Chapter 299

Everything made sense now. Finding a bone marrow match is exceedingly difficult, especially between non-immediate relatives. If Thea and Emmalie weren't blood relatives, their compatibility would be an extraordinary coincidence.

Nicolas saw Thea's pain and struggle. He smoothed her furrowed brows. "Thea," he said softly, "I'll continue investigating. If they did it, there will be traces. They can't hide it perfectly." The warmth of his touch eased her anxiety.

"Nicolas, I can only trust you," Thea said, feeling deeply powerless for the first time. Emmalie had lived with her for so long; Thea wondered—and dared not contemplate—how much Emmalie had concealed. She had an intuition that Emmalie's secrets ran far deeper than she imagined.

Meanwhile, Emmalie panicked. Released on bail under special circumstances and under police surveillance, she secretly borrowed Max's phone. Hiding in the bathroom, she dialed a number she knew by heart. "Did you kill Ivy? I told you not to be rash!" she whispered, trying to control her hysteria.

Sarah sneered on the other end. "After years by her side, you've forgotten who your biological mother is? You're questioning me about her death? If it weren't for that bitch, we wouldn't be separated. Do you think she shouldn't have died?"

Emmalie's heart sank. Overwhelmed with anxiety, she was close to tears. She felt nothing for anyone except her biological mother. Clenching her fists, she lowered her voice. "I'll scheme against the Rowlands. I'll destroy them and make them pay. Why are you so impatient? I can't pin the blame on Thea; they're already suspicious."

Emmalie pursed her lips. "Where are you? Are you safe?"

Sarah listened to Emmalie's pleas before snapping, "Why ask? Are you handing me over to protect your position with the Rowlands? Emmalie, you're my flesh and blood. No one understands you better. You want to exchange me for wealth and glory? No way." Sarah hung up. Powerlessness washed over Emmalie.

Emmalie's ability to hide within the Rowland family for so long was remarkable. At least in terms of feigning helplessness, she was unparalleled. For the first time, she felt truly defeated. Sarah's impatience had been her undoing.

Sarah couldn't have attacked Ivy alone. There must be an unknown force backing Emmalie, pushing her towards self-destruction and framing Thea. Were they unafraid of Nicolas's wrath? Corey shared Emmalie's suspicions.

In First Hospital's twelfth-floor ward, Corey stood among others. The man in the bed was haggard yet sinister, his neck totem nearly identical to Corey's. "Were you involved in Ivy's death?" Corey whispered, mindful of the man's paralyzed legs. Unrest simmered within the Viper; this man was Corey's strongest former competitor, both having been chosen as successors by April's father. Gregory Sandy's leg amputation during a mission had given Corey the advantage.

"Yes," Gregory replied firmly. "Her daughter sent my sister abroad—we don't know if she's alive. I just wanted her dead. Was that excessive?"

"Corey, not everyone is as ruthless. To protect yourself, you disregarded April. Have you forgotten Noah's warning? The Viper's decline began after you took over," Gregory said, his expression contorted.

Corey scoffed, "What do you know? I saved the Viper. I'm cleaning things up, but you're dragging me down. You idiots will destroy it." He paced anxiously, then stopped before Gregory. "Turn yourself in. Say it was all your doing. It might not be too late." Corey was prepared to sacrifice Gregory. He had abandoned April; this old friend was expendable.

Gregory laughed angrily. "Why should I? If the Viper falls, you die with me. I won't bear this alone."

Corey stared at Gregory's contorted face, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "It's not your choice. Do you think a cripple like you can refuse me?" Corey personally took Gregory to the police station. Gregory's confession was only a matter of time, aided by Corey's tactics (sending Gregory photos and personal items of April daily).

Once Gregory confessed, Ivy's death investigation proceeded swiftly. Corey went to the Hendrix residence.

"Mr. Hendrix, Ms. Rowland, my brother acted shamefully and foolishly. I can't ask for forgiveness, only that you don't punish the entire Viper for his idiocy," Corey said humbly. Even Thea admired his adaptability. Nicolas blocked her view.

His gaze was icy. "Mr. Xander, are you claiming ignorance? You knew nothing of Gregory's attack or his attempt to frame Thea?"

Corey broke into a cold sweat under Nicolas's intense gaze. He stammered, "We didn't know."