Chapter 167

"At first, I kept it hidden from you because I didn't want you to feel obligated to marry me because of the debt of saving your life. I had my pride. But then, Winnie suddenly appeared and became pregnant with your child, and I couldn't bring myself to say it anymore... I decided to give up on the idea of us being destined for each other, and because of jealousy, I treated Winnie unkindly. I deeply regret it."

"Until I left Lymington, I never planned on telling you. But today, I'm afraid that if I don't confess this secret to you, I will die and lose my chance."

Darcy slowly approached him, her eyes clear and evoking sympathy. "I've loved you deeply all along. Four years ago, I risked everything to save you, and now, I saved Ms. Clark. It was all my voluntary choice. You don't have to bear any burden; I just hope that you can understand my intentions. Then I can pass away without regrets."

Lawrence looked deeply into her eyes, feeling a whirlwind of emotions churn in his heart and soul. He had searched for girls all around the world, never realizing that she had been silently by his side all this time, not uttering a single word. The emotions in his eyes spiraled into a vortex. Darcy seemed to have sacrificing for him, continuously.

Darcy looked at him, touched and moved, with a complex emotion in her eyes due to the debt of saving his life four years ago. She knew she had successfully pretended to be Winnie to reveal the half ring and had fabricated countless reasons. It was perfect; he would believe it, especially in his current state of confusion and heartbreak, especially after she had donated a kidney for his mother. This was the perfect opportunity, just as her mother had said. Laughter welled up in Darcy's heart...

"Mom?" A breathless and pale voice suddenly came from the door.

Winnie, barely clinging to life, reached the room and saw Lawrence embracing Darcy as soon as she entered. Frowning, her mind in turmoil, her gaze unconsciously shifted to another hospital bed-Melissa!

Lawrence, upon hearing her voice, slowly turned his ice-cold and profound face around. When their eyes met, she felt an ice-cold, heartless quality she had never experienced before Winnie felt as though he was piercing, cutting, and shattering her, like the sharpness of a blade.

Confusion filled her gaze; when she entered through the door earlier, Benjamin and others had fallen silent, casting cold stares at her. Winnie was famished and weakened, having been rescued from the mountains without any rest.

She immediately took a taxi to rush to Lymington. She first went to the Lymington police station and found out that her uncle had been arrested. Then she quickly returned to the villa estate, where the bodyguards told her that Madame Rodriguez was in the hospital. So, she hurried here. But what on earth happened? Why is it so quiet?

"Mom... How is she?" she wondered. Winnie thought Lawrence might be aware that her uncle kidnapped his mother and would be very angry. How much anger does he have towards her?

She reassured herself, resolute and as she approached Melissa's bedside, a man stormed over, pulling her and causing her to fall to the ground!

"Lawrence?" Winnie exclaimed in panic, her face paling. She instinctively shielded her stomach with her hands to avoid hitting the corner of the table.

"What right do you have to show your face, Winnie?" Darcy's frail voice trembled with tears. "Do you know that Melissa has fallen into a persistent vegetative state?"

Boom-

Winnie's mind echoed with a buzzing sound, as if a sharp knife was continuously stirring, blurring her thoughts and senses. Her eyes widened, turning bloodshot as tears unexpectedly spilled. She quickly got up and vigorously shook her head.

"No, impossible, how could this... It's nonsense! I took good care of her the night before, her breathing was even and she had a stable pulse when I brought her to escape. It was you... Darcy! You forcibly took her away, I knew you had ill intentions, how could you be so cruel..."

"Who is the real cruel one?" Darcy interrupted resentfully. "It was you and your uncle plotting against Mr. Rodriguez, so you kidnapped my godmother! When I heard the news that night, I immediately rushed to find her. But when I saw Melissa, she was being held captive by you. You have no idea what you were doing to her stomach. She was coughing up blood. Mr. Rodriguez, I took a video at that time, you take a look-"

Darcy turned around and handed her phone to Lawrence.

His large hands were ice-cold and piercing as he took the phone.

In the pitch-black night, Winnie placed his mother down, lifted her shirt, and inserted a needle into her belly. His mother forcefully spat out black blood, a look of extreme pain on her face.

The video abruptly stopped!

Lawrence's heart shattered as if it were pierced by ice, staring at Winnie.

Winnie looked at Darcy in disbelief. Before Darcy appeared, she had secretly recorded a video of ambushing them.

But this video was clearly edited!

Winnie hurriedly explained him, "Darcy framed me, she deliberately only recorded a portion. I was performing Dry Needling on my mother because she said her pancreatitis was acting up. I was relieving her pain. After coughing up blood, she immediately felt better..."

Slap!

Lawrence's hand swung and connected her face.

Winnie's face immediately swelled and reddened from the impact, causing her to stagger back and stumble into the wall.

He approached, his imposing figure casting a strong shadow that seemed to imprison her, A chilling aura emanated from him, like cold air from the depths of hell tightly enveloping her.

Lawrence stared at her, nodded sarcastically, and sneered, "So, you know how to perform Dry Needling, which means you must be a skilled doctor, right? I asked you before, what was your answer? You said you didn't know."

"Hiding behind lies, you're quite the master manipulator, aren't you? You have been lurking by my side and my mother's side all along. What were you hoping to achieve? The Imperial Group? Since you can't get it, you want to bring it with you? Was my mother not good to you? She cherished you like her own, and you..."

"What did you do to her?"

"Kidnapped her. She was so fragile and defenseless. All you did was give her an injection, and she started coughing up blood. Her kidneys failed! She's lying here now, never going to wake up again."

"You're beyond wicked. Words can't even describe you! And you dare slander Darcy? It was she who donated a kidney to my mother, saving her life!"

What? Darcy donated a kidney to his mom?

Winnie stared at Darcy in disbelief, unable to comprehend that she went to such lengths to frame herself.

A kidney, a lifeline.

Winnie's mind was about to explode. Darcy had orchestrated everything, but she still couldn't believe it. She looked pitifully at Lawrence and said, "I didn't deceive you! Your mom didn't have kidney failure that night. I checked her pulse and stabilized her condition. Darcy forcibly took her away, and when she knocked me out, I was worried about what she would do to her..."

"So, you are suggesting that Darcy caused my mother's kidney failure and then donated a kidney to her?" Lawrence retorted with a sneer.

If there was any lingering doubt in his mind before, now that he knew Darcy was the girl from four years ago, Lawrence found Winnie's true nature repulsive.

This was precisely why Darcy just claimed to be the savior. Mr. Rodriguez would be doubly moved and unquestioning!

Darcy fixed a cold stare on Winnie.

Rendered speechless by Lawrence's counter-question, Winnie felt the ruthlessness of this twist. It was an angle that no one would consider, but given Darcy's methods, she believed she was capable of it!

"I truly didn't harm your mom. I'm also in pain and heartbroken over her condition. I regret not personally sending her home and ensuring she received timely treatment," Winnie said through her pain, covering her eyes and slowly kneeling in front of his mother's sickbed.

"Lawrence, I'm sorry, but I love you. I genuinely won't bring harm to you anymore. There are matters concerning the Imperial Corporation that I can't divulge, I never intended to take your money, never..."

"You love me?" He grabbed her and pulled her up, not allowing her to kneel in front of his mother's sickbed!