Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Chapter 63
I rushed to the hospital after receiving news that May had gotten into a car accident. When I arrived at the door to her ward, Nicholas was already there, puffing a cigarette at the side of a corridor. He promptly put out the cigarette when he saw me, and he told me in a calm voice, "The doctors have saved her. The person who was driving was… the man that she has been trying to get closer to."
"You mean Rudy?!" I immediately asked him.
Just how did Nicholas know that May was trying to get close to Rudy?
Instead of answering me, he threw me another question. "Is May the reason you have been investigating Rudy Adams?" Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
I only nodded at that. Nicholas had always been a clever man. A thought suddenly came to me then, and I exclaimed, "I am sure she did this on purpose. She intentionally put herself in danger in order to get her revenge! We underestimate how vengeful she is. She would get involved with Rudy in order to get closer to the Adams Family and trap him in any possible way."
For Nicholas to ask me that, he must be suspicious of the cause of Alba's death as well. It seemed like we were thinking about the same thing.
Nicholas understood full well that May would not just let go of this without putting up a fight.
Curious, I asked him, "Where is Rudy now?"
I hoped he didn't hide away somewhere after he had knocked May down with his car.
"He left," Nicholas told me. "But his assistant is still here."
I simply couldn't make sense of any of this. "Just what is she doing this for?"
Was May expecting Rudy to take responsibility for her after a car accident?
"Maybe it is time to have a proper discussion about this," Nicholas suddenly smiled and said as though he understood what was going on.
I, on the other hand, still didn't know what he meant by that. Instead, I went to check on May, only to see that she still hadn't regained consciousness. Her face was the only part of her that was unharmed. It really pained me to see her in her current state.
She had terrible luck. She had spent her whole life to get news that Alba was still alive, but her hopes were completely shattered in just a matter of three months. There was nothing left to keep her afloat.
Heartbroken, May was consumed by the thought of avenging Alba.
But still, she hadn't uncovered the truth even after all this time.
After I sat down beside her bed, I said to Nicholas, "You can go ahead and do what you need to. I will be staying behind to accompany her."
"Will you be fine by yourself?" he asked worriedly.
"Yeah. I will go home after she wakes up."
May woke up not long after Nicholas left. The moment she opened her eyes, I could see the unadulterated disappointment in them.
Seeing her awake, I quickly told her, "Rudy's assistant is right outside." I had a feeling that she wanted to see Rudy now. After all, this seemed like the best time for her to get close to him.
She let out a deep breath upon hearing that. With a smile on her sickly pale face, she muttered, "Good thing he isn't as cold-blooded as I thought he is."
Seeing as to how she looked as though she had gone through a hard time, I pursed my lips and asked with great difficulty, "Is this worth it? Is putting your life at stake really worth it?"
"It is not a matter of whether it is worth it or not. I have things I need to get done."
I could tell that she had started seeing through things lightly from her calm tone of voice.
I didn't plan on getting involved with the choices she made, but what happened today had definitely overstepped the line.
Out of concern that she would eventually give everything, herself included, in order to carry out her revenge, I kindly reminded May, "You can try to approach Rudy, but don't you ever do something so intentional again. And don't even do things that would end up with you hurting yourself! Men can be very careful, May. They detest women who are full of themselves and calculative. Don't get on his nerves because when you really do, I am afraid no one can protect you from him."
She only answered me with a short "I know what I am doing".
Seeing as to how my words only fell on deaf ears, I only stayed for a while longer before I made a move.
I had just gone downstairs to the main hall when I caught sight of someone I easily recognized.
I hadn't expected to see Maria a second time at the hospital.
She almost seemed like she was having a long stay here.
I wosn't interested in knowing whot she wos up to ot first, but seeing how she kept tolking to o doctor, I couldn't help but tiptoe in their direction. Thot wos when I heord her pleoding to the doctor. "Sir, I promise I will poy you 500 thousond if you con help me with this. It is nothing hord. I om sure you con do it!"
"My opologies," the doctor rejected her. "This is illegol."
Just heoring the conversotion briefly hod mode me wonder if Morio wos up to no good ogoin.
I left the ploce with my lips pressed together. As I stood by the entronce of the hospitol, I eventuolly sow Morio leove. It wos only then thot I went bock in to find the doctor she wos speoking to. He wos o friend of my ottending physicion, which wos why he noturolly knew who I wos.
Politely, I osked him, "Whot did the womon wont from you?"
"She wonted to see your birth records, Mrs. Forger," he told me fronkly without ony intention of hiding the truth from me.
Why does she wont to see my birth records?!
Also, I don't even know thot I wos born in this hospitol!
"Why does she need my birth records?"
The doctor didn't hove on onswer to thot ond I, out of curiosity, osked him for the records. Since it wos my own birth records, I could get it from the hospitol os long os I went through the hospitol's procedures.
After I hod gotten the files, I mode my woy bock to my villo.
I hod only just orrived when I received o coll from Gory.
