Chapter 499

"If you had been straightforward with Winnie about dating Ishara solely for her bone marrow, would she have any justification for harboring such intense resentment toward you?" Jeremy contemplated.

Lawrence chuckled and shook his head. "It's far more complex than it appears. If I had the opportunity to disclose it to her, I would have. Did you know that Dr. Moore suspected the pills Winnie had been giving my mother for the last three years contained toxic substances? If Winnie discovered that her actions inadvertently caused my mother's illness and possibly her demise, do you think there'd be any chance of a future between us?"

Jeremy was deeply affected by the hollow sound of Lawrence's laughter.

Lawrence continued, "Three years ago, because of an old feud with the Elliotts, she sought revenge, leaving our relationship scarred and bleeding. If we added familial hatred into the mix now, what would be left between me and her?

"I was scared, scared I couldn't make it through, but even more so that she couldn't overcome the hurdle of losing a mother. Our lives seem shattered and disjointed right now. Yet, once we get past this misunderstanding with Ishara, and when mom recovers from her illness, I could spend plenty of time making things right with her. But if mom dies and she learns the truth, it's all over. She'll spend her life staying far away from me."

Listening to his bitter confession, Jeremy's defenses were shattered. His usually bright eyes grew misty with emotion. He felt how tormented Lawrence was inside.

This explained his desperation to secure Ishara's bone marrow donation, it was to heal Melissa, allowing him and Winnie to overcome this ordeal. He hadn't given up on Winnie. He was simply shouldering the burden all alone.

Moved, Jeremy said, "In the end, you simply wanted to spare Winnie from feeling guilty or blaming herself. So, you carried the weight of everything, including her misconceptions and animosity. She'll never realize you did it to shield her, to preserve that chance for both of you. If it were me, I'd prefer the woman I love to believe I'd fallen for someone else rather than discovering she nearly caused my mother's death. The former can be resolved with the truth, but the latter leaves a permanent scar." He understood Lawrence now.

"But you can't keep this a secret from everyone. You should have at least told me. I could've helped share the burden so you wouldn't have to suffer alone."

Lawrence shook his head. "I'm responsible for this mess. I underestimated Ishara's predicament and treated the donation process too casually. My actions have caused Winnie significant pain due to her condition, so it's understandable that she harbors resentment toward me. Moreover, Ishara stressed the need for confidentiality regarding the donation, so I couldn't confide in anyone. Please, don't reveal this to Winnie. It'll be resolved within a month, and I'll reunite Oscar with her."

Lawrence gripped the wheelchair, his brows furrowed in a grim expression.

Peering into the depths of his guilt-ridden eyes, Jeremy said with compassion, "No one could have foreseen Ishara kidnapping Oscar. Don't compound your burdens with the weight of Oscar's disappearance. It's just that your persona holds an irresistible allure for women. Has Ishara made additional demands? She seemed quite self-satisfied. Regardless of whether you agreed to her terms, I understand why you're keeping her close. Currently, her bone marrow is of utmost importance, and given our lack of knowledge about Oscar's whereabouts, Ishara stands as our most promising lead."

Lawrence nodded, a cold edge entering his voice. "If she wants to play, then I'll play right back."

Jeremy was frustrated. He knew Lawrence could usually handle someone like Ishara but this time she had cunningly gained an advantage. She was no ordinary person. His blood ran cold just thinking about it.

"Go ahead and keep an eye on Ishara. Investigate her thoroughly. If Winnie asks about Oscar, give her the straight facts on our progress. We don't need her feeling any more heartbroken," Lawrence instructed as he picked up his glass for a sip of water.

"Sir, you really should head to the hospital now." Bryan urged, concern etching his face.

"Forget the hospital, I need to swing by the Rodriguez residence first. Hellen was the one who plotted Winnie's car accident, and this is far from over." Lawrence spat, his tone icy as he maneuvered his wheelchair.

Jeremy observed his retreating figure with a sigh. No matter how he analyzed it, Lawrence had a genuine concern for Winnie. She held the highest place in his heart.

Jeremy couldn't help but text Winnie. "Don't harbor any resentment toward Mr. Rodriguez. He thinks you're capable of bearing the emotional harm done inadvertently for Ishara's benefit. He will not allow you to suffer in vain for whatever you cannot bear, such as the accident or kidnapping. He is leaving to confront the Rodriguez family at their main residence. He truly cares about you a great deal in his heart."

Winnie's heart skipped a beat, sensing Jeremy might have caught onto something. She quickly replied, "Did you talk to him? Jeremy, did he tell you the truth?"

Caught off guard, Jeremy responded, "There's no straightforward 'truth.' All I can convey is that Melissa is in a dire state. If she doesn't get saved, she won't make it. It's his mother. Regardless of empathy, nobody would stand by and witness their own mother's demise. Plus, it's relevant to you too, Winnie.

"Get some rest, Winnie. Clear your mind. I know you're worried about Oscar. I'm already covertly looking into Ishara on Mr. Rodriguez 's orders and just so you know, he's not out of his mind." Jeremy hinted.

Winnie took a deep breath. She felt like she finally got the confirmation she'd been hoping for. Lawrence eventually placed his trust in the evidence she and Sidney had gathered.

Her eyes welled up as she ended the call and booked a flight to Lymington.

In the dead of night, Winnie called Carlos. "Dad, are you still awake?"

"How could I sleep with all that's happened today?" Carlos replied with a bitter laugh. "I thought Eleanor was the only one who had it out for you but to think that Ishara could be behind the kidnapping I just can't believe she's capable of such malice."

"I understand, Dad. I lack concrete evidence to confirm Oscar's presence in her custody. I'm reaching out because I want to explore the possibility of taking a brief hiatus to return to Lymington. Following that, I'm contemplating joining the Blanchet family headquarters. In case Eleanor attempts to turn the Blanchets against me, you can unveil the proof of her harassment. This way, Eleanor won't be able to sow discord."

"Good." Carlos snorted coldly. "I'll arrange for you to join the Blanchet family in a week. I've been so furious lately and it's taking a toll on my heart. As for Eleanor, she'll be out of the Blanchet family by tomorrow morning where we'll be officially separated."

Winnie had no objections. Carlos's divorce was the best outcome for her. Once inside the Blanchet family headquarters, she would have enough leverage to unravel the truth behind her mother's death.

Eleanor caught wind of Carlos's phone conversation, her eyes sparking with fury. She hastily returned to her bedroom and placed a call without delay. "Carlos plans to oust me from the family business tomorrow, aiming for a formal disassociation. In a week, he's orchestrating Winnie's entry into the Blanchet family. The father and daughter are weaving a cunning game. Well, let's see if he can weather the storm in the coming week." A sinister determination glinted in the depths of her eyes.

The next day, Winnie who was accompanied by Sidney, silently flew back to Lymington.

It had only been half a month since she had left Lymington but her reunion with her uncle, Lena, Olivia, and Laura felt like a reunion after a long separation.

In the afternoon, Winnie made her way to the Island Electronics Hospital where Melissa was.

Lawrence remained tight-lipped about the situation, and Jeremy appeared to be concealing information. She needed to personally visit Melissa to understand the severity of her illness. Moreover, if Ishara indeed kidnapped Oscar, she must have taken him from Darcy. She needed to meet with Darcy.