Sweetheart, Do You Still Love Me

Chapter 678 The Condition Worsened

"Did she promise to give me the antidote just now?" Callum asked.

The assistant widened his eyes in response and shook his head. "No. She didn't mention giving you the antidote after leaving the Winthrop Residence."

"So, it's not an exchange but a deception," Callum said, his gaze sharpening with a chilling touch of ruthlessness.

Having worked with him for many years, the assistant immediately grasped the underlying significance behind his words. "Are you suggesting that there is, in fact, no antidote, and she didn't poison Mrs. Winthrop? She merely employed that phrasing as a clever ruse to facilitate her escape."

Callum curled his lips, and a faint smile appeared. "You're smart."

"So, you don't actually plan to let her go, do you?" The assistant's voice held a touch of apprehension, well aware of Callum's vengeful nature, which mirrored that of Elspeth. Faith wouldn't escape easily, and her consequences would likely be severe.

Callum nodded, his expression growing steely, while a soft chuckle escaped his lips. "Anyone who dares to harm the people I care about won't have a favorable outcome."

...

Meanwhile, Faith sat in the car, a sense of relief washing over her for the cunning lies she had concocted earlier. If she had not devised that clever deception, she would likely face the same fate as Hope, punished by Callum himself. Given her knowledge of his unwavering devotion to his wife, Faith

understood that by offending Mrs. Winthrop, her survival would have been unlikely without this ruse. She also counted herself lucky that she had chosen her words carefully to avert disaster.

Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice that the scenery outside the car had gradually transformed into an unfamiliar and desolate landscape. It wasn't until the car abruptly came to a halt, causing her to lurch forward and almost collide with the front seat due to inertia, that her impatience took hold. "Do you even know how to drive? Why did you stop without uttering a single word?"

However, the person in front remained motionless, not making a single move or uttering a word.

Soon, an unsettling feeling began to wash over Faith, intensifying with each passing moment. Sensing something was amiss, she turned and peered out the window, only to be met with a desolate and unfamiliar landscape. Confusion and frustration welled up within her as she voiced her growing discontent. "Didn't I make myself clear? I said I wanted to go to Southdale. Why have you brought me here instead?"

At that moment, she realized that the situation might be far more complex and ominous than she had initially assumed. Her instinct for self-preservation kicked in, prompting her to try opening the car door, only to discover that both the windows and doors were securely locked, trapping her inside. A sense of helplessness enveloped her, but she refused to succumb to despair. With caution, she extended her trembling hand, feeling around in the confined space, desperately searching for anything that could serve as a means of self-defense.

However, before Faith could find anything to defend herself with, the person in front of her moved with lightning speed, turned around, and brandished a dagger. He ruthlessly plunged the weapon into her heart without giving her a chance to react. In an instant, the gushing blood stained her clothes crimson.

"You!" she gasped out. Her immense agony overwhelmed her senses, causing her consciousness to gradually blur and fade away.

"I'm sorry. If anyone is to blame, it is you for offending Mrs. Winthrop. You must have had a considerable audacity to take action against her," the man responded coldly, showing no sympathy for Faith and her malevolent intentions. He couldn't find compassion for someone who would go so far as to drug a pregnant woman. In his eyes, she deserved the fate that befell her.

Disgusted by her lifeless eyes, the driver exited the car, tidied up her body, cleared the scene, and quickly left the area.

...

On the other hand, Wesley never anticipated that serving as the Winthrops' family doctor would be such a straightforward endeavor. The scale of medical equipment and supplies at his disposal within the illustrious Winthrop Family surpassed his expectations, rivaling that of a fully equipped hospital.

As he pondered this revelation, he couldn't help but realize that he had never encountered such top- notch facilities, even during his tenure at the hospital. Deep in thought, he began to understand the reasoning behind Elspeth's insistence on recuperating at home. The home care provided within the Winthrop Residence was on par with the hospital environment, if not more serene and tranquil.

His primary focus was to ensure the well-being of Elspeth throughout her pregnancy and oversee her daily care. Additionally, he was entrusted with monitoring and supervising the preparation of her meals, which had gained heightened importance after the unfortunate incident involving Faith. In light of that event, Callum had become exceptionally vigilant regarding Elspeth's food. While understanding the

gravity of the situation, Wesley diligently inspected the meals each day before they were served.

Meanwhile, as Elspeth sat down to have her meal early in the morning, she heard a familiar and distinct knocking at the door. The sound instantly registered in her mind, and she knew exactly who it was. True to her intuition, moments later, Yelena arrived, visibly breathless and in a state of urgency. Witnessing her in such a state, Elspeth shook her head in concern and gently patted Yelena's back, trying to soothe her. "Why are you in such a hurry? Did something happen?"

Yelena nodded, her face etched with deep concern and anxiety. Then, she said, "Hank's condition has worsened. I want you to come and check on him."

Elspeth was already aware of Hank's situation and the compelling reason behind his forced separation from Yelena. In fact, she had granted Yelena permission to remain by Hank's side and care for him. "What is his current specific condition?" she inquired.

Yelena shook her head, her worry evident in her eyes. "I don't have the exact details of his condition, but this morning when I went to see him, I found him lying unconscious in bed. The doctors are doing everything they can to save him, but I'm still unsure what caused this sudden deterioration." Her heart sank, knowing that his illness was something only Elspeth had the power to cure. She felt desperate and uncertain of where else to seek help.

"Don't worry. I'll get ready, and I'll go to the hospital right away." The sight of Yelena's distress and the tears welling up in her eyes broke Elspeth's heart even more. Without wasting another moment, Elspeth swiftly gathered her things, readying herself to rush to the hospital. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

In the meantime, as Wesley overheard the conversation, his troubled expression deepened. He spoke with concern, "Mrs. Winthrop, I'm afraid this might not be a good idea. You're already five or six months

pregnant and physically weakened. It may not be suitable for you to take on the responsibility of caring for others." Although he acknowledged her exceptional medical skills, he feared the strain it would place on her delicate condition.

After hearing this, Yelena's gaze shifted toward Elspeth's bulging belly, and a tinge of guilt crept into her expression. Hence, she asked, "Elspeth, will this be too hard on you?" She is so pregnant and frail. Callum would likely eat me alive if something were to happen to her.

"It's fine. Hank's life is more important." Then, Elspeth glanced at the bewildered Wesley beside her and added, "You come with me."

However, he couldn't believe it and pointed at himself. "What? You want me to come with you?"

"Yes. I may be unable to handle everything, so I'll enlist your help."

Wesley finally understood and nodded.

As Elspeth and Wesley swiftly made preparations, they joined Yelena on their way to the hospital. When they arrived, Hank was still being treated in the emergency room. The red surgical light loomed overhead, casting an eerie glow, and several hours had passed since the operation began, intensifying Yelena's anxiety.

Is Hank's illness... incurable?