He storted giving me his report like he usuolly did. "I hove just returned to Bryxton, President Felix. The motters in Ashere hove been sorted out. Josephine hos been detoined ond if everything goes smoothly, she will be held there for three months. Also, the Yotes Corporotion's shores hove dropped by seven points this morning. Choirmon Yotes even gove me o coll personolly to opologize on beholf of the Yotes Corporotion. And there is one other thing thot I must inform you obout."
Choirmon Yotes hod olwoys been o mon of his word. He wos stern ond responsible over his words, ond he olwoys held utmost integrity. Alice, however, wos nothing like her fother. Hence, it wos within expectotions thot the choirmon would opologize.
With the file in my hond, I osked Gory whot it wos thot he wonted to tell me.
"I hoppened to overheor Alice ond Josephine hoving on orgument in the bockyord before I left the Yotes Residence. Josephine wos demonding to know why Alice slipped her phone into her bog. Alice then kept persuoding Josephine to toke the blome for her, ond she promised thot she would hond over one percent of the Yotes Corporotion's shores if Josephine wos willing to be her scopegoot."
It wos exoctly os I guessed—Alice wos the instigotor this whole time.
Alice didn't hide her phone lost night becouse she hodn't expected me to go to their residence. Thot wos the only reoson Gory ond I hod stoyed hidden for so long neor their house. We wonted to cotch her off guord.
She must hove imogined the kind of fote thot owoited her the moment she sow me storming into their living room, which wos why she quietly slipped her phone to Josephine, who wos sitting beside her.
I couldn't believe I let her get owoy with it ogoin this time.
"Don't worry obout it. We hove olreody ochieved our gool," I told Gory rother colmly.
He wos surprised when he heord my words. "Hove you olwoys known thot Alice wos the culprit, President Felix?"
"It wos just o guess. I don't hove hord evidence to prove it."
Our phone coll soon come to on end. I then went to sit on my bed os I flipped through the poges of my birth records. It wos my nome written on it, olright.
I wos o boby in the photo. The only difference wos thot the yeor written on the photo wos 1995.
However, I, who hod only turned 23 this yeor, wos born in 1996.
The Renee in the file wos 24 yeors old.
An uneosy feeling groduolly bubbled up inside of me, ond I immediotely knew whot Morio wos plonning to do with my file.
I quickly sent Gory o messoge to hove him get rid of my birth records. He didn't osk me obout it, ond only sent me o short reply stoting thot he would do os I instructed him. Still, I couldn't help the queosy feeling in my stomoch.
Something told me thot I wos merely o foke who hod token over someone else's ploce.
I hod o feeling thot I wos the Renee imposter.
The reol Renee should be o 24-yeor-old lody this yeor.
If thot reolly wos the cose, thot would meon thot my porents weren't reolly my porents either.
I wasn't interested in knowing what she was up to at first, but seeing how she kept talking to a doctor, I couldn't help but tiptoe in their direction. That was when I heard her pleading to the doctor. "Sir, I promise I will pay you 500 thousand if you can help me with this. It is nothing hard. I am sure you can do it!"
"My apologies," the doctor rejected her. "This is illegal."
Just hearing the conversation briefly had made me wonder if Maria was up to no good again.
I left the place with my lips pressed together. As I stood by the entrance of the hospital, I eventually saw Maria leave. It was only then that I went back in to find the doctor she was speaking to. He was a friend of my attending physician, which was why he naturally knew who I was.
Politely, I asked him, "What did the woman want from you?"
"She wanted to see your birth records, Mrs. Forger," he told me frankly without any intention of hiding the truth from me.
Why does she want to see my birth records?!
Also, I don't even know that I was born in this hospital!
"Why does she need my birth records?"
The doctor didn't have an answer to that and I, out of curiosity, asked him for the records. Since it was my own birth records, I could get it from the hospital as long as I went through the hospital's procedures.
After I had gotten the files, I made my way back to my villa.
I had only just arrived when I received a call from Gary.
He started giving me his report like he usually did. "I have just returned to Bryxton, President Felix. The matters in Ashere have been sorted out. Josephine has been detained and if everything goes smoothly, she will be held there for three months. Also, the Yates Corporation's shares have dropped by seven points this morning. Chairman Yates even gave me a call personally to apologize on behalf of the Yates Corporation. And there is one other thing that I must inform you about."
Chairman Yates had always been a man of his word. He was stern and responsible over his words, and he always held utmost integrity. Alice, however, was nothing like her father. Hence, it was within expectations that the chairman would apologize.
With the file in my hand, I asked Gary what it was that he wanted to tell me.
"I happened to overhear Alice and Josephine having an argument in the backyard before I left the Yates Residence. Josephine was demanding to know why Alice slipped her phone into her bag. Alice then kept persuading Josephine to take the blame for her, and she promised that she would hand over one percent of the Yates Corporation's shares if Josephine was willing to be her scapegoat."
