?<strong>Chapter 525:</strong>


    Mabel attempted to provoke Elyse, but Elyse remained stoically unbothered. “If I were an orphan, you would have had to take the me for every mistake you made from childhood to adulthood,” she said to Mabel.


    Mabel’s expression hardened. “It’s your duty. You’re like a sponge in my family, so isn’t it fair that you take all the me for me?” she snapped.


    “I’ve been away from your family for a long time now, and I can no longer assist you,” Elyse responded with a smile, herposure unshaken.


    She then narrowed her eyes and added with a cold sneer, “If you expect my help, you need to adjust your attitude. You want to save Glenda, but that’s not my concern. I’d rather leave her fate to the police.”


    Mabel clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. “So what do you expect me to do?” she asked, frustration evident in her tone.


    Elyse met her gaze with chilling indifference. Memories of past grievances and injuries inflicted by Mabel surged in her mind. She vividly remembered the injustices from their childhood and adolescence, particrly when Mabel stole her sheet music and imed credit for her work, basking in the acim.


    It was clear to Elyse that she and Mabel would never reconcile—not in this lifetime.


    When Elyse fell silent, Mabel’s patience snapped, and she raised her hand to p her. Just as the p was about tond, Jayden intervened. He caught Mabel’s hand swiftly and delivered a quick kick to her stomach.


    Mabel was propelled several meters back. She clutched her stomach and doubled over like a bent shrimp, struggling to stand.


    Elyse was stunned by the rapid esction of events. “Is this how you ask for help?” Elyse confronted Mabel, visibly angry.


    Despite the pain overwhelming her, Mabel forced a smile. “You’ve been my maid your whole life. Do you really think that will change once you’re married? Elyse, you’ll always be my maid!” she shouted, her lips quivering.


    Elyse was infuriated by Mabel’s attitude. To calm her down, Jayden said, “Don’t let it get to you. It’s just like a crazy dog barking.”


    At that moment, Jayden’s phone rang. He answered and listened intently to the hospital staff on the other end. His shock was evident as he eximed, “What? Lanny ran over someone?”


    Elyse was shocked, with Mabel appearing even more distressed. “What happened? Who was hit by my dad’s car?” Mabel asked, staggering to her feet.


    Elyse felt a wave of anxiety as she watched Jayden end the call. She had a feeling something was very wrong.


    “We need to get to the hospital now,” Jayden said with a grave expression.


    “Who did Lanny hit?” Elyse asked, her voice low.


    After a pause heavy with tension, Jayden responded slowly, “Dorothy. She’s in the emergency room now.”


    All of a sudden, Elyse felt dizzy. “What happened? How did thingse to this?” she murmured.


    A few hours ago, when Mabel dashed out of her home in a frenzied state, Lanny was close on her heels. After a short pursuit, he lost sight of her and was unable to catch up. But Lanny remained undisturbed by this setback. He was confident that Elyse, who inherited her parents’ kind-hearted nature, would not harm Mabel. Ironically, Lanny deemed this quality insignificant and had no desire to nurture it in himself.


    He quickly turned back and made his way to the hospital.


    For the past several days, he had been visiting the hospital daily, cleverly disguised with a fake beard and a peaked cap to blend in with the visitors in the inpatient department. On several asions, as he approached Dorothy’s ward to sneak in, he noticed it was guarded by bodyguards. Lanny found it strange that Jayden would arrange a well-equipped ward and costly bodyguards for an elderly woman nearing death. Despite his confusion, his goal was clear. He wanted to kill Dorothy and bury the secrets of the past.


    That day, Lanny went to the hospital as usual to find an opportunity to kill Dorothy. He parked outside and waited patiently for two hours before deciding to make his move. He knew the bodyguards would asionally leave their post for brief bathroom breaks. He would take advantage of one such moment to attack Dorothy.


    With a clear n in mind, Lanny rushed toward the inpatient department.


    A strangely familiar voice caught his attention as he passed the registration office on the first floor. He paused and turned, drawn by curiosity. A woman was arguing with a nurse, removing her hospital gown.


    “Ma’am, you must remain hospitalized for a few more days. You have a blood clot in your brain ording to thetest test results,” the nurse said to the woman.


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