Chapter 169

Inside Melissa's intensive care unit, Darcy had been moved to the adjacent special care ward, where Lawrence had arranged for the best nurses to attend to her.

The man sat alone by his mother's bedside for a staggering four hours.

No one knew what he was thinking.

Jeremy and Benjamin entered the ward as night fell.

Lawrence looked up, his gaze falling upon their faces, and he reached out his hand.

Jeremy stepped forward and said, "Here's the surveillance footage I found near the seaside villa, as well as the footage of Elliott kidnapping Ms. Clark at the intersection."

Mr. Rodriguez, driven by the remnants of his sanity, had wanted solid evidence of Winnie's betrayal even after throwing her out.

But the reality was cruel.

The surveillance footage near the seaside villa clearly captured Winnie at night being rescued by Elliott's assistant and getting into a car together.

And half an hour later, Elliott had abducted his mother by the roadside.

Lawrence finished watching the two pieces of surveillance footage and let out an exhausted laugh, gesturing, "Bring Taylor in."

After Taylor came in, Lawrence asked him, "Did you hear the whole conversation Elliott had with my mother on the day? What did he say?"

Taylor honestly replied again, "Elliott used Winnie as bait and falsely claimed her child was about to miscarry, refusing treatment. Ms. Clark's was deeply concerned..."

"Mr. Rodriguez, I couldn't reach you, so I hurriedly took the driver and left the villa when..."

Why couldn't they reach him at that time? Because he was trapped in the police station.

Jeremy furrowed his brow, his voice tinged with hesitation, " Should we continue investigating who released the Dazzling Party video?"

"Who released it? To what end?"

"What's the point of investigating?"

Lawrence's soft laughter held a bitter edge. On one hand, he used himself as bait, deceiving an innocent and frail mother to leave the villa without protection, only then to abduct her. On the other hand, he wanted to trap him in the police station. Such a clever plan!

In the past when Dazzling Party used to protect her became a knife she used to cut through his heart.

Lawrence closed his eyes and said, "Why are women so ruthless? My mother was already riddled with illness; how could she bring herself to kill her, causing kidney failure?"

"Benjamin, Jeremy, the doctor just informed me that even with well-managed brain death conditions, she will only have a life expectancy of three years in a persistent vegetative state."

"I can't accept it." His voice turned gentle, a trace of tears could be seen in his dark eyes. In the presence of his mother, any man was just a child.

Moved, Benjamin immediately looked away. "Mr. Rodriguez, please don't say anymore! It's all Winnie's fault! Ms. Clark was vibrant on the night before Christmas. She was joyful when I called to wish her a Happy New Year. She's fought for you all these years. She knew you were lonely..."

"She thought I would have a wife and children; I thought I would have them too. It was all a lie. I ended up with a conniving woman by my side, leading to the destruction of my family and the loss of loved ones."

Lawrence chuckled lightly, slowly closed his eyes, his demeanor chilling and inscrutable. "Have Elliott incarcerated immediately, no need for trial, give him a life sentence. Transfer the other evidence to the police station, arrest whoever needs to be arrested."

This sentence implied sending Winnie to the police station.

Jeremy was slightly startled.

Benjamin, however, saw Mr. Rodriguez's right hand trembling, which he had gently placed down.

His expression changed drastically, and he subtly nudged Jeremy, lowering his voice, "Mr. Rodriguez's hand is shaking. He used to have tremors when he had a seizure."

Jeremy also noticed it and took a deep breath. Since Winnie's appearance and Mr. Rodriguez slapped her, Mr. Rodriguez's emotions never fluctuated.

He has been too silent. Something was wrong.

Jeremy seemed to see a faint crack in that tightly suppressed state.

"Mr. Rodriguez, do you want me to call a doctor..."

"Everyone, leave." Lawrence remained seated like a statue, his voice weary.

No one dared to defy him, Jeremy and Benjamin included. The two of them walked out heavily burdened with worries.

At eight o'clock in the evening, two policemen unexpectedly entered Winnie's hospital room.

She woke up in a daze.

Olivia stood in front of her, also losing her composure, and asked, "Officers, may I ask who you're looking for?"

"We are looking for Winnie."

The police officer presented his identification and quickly said, "Lawrence has submitted evidence to the police. On the night your uncle Elliott kidnapped his mother, you entered his assistant's car. We are conducting a routine investigation to determine if you were involved in the kidnapping."

Winnie's heart skipped a beat. He was going to drag her to the police station. He would never forgive her in this lifetime.

Observing her dazed expression, Olivia hastily intervened, "Officers, Winnie is pregnant and showing signs of premature labor. She may not be able to leave the hospital. Could you please consider conducting the investigation here?"

One of the officers went out to consult with a doctor.

Shortly after, he returned and said, "The medical condition has been confirmed. We will conduct the interview in the hospital room. Please provide detailed information about what happened that day."

Winnie squeezed her pale hands and truthfully recounted the events without withholding anything.

The police officer took notes, rose from his seat, and before leaving, he said, "Miss Anderson, there is increasing pressure from higher-ups to re-examine Elliott's kidnapping case. We have solid evidence, and Elliott will be imprisoned tonight. He has asked to see you as soon as possible."

"What?" Winnie's body swayed, struggling to remain seated.

According to the standard procedure, her uncle would only be apprehended on the third day, and the evidence certainly hadn't been fully compiled by now. It shouldn't have happened so quickly.

Furthermore, her uncle didn't directly cause Melissa to be in a persistent vegetative state. His actions shouldn't result in lifetime imprisonment!

It's... it's Lawrence.

Given her uncle's health was so poor, and the infection in his amputated leg hadn't been treated. He probably wouldn't last even a year in prison.

Winnie was in great turmoil, covered in cold sweat, and couldn't care less about the pain in her abdomen. She immediately got up from the bed.

"Winnie!" Olivia, her face pale, moved forward to assist her.

"I have to find Lawrence. My uncle won't be imprisoned forever. Please... I implore him..." She stumbled anxiously towards the exit.

Olivia brought a wheelchair and f helped her onto it. "Ms. Clark's room is at the far end of the upstairs corridor."

As they had just taken the elevator up and walked to the end, a scream suddenly came from Melissa's intensive care unit!

A male doctor rushed out, holding his neck and in pain. With blood splattered on his arm, he desperately shouted, "Lawrence has attacked someone! Call the police!"

"Doctor, please calm down! Mr. Rodriguez suddenly had a seizure. Please understand..." Benjamin, accompanied by bodyguards, hurried over, his complexion changing, and restrained the doctor, urging him to be quiet.

Yet, the doctor broke down and yelled, "I was examining his mother when I saw him turning red and gasping for breath. I kindly asked if he was okay, and he suddenly stabbed me with a knife. Clearly deranged, mentally unstable, he can't control himself. He's extremely destructive! You need to get him out of here quickly, or the entire hospital will be in chaos!"

"We are trying to figure out a solution. We will call in a specialist! It's not intentional on his part!" Ben said.

Winnie remained frozen, unable to understand what happened to Lawrence. What mental illness?

All she heard were the fearful sounds of things being smashed in the ward.

"Olivia, push me over there quickly."

"What's happening with Lawrence?" Olivia panicked and hesitated a bit.

Winnie left her wheelchair and ran over quickly.