Chapter 15

Esther's eyes brimmed with hatred as she watched Bradley leave. She gritted her teeth as pain and blood marred her consciousness. A tear fell from her eye, following the tape, and into her hair. It was resentment that supported her as she clearly felt the cold needle push into her bone marrow. Finally, under the anesthesia, her resentful eyes closed in helplessness, indignation, and despair. After Bradley left the operation ward, he clutched his chest, feeling as though countless needles had stabbed his heart. Esther's frenzied words echoed in his mind, causing him to abruptly turn back to look at the closed doors. He urgently instructed Cole, "Get the twins' samples from Sunflower Welfare for a paternity test with me right now." Though puzzled, Cole replied respectfully, "Okay." Bradley thought of Esther's hateful gaze and snickered. He must have been out of his mind! He had never been intimate with her, so how could she be carrying his children? Asexual reproduction? He took out his phone again and texted Cole. [No need to do it.] He had almost fallen for the delusional woman's words. Esther was capable of harming his grandfather—she would surely lie to save herself and those kids. Those kids could never be his! Suppressing his agitation, Bradley looked at Felix in the operation ward. His thin lips were pressed into a line, and his clenched jaw showed his anxiety. His tall figure was tense as if he could snap at any moment. The clock's digits on the wall kept blinking, and everyone in the operating ward focused on completing the difficult surgery with a single thought: it must be successful. - Reading Bradley's text, Cole hesitated for a moment before heading to the hospital where Tinkerbell was. If Bradley suspected her parentage, a paternity test could clear things up. "Good evening, Mr. Searle," Cole greeted Jasper respectfully, noting the dressing on his forehead. Jasper glanced at him coldly and scoffed. "What? Bradley sent you to check if I'm dead?" Cole awkwardly explained, "You must be joking. Mr. Warner was worried about Mr. Felix. I believe you'd understand a father's love for his son..." Jasper ignored Cole and turned his attention to Tinkerbell, who was being attended to by doctors. "Cole, Esther claims Tinkerbell is her and Bradley's child. Do you believe her?" Jasper asked, his gaze fixed on the ailing girl. Cole looked shocked, unsure if it could be true. Jasper continued. "I believe her. You and I know how much Esther loved Bradley. Mr. Thomas knew it, too. He didn't believe she would cheat on Bradley until his death. Do you think she'd betray him?" Looking at Tinkerbell, Cole recalled the twins he had taken out of prison and handed over to the Sunflower Welfare director five years ago. He had visited them regularly, sending money and items to the home. If the twins were indeed Bradley and Esther's daughters, how could he live with all that Thomas had done for him? But then, if Esther had Bradley's children, why didn't she plead with him in court before? Why didn't she tell the truth? Tinkerbell's emergency care came to a stop in the emergency ward. The pediatrician approached Jasper wearing his mask. "Mr. Searle, Tinkerbell isn't doing well. Her organs are failing..." Jasper asked in shock, "She has acute leukemia, right? Why is organ failure happening so fast?"