Harrison's movements slowed down, as if in a slow-motion replay.
He gradually turned his head back, the complex emotions in his eyes dissipating, replaced by a resolute gaze fixed on Margaret's face.
Thinking that her threat had worked when she saw Harrison turn back, Margaret was about to feel triumphant when she heard him say, "Alright, let's get a divorce."
"What?" Margaret felt as if she had been slapped in the face, thinking she might be hallucinating. She was about to confirm again with Harrison when she saw him leave her behind and walk towards the ward alone.
Inside the ward.
Nolan's head was wrapped in white gauze, with only his eyes exposed. The anesthesia in his body was gradually wearing off, and the pain was becoming more and more intense, making him want to scream.
At this moment, the door to the ward was pushed open.
Nolan's eyes lit up when he saw Ava coming in. He raised his hand laboriously and began to plead, "Aunt, you're here. If you didn't come, your nephew wouldn't be able to see you."
Ava's eyes softened as she approached and gently took Nolan's hand, wiping away her tears as she said, "Dear Nolan, you've suffered."
As soon as she finished speaking, another person entered the room, this time it was Harrison.
"Dad... my leg hurts so much... you have to help me," Nolan cried out louder when he saw Harrison.
Seeing his beloved son in his current state, Harrison's heart was torn apart. He was filled with anger, but when he thought about the future plans for the Ramirez family's rise, he suppressed his anger.
He took a deep breath, composed himself, and asked, "How do you want me to help you?"
Without hesitation, Nolan gritted his teeth and said, "I want to make Alessia suffer!"
That woman dared to hit him with a car, and she must pay the price.
In Nolan's mind, Ava had always doted on him since he was young. Even though Alessia was Ava's daughter, she was still an outsider. Aunt would definitely stand by his side.
He was sure that Alessia was doomed.
"Dad, after you deal with Alessia, hand her over to me. I want to hit her with a car too," Nolan said with determination, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light as he imagined the scene of dealing with Alessia.
As Nolan was lost in his thoughts, Harrison slapped the bedside table, snapping him out of it.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Nolan looked at Harrison with dissatisfaction.
"What am I doing? At this point, you still have no remorse. Alessia is your sister. Since you said you want to hit her with a car, are you still human?" Harrison scolded angrily.
It all seemed quite convincing, completely bewildering Nolan.
He had lived for over thirty years, and as far back as he could remember, his father had always indulged and tolerated him unconditionally. Why did he suddenly change?
Suppressing the reluctance in his heart, Harrison continued sternly, "It's all my fault. It's because I spoiled you too much that you've become so lawless. I'll arrange for you to be sent abroad tonight. Until you fully repent, you'll stay abroad and not be allowed to come back."
"Dad, are you abandoning me? But I'm your son!" Nolan suddenly realized how serious the situation had become, his eyes filled with betrayal as he questioned vehemently.
"It's your own fault." Harrison laid down the harsh words loudly and left the ward without looking back.
Nolan was completely panicked. He immediately grabbed Ava's hand, anxiously seeking confirmation. "Aunt, my dad was just joking, right?"
"Alright, Nolan, just listen to your dad. Your dad won't harm you," Ava said, patting Nolan's shoulder before leaving the ward as well.
The ward, which had just been lively, suddenly fell silent. Nolan lay on the bed, struggling to sit up, but his limbs wouldn't obey him.
He felt powerless and desperate. As he listened to the fading footsteps, he heard Harrison discussing the arrangements for sending him abroad with Ava, including sending him away tonight.
"Why did it turn out like this? Alessia... what kind of demon are you? Why does my life become so unfortunate whenever I encounter you?" Nolan cursed bitterly.
Just then, the closed door was pushed open slowly once again, and this time, it was Margaret who entered.
Margaret seemed particularly dejected.
"Mom, Dad said he wants to send me abroad. What should I do now? Please help me, I don't want to go abroad now. What about the matters in the company? Is Dad going to hand the company over to Jessie?"
As soon as Nolan saw Margaret, he felt like he had found his last lifeline and poured out all his worries and fears to her.
He was in his thirties now, not a teenager anymore. Going abroad wasn't about studying or making money; it was clearly exile.
Tears welled up in Margaret's eyes, evident traces of her crying. She wiped her eyes again and looked at Nolan with heartache, wanting to reach out and touch his face, but afraid of hurting him, she dared not.
In the end, she could only shed tears and reassure Nolan, "Son, don't worry. I will never let anyone take away anything that belongs to you. Just obediently go abroad to recuperate, and I will bring you back when you're healed."
"Mom, are you going to abandon me too?" Nolan couldn't even listen to Margaret's words.
There was still a glimmer of hope in his eyes, but now it was completely extinguished, replaced by an unbearable rage.
Fortunately, he couldn't move right now. If he could, he would probably jump up and start fighting Margaret.
However, Margaret still felt guilty towards Nolan, tears streaming down her face as she turned and ran out.
Once the door closed, she slid down the wall and sat on the ground. She clenched her fists, her eyes full of resentment.
This resentment was directed at Harrison and his siblings, but more so towards Alessia.
...
Nolan, as the number one playboy in Toronto, being sent abroad overnight with one leg crippled, immediately spread throughout Toronto.
Sisca, who was at the TV station preparing for a program, trembled as she held her phone.
Nolan had just told her two days ago that he wanted to deal with Alessia, and now this had happened. These things must be related to Alessia.
Sisca showed no emotional fluctuations towards Nolan's plight. Instead, she felt even more wary and hateful towards Alessia.
Alessia was so troublesome, she must find a way to make her disappear from Toronto as soon as possible, far away from Dominic.
But without Nolan's help, what should she do?
Sisca pondered.
On the other side, at the hospital, in Riley's ward.
Alessia had just sat down for a short while when Ava's call came in.
After hanging up the phone, Alessia took a deep breath and looked at Riley, who was still hooked up to the IV. "Harrison agreed."
Riley, with a touch of surprise in his gentle fox-like eyes, said, "He's even willing to abandon his own son, it's clear that the Ramirez family attaches great importance to you."
Alessia raised her beautiful almond-shaped eyes and suddenly asked, "Do you think I look like Ava?"
Riley was taken aback, his gaze falling on Alessia's face.
Alessia's features were exquisite and cold in temperament.
He had also seen Ava. Although she was older now, her appearance hadn't become ugly with age. On the contrary, it added a charm to her, but her temperament was more classical.
It was often said that most beauties looked alike, but Alessia and Ava...
Riley frowned. "A little similar, but not really. If you doubt that she's your mother, you can do another paternity test."
"Mmm." Alessia seemed indifferent, not appearing to care much. Instead, she took a lollipop out of her pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.
She lowered her brows and eyes. If Ava hadn't come to her door several times, she wouldn't have bothered to find out the truth. Now, she just didn't want to be manipulated by anyone.
With Nolan's matter settled, she was only concerned about Dominic now...
At this time, Dominic should have met Christopher and Christian, right?
At the Carter family's old mansion.
Dominic sat on the sofa in the main house, glancing at the clock on his wrist, then looking outside.
When he returned to the old mansion, Bianca had already taken the two kids as well as the rarely-seen Grandma Carter, out shopping. They hadn't returned even after the sun had set, and it was already nine in the evening.
"Make a call to Bianca." Dominic instructed the butler.
***