Chapter 258: Divorce and Step Aside?

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Divorce and Step Aside?

Vianne Kane froze, a wave of intense fear washing over her. "Am I going to be arrested too?"

After all, she knew what Bianca Kane had done.

She knew her mother had sent people to kill Conor Sullivan, and she had also wished for Conor Sullivan to die.

A scumbag like that didn’t deserve to live.

"You don’t know anything, so why would they arrest you? You’re too seriously injured to go to the station and cooperate with them. At most, the police will come to your room to ask about the situation. Remember, you are the victim, understand?"

Bianca Kane heavily emphasized the word ’victim’. Vianne Kane suddenly realized her mother was trying to take all the blame, and at the same time, reminding her to be careful how she responded.

"You’re still young, with a long life ahead of you. Even if Mom confesses, it’s because Conor Sullivan raped you first. Mom was avenging you. I will confess ’truthfully,’ and I’ll hire an excellent lawyer for myself. I believe the court will be lenient. You don’t need to worry about me."

Vianne Kane’s eyes turned red. She had been beaten badly by Damian Morgan. The severe trauma to her head had made her entire face swell up. Even the slightest facial expression caused the swollen flesh to pull, sending stabs of pain through her.

"Mom..."

"Listen to me. Focus on getting better. After that, take over the company. If there’s anything you don’t understand, learn from your Mr. Shaw and the seniors on the board of directors." Bianca Kane’s voice grew more choked up as she spoke.

Vianne Kane started sobbing as well.

Alaric Blackwood, standing outside the hospital room door, took in the scene of the mother and daughter crying in each other’s arms.

He knew Bianca Kane was arranging her affairs, intending to take all the blame. Although Bianca was no saint, she had fulfilled her duties and responsibilities as a mother to her child.

In all the world, there was no mother who didn’t love her child, even if she was a cruel person.

He turned to head back to Sophie Shaw’s room when two uniformed police officers stepped out of the elevator. They walked straight toward Vianne Kane’s room.

A short while later, he saw Bianca Kane being escorted out by the two officers. The three of them entered the elevator together.

Inside the room, only Vianne Kane’s painful sobs remained.

Alaric Blackwood lingered for a moment before returning to the special care ward on the top floor.

Once the chemotherapy was over, Sophie Shaw could undergo the hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

He walked into the room, sat by the bed, and gently took one of Sophie Shaw’s hands.

The chemotherapy had left the woman on the bed listless. She gave him a faint look and managed a smile. "Where did you go?"

"Nowhere special. Just stepped out for some air."

"Officer Young came by while you were gone. He told me that Damian Morgan and Conor Sullivan have both been arrested. He and his colleague were here to arrest Bianca Kane. Conor Sullivan already confessed that Bianca was the one who sent people to kill him back then, forcing him to change his name and go into hiding."

Alaric Blackwood nodded. He already knew all of this.

"Officer Young also said one person got away. Who was it?"

Alaric Blackwood paused for a second. "I believe it was Troy Wright."

"Who’s that?"

"The former butler of the Sullivan family. He’s also the one who’s been taking care of Conor Sullivan all these years. Strictly speaking, he’s not the main culprit. Conor Sullivan is."

Sophie Shaw nodded, then asked, "So you’re not in any danger anymore, right?"

"Of course not."

"Didn’t you say that new security company you acquired wasn’t reliable?"

"It was just a few individuals. They’ve been fired."

Sophie Shaw let out a long sigh of relief. She closed her eyes wearily, drifting off to sleep.

「The next day.」

Alaric Blackwood left the room early in the morning, saying he had some business to attend to. After Lawson brought breakfast, Sophie was left alone in the room.

When Alaric Blackwood wasn’t around, Nina Halloway, Mandy Halloway, and her grandmother would take turns coming to keep her company. But today, none of them had shown up.

Sophie Shaw dozed off for a while. In her daze, she heard the door open, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Thinking it was one of the Halloway sisters, she said faintly, "You’re here?"

There was no response.

Then, the chair beside the bed was dragged slightly as someone sat down.

She opened her eyes, turned over, and found Vianne Kane sitting by her bed.

The woman propped a crutch by the bed. One arm was in a cast and a sling, while one leg, also in a cast, was stretched out straight. Her face was so black and blue that Sophie almost didn’t recognize her.

Sophie had heard a little about what happened to her. Knowing that she had fallen into the hands of Conor Sullivan and Damian Morgan and was almost killed, Sophie didn’t try to kick her out. She just asked coolly, "Why are you here?"

"We’re family, after all. Even if we’re not related by blood, we’re still sisters."

"Are you okay?"

"I’ll manage. I’m not going to die. What about you?"

"Waiting for my chemo to end so I can get the stem cell transplant."

Vianne Kane hummed in acknowledgment and was silent for a moment before saying, "I misunderstood you before. It really was Damian Morgan who set me up. He was the one who sent me to Conor Sullivan’s bed."

Sophie Shaw watched her quietly without saying a word.

After another awkward silence, Vianne Kane, her face still swollen, gave her a small smile. "It was a close call, but Alaric saved me. Did you know?"

"Alaric has always had me in his heart. He promised my mother he would definitely save me. That’s why my mom agreed to let Joel donate his bone marrow to you. Joel is just a child. Strictly speaking, minors aren’t supposed to donate bone marrow."

Sophie Shaw looked at her thoughtfully. "What’s your point?"

"My point?"

Vianne Kane’s smile deepened. "I suspect Alaric has been secretly in love with me all along. He’s done so, so much for me. First, he sent my grandfather the video of Damian Morgan cheating to warn me that Damian was no good."

"Then, when I was set up by Damian and hurt by Conor Sullivan, he stepped up and told me the whole truth, including the original video of Damian’s affair."

"He wanted me to divorce Damian. He hoped I would do it. So, what’s the reason?"

"I’m guessing he still has feelings for me. He only married you because he didn’t want to go against his family’s wishes. After all, his mother and your mother were best friends and even arranged your engagement. Plus, Damian and I had already announced our wedding online, so he had no choice but to honor his promise and marry you."

"I heard you have a contract marriage?"

Sophie Shaw took a deep breath. Vianne Kane’s words had upset her, and she didn’t feel like responding.

Seeing Sophie lying on the bed, pale and silent, Vianne Kane continued, "I know I’m not ’clean’ anymore. But being raped by Conor Sullivan wasn’t my choice; I was drugged back then. As for Damian, he hid his true colors so well. I was deceived by him. I don’t know if Alaric would be disgusted by someone like me now."

"Sophie, I apologize for how I acted before. Can you divorce Alaric and give him to me?"

"After everything that’s happened, I’ve realized Alaric is the best choice for me. We’re well-matched in social status, and we were childhood sweethearts. You didn’t marry him because you loved him, did you? You just wanted to use his influence."