Chapter 157
Chapter 157:
Hailee crumpled to the floor, curling into a tight ball, her knees tucked close. She was at a loss for what to do, her inner turmoil evident on her face. Boris, her first love, the guy who’d once saved her life. How could she turn her back on him? But the thought of her aging dad, left alone without a child because of her pigheadedness, gnawed at her. In the dim corridor, shadowy figures lurked, stealing sneaky glances. Elliana flicked her eyes toward them before focusing on Hailee, her voice steady as a calm sea.
“This is a big decision, Hailee. You can’t keep Briggs in the dark. You’ve got to hash this out with him p>
“You’re right,” Hailee said, nodding. “I’m heading home to talk to Dad now p>
Hailee got to her feet. She and Elliana stepped into the elevator together.
The second the elevator doors slid shut, the lurking figures slinked into Boris’s hospital room.
When the elevator hit the ground floor, Elliana turned to Hailee. “I’ve got something to handle, so I can’t keep you company. Let me know how it goes with the surgery money after you talk to Briggs p>
“Okay,” Hailee said, and they went their separate ways.
Once Hailee was gone, Elliana rode the elevator back up, creeping quietly toward Boris’s ward.
Peeking through the cracked door, her gut feeling was spot-on. The shadowy figures were now crowded around Boris, whooping it up like it was New Year’s Eve.
Party poppers burst, champagne corks flew, and every face glowed with wild excitement. Boris, no longer the frail patient, sat propped up in bed, a smug grin plastered on his face like he’d won the lottery.
“Bottoms up, Boris,” purred a guy in a slick gray suit, holding out a flute of champagne with a flourish.
Boris took a sip.
𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 ➝ g⸽a⸽l⸽n⸽o⸽v⸽e⸽l⸽s⸽.⸽c⸽o⸽m
“You’re a genius, Boris,” the guy continued, eyes shining with admiration. “You’ve got that gullible Hailee wrapped around your finger. She’s so smitten that she’s ready to hand over her kidney! You’re a regular Casanova p>
The others joined in, their cruel laughter bouncing off the walls.
“I can’t wait to see Hailee’s face when she’s down a kidney and realizes the love she poured her heart into was all a sham. She’ll be crushed! Ha-ha p>
Boris smirked, savoring his champagne. “I didn’t think she’d be that easy to fool. All I did was play the hero, and she ate it up like candy. She’s ready to do anything p>
“For me—even give up a kidney. Honestly, I’m almost touched. If she wasn’t so beneath me, I might’ve actually considered keeping her around p>
Saying this, he downed his glass with a cocky chuckle.
“By the way, Boris, saw Elliana with Hailee earlier. Think she’ll rat us out?” someone piped up.
Boris waved it off like swatting a fly. “No chance. That ugly woman doesn’t even know me.” His face hardened. “Trinity said Elliana’s been stirring up trouble for her. Once I’ve got Hailee’s kidney, I’ll put that ugly woman in her place and settle the score for Trinity p>
Elliana’s lips curled into a sneer at his words. The scene before her triggered a memory. During the filming of “The Heiress’ Graduation Trip,” she’d noticed Vivien and the other socialites eyeing Hailee with strange looks. Now it all clicked. Boris’s twisted game with Hailee was an open secret among the elite. For a whole year, Hailee had been the butt of their jokes.
Boris and his crew had no qualms about shredding someone’s dignity and health just for kicks. If Elliana hadn’t been there, Hailee would’ve lost a kidney, her life derailed forever.
“Lowlifes!” Elliana muttered, slipping her phone into her pocket and heading downstairs. She’d recorded the whole thing and was ready to show Hailee, to rip the mask off Boris’s ugly scheme.
Outside the hospital, Elliana dialed Hailee.
The call was picked up quickly, Hailee’s voice heavy with sorrow. “Elliana, hey p>
“Hailee, I’ve got something big to tell you. Meet me at the café across from the hospital p>
“On my way,” Hailee said.
After hanging up, Elliana headed to the café.
Hailee rushed in minutes later. “Elliana, what’s up p>
“Take a seat,” Elliana said, nodding to the chair across from her. This wasn’t going to be easy. Hailee was in deep with Boris’s lies, and the truth would hit like a freight train. Elliana braced herself to break it gently and stick around for the aftermath. Just as Hailee settled in, Paige walked in.