Chapter 30

Violet reclined in the hospital bed, looking perfectly at ease as she popped another grape into her mouth.Each grape had been carefully peeled and rinsed by Rodger.

She placed her faith in his fortune and powerful contacts. With Rodger pulling the strings, she believed she could count on Asclepius to save her from this relentless illness.

The moment she heard the door creak open, she quickly set aside her plate of fruit. Shearranged herself to appear as weak and delicate as possible.

Violet had assumed Rodger would bring Asclepius straight to her bedside. Yet when he walked in alone, her composure nearly slipped.

She hesitated at first, the question hanging on her lips before she managed to soften her tone."You came back alone? Tell me, where is the doctor?"

"He was already gone." A tired sigh slipped out as Rodger took a seat at the end of her bed. Worry seemed etched into every line of his face.

Shock flashed in Violet's eyes, and her lower lip began to quiver. "This can't be true... why does this keep happening to me?"

For a moment, Violet had convinced herself that relief was finally within reach-that she would finally face the one they called Asclepius and be freed from this relentless sickness.

Instead, Rodger being late meant she was trapped again, forced to bear the unending torture that felt worse than dying.

Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks, silent but heavy.

Rodger watched the tears, alarmed, and drew her into an uneasy hug. "Please don't cry. I promise I'll find Asclepius, and you'll get better." Choking back sobs, Violet buried her face in his shoulder. "When it starts, the pain is more than I can handle..."

Hearing her broken voice, guilt clawed at Rodger. All he could think about was how Emilia had delayed him."If Emilia hadn't held me up in the lobby, I would have caught Asclepius. This is all because of her."

He sounded as though