Chapter 160

Within the sterile confines of the hospital room, Alice unsealed her meal box. Layla, on the other hand, cradled a bowl of her once-favorite beef and preserved egg soup. As she attempted to take a bite, a wave of nausea washed over her, and she lost her appetite.

"What's wrong?" Alice queried, her eyes filled with concern.

Shaking her head, Layla replied, "I'm not hungry, I've lost my taste for soup." It seemed as though she had been subsisting on soup for so long that she had developed an aversion to it. The only thing she craved was corn soup, a delicacy she had once savored, spoon-fed by a man who was no longer a part of her life. That man had become an integral part of her existence, with the simplest of details triggering an overwhelming longing for him.

"Well... do you want to switch? Chicken cutlets aren't unhealthy; it should be fine. Come on, I'm trying to shed some pounds anyway," Alice suggested, and they exchanged meals. Unbeknownst to them, this simple act would have significant repercussions.

Layla nibbled on her chicken cutlet, while Alice heartily consumed the soup. After their meal, they engaged in casual conversation until Alice's face turned an alarming shade of pale, and she rushed to the bathroom, clutching her stomach.

"Alice, are you okay?" Layla knocked on the bathroom door, hearing Alice's retching sounds. Her voice was laced with worry as she called out, "Alice? Alice?" Pushing the door open, she found Alice doubled over by the toilet, her face ashen, clutching her stomach in agony. "Help, get a doctor," she gasped.

...

Alice was diagnosed with food poisoning and had her stomach pumped.

After more than an hour of chaos, she lay listlessly in the hospital bed next to Layla's, her face ghastly pale. "Oh man, I was just here to keep you company, and now I've gotten myself sick," Alice moaned, still gripping her aching stomach.

Layla felt a wave of guilt wash over her and said, "I'm so sorry, if you hadn't swapped soups with me, this wouldn't have happened..."

"Lucky for you I did, otherwise, you'd be worse off," Alice winced, trying to find some solace. "It's weird, how could hospital soup be bad? I can't catch a break." Layla was puzzled, too, but she didn't dwell on it.

Looking at Alice's pallid face, she felt both a pang of sympathy and a chuckle bubbling up, "Guess we're truly 'suffer sisters' now." Alice let out a snort of laughter, "Right? You're not real sisters unless you've shared a hospital room."

...

In the surgical office.

"How's the patient with food poisoning?" Nora Eilish had sent a nurse to check and was now inquiring.

"She's had her stomach pumped, nothing serious, she's been moved to a regular ward to rest," the nurse replied. "She a friend of yours?"

"Yeah," Nora Eilish nodded, relieved. "Do we know what caused it?" The nurse shook her head, "We didn't test the vomit, probably just a common case of food poisoning." Nora Eilish let out a sigh of relief. She had specifically reminded Phil that the medicine he provided shouldn't be problematic. Such a shame it disrupted her plans.

Alice had it coming anyway; who swaps meals for no reason? The soup was meant for Layla, why did she even eat it?

A male doctor entered.

"Doctor Phil." The nurse blushed, shyly greeting the handsome young man clad in his white coat. "Alright, you can leave us," he said. The nurse exited, and Phil closed the door.

Phil and Nora Eilish were about the same age, classmates. Phil's family was also well-known in the city, but they ranked just below the Eilish family. "What are you doing here?" Nora Eilish glanced at him disinterestedly.

Phil couldn't hide the love in his gaze. Unfortunately, it was a case of unrequited love; he had been infatuated with her for a decade. "I just couldn't stop worrying, so I came to check on things. That medication I arranged for you, it was really for your friend?"

Nora Eilish was immersed in writing her report and nonchalantly grunted an acknowledgment without looking up. "Haven't I told you before? My friend's husband is an abuser, and she wants a divorce. She's got to terminate the pregnancy first, but she can't give him any leverage, which is why I came to you for the meds."

Phill frowned.

It was half a minute before Nora Eilish finally looked up, meeting his still skeptical gaze. "What's wrong? You think I look like the kind of woman who would get pregnant by accident?"

Phill said with earnest, "Even the smartest women can make mistakes once they fall in love."

Nora Eilish shrugged it off, "That doesn't include me. I would only carry a child conceived with someone I love, and I would definitely keep it."

Phill saw the honesty in her eyes and felt a wave of relief, but couldn't help feeling a tinge of jealousy. "Are you talking about Holland Elton?"

"Who else?" Nora responded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, signed the report, and closed it.

"But he said in public that..."

"I know what he's said, but in the end, he will be mine. No doubt about that." Nora Eilish flashed a confident smile. "I'll send you an invitation when the time comes."

Phill forced a smile and said, "I should get back to work."

Unrequited love is the deepest kind of pain.

With no mood for work, Nora Eilish decided to make a call instead, holding her phone with a beaming grin. "Hey Uncle, it's Nora..."

As the clock struck eight in the evening, the Lotus Restaurant hummed with the gentle clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversation.

Nora Eilish, a young woman of grace and ambition, poured a cup of black tea for Holland, a gesture of familiarity and respect. She had done her homework well, knowing that winning over Samuel required understanding Holland's preferences and currying his favor.

Holland, on the other hand, found himself increasingly impressed with the young woman he had handpicked for his son. Nora hailed from an excellent family, her demeanor was gracious and gentle, and she had already carved a niche for herself as a promising young surgeon.

In comparison, Holland thought, poor Layla didn't even deserve to lace Nora's shoes.

"Why did you decide to have dinner with me today? I was worried you were still mad at me," Holland queried, his brows furrowing as he slapped the table, his voice hard and stern. "Samuel has been outrageous. I'll make sure he apologizes to you."

Nora mused silently. If Samuel didn't want to apologize, who could force him to do so? Holland's promises were nothing more than a show. The real power in the Holland family had long since shifted to Samuel.

"No need for an apology. And Mr. Holland seems to have been in a bad mood lately. I saw him the other day with a stern face coming out of the apartment near the company," Nora remarked casually, noting the subtle shift in Holland's expression.

She knew that Holland was aware of Layla's existence but was helpless in dealing with her. However, he could still prove to be somewhat useful.

Holland's mind began to churn with doubt. An apartment near the Holland Group? Wasn't that where the wild girl resided? Had there been a quarrel?

"Have you been in touch with Samuel recently?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Nora shook her head, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips.

"Ah, that Samuel!" Holland chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Nora, it's not that he doesn't like you; he's just being stubborn with me. Do you still carry a torch for my boy Samuel?"

With a resigned smile, Nora replied gently, "What good does it do if only I have feelings? All these years, Mr. Holland hasn't given me the time of day."

"Don't you dare give up, Nora. You're the daughter-in-law I've set my heart on. No one but you will ever be welcomed into the Holland family," Holland assured her, gripping her hand firmly. "You will definitely become part of our family."

"Thank you, Uncle," Nora responded, her voice soft and grateful.

...

A black sedan cut through the night, its headlights piercing the darkness.

Suddenly, Holland's phone began to ring, breaking the silence.

"Sir, I've got the details. Layla checked into the hospital today. Her male bodyguard went off to city B in the morning; they must have split up."

Holland's frown, a constant companion for many weeks, finally eased a bit. He snorted with a sense of vindication, certain they were heading towards a disastrous end.

"But Layla hasn't terminated the pregnancy yet. Should we handle it?" the voice on the phone asked, breaking Holland's train of thought.