Chapter 107 If I Die, We All Die Together

As Daniel was Brenda's attending physician, Elodie blurted out, "How could I not be worried?"

"The surgery isn't urgent. You can mull it over, but if you want a full recovery, surgery's your best bet," Daniel replied.

Elodie knew this, but she also knew the risks involved.

"Maybe I'm just bad at handling stress. When Nathan had his accident, my phone was off, and I shut out all my friends, even Isabella. I panicked, just like now. I'm scared that one wrong move on my part could..."

Elodie took a deep breath, struggling to put her emotions into words. She was just really confused.

Daniel patted her shoulder and reassured her, "Don't freak out. Life's all about making choices. Your mom won't blame you."

"I'll think about it some more," she said.

When she walked into the hospital room, Brenda didn't look well. Elodie gently held her hand and asked, "Brenda, how are you feeling?"

Brenda slowly lifted her eyelids and looked at Elodie. "When's the surgery?"

"Brenda, the doctor and I are still discussing whether you should have the surgery. What's your take?" Elodie asked, terrified of losing her.

"Let's go ahead with the surgery. My body isn't that weak; it should be fine," Brenda said calmly.

"Brenda, the surgery is very risky. What if..." Elodie said, her eyes red and swollen.

Brenda gently patted her hand and said, "Don't be afraid. I won't leave you. I'm still waiting for Nathan to get better so the three of us can go on a trip together. I'll hold on."

"Okay." Elodie was torn, but she had to make a decision, a painful and irreversible one.

Far away in Rexonia, Isabella had finally named her child Frederick.

Frederick yawned, wanting to sleep, so Isabella turned on the TV because Frederick could only sleep soundly with the TV on.

Isabella held Frederick and gently patted him.

The news was on TV.

It was about EX Corporation. There were many reporters, flashing lights, and the scene was chaotic. Police were escorting Nicholas out, his hands in cold handcuffs.

'Nicholas is really arrested. What about Susan? Will Ray be arrested too?' she thought, having not heard from him in a long time.

Isabella sighed softly and carried the sleeping Frederick to the bedroom.

Outside the detention center, Ray sat in his car, lighting a cigarette.

It wasn't a good day, with thunder and lightning tearing through the night sky.

He held the cigarette between his fingers, never taking a drag, just letting it burn and fill the cramped space with smoke.

When the cigarette burned out, Ray stubbed it out in the ashtray beside him, grabbed an umbrella, and got out of the car.

He saw Nicholas, the once powerful business mogul, looking much more disheveled in prison clothes.

Seeing Ray, Nicholas remained calm. His somewhat cloudy eyes glanced at Ray and he said, "You've achieved your goal."

Ray looked at him slowly and smiled. "This is the best outcome."

"The best outcome," Nicholas laughed bitterly, his eyes filled with hatred as he looked at Ray. "If Susan hadn't saved you back then, would you still be standing here to confront me? Bastard."

Ray laughed, but his smile was icy. "Saved me?"

"You're heartless. You don't deserve to be human," Nicholas spat out.

"Gratitude isn't something I show to a thief, Nicholas. You seem to have forgotten how you got me to Rexonia in the first place," Ray replied coldly.

"You..."

"I fell into the river, washed up at the estuary, and some kind folks saved me. While they were calling an ambulance, you and Susan snatched me away. You knew exactly who I was and where I came from, but you erased those memories. You used me as a pawn in EX Corporation, dragged me into drug trafficking, smuggling, and every dirty deal. You were always ready to let me take the fall, go to jail, or even face the death penalty." Ray's eyes were icy as he stared at Nicholas. "So, did you enjoy playing your part?"

Nicholas suddenly laughed, realizing that someone as smart as George was beyond his control. George knew everything.

"I have to admit, your abilities exceeded my expectations. But don't forget, I'm in here, and you won't get away either. If I die, we all die together." Nicholas's teeth ground together audibly.

"You think I wouldn't have evidence of the illegal things you did in my name? Even if I didn't want to get you, I would clear my own name. Especially since I got you in here, how could I let myself be implicated? You're overthinking it," Ray—no, now it was George—said.

Nicholas gripped the cold iron bars and cursed, "George, you won't end up with a good end."

"If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place, Nicholas? You were just too greedy." George looked at the furious Nicholas with a calm, almost indifferent expression.

Nicholas's body went limp, nearly collapsing. "When did you start your revenge?"

"There's no point in asking that."

"Even if you hated me for using you as a scapegoat, Susan truly loved you. She never hurt you. How could you bear to get her thrown in jail too?" Nicholas's voice trembled.

"Yes, she did like me. She liked me so much that she drugged my drinks, installed a tracker in my car, and slept with different men every night," George mocked.

"That was because she was afraid you'd leave her. George, you can't do this to Susan. You'll burn in hell," Nicholas said.

George laughed. "I've been there. Gotta go now. Good luck."

Life went on peacefully. Frederick was very well-behaved, and Lisa took good care of him.

One day, Lisa came back from grocery shopping and glanced at the black car parked downstairs. She paused for a moment, thinking, 'That car has been parked there for many days. It's strange.'

Back home, she mentioned it to Isabella. "That car has been parked downstairs for a month. I don't know what it's doing there. It's weird."

Isabella looked downstairs while holding Frederick. "Who knows."

"Could it be someone with bad intentions?" Lisa took Frederick from Isabella and gently soothed him.

"Just be careful when you go out. Better safe than sorry," Isabella said.

Lisa nodded and took Frederick to look at the fish.

When Lisa was with Frederick, Isabella usually had some free time. Today, she took the opportunity to call Elodie.

But the call didn't go through, and Isabella didn't know what was happening with her.

There was a knock on the door.

Isabella went to open it, surprised and shocked to see the man standing there. "What are you doing here?"