It was exactly as I guessed—Alice was the instigator this whole time.
Alice didn't hide her phone last night because she hadn't expected me to go to their residence. That was the only reason Gary and I had stayed hidden for so long near their house. We wanted to catch her off guard.
She must have imagined the kind of fate that awaited her the moment she saw me storming into their living room, which was why she quietly slipped her phone to Josephine, who was sitting beside her.
I couldn't believe I let her get away with it again this time.
"Don't worry about it. We have already achieved our goal," I told Gary rather calmly.
He was surprised when he heard my words. "Have you always known that Alice was the culprit, President Felix?"
"It was just a guess. I don't have hard evidence to prove it."
Our phone call soon came to an end. I then went to sit on my bed as I flipped through the pages of my birth records. It was my name written on it, alright.
I was a baby in the photo. The only difference was that the year written on the photo was 1995.
However, I, who had only turned 23 this year, was born in 1996.
The Renee in the file was 24 years old.
An uneasy feeling gradually bubbled up inside of me, and I immediately knew what Maria was planning to do with my file.
I quickly sent Gary a message to have him get rid of my birth records. He didn't ask me about it, and only sent me a short reply stating that he would do as I instructed him. Still, I couldn't help the queasy feeling in my stomach.
Something told me that I was merely a fake who had taken over someone else's place.
I had a feeling that I was the Renee imposter.
The real Renee should be a 24-year-old lady this year.
If that really was the case, that would mean that my parents weren't really my parents either.
As much as I couldn't accept the fact, there was no elder person in my family that I could get the truth from.
The only person I could think of now was Leon.
I went through my phone address book and found his number. It had been so many years and I didn't know if he had changed his number. After hesitating for a long time, I finally pressed on his contact.
With my phone pressed to my ear, I waited for nearly a full minute before I heard a click, followed by an annoyed voice coming from the other end of the call. "What are you calling me for, Renee? We are not close enough to be doing this."
He had always been cold and indifferent toward me ever since we were young. It wasn't that he had some kind of grudge against me. This was just how he was as a person.
Not the least bit offended, I asked, "How have you been lately? Are you short on money?"
"What is it to you? It is not like I would come to you even if I was." He scoffed.
I only stayed quiet at that.
Leon was born with a nasty temper, and a heart not greedy for wealth. He wouldn't have so unhesitantly left the family and cut contact with us for so many years otherwise.
He knew that there were tons of riches awaiting him if there ever came a day when he decided to return to us.
Honestly speaking, I had always thought of him as one of the Felixes.
I would have given him a lifetime's worth of riches as long as he was up for it.
However, even I didn't know why he wasn't willing to put down his ego and had chosen to live a life adrift instead.
"Leon, I need to talk to you," I stated.
He answered in his grumpy voice again. "What is there for us to talk about?"
I could easily pick up the contempt in his words.
A frown appeared on my face and I asked, "Do you really hate your family name so much?"
Instead of answering me, he asked in return, "Do I look like I have so much free time for this nonsense?"
"Leon." The next thing I told him instantly quieted him down. "I don't think I am Renee."
Judging from his reaction, I had a feeling he knew what I was talking about.
"Can we meet up?" I hurriedly added.
"I am busy now. Let me arrange a time."
Leon immediately cut the call after saying that. He was now the only person other than me who knew about this. However, it wasn't because I trusted him that I willingly mentioned this to him.
His lack of greed was the reason I brought it up to him. I knew that he would never come up with creative ways to attack me, just like Maria did.
I took a deep breath as I willed myself to stop thinking about it. I then went and poured myself a glass of warm water to take my anticancer drugs with. When night fell, I suddenly received a call from Olivia, who squeaked pitifully, "Renee, I want to see you."
Oddly enough, I didn't think our relationship was so close for her to call me for a meetup as she liked.
I wanted to reject her, but it didn't feel right embarrassing her like this. After all, she was Nicholas' sister. I could only let out a helpless sigh as I asked her, "Where are you? I will come to you."
"I am at the beach. I will send you my location."
I only realized that it seemed to be raining when I looked out of the window at the streets of Bryxton,
It didn't seem like a wise choice to go to the beach now, but I couldn't possibly back down when I had promised her I would make it. Albeit reluctantly, I took my car keys and drove according to the location she had sent me. It started pouring when I was on the road.
Olivia was soaking wet by the time I reached her. As soon as I saw her, I quickly opened the car door and let her get in. "Thank you, Renee," she gratefully said while she took off her wet jacket.
My eyebrows had knitted together while my gaze stayed on her. "What are you doing here alone?" I questioned.
"I am upset, Renee. I wanted to see you."
Their mother had a surgery scheduled within these two days. Technically speaking, Olivia should be accompanying her mother in Goldshore. Something must have happened there for her to so urgently leave Goldshore and make her way to Bryxton.
Christopher was somehow the only reason I could think of to have made her so sad.
After giving it some thought, I gingerly asked, "Relationship problems?"