Chapter 188

“Poisoned?” Catherine was stunned, unable to believe her ears. The doctor explained, using complex medical terminology that Catherine struggled to comprehend. When he simplified his explanation, Catherine finally understood. Andrew had been poisoned with a slow-acting toxin. The poison was water-soluble, colorless, and tasteless. Occasional small doses wouldn’t produce noticeable symptoms, but long-term exposure would eventually prove fatal as the poison infiltrated vital organs.

While Thalia remained in surgery, Andrew had been rushed into another emergency room. The hospital issued a critical condition notice, which Catherine signed in a daze. Certain details suddenly became painfully clear in her mind. Andrew had been losing hair at an alarming rate recently, which she had noticed but dismissed as a natural part of aging. Most men his age experienced significant hair loss, some even developing bald patches. His appetite had also been declining. Dark circles had appeared beneath his eyes, giving him a perpetually exhausted, haggard appearance. Catherine had observed these changes but hadn’t particularly cared. Her emotional connection to Andrew had been severed over twenty years ago when he had his affair. In the years since, their relationship hadn’t improved—they merely maintained a façade of stability.

Andrew himself had noticed his deteriorating health. The business had been demanding lately. Although the elder Mr. Blackwood had transferred most authority to Asher, Andrew still retained his position as chairman of Blackwood Group. It was, after all, the family business. As chairman, Andrew couldn’t avoid concerning himself with company matters. Like Catherine, he had attributed his hair loss to age and his lack of appetite, insomnia, and intermittent pain to overwork and insufficient rest. Andrew had planned to undergo a comprehensive medical examination once his schedule cleared, but his body had given out before that could happen.

Andrew’s poisoning was a serious matter. Catherine called the elder Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood. After learning of Andrew’s condition, Catherine promptly arranged a medical examination for her parents. Some test results were available immediately, but blood work required waiting until the following morning. Lady Blackwood also came to the hospital for a medical examination. The elder Mr. Blackwood was in Davos, Switzerland, attending the World Economic Forum, and couldn’t return immediately, so Catherine could only communicate with him by phone.

“Poisoned? How is this possible?” Mr. Blackwood’s voice was grave. Catherine frowned, her tone equally somber as she gripped her phone. “I don’t know. He usually eats at home, and Mother and I have had the same food without any issues. Only Andrew has been poisoned. I suspect it might be connected to Tom Malfoy; Grace Bennett was working for Malfoy, so she’s the primary suspect.”

On the other end, Mr. Blackwood fell silent for a moment. Then: “Call the police,” he ordered authoritatively. “I will.” “I’ll try to get away from the forum and fly back to London,” he continued. “I want to meet with Malfoy and Grace Bennett personally.”

Lady Blackwood stood beside Catherine. Upon hearing Catherine’s suspicion of Grace, her expression darkened. After Catherine ended the call, Lady Blackwood glared at her, her voice edged with anger: “Don’t talk such nonsense! Grace was simply led astray, manipulated by Malfoy. She’s not inherently wicked—she couldn’t possibly poison Andrew. He’s her adoptive father, for heaven’s sake! How could she poison her own father?”

Catherine was exasperated by Lady Blackwood’s naivety. “Mother, you’ve always been far too soft with Grace. She’s committed serious crimes, yet you still insist she’s ‘not inherently wicked’? She was involved in murder and cover-ups—what makes you think she would draw the line at poisoning an adoptive father with whom she shares no blood?”

“No! Impossible!” Lady Blackwood shook her head vehemently. “Grace wouldn’t poison Andrew. She simply wouldn’t!”

Lady Blackwood did harbor suspicions deep down, but she couldn’t bear to acknowledge them. She continued shaking her head, muttering to herself, seemingly trying to convince both Catherine and herself. How could she accept that the granddaughter she had raised would poison her own father?

Catherine disregarded Lady Blackwood’s cold glance before turning away. She made her call to the authorities. Grace would face an additional charge of attempted murder. It was time to confront this ungrateful daughter who had betrayed the family that had raised her.

After a long wait, the doors to the emergency room finally opened. Asher, Rupert, and Randolph surged forward almost simultaneously.

Asher: “Doctor, how is Lia doing?” Rupert: “Doctor, what’s her condition?” Randolph: “Doctor, how’s my daughter?”

Everyone else looked on with tense concern, collectively holding their breath, hearts pounding—hoping for good news while dreading the worst. The lead surgeon removed his mask, a smile breaking through his exhausted features. “She’s out of danger. We’re transferring her to intensive care. You’ll be able to visit her in three days.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. The emptiness in Asher’s eyes finally gave way to a glimmer of light, the oppressive weight on his chest lifting slightly. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them to say with profound sincerity: “Thank you, doctor.” The others wept with joy, expressing their gratitude repeatedly. Randolph, a man nearing fifty, had tears streaming down his reddened eyes, his voice choked with emotion: “Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much…”

The doctor nodded and departed. As nurses wheeled Thalia out, Asher gazed at her pale, unconscious form, and his heart contracted painfully. The agony came in waves, utterly devastating.

Chapter 188

Everyone wanted to approach Thalia. The nurses continued wheeling the bed forward. “Please make way. The patient needs to be transferred to the ICU. Visits aren’t permitted at this time.” They cleared a path as the nurses wheeled Thalia toward the intensive care unit. The oppressive atmosphere finally lifted. Several of the young women had cried until their eyes were red.

Lucy spoke through her tears: “I knew she’d pull through. Thalia is such a good person—I just knew she’d be alright…” Charlotte wiped her reddened eyes. “Thank God she’s okay, thank God.” Victoria exhaled deeply, wiping away her tears. “I’m so relieved Thalia’s alright. If she had… I can’t even bear to think about it…”

Lucy’s nose was red from crying. “If anything had happened to her, I would have carried that guilt for the rest of my life. She was injured saving me.” Katie, her foot wrapped in bandages, sat on a bench in the corridor, her eyes equally red. “I’m so relieved, so relieved Ms. Winters is okay.” Alana didn’t cry, but she exhaled deeply, her perpetually furrowed brow finally relaxing.

Drake looked toward Asher and scoffed. “Blackwood, Thalia nearly lost her life because of you. Stop bringing misfortune into her life!” Asher remained silent. The hours Thalia had spent in surgery had been the most painful, oppressive, and guilt-ridden hours of his life. He couldn’t refute Drake’s words. Because he felt exactly the same way. If not for him, why would Malfoy have targeted Thalia? Self-recrimination engulfed him. Asher’s heart felt as though it were being repeatedly squeezed and torn by an invisible hand, the pain nearly spasmodic.

Randolph looked up at Asher, his voice cold: “Blackwood, he’s right. From now on, stay far away from Thalia. Stop bringing her harm.”

Chapter 188

Asher’s breath caught, his heart contracting painfully.