Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 254

The phone call was from Hayden, who relayed a succinct message. “Davina Field has been found.”

Julie was standing close to Kieran, so she overheard Hayden’s words.

Seeing Kieran’s expression shift, Dylan turned and asked, “Did we get a lead?”

“Davina’s been found.” Keiran said.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the entrance of the ICU at Tranquil Care Hospital.

Hayden stood by the door. He wore a deep blue suit with a black shirt underneath, and his demeanor seemed calm and composed. Two of his men stood beside him, and their mere presence magnified Hayden’s already imposing aura.

Dylan stayed behind to deal with the two thugs and was tasked with escorting Daphne home.

Julien approached Hayden, the two seemingly accustomed to each other’s silent company. Without a word of greeting, Julien kicked open the door to the ICU.

Julien, not dressed in protective gear, walked right in. Mr. Watson turned to Harding and asked, “That door must’ve cost a pretty penny, huh?”

“Julien can pay the bill.” Harding glanced at Julien.

Hayden turned to Kieran and Julie, saying, “She was found on the west coast, still alive.”

“Barely.” Mr. Watson interjected, “If it wasn’t for Harding’s expertise, she’d probably be dead by now.”

Julie, standing outside, peered through the window into the ward. Davina was sprawled on the bed, with tubes sticking out of her everywhere. She was as still as a corpse. Her face was pale and if it weren’t for the rhythmic puff of mist from the ventilator, one would hardly believe she was alive.

Julien emerged from the ward and said to Julie, “You’re better off not going in there.”

Julie frowned, and Harding added, “Her tendons have been severed, and although the bullet from her gunshot wound has been removed, the wound has festered. She’s covered in bruises and cuts, new and old, and there are numerous tiny puncture wounds from injections. Our blood tests during the check-up showed traces of drugs. We suspect she was repeatedly drugged and then forced to go through withdrawal.”

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Harding suddenly stopped mid-sentence, and after a moment, he concluded, “Basically, the perpetrator is a monster.”

“Can’t she be saved?” Kieran asked.

Harding nodded, “Davina’s lung function has completely failed. She can only survive on the ventilator, and at most, she has a week to live. If we remove the ventilator, she wouldn’t last two hours.”

the ventilator for now.”

into the ward to

phone. On the screen was a message in Hayden’s public mail box, which he received it in the

was sent from an anonymous account registered in Veridia by a high school student. He

If Davina’s whereabouts could have been tracked down, it would have been done when she first went missing. What he was worried about now was how powerful

standing by the door, suddenly turned to

Davina to wake up and found himself admiring her will to live. He immediately headed towards

She didn’t have the strength

resignedly. Davina

remembered the confident Davina at the office, wearing high heels, eating in the cafeteria with her, and reminiscing about old times. But now, Davina resembled neither a human nor a ghost. It seemed to take all her remaining strength just to

asked, “Is she trying to say something?”

to

“Who

desperate to tell Julie something. Julie

machines were beeping. Julie sat by Davina’s ventilator and listened to her raspy voice. Davina said, “Please, let me

by illness, they still hoped

the

to die was intense, and it was hard to imagine what Davina must have gone

on Davina’s body, it must have been an

said, “Tell me, who did this

she removed it, Davina

your wish.” Julien gripped the ventilator tightly.

it should be a piece of cake which was easier than begging for death. But

and Julien collapsed into his arms. She was held

Hayden tried to talk Julien out

aside, gave him a look but didn’t utter a word. She then walked out of the

Julien’s retreating figure, saying, “I reckon we should let Julien

turned her head, asking Kieran’s opinion. Her

Davina’s eye. She was dying for death, but keeping her secret was more important than dying. So, even if she longed for death, she couldn’t spill that name. Hayden was right.

on Davina’s ventilator. Davina cracked open her eyes and looked at Julie. Her

grabbed Julie’s hand, and Julie suddenly turned to Kieran, saying, “Davina’s mom

Julie’s words, Davina seemed to muster up some energy. She shook her head at Julie. The

her. She heard Davina’s whisper, “Please,