"Less than 10%," Rosemary said bluntly. "Considering her current condition, it’s tough."
Clark felt a lump in his throat at her words.
"Moreover," Rosemary continued, standing outside the ICU, "even if I were there, I wouldn’t have been able to save them. Their heads, necks, all have fatal injuries—liver rupture, intestinal perforation, fractures in the head and spine. By the ti they got to the hospital, they were nearly bled dry. So, arrangents for their bodies, the funeral, and so on, will need to be taken care of by you."
Considering Carol’s current state, she was in no position to arrange anything.
Then Rosemary pushed open the ICU door. "I’ll go check on Carol."
Outside the door, Louisa asked Clark in a hushed voice, "What happened to your girlfriend?"
"She’s poisoned."
"Why was she poisoned?"
As Louisa dug deeper, Clark decided to co clean.
Not just Louisa—even Kenneth, standing by, couldn’t believe it and was visibly upset.
"So, when you took your sister to Lidaria last ti, it wasn’t for a holiday, but to find your girlfriend?"
"You’ve put yourself and your sister in danger, and dragged Crystal into it too!"
"Clark! What were you thinking? With your status, you could have any girl you want! But you chose her."
"Mom, lower your voice." Clark was worried Carol might hear and get upset.
"You told about your girlfriend last ti, and I was overjoyed. I didn’t care about social statuses. But her upbringing, the people she knows, and the danger she’s in now—it’s a different world from ours!"
Louisa was furious, her voice shaking in anger. "Do you see? What happened to her parents is what’s going to happen to you and Rose!"
"Mom, it’s not that serious."
"Yes, you have the ans to protect yourself and her now, so you think it’s fine. But what about your family and friends? There’s always a lapse in judgnt. Do you want them to end up like her parents? You know better than anyone where those people co from! It’s more than you and Rose can handle!"
Louisa couldn’t understand why her son would fall for such a girl. Was it because he’d grown up in a life of luxury, surrounded by elegant and refined ladies, and now wanted sothing different?
"And her health..."
Louisa was struggling to co to terms with the fact that her future daughter-in-law was so sickly.
"Rose has a solution. She’s already working on an antidote."
"Rose,Rose always Rose! How much trouble have you caused her? She’s back ho, not to be ordered around, but to be with her family."
"Besides, Crystal is still in the ICU, her life hanging in the balance."
"Mom, what happened to Crystal was an accident."
"If it wasn’t for her sensitive status, which puts those around her in danger, would her parents, Crystal, and even herself have ended up like this?"
Sure, Crystal ant well—seeing Logan and Taylor in danger, she just wanted to help.
But what if Carol was just an average girl, who hadn’t gotten herself into any trouble—would this even be happening?
"I don’t approve of your relationship," Louisa said bluntly.
"I side with your mother," Kenneth said, avoiding his son’s heartbroken gaze.
"Dad, Mom. You don’t understand Carol. She’s a wonderful person. She’s the only one for —for life. I only want her."
"The Collins family will never accept her," Louisa stated firmly. "Give up on this idea. I’d rather you stay single your whole life than bring such a dangerous person into our ho. Your life will never be the sa. Once she’s recovered, find a way to talk things out with her."
Louisa was just about to leave after her speech.
"Mom, Carol has many good qualities."
"Don’t you understand yet? I don’t want anyone close to to end up like Mr. Alger’s daughter—scarred and lying on an operating table. I don’t want to feel the pain of losing a loved one. Those people—their influence is widespread. If you marry her, it’s like setting a ti bomb in our ho. You never know when or where it will go off. Can you neutralize one bad guy? What about a hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand?
Even one slip could drag her life into an irreparable abyss.
She didn’t want to experience the pain of losing friends and family. Wasn’t she allowed to?
"Mom, I understand your concerns. I can handle this."
"How will you handle it? With what? Can you guarantee perfection? Not a single slip? Clark, if you’re tired of these rich girls and want to marry an ordinary girl, I’m all for it. But soone like her, who could bring danger to those close to her—I can’t let her co into our ho."
Louisa wasn’t worried about herself, but rather feared her children, parents, and in-laws would suffer. Losing any of them would be unbearable.
"Calm down, don’t let your anger affect your health." Kenneth hadn’t finished comforting her when Louisa left, leaving behind a cold and determined silhouette.
All Kenneth could do was tell his son, "Crystal used to visit us often, always bringing a bunch of things. After Rose and Serena went off to college, the house felt empty. It was Crystal who kept us company, even going for spa days and afternoon tea sessions with your mom. The last ti I had a backache, Crystal brought over homade soup, a massage chair, and even arranged for a top-notch doctor to co over. I’m telling you all this to remind you that—even if you don’t have feelings for her—this girl who sincerely cares about you and your parents is now lying in the ICU because of your girlfriend’s enemies. Don’t you think you should at least show so concern? Consider how Alger and Celeste feel."
After he said his piece, Kenneth hurried off to find his wife.
Clark leaned against the wall, as if the harsh reality had struck him hard.
In the ICU, tears silently stread down Carol’s face.
She had heard all the arguing outside.
She knew it was her fault—causing so much trouble for those around her. If it hadn’t been for her, her foster parents wouldn’t have died.
"Dr. Rose, Dr. Rose," a nurse noticed sothing was off and quickly called out softly, handing Carol a tissue to wipe her tears. "Please, don’t cry."
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