Chapter 69: "Derek Wants to See You"
Nicole's POV
My heart raced, my mind went blank.
Fortunately, I stood in front, so Doris hadn't noticed him holding my hand.
Hodgson released my wrist and said, "Mrs. Gerald, I'm here to drive Nicole home."
Doris's expression stiffened for a moment as her gaze shifted between Hodgson and me.
"I... I see..."
She even forgot to offer a polite word of thanks.
I steeled myself and got out of the car, quickly walking over to Doris, then turned back to Hodgson.
"Thank you."
Hodgson smiled faintly, giving me one long, meaningful look before rolling up the car window.
The engine started, and the black sedan slowly pulled away from the villa.
"Nicole."
Doris stood on the steps looking down at me, her eyes full of scrutiny and suspicion.
"Come inside." She dropped those two words and turned to walk into the villa.
I took a deep breath and followed her in.
After being tormented by Hodgson all last night, the soreness in my body hadn't subsided yet, especially between my legs.
Every step was accompanied by a dull ache and slight swelling.
Once the door closed, Doris began her interrogation.
"What on earth is going on? Don't tell me you've gotten involved with Hodgson!?"
Doris's face looked terrible. "Nicole, you need to understand this clearly: Hodgson is not Ethan, nor is he Shier. He's not someone you can afford to mess with!"
I quickly denied it. "No, of course not."
I calmed myself down and threw out the excuse I'd prepared on the spot.
"Hodgson knew I was injured and came to the hospital to check on me. He also visited Vera. Today the doctor said I could be discharged, so he drove me home."
"What? Vera? What does this have to do with her?"
Sure enough, hearing that this involved Vera made Doris's expression even worse.
Vera was the card she used to control me, and also the secret she feared most being exposed to Percy Corporation.
Hodgson was closely connected with Percy Corporation, so naturally Doris would fear what Hodgson might know.
Her attention was successfully diverted by me.
I lowered my head, deliberately guiding her.
"I'm not sure either, but you know, recently Hall Group has been cooperating with Percy Corporation. He might be somewhat suspicious about my past identity."
"Damn it! Nicole, how could you be so careless!" Doris cursed.
I lowered my head, putting on a guilty expression.
"I'm sorry, Mom, but you know, that's Hodgson. Who could hide anything from him?"
Doris glared at me fiercely.
I took the opportunity to speak up.
"How about... we transfer Vera to another hospital? Arrange for her to go somewhere Hodgson doesn't know about. That would be the safest option."
Doris frowned.
The hospital where Vera was currently staying was partly controlled by the Gerald family, allowing Doris to monitor Vera's condition at any time.
However, Doris wasn't aware of my gunshot wound.
When I was hospitalized, I had specifically bribed the attending physician and nurses, and had Eric help cover it up.
Doris thought I had only suffered a normal injury.
If Vera could be transferred, she would be slightly freed from Doris's control.
Moreover, Hodgson probably wouldn't be able to find Vera either.
Just as I thought she was convinced and about to make a decision, Doris suddenly became alert.
"Nicole, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You want to get Vera out of my sight?"
"That's not it, Mom..."
I was anxiously thinking about how to make her believe me when a scream suddenly came from upstairs.
Immediately after, a figure rushed down the stairs like a madwoman.
It was Wendy.
Her hair was disheveled, wearing wrinkled pajamas, her eyes bloodshot, her face twisted with a crazed hatred.
"You bitch!" she screamed, grabbing a crystal ashtray from the coffee table and hurling it at me without thinking.
I couldn't dodge in time and felt a sharp pain at my forehead.
"Nicole, I saw everything. You came back with Hodgson. I'm going to tell Shier, I'm going to tell everyone that while you were seducing Shier, you were also sleeping with his uncle! You're finished!"
Wendy was acting like a madwoman.
The exposure of the bed photos had hit her too hard.
Now Shier completely ignored her, and she was like a stray dog that anyone could kick.
I gasped softly, looking at her with innocent confusion.
"Wendy, I don't know what you're talking about. Hodgson and I have nothing to do with each other. Have you been so traumatized that you're having mental problems?"
"I'm not crazy!"
Wendy became even more furious, shrieking as she lunged to grab my hair.
"You whore! Stop pretending!"
Her voice was shrill and piercing, echoing through the spacious living room.
I coldly dodged her, watching her hysterical display without a shred of sympathy.
"Enough!"
Doris finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Take her back to her room. Without my permission, don't let her out!"
Two burly servants immediately stepped forward, grabbing Wendy's arms and dragging her upstairs.
"Let me go! Mom, why are you protecting Nicole? You've all been fooled by her!"
Wendy continued to struggle desperately, cursing nonstop.
I stood there, coldly watching her being dragged away.
Now, she no longer posed any threat to me.
Even Doris thought she had gone mad.
Doris glanced at the wound on my forehead.
"Go upstairs and take care of it yourself. Why didn't you avoid her? You just got out of the hospital and injured again."
She paused, then returned to the topic of Hodgson.
"Also, if Hodgson develops any new suspicions about Vera, you must tell me immediately."
"I understand." I obediently agreed.
But I knew better than anyone that I would never give Doris any more information.
She was very afraid of Hodgson.
If my identity in Gardella were exposed, Doris wouldn't let Vera off easily.
I turned and went upstairs, returning to my room.
As soon as the door closed, the strength was instantly drained, and I slumped weakly against the door.
The wound on my forehead was still bleeding.
I walked to the bathroom and turned on the light above the mirror.
I looked utterly disheveled in the mirror.
I took out iodine and gauze from the medicine cabinet and, enduring the pain, gave myself basic first aid.
Just as I finished bandaging, my phone suddenly rang.
Seeing the caller ID was Matthew, I immediately answered.
"Matthew, are you okay?"
"After I left the hospital, I noticed someone following me, but fortunately I managed to lose them."
My heart clenched. "Where are you now? Are you safe?"
"I'm safe, don't worry." Matthew paused. "Nicole, I also have good news to tell you."
"Derek wants to see you."