Chapter 35
Those words struck like thunder. Bianca's sobs cut off abruptly.
All color drained from Marcus's face. He stared at his careless wife for a long moment before grinding out words through clenched teeth.
"What... did you say?"
Emily flinched at his venomous glare, but the words were already out. She could only force herself to repeat them. "I said... Dami isn't Bee's biological child! We took in a newborn baby from someone else to climb our way into the Sharp family! We don't even know who his real mother is!"
The secret was completely exposed.
Marcus didn't rage. Instead, he laughed—a sound that made Emily and Bianca's blood run cold.
"Very good." He nodded slowly, his voice dropping to a serpentine hiss. "You spoke this secret aloud today."
His gaze swept over the terrified mother and daughter, each word measured and dark.
"I'm warning you both—this is the first and last time. From now on, Damian is the son Bianca carried for ten months and nearly died giving birth to. If anyone breathes a word of this secret..."
His eyes landed on Bianca's ashen face.
"You, and your mother—our fate will be a thousand times worse than bankruptcy. Understand?"
On the day of Ashley's surgery, Juliana woke up early. She meticulously checked all the specialized surgical instruments, confirming everything was perfect before driving to the Sharp estate.
Carrying her medical kit into the villa, Juliana found Ashley already changed into loose patient clothing.
"You're here. Let's begin."
Juliana's eyes swept the living room—no sign of Lucas. Just as well. One less headache.
The surgery proved even more complex and lengthy than Juliana anticipated. Years of illness and medication had ravaged Ashley's body. Her internal condition was far worse than the diagnostic reports suggested.
Time crawled by. Outside, daylight faded to darkness, then darkness to light again. Twenty-four hours.
When Juliana sutured the final stitch and set down her instruments, she was completely drained.
Seeing her emerge, the butler and servants waiting outside rushed over, faces tight with anxiety.
"Dr. Wells, Mrs. Sharp, is she..."
"The surgery was a complete success. With proper post-operative care, she'll be fine."
Everyone exhaled in collective relief. Juliana drank some glucose solution she'd brought before dragging her exhausted body back inside. She needed to explain the critical post-op instructions.
Ashley had already regained consciousness. Though still pale, her spirits seemed better than before surgery.
Juliana approached and handed a sheet covered in detailed instructions to a nearby servant.
"These are the dietary restrictions and medication protocols for the next three days. Follow them strictly. Also, her body is still very weak, so she can't—"
"That's enough."
Ashley cut her off coldly.
"The surgery's done. Your job here is finished."
Juliana froze, confused.
Ashley grabbed a check from the bedside table and threw it at Juliana's face.
"Take the money and get out of the Sharp family."
The check's corner grazed her cheek with a sharp sting. Juliana almost laughed at the sudden humiliation.
How quickly they turned.
"Ashley." Juliana lifted her head, her eyes glacial. "You think money lets you treat people however you want?"
"Doesn't it?" Ashley's lips twisted mockingly. "You schemed your way close to Lucas for money, didn't you? Well, here's your money. Now leave."
"Let me make this clear—as long as I'm alive, you'll never set foot in the Sharp family!"
"Throw her out!"
At Ashley's command, two security guards who'd been waiting outside stepped in, gripping Juliana's arms from both sides.
"What are you doing! Let go of me!"
Juliana struggled desperately, but after twenty-four hours without sleep, her strength was gone. She was no match for two burly men.
The guards shoved her unceremoniously outside the Sharp estate gates. The heavy iron doors slammed shut in her face.
Juliana collapsed on the ground, her palms scraping against rough pavement, burning with pain. She braced herself against the ground and staggered to her feet. After just a few steps, a red sports car screeched to a halt in front of her.
The door opened. Bianca stepped out in four-inch heels.
"Well, well, if it isn't the famous Dr. Wells. What happened to you? You look like a kicked puppy."
Bianca approached, looking down at her with undisguised satisfaction.
"I heard you went a whole day and night without sleep doing surgery for Mrs. Sharp? How exhausting."
As she spoke, she pulled a small pill bottle from her bag, shook out a white tablet, grabbed Juliana's chin, and forced it into her mouth.
"What did you give me!" Juliana tried to spit it out, but the pill dissolved instantly, bitter taste exploding across her tongue.
"Nothing much. Just something to perk you up."
Bianca savored Juliana's furious but helpless expression. She leaned close to Juliana's ear, speaking in a voice only they could hear.
"Oh, I forgot to mention—Dami's been staying at my place these past few days. We're bonding beautifully, mother and son."
"And Lucas will be back at my side very soon. As for you," she jabbed a red-lacquered nail against Juliana's chest, "you should crawl back to whatever hole you came from."
Laughing, she spun around, slid back into her sports car, and roared away.
Juliana stood frozen, ice flooding her veins.
Dami was staying at her house...
No wonder she hadn't seen Dami these past few days.
Towering rage and piercing pain threatened to consume her completely. She stumbled back to her car in a daze.
Just then, her phone rang at the worst possible moment. "Lucas" flashed across the screen.
She immediately hit decline, then powered off the phone and hurled it onto the passenger seat.
Lucas. The Sharp family. I won't forget this.