Chapter 91 Suddenly, a sharp knock echoed through the hospital room.
A moment later, the door handle began to turn, slow and deliberate.
Elise didn't even need to look-she knew exactly who was about to walk in.
But her once-beautiful eyes now flashed with a chilling, almost sinister light, as if they concealed a well of bitterness and secret plots.
Isadora, this tI'll make sure you pay. You're in for it now.
At that very moment, Elise squeezed her eyes shut, lifted the steaming cup of water she'd been holding, and without hesitation, flung it all over herself.
"Ahh!" Her scream rang out, sharp and piercing.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtScalding hot water splashed across Elise's delicate skin, the burning sensation hitting her like a wildfire- immediate, overwhelming.
Within seconds, angry red welts bloomed across her arm and chest, the sight enough to make anyone wince. It all happened in a matter of heartbeats.
Isadora, standing nearby, had never expected Elise to hurt herself so recklessly. She'd assumed Elise was about to throw the water at her, and had reflexively lifted her handbag as a shield.
Watching Elise's over-the-top theatrics, Isadora couldn't help thinking how much Nanette could learn from a live performance like this.
Almost simultaneously, the hospital room door was flung open.
Magnus rushed in, moving with the urgency of a storm.
He froze for an instant when he spotted Isadora. Then his gaze landed on Elise, crumpled on the sofa, soaked and trembling.
Magnus was at her side in a flash, grabbing a towel to dab at her wet skin, his expression dark and hard. "Isadora, what did you do to Elise?!" Two tears tracked down Elise's cheeks as she hid in Magnus's arms, her voice quivering: "Magnus, I'm fine. Please don't blIsadora. It was my fault-I was careless and spilled the hot water on myself." Isadora rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw stars.
Here we go again.
That fake, innocent act-anyone with half a brain could see right through her. Except, apparently, the men. Magnus immediately pulled out his phone and called for Gideon.
News of Elise's burns brought Gideon running within minutes. He wasted no time, cooling Elise's arm with ice packs, dabbing on antiseptic, doing his best to soothe the pain.
All the while, Elise kept reassuring them, her tone gentle, even pitiful.
"Magnus, Gideon, I'm really alright. The water wasn't that hot, thank goodness. It's not a big deal." But everyone heard the unspoken implication: if the water had been any hotter, Isadora would have scarred her for life.
It was Elise's favorite move-playing the victim, twisting the knife with a single drop at a time.
Gideon's anger boiled over. He stormed up to Isadora, jabbing a finger toward her face.
"Isadora, how could you be so cruel? Elise has surgery tomorrow, and you go and burn her with hot water today? What the hell is wrong with you?!" He raised his hand, ready to strike Isadora.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMagnus, standing beside him, intercepted the blow, catching Gideon's wrist mid- air.
Isadora's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Did either of you actually seethrow hot water at her? Maybe try considering she did it to herself before you start accusing me." Elise saw Magnus step protectively in front of Isadora.
A flicker of jealousy, hatred, and rage flashed in her eyes. But she swallowed it down, instantly switching to her practiced look of fragile innocence.
"Isadora, I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I don't blyou."
She turned to Gideon, her voice trembling with just the right amount of self-blame. "Gideon don't freat Isadora like this. It's my fault-if I weren't so... unlikable, Isadora wouldn't dislike me. This is all because of me." Gideon could never stand to hear Elise sound so wronged.
To him, Elise was pure and gentle, incapable of ever framing anyone. Clearly, Isadora-the heartless villain-was to blame.
In that moment, he forgot everything else: Magnus's authority, his own self-control.
"Magnus, let go of me," Gideon snapped. "I'm not letting this woman off today she needs to learn what real consequences feel like."