

Elora's face went ashen, her composure crumbling. "Michael, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Elora, love built on lies never lasts," Michael said, his tone loaded with meaning.

"Shut up! His love was always supposed to be mine!" The words seemed to strike a raw nerve. Her emotions exploded.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, tears welling in her eyes.

This relationship—she'd lost it once and fought to get it back. She wasn't going to let it go. Not now.

"If you hadn't pulled your tricks, Edward wouldn't be anywhere near you right now," Michael said coldly.

His sharp, biting tone echoed through the room.

Elora forced down her rage, trying to maintain control. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Michael wasn't buying it. He went straight for the jugular. "That night at the hotel with Edward? I saw everything."

At the mention of the hotel, Elora's pupils dilated. She stumbled backward, her face a mask of disbelief.

"You're lying! The baby I'm carrying is Edward's! Stop trying to manipulate everyone!" She turned desperately to Edward. "Edward, you don't believe him, do you?"

Edward's brow furrowed. He had his suspicions, but without concrete proof, he'd never been certain.

After all, when he'd woken up that morning, Elora had been in his bed.

Seeing Edward's silence, Michael let out a derisive laugh and turned to him. "You really are a fool. You didn't even notice your medication had been swapped."

Edward's expression shifted slightly.

Before he could speak, Michael continued. "I had your pills tested. Every single one had been replaced with sleeping medication. Elora, you went to incredible lengths just to make Edward think you two slept together."

Edward froze. His deep eyes dimmed, like a light being extinguished.

Everything clicked into place.

No wonder he'd always fallen asleep so quickly around Elora. No wonder he'd slept so deeply he couldn't remember a thing.

"He's lying! Edward, you can't believe him!" Elora's voice cracked.

"Elora, how long are you going to keep lying?" Edward's voice erupted in a furious roar. His nails dug into his palms, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as if they might burst.

Molly stood frozen, her face a picture of shock. She couldn't believe it. If this was the truth, then how many misunderstandings had festered between them all this time?

And the architect of it all was this vicious woman standing in front of them.

"It's not like that!" Elora shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face. "Edward, let me explain!"

Edward's voice was cold as ice. "Explain what?"

"I didn't have a choice!" Elora sobbed, her body sagging as if all her strength had drained away. "You only ever saw Molly! You never even looked at me! I just wanted to stay by your side! Don't you remember how much you used to love me?"

"Wasn't I lenient enough with you, Elora?" Edward drew in a deep breath, his heart bleeding. "You can't be this greedy."

"Lenient? Edward, have you forgotten how much you loved me once?" Elora's voice trembled. "The three of us—we used to be so close, didn't we?"

"Close?" Michael's expression turned glacial. "Elora, have you forgotten what you did to me back when we were abroad?"

At the mention of their time overseas, Elora's face twisted.

"Why are you bringing up ancient history? That's all in the past."