Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 254

The phone call was from Hayden, who relayed a succinct message. “Davina Field has been found.”

Julie was standing close to Kieran, so she overheard Hayden’s words.

Seeing Kieran’s expression shift, Dylan turned and asked, “Did we get a lead?”

“Davina’s been found.” Keiran said.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the entrance of the ICU at Tranquil Care Hospital.

Hayden stood by the door. He wore a deep blue suit with a black shirt underneath, and his demeanor seemed calm and composed. Two of his men stood beside him, and their mere presence magnified Hayden’s already imposing aura.

Dylan stayed behind to deal with the two thugs and was tasked with escorting Daphne home.

Julien approached Hayden, the two seemingly accustomed to each other’s silent company. Without a word of greeting, Julien kicked open the door to the ICU.

Julien, not dressed in protective gear, walked right in. Mr. Watson turned to Harding and asked, “That door must’ve cost a pretty penny, huh?”

“Julien can pay the bill.” Harding glanced at Julien.

Hayden turned to Kieran and Julie, saying, “She was found on the west coast, still alive.”

“Barely.” Mr. Watson interjected, “If it wasn’t for Harding’s expertise, she’d probably be dead by now.”

Julie, standing outside, peered through the window into the ward. Davina was sprawled on the bed, with tubes sticking out of her everywhere. She was as still as a corpse. Her face was pale and if it weren’t for the rhythmic puff of mist from the ventilator, one would hardly believe she was alive.

Julien emerged from the ward and said to Julie, “You’re better off not going in there.”

Julie frowned, and Harding added, “Her tendons have been severed, and although the bullet from her gunshot wound has been removed, the wound has festered. She’s covered in bruises and cuts, new and old, and there are numerous tiny puncture wounds from injections. Our blood tests during the check-up showed traces of drugs. We suspect she was repeatedly drugged and then forced to go through withdrawal.”

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Harding suddenly stopped mid-sentence, and after a moment, he concluded, “Basically, the perpetrator is a monster.”

“Can’t she be saved?” Kieran asked.

Harding nodded, “Davina’s lung function has completely failed. She can only survive on the ventilator, and at most, she has a week to live. If we remove the ventilator, she wouldn’t last two hours.”

“Then let’s keep her on the ventilator for now.” Kieran said.

Despite this, Julie decided to go into the ward to see Davina.

Outside, Hayden handed Kieran his phone. On the screen was a message in Hayden’s public mail box, which he received it in the morning. It was short: [Davina, North Bridgehead, West Coast.]

Hayden explained, “I’ve already checked. It was sent from an anonymous account registered in Veridia by a high school student. He was paid by someone to do so. No other info could be extracted.”

Kieran wasn’t surprised by this news. He didn’t doubt Hayden’s abilities. If Davina’s whereabouts could have been tracked down, it would have been done when she first went missing. What he was worried about now was how powerful the person must be that even Hayden couldn’t find clues.

Julien, standing by the door, suddenly turned to Harding and said, “Davina’s awake.

Harding hadn’t expected Davina to wake up and found himself admiring her will to live. He immediately headed towards the ward.

Julie saw Davina trying to open her mouth, as if attempting to say something. She didn’t have the strength to open her eyes; only her eyelashes were fluttered.

Harding checked on her before shaking his head resignedly. Davina was kept alive by the thread of the drugs.

Julie remembered the confident Davina at the office, wearing high heels, eating in the cafeteria with her, and reminiscing about old times. But now, Davina resembled neither a human nor a ghost. It seemed to take all her remaining strength just to open her mouth.

Marlon asked, “Is she trying to say something?”

Davina’s half-open eyes seemed to be staring at Julie.

Julie, feeling heartbroken, asked Davina, “Who did this to you?” NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.

Davina seemed desperate to tell Julie something. Julie leaned in, straining to hear her out.

The room was silent, and only the sound of the machines were beeping. Julie sat by Davina’s ventilator and listened to her raspy voice. Davina said, “Please, let me die.”

Julie had seen countless people living at the bottom of society. Even in harsh and unprotected environments, and even when plagued by illness, they still hoped to live a little longer, be it a day, a minute, or a second. Julie had witnessed that intense will to survive.

