Chapter 46: Elena Ward Leaned Against the Doorframe

Elena Ward leaned against the doorframe, a silver needle glinting between her fingers.

"Vanessa! Get in here!" Derek Harlan's hoarse voice was barely audible, drained of strength by the excruciating pain he had just endured.

Vanessa's eyes lit up, her lips curling into a smug smile. Success! She called out to her mother, "Mom! Go get help!" She was about to rush inside, eager to witness Elena's downfall.

"Stop!" Her mother yanked her back. "What are you doing, barging in like that?"

Vanessa stamped her foot impatiently. "Just go! Tell everyone Grandma's sick!" She shook off her mother's grip. "Hurry, before they catch on!"

Her mother gritted her teeth. "Fine. But finish this quickly and get out!" Then she sprinted outside, shrieking, "Help! The old lady's dying!"

Vanessa smoothed her clothes and pushed through the curtain—only to find Derek sitting pale-faced on the bed, with no sign of Elena.

"Where's Elena?" she demanded. Then a sudden numbness spread through her back, and her legs gave way.

Derek fumbled to catch her as she collapsed, lifting his gaze to meet Elena's icy stare.

"Forgot to mention," Elena twirled the needle between her fingers, "this thing hurts twice a day—noon and midnight, two hours each time." She headed toward Agnes Ward's room. "Think carefully about what you’re going to say."

Derek shuddered, his arms trembling around Vanessa. The memory of that bone-deep agony extinguished any rebellious thoughts.

A rustling sound came from the bed. Derek swallowed hard, staring at Vanessa’s half-undone clothes. Well, I was going to marry her anyway...

Elena sat beside Agnes, gently wiping the old woman’s drool.

"Grandma, you've had a stroke," she murmured. "See? Dr. Davis was right." She pressed a finger to Agnes’s trembling lips. "Don’t worry. The show’s about to start."

Agnes’s eyes bulged with fury, but she couldn’t move a muscle.

Outside, chaos erupted as Vanessa’s mother returned with Mayor Martin Reed, Security Chief Mercer Jackson, and a crowd of villagers.

A piercing scream tore through the night.

Paul and a few young men rushed into the room—only to retreat, red-faced.

Vanessa’s mother feigned panic, charging in. "What happened? Is everything—"

Her words died in her throat.

Vanessa huddled under a blanket, trembling, while Derek fastened his pants. The glaring red stain on the sheets left no doubt about what had transpired.

"Derek!" she shrieked. "You promised me!"

Village women crowded in, eyes darting. "Oh my, is this the new son-in-law?"

Vanessa buried her face in the blanket, wishing she could vanish.

"Don’t worry, Mom," Derek grinned. "I’ll come propose tomorrow."

Paul shook his head in the courtyard. "The Ward girl... such a disgrace!"

Elena stood by the window, watching the uproar outside. The silver needle spun gracefully between her fingers, catching the light.