Chapter 119
Chapter 119:
Learning of Gemma’s situation left Helena engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions.
The vivid memory that had flooded her thoughts just before fainting resurfaced, even more intense. She recalled her younger, more vulnerable self, her father’s face marked by guilt, and Gemma’s harsh words still ringing in her ears: “Albert, don’t you dare bring that bastard child into our home! I’m serious—don’t you dare p>
The sharpness of that memory made Helena’s head pound. The buzzing in her ears persisted as she returned to her hospital room with Alden.
Helena was resolved to confront Gemma directly, seeking the truth from her.
“Helena, you seem distracted. Is there something you’re not telling me?” Alden inquired, his tone soft yet probing.
Dodging his searching look, Helena responded tersely, “No.” Alden’s expression hardened as his eyes narrowed.
With a wry smile, Helena added, “Mr. Wilson, you have your secrets, yet I’ve never pressed you. Don’t stare at me as if I’m a criminal p>
“Helena…” Alden’s voice trailed off, laden with unspoken words, his heart heavy with regret.
Helena turned away and lay down, her voice low. “I’m exhausted. I need to rest now p>
Alden stood there, words failing him. He approached and carefully adjusted the blanket around her.
In the past few days, Alden had been a constant presence by Helena’s side, rarely leaving.
Given that he had a crucial business meeting early the next morning, he reluctantly made his way to the office.
Helena seized the opportunity to get a check-up as a pretext to evade Xavier, following Atticus to the examination room.
She quietly exited through the rear door soon after and headed to Gemma’s hospital room.
Gemma lay on the hospital bed, her body enveloped in bandages, with only her eyes visible, which were dry and hollow, fixedly staring at the door.
As Helena entered, those eyes briefly sparkled with recognition, and a voice exclaimed with apparent joy, “Emily! You finally p>
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Her words halted abruptly as she recognized Helena, and the brief spark in her eyes extinguished, replaced by disgust and resentment. “Helena? What are you doing here? Have you come to gloat p>
A realization seemed to strike Gemma suddenly, raising her voice to a shrill tone. “Helena, tell me! Have you kept Emily away from visiting me? What have you done to her p>
Helena stood motionless, the implications dawning on her.
It became clear to her then that despite Gemma’s dire state, Emily hadn’t once come to visit.
“I haven’t interfered. Emily and Douglas simply chose not to visit,” Helena responded softly, her eyes briefly showing a flicker of compassion.
Gemma tried to speak, but the agony from her wounds stifled her words. Shaking her head, she shouted, “Impossible! You vicious girl, always maligning my Emily! It has to be you p>
Helena pondered the venom in Gemma’s voice when she called her “a vicious girl” and referred to Emily possessively as “my Emily.” These words deeply wounded Helena, intensifying her suspicions about Gemma’s true relationship with Emily.
With a cold, mocking laugh, Helena stared at Gemma, her eyes filled with pity.
Gemma’s rage subsided gradually.
It dawned on her—could her own husband and daughter have really forsaken her?
The possibility seemed more real now, and Gemma’s eyes began to brim with tears.
Helena’s mouth twisted into a sardonic smile as she observed, “Feels terrible to be abandoned by your own, doesn’t it? Just like you abandoned my father when he needed you most p>
“Don’t mention that worthless man! He was never my equal, not fit to be with me!” Gemma screamed back.
Helena inhaled deeply, then methodically relayed her recollections.
She mastered the wave of sorrow rising within her, locking eyes with Gemma, and asked, “Is your disdain for my father because he fathered me with another woman? Am I truly not your daughter p>
Gemma’s eyes burned into Helena’s, and after a tense pause, her lips curled into a malicious grin. “Curious if you’re the result of an affair? Want to know if your father was an unfaithful scoundrel? Well, I won’t satisfy your curiosity. If you really want answers, go ask Albert yourself p>
As Gemma’s words grew more contemptuous, her sneer widened. “Oh, I almost forgot—Albert is now but a husk, practically deceased p>
Helena retorted fiercely, “Don’t you dare speak of my father that way!” The onslaught of Gemma’s cruelty caused Helena’s head to pound painfully, her sight beginning to fade.
She began to falter, but suddenly, a pair of sturdy, warm arms enveloped her.
Without a moment for Helena to react, these arms tightened around her waist, quickly carrying her out of the room in silence.