But she had never seen this kind of despair that someone using the last of their strength to beg for death. It was too shocking.

Julie stood there, looking at Davina. The desire to die was intense, and it was hard to imagine what Davina must have gone through in those days. From the

wounds on Davina’s body, it must have been an inhuman torture.

Julien walked up to Davina and said, “Tell me, who did this to you, and I’ll let you die.”

Julien’s hand was on the ventilator. Once she removed it, Davina would die for sure.

“Give me a name, and I’ll grant your wish.” Julien gripped the ventilator tightly.

Saying a name, it should be a piece of cake which was easier than begging for death. But Davina suddenly clammed up. She was scared shitless.

Hayden pulled Julien close, and Julien collapsed into his arms. She was held tight.

“Davina ain’t gonna spill the beans.” Hayden tried to talk Julien out of his fruitless efforts.

Julien gripped Hayden’s arm. She shoved him aside, gave him a look but didn’t utter a word. She then walked out of the hospital room.

Mr. Watson watched Julien’s retreating figure, saying, “I reckon we should let Julien know about the value of this door.”

“Should we indulge Davina?” Julie turned her head, asking Kieran’s opinion. Her eyes were filled with sorrow.

A tear glimmered at the corner of Davina’s eye. She was dying for death, but keeping her secret was more important than dying. So, even if she longed for death, she couldn’t spill that name. Hayden was right. Davina wouldn’t rat on her tormentor, even though she might know who it was.

Kieran walked to the bedside, and Julie had her hand on Davina’s ventilator. Davina cracked open her eyes and looked at Julie. Her eyes were filled with apology, pain, and gratitude, but not a trace of regret.

Kieran grabbed Julie’s hand, and Julie suddenly turned to Kieran, saying, “Davina’s mom is overseas.”

Hearing Julie’s words, Davina seemed to muster up some energy. She shook her head at Julie. The movement was slight, but it took all her strength.

Julie bent over and moved close to her. She heard Davina’s whisper, “Please, let me die.”

Davina didn’t want her mother to see her in such a pathetic state; she’d rather have her mother believe that she was living alone yet strong in some corner of the world.

Julie felt a lump in her throat.

Kieran reached out and gripped Davina’s ventilator. Finally, they pulled the ventilator out of Davina’s nose. The tear at the corner of her eye trickled down, leaving a streak on her pale face.

Harding said, once the ventilator was removed, Davina could only live for two more hours at most. But Julie didn’t have the guts to watch a life fading away in these two hours. So, in the end, Julie was ushered out of the room by Kieran.

He arranged for someone to notify Davina’s mother. But by the time Davina’s mother arrived, Davina might have been gone already.

This was Davina’s final wish.

Julie stood outside the window. She watched the nurses pull out the tubes one by one from Davina’s body, then saw the people in the room leave in silent.

In the end, only Davina was left, lying alone on the hospital bed. Davina tried to turn her head, looking at Julie outside the window. She smiled and whispered a thank you.

The winter sun shone on Davina’s face. She squinted at the sunlight outside the window. This was fine. She could go find Rankin to make amends.

Kieran reached out. Quietly and silently, he gently held Julie and stood by her side..

This was how Davina left. Julie never thought she would see a friend die one day. What kind of person tormented Davina so much?

During the days when she lost contact with Rankin, Davina never thought that it was because Rankin had left this world. Davina thought Rankin just changed his email address, so they lost contact. She though that she was not essential in Rankin’s life.

Turned out, a life could just vanish in an instant, so the only thing that could really separate lovers was death. Rankin, the man Davina loved, was dead. She came/ to avenge him on Julie, but it cost her own life.

At this moment, Julie seemed to understand the meaning of classic stories like “Romeo and Juliet”. Should those who still have the chance to live and love feel extremely blessed?

Julie hugged Kieran’s waist tightly with all her might.

“Hungry?” Kieran asked gently.

Julie nodded.

Kieran gently wiped away the tears at the corner of Julie’s eyes. He held her hand, and they walked towards the hospital entrance.

Kieran’s phone buzzed in his pocket. Noah called. His eyebrows knitted together, and he picked up the call. A grave voice came from Noah on the other end of the

line.