Chapter 1858

chapter1858

Manfred left without another glance at Randall. Randall's brows furrowed tightly as the door closed behind Manfred.

After a long moment, Randall tried to push aside his frustration and settle into bed, but an inexplicable restlessness crept over him. Images of Fern and Virginia flitted through his mind, igniting a spark he couldn't ignore.

He wrestled with his impulses for a while before giving up and calling to the maid outside. "Bring Fern and Virginia here."

The maid hesitated and offered a cautious reminder. "Mr. Atkinson, the doctor advised that you should rest properly during this period and avoid... physical exertion."

Before the maid could finish, Randall interrupted with a sharp retort. "I know my own body better than anyone. What do you know? These doctors always exaggerate! Go call them, and I don't want to hear this nonsense again, understood?"

The maid, well-acquainted with Randall's temper, dared not argue further and quickly left to summon Fern and Virginia. Soon, as the evening deepened but before darkness fully set in, muffled, suggestive sounds began to fill the mansion.

The noises soon reached Zea's ears. "Didn't the doctor tell him to rest? Yet here he is, ignoring the advice and acting so recklessly! Does he not care about his own life?" she fumed, pacing in frustration.

Rhea signed, her expression resigned. "Mrs. Atkinson, he's been like this every day recently."

"Exactly, and it's infuriating! Even when we were still deeply involved, he wasn't this indulgent. Those two scheming women are nothing but temptresses. I'll find a way to deal with them," Zea said, her eyes blazing with jealousy.

Rhea shook her head, trying to calm her. "Mrs. Atkinson, you need to stay composed. Too many strange things have been happening in this house lately. Don't you think it's all too coincidental?

"Do you recall our earlier plans to find a suitable child for Mr. Cyril? You've been so preoccupied battling those two women that you haven't given it any attention. What if one of them becomes pregnant?"

Zea froze, her fury giving way to clarity. "What?"

"That's why I'm asking you to stay calm," Rhea said firmly.

"But weren't you already secretly searching for someone?" Zea asked, frowning.

Rhea's face clouded with unease.

"We're still looking, but for some reason, it hasn't been going smoothly. Every time we find a suitable candidate, they vanish without a trace. To secure someone we can fully control, we have to be meticulous. Finding the fight person isn't easy."

Zea took a deep breath. "Then keep looking! As for those two women, even if they're pregnant, I won't allow them to carry the child to term."

"Mrs. Atkinson, don't you think everything happening lately is too strange? Could the Holland family know about Mr. Manfred's condition and be secretly working against you? Rhea couldn't help but voice her concerns, leaning toward the darker possibility.

Zea's face darkened in anger. "The Holland family is far off at the border. Even if they're on their wayz back, they wouldn't know what's happening in Vlario, right? And Mr. Holland Senior trusts me

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completely. In the letters I've sent these past few years, I've always written that Manfred is in poor health and needs to be well cared for. There shouldn't be any problem."

"They'll be arriving in Vlario soon. What if Manfred says something in front of them? What will you do then, Mrs. Atkinson?" Rhea asked, her voice filled with an ominous premonition.

Zea narrowed her eyes, her mind already working through a plan. "I won't let them see Manfred. I'll go to meet them first and tell them that he has an infectious disease."

"That could work," Rhea agreed cautiously.

A month passed, and Vivian was finally on her winter break.

As soon as the break started, she went on a vacation with Tyne and a few others.

They spent several days soaking up the sun on a small island, and by the time they returned, their skin had darkened. Afterward, Vivian spent a few days at Janine's house before finally returning to Galaxy Villa yesterday.

This morning, she was preparing her gear to go hiking.

The previous night, she had a vivid dream in which she saw Joe and Skylar in the mountains. A strong, inexplicable feeling told her that today, she had to visit the mountains to see if something important was there.