Chapter 102
Charles's expression became complicated when he saw Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, you're here." He tried to make his voice sound calm, even with a hint of fatherly authority. "Have a seat. Thanks for the other day."
His words came out stiff—clearly he wasn't used to thanking this daughter he'd always looked down on, even been hostile toward.
Elizabeth placed the fruit basket on the nearby cabinet, her voice flat and emotionless, "I was passing by, thought I'd drop in. How are Mr. Brown's injuries?"
That Mr. Brown made both Charles and Vivian's faces change.
Charles frowned, somewhat displeased, "Elizabeth, I'm your father! Why are you being so distant?"
Vivian immediately chimed in, her tone carrying its usual provocation and wheedling, "Exactly! Dad got hurt so badly this time, he almost died, and you don't seem to care at all? Calling him Mr. Brown—that's just heartless! Dad's always cared about you for nothing!"
As she spoke, she deliberately moved closer to Charles, showing off her position.
Elizabeth's gaze swept over Vivian's face, twisted with jealousy and resentment, then looked at Charles's expression—pretending to be hurt but actually just annoyed. She found it utterly ironic.
What a joke.
"Care?" Elizabeth's lips curved into a faint, almost mocking smile. "Vivian, you seem to have forgotten—why did Mr. Brown get hurt? Attacked with a knife in broad daylight—what did the police find out? Was it a random robbery, or did he offend someone?"
Her words were pointed. Charles's face immediately darkened.
He knew the attack wasn't simple, but he had no clue who was behind it—that's what terrified him.
Vivian was caught off guard by Elizabeth's question, then became angry from embarrassment, "What are you implying? Dad's already suffering from his injuries, and you're here making snide remarks! I think you have bad intentions! Maybe..."
"Maybe what?" Elizabeth cut her off, her eyes suddenly turning cold. She stepped forward, closing in on Vivian. "Maybe I hired someone to attack Mr. Brown? Vivian, you need evidence when you make accusations. Otherwise, I can sue you for slander."
The icy aura she suddenly radiated startled Vivian, who instinctively stepped back and bumped into the cabinet by the hospital bed, making the water cup on it wobble.
Elizabeth seemed to casually reach out to steady the cup, but her fingertips swiftly and naturally brushed past Vivian's long hair draped over her shoulders. Using the motion as cover, two strands of hair with follicles attached were imperceptibly pinched between her fingers, then slipped into a specially designed micro-storage pouch in her sleeve.
The movement was smooth and quick—even Vivian, who was right there, didn't notice a thing, only feeling Elizabeth's hand brush past her hair.
"What are you trying to do?!" Vivian steadied herself, glaring at Elizabeth with shock and anger.
"Nothing." Elizabeth withdrew her hand, her expression already back to neutral. "Just reminding you to watch what you say. Mr. Brown was lucky this time—he might not be next time. You should think more about who you've offended."
Though she seemed to be speaking to Vivian, she was really warning Charles.
Charles's face shifted between emotions—he was indeed afraid.
Elizabeth's words had hit his sore spot.
Elizabeth stopped looking at them, picked up her sunglasses and put them back on, "Looks like Mr. Brown is recovering well. I won't disturb you anymore. Rest up."
With that, she turned and left, clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Only after the hospital room door closed did Vivian seem to recover. She was so angry her chest heaved. She turned and threw herself by Charles's bedside, tears coming on command, "Dad! Did you see her! What kind of attitude was that! She's so arrogant! She doesn't see you as her father at all! I bet she wishes something would happen to you! This time it was definitely her doing!"
Charles was irritated and confused, and his arm wound was throbbing.
Listening to Vivian's complaints and looking at the closed door, he felt even more chaotic and frustrated.
Elizabeth, he couldn't read her anymore.
What was she trying to do?
"Enough, shut up!" Charles impatiently cut off Vivian's crying. "I'm not dead yet! What are you crying about! Go get me some water!"
Vivian flinched at his yelling, biting her lip in grievance. She didn't dare say more, only went to pour water with tears in her eyes, but her hatred for Elizabeth grew deeper.
It was all because of that bitch! That's why Charles was being mean to her!
She had to find a way to completely get rid of this thorn in her side!
Meanwhile, Elizabeth, having left the hospital and gotten in her car, looked at the two strands of Vivian's hair in her sleeve, her eyes cold.
She carefully put the hair away.
Next, she would make good use of this material to prepare a surprise for Sawyer, and for Charles's family.
The car hadn't yet left the hospital parking lot when Elizabeth's gaze casually swept past the emergency entrance. She happened to see several black business vehicles speeding up and screeching to a stop.
The doors opened, and several anxious-looking men rushed into the emergency hall carrying a stretcher. The person on the stretcher was clutching the area above his right knee, letting out pained, suppressed moans, his face pale and covered in cold sweat.
Though it was just a glimpse, Elizabeth still recognized that face twisted in agony—Richard.
Jacob's older brother.
Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat.
Was Richard injured? It looked like a leg injury, and serious.
A fragment of memory from her past life flashed through her mind like lightning.
Jacob had suffered a serious attack. Though he survived, both his legs were severely injured, leaving him disabled. The Smith Family was thrown into turmoil, while the Aiden Family took advantage to seize many benefits and rapidly grew stronger.
In Henry and Vivian's conversation, they had mentioned the cause of this incident—Jacob had been too domineering, breaking Richard's leg without any consideration, causing many people within the Smith Family to become dissatisfied.
So they let him be attacked without coming to his rescue.
They said the attackers were going for his life, but somehow he managed to escape alive.
Elizabeth's throat tightened slightly.
Given Jacob's personality and methods, after finding out that Richard was involved in the Hillside Manor impostor incident, breaking one of his legs as a warning and punishment was something he would do.
She could even imagine Jacob's cold, merciless expression when pulling the trigger.
If this was the case, didn't that mean Jacob had already stepped into the dangerous trajectory of his past life?
Elizabeth felt an inexplicable anxiety.