“How is that possible?” Abel frowned. “I’ve only touched that woman!”

“But Emmeline…”

“This could just be a coincidence.”

Rosaline nodded but her suspicions never went away.

The butler called for the family doctor again and prescribed the child antihistamines.

Hesperus was out like a light after taking the drug.

“We should be going,” Emmeline picked her son up into her arms and called for Helios and Endymion. “Let’s go home.”

“Wait.” Abel suddenly got to his feet. “That would be impolite.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Abel?” Emmeline’s voice was tinged with ice.

“Abel.” Alana looked tense. “Will you be driving them back? My car is…”

“It’s already storming out,” Abel said to Emmeline. “Hesperus shouldn’t be exposed to the cold in his condition. I’ll have the butler prepare a guest room.”

It was only then that Emmeline noticed the muffled sound of rain pattering against the glass window.

She could only acquiesce after taking one look at her son’s red and puffy face.

She didn’t want to stay, but Hesperus was in no condition to go into the rain.

The consequences would be disastrous if he relapsed from his blood disorder.

That was when Abel’s phone rang.

It was his grandfather, Oscar.

Abel picked up the call.

“Have you carried out the task I gave you, brat?”

“Grandad.” There was a furrow between his brows. “It’s only been one day. You need to give me time!”

“And time is my great grandson!” Oscar bellowed. “Call Wonder Doctor’s assistant and have him arrange an appointment for you!”

“But…”

“No buts. I’ll be back in an hour! Don’t pick me up. I have my men for that!”

“What did your grandfather say?” Rosaline asked after Oscar hung up.

“He wants me to propose to Wonder Doctor,” Abel placidly answered. “He also said he would be back soon.”

Huh?!

Everyone in the room was shocked.

Frederick was being incredibly stubborn for a man who had just recovered!

Rosalind immediately instructed the butler, “Search Oscar’s room and see if there’s anything wrong with it.”

Alana’s heart was thumping out of her chest. What was going to happen to her now that Oscar was forcing Abel to propose to Wonder Doctor?

Emmeline was dumbfounded. What is happening? Oscar Ryker wants Abel to propose to me?

What the hell?

Unbeknownst to her turmoil, Abel was back on the sofa to contact Wonder Doctor’s assistant.

Oscar always kept his word. It didn’t matter what the outcome was going to be. He had to make the call.

“I’m Abel Ryker…”

Benjamin cut in, “Mr. Oscar’s health has been restored. Mr. Wonder Doctor has no reason to see him again.”

“I know,” Abel started. “But I need to see her. Please arrange for an appointment for me and Ms. Wonder Doctor.”

Miss?

Benjamin was shocked. The Rykers knew Wonder Doctor was a woman?

Had they found out that she was Emmeline?

“…I’ll have to ask Wonder Doctor. I’ll get back to you in a bit, Mr. Abel.”

“Thank you.” Abel put away his phone.

Emmeline, meanwhile, switched her phone to silent mode.

Just as expected, Benjamin called.

She killed it and sent him a text instead. “Type.”

Benjamin immediately replied, “Not good, Boss. Mr. Abel Ryker wants to see you. He knows you’re a woman!”

“I know.”

“He’s waiting for me to answer him.”

“Tell him I don’t have time!”

Benjamin then called Abel back. “Mr. Wonder Doctor’s schedule is full.”

“When does her schedule free up?” Abel pushed on. “I have one of her needles that I need to return to her.”

“Just toss it.” Emmeline blurted aloud then shut her mouth with eyes wide.

He shot her a cold look, disgusted by her excessive chattering.

“What I’m saying is,” she immediately tried to explain, “It’s just a needle right?”

“Do you think it’s an ordinary sewing needle?” He spat out. “I don’t have that much time on my hands.”

She shrugged in response and took her children upstairs.

“Daddy,” Timothy tried to get his father’s attention. “Are you really going to marry Wonder Doctor?”

“You’re too young to understand.”

“But I think Daddy should just marry Ms. Louise!”

“Timothy!” Alana shrieked. “What are you saying?”

“It’s better than Daddy marrying Wonder Doctor, right?”

“Timmy,” Abel tried to explain it to his son. “Daddy promised great grandfather because he’s ill.”

“Daddy won’t marry Wonder Doctor if great-grandfather stops forcing you?”

“Yes.” He nodded.

“I still think Ms. Louise should be my Mommy.”

Abel smiled in a noncommittal way.

How was he supposed to explain the problem enough for the child to understand?

The person who should be marrying Emmeline was Adrien.

It, however, didn’t change the twang of jealousy he felt.

Alana grimaced. She wasn’t going to let Abel marry either Wonder Doctor or Emmeline!

Oscar returned from the hospital roughly an hour later.

He was still wheelchair-bound but he looked much better.

The moment he set foot inside, he made the gears in Abel’s head turn. Look how well I’m doing. It’s a good thing if you marry Wonder Doctor.

Abel, of course, recognized his grandfather’s attempts at riling him up and could only nod.

Oscar went to rest after dinner.

Emmeline was with her three children in the guest room with Alana right next door.

In the dead of night, Alana went downstairs to Oscar’s bedroom.

There were no bodyguards to be found.

Walking right into his room was as easy as pie.

The old man was sleeping soundly, unaware that someone had covered his mouth and nose with a towel.

All he saw was a shadowy figure of a woman when he awoke.

It took roughly two minutes for him to asphyxiate.

She then took off her gloves and ran up to the third floor.

When she reached Emmeline’s door, she called out from the top of her lungs, “Mr. Oscar suddenly died! Help! Someone! Anyone!”

Hearing the cry for help, Emmeline immediately sprang up and raced down to the second floor.

The door was ajar.

She switched on the lights to see the old man lying motionless on the bed.

“Mr. Oscar!” She exclaimed. That was when she noticed his face covered by a towel.

She reached out to take it off when Abel growled from behind her. “What do you think you’re doing?!”

Alana followed up with a scream. “Help! Emmeline killed Grandad!”

“I didn’t do it!” Emmeline immediately denied the accusation. “I didn’t do anything!”

“You’re still pretending not to know what you’ve done?!” Alana jabbed a finger at Oscar. “You suffocated him with that towel!”

“Emmeline Louise!” Abel grabbed her by her neck and stared at her with cold, stern eyes. “What grudge do you have against my grandfather?”

“She wants to marry you,” Alana cut in. “That’s why she killed him. It’s to prevent you from marrying Wonder Doctor!”

“Stop with the lies, Alana!” Emmeline wanted to struggle but failed due to Abel’s hold on her.

“Come,” he barked. “Send this wench to the station and have her charged with murder!”

Bodyguards pinned her to the ground.

She would have fought back but the consequences would’ve been worse.

“I had nothing to do with this!” A guard stepped on her face with no mercy. She glared at Abel. “You’ll see that I’m innocent!”

“Take her away!” Abel was furious. “I’ll make sure you get the death penalty, Emmeline!”