After quite some effort, they finally arrived at their destination. It was the villa that Charlotte and Mrs. Berry once resided in.
It had been completely uninhabited and on the market for two years, but nobody dared to rent the place because of a mishap. The neighbors also all moved away.
The entire district was dreadfully silent.
Sharon carefully selected this place not only because it stored traumatic memories for Charlotte, but also because of its desolate nature.
She figured that it would be the last place on Earth that Charlotte would look for them.
With Ellie in her arms, Olivia walked into the villa. It stunned her to see the Osmanthus tree in the courtyard, along with the row of dying succulents, as well as the clothes rack. They reminded her of an indescribable sense of familiarity.
As she proceeded further into the villa, she took a quick look at her surroundings. The decor and scattered products in the living room, together with the clothes on the sofa that had accumulated a mountain of dust, confirmed that this was a place Charlotte and Mrs. Berry inhabited.
“Ellie, look. Mommy and Mrs. Berry used to stay here.”
Olivia gently patted Ellie’s back, only to realize she was out cold. Her clothes were dripping with sweat while her forehead was blazing hot.
“Oh god, Ellie’s having a fever.” Olivia rapidly sprinted to Sharon while carrying Ellie.
“I’m begging you to please send Ellie to the hospital. I’m not overstating her state of health. When she fell prey to your sister’s toxins, she kept running a high fever and puked nonstop. After Dr. Felch treated her, her condition finally stabilized. Now that she ingested sleeping pills, it’s relapsed. Once she becomes feverish, it could become fatal.” Olivia beseeched in a state of agitation.
Upon hearing Olivia’s ramble, Sharon froze for a moment, as though she was pondering.
“Please, I’m begging you. Please…” Olivia crawled over to hold onto Sharon’s leg and entreated desperately.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Sharon snapped as she kicked her away. “Piss off. Don’t bother me.”
“It’s imperative that she sees a doctor this instant, else she’ll suffer irreversible damage to her health. I’m pleading you,” Olivia cried out as she kneeled on the floor. “She could lose her life over this. Please, I beg of you. Please…”
“Are you just afraid that I’ll eliminate you after she dies? Is that why you’re begging me so eagerly?” Sharon eyed her with contempt.
“I-I let her down. I let Charlotte down,” Olivia uttered in between sobs. “If it helps, I’m willing to sacrifice my own life for her. All I ask for is that you spare the child!”
“Hmph. What a disgusting hypocrite. Oh please, you’re just doing this for self-preservation. I mean, that’s not unusual. It’s every man for himself, after all.” Sharon’s tone was filled with disdain.
However, she reached out to feel Ellie’s forehead. She was indeed burning up with an intense fever.
Then, she instructed an unwilling bodyguard to head out for medicine. He grumbled and complained, clearly reluctant to take on the task.
Only after Sharon promised to reward him with more money did he finally acquiesce.
“Alright. Bring her to the room to rest. We’ll just wait for the fever medicine.”
Sharon then fished out her phone to make a call.
“That won’t do. Fever medicine is not suitable for her. She requires other forms of treatment. We must go to the hospital.”
“One more word from you and I’ll chop off your tongue. Get the f*ck out of here!” An aggravated Sharon howled at Olivia.
The latter dared not rile furious Sharon any further, so she quietly returned to the room and gave Ellie some wet towels in an attempt to ease her fever.
Sharon then continued with her phone call. After a long while, her call was finally answered by a languorous voice. “Hello?”
“Daddy! It’s me”
When Sharon left, the mysterious stranger told her that arrangements would be made for her father to return home to recuperate while waiting for the court hearing.
Hence, she decided to try her father’s cellphone.
“You- How did you…”
“I escaped,” Sharon began with a hushed voice. “Where are you now? Is it convenient to talk? Your phone’s not bugged, is it?”
“I’m at the hospital,” Taylor responded in an equally low volume. “Don’t worry, the call’s not tapped.”
