Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 Recently, Anne’s 14-year-old adopted daughter stumbled upon the news of Nathan openly expressing his love for Amelia.
That was how Anne had learned about Nathan’s memory loss, and that his close friends hadn't mentioned Audrey even once in the two years she was in a coma. They had even burned all her photographs.
Anne lacked education. She traveled to Sheysea, hoping to use the photographs she’d brought with her to help Audrey. But she never had any intentions of hurting anyone.
“| understand, Aunt Anne,” Audrey reassured her softly, “Don’t worry, the police won’t wrongfully accuse you. I'll visit the injured at the hospital first, then figure out a way to get you out.”
“Am | causing you too much trouble, Audrey? I’m sorry. | came to help you, not add to your burdens! I’m afraid of the Lambert family harming you and looking for your mother. | always mess things up,*
Anne cried, her voice breaking.
“No, you haven't!” A Shook her head emphatically, gripping Anne’s hands firmly. “Don’t be afraid, Anne. I’m here.”
Hugo only spoke up after they left the police station.
“Shouldn't you inform the Lambert family about the Lambert family planning to go on the show? At the very least, you should tell Ryan.”
Hugo was referring to Ryan Lambert.
Audrey's silence and her focus on her phone led Hugo to think she was worried about revealing that Ryan was still in contact with his biological relatives to the Lamberts, and possibly causing him
trouble.
“| know you're concerned that involving Ryan might affect his future, but once the show airs, your relationship will likely be exposed! Ryan is now in control of the Lambert Corporation. He’s the only one who can stop the show from being broadcast.”
“Looking For Relatives” was a highly-rated show and one of Sheysea TV’s flagship programs. Its host, lan, was a famous stand— up comedian and actor with a significant background.
Hugo’s influence as a member of the Stewart family probably wasn’t enough to persuade lan. But Ryan was different. As Hugo tried to persuade Audrey, the cab they were in arrived at the police station entrance.
“Thank you for telling me about this, Hugo. But | can handle it from here.”
“Audrey!” Hugo, visibly frustrated, placed a hand on the car door Audrey was about to open.
He protested, “Just because you and Nathan are separated, do you have to cut ties with me too?
Because I’m friends with him? That’s not fair! You know how happy | was when you got divorced! 1...”
“So what?” Audrey’s calm, clear voice interrupted Hugo’s agitated breaths.
He snapped back to reality. He realized he had crossed a line.
Setting aside the fact that Audrey harbored no romantic feelings for him, the stark difference in their backgrounds, and the history between the Stewart and Lambert families, meant he couldn't offer Audrey much.
He pondered, “Can | even marry her? No. If we were together, what would she be? A secret lover?” Audrey was proud and likely to refuse him, even if she had feelings for him, which she didn’t. “Excuse me,” Audrey said as she opened the car door. She stepped out without another word.
At the hospital, reporters and fans of Amelia crowded the entrance.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
Wearing a mask, Audrey slipped through a side door. She sought out Hugo’s sister, Hannah Stewart, to inquire about Amelia and Nathan’s conditions.
“It's okay, don’t worry too much,” Hannah said with a gentle smile that matched her delicate features. Her belly showed under her white coat.
She continued, “Ms. Doyle was well-protected by Nathan. She dislocated her ankle, which has been put back in place, and Nathan only suffered some external injuries.”
Audrey let out a sigh of relief. As long as Amelia and Nathan weren't seriously injured, Anne could get bailed out quickly.
“Dr. Stewart, there’s a call from the emergency department asking for you,” a nurse interrupted urgently, peeking out from the elevator.
“You go ahead, Hannah.” Audrey stepped aside.
“Alright,” Hannah replied, slipping her stethoscope into her lab coat. “Be careful if you’re returning late, and text me when you get home.”
Audrey nodded.
Exiting the hospital building, she sat in the dimly lit hospital garden, her eyes fixed on her phone screen. She hesitated to dial the familiar number. She didn’t want to make the call.
As Hugo said, Nathan didn’t know the nature of her relationship with Anne. Calling him could have easily led to misunderstandings.
However, if she didn’t say anything and Nathan discovered her connection to Anne, was her silence going to lead to even more misunderstandings?
While Audrey was caught in this dilemma, a familiar voice came from the bamboo grove next to the bench she was on.
“Are you saying this woman named Anne used to be Audrey’s foster mother?” She turned her head.
Silhouettes were barely visible through the sparse bamboo. Nathan was standing by a trash can with Amelia’s cousin. They were both smoking.
Audrey remembered Amelia’s cousin, Charles Murray. He was the one who had barged into the room and taken photos of her the day she and Nathan had been drugged. Those photos had been plastered at Sheysea University.
“Yes, Nathan, you might not remember, but Audrey's biological mother was trafficked to their small town, Sayeno Town.
“Anne escaped with her, but Audrey’s mother died from childbirth complications. The Lambert family, hating anything related to the Yeomans family, didn’t want Audrey. That's when Anne took Audrey in for two years and changed her last name.
Charles continued, “When Anne fell seriously ill and couldn’t care for Audrey, the Lambert family still didn’t want her. Audrey was taken back to Sayeno Town. Coincidentally, she saved you when you were kidnapped. After that, she clung to you and came with you to Sheysea.”
Nathan leaned against a tree, stretching his legs. His dark eyes brooded as he pursed his lips tightly.
“When Audrey was in a coma, it was Anne who was constantly by her side in the hospital. Anne, being childless, treated Audrey like her own. It must have been Audrey who instructed Anne to harm my
sister!
“Nathan, Audrey will definitely come to ask you to spare Anne. But you mustn’t be soft-hearted. You have to avenge my sister!” Charles urged.
“What do you suggest for revenge?” Nathan asked.
Charles said convincingly, “Look, Nathan. Audrey drugged you to get into your bed and break up you and my sister. Everyone knows that Lucas and Jen grew up with Audrey.
“She pretended to call the police and then played along with Lucas to drop the charges. If that isn’t guilt, what is? Because of this incident, My sister almost went abroad just to avoid you because of the incident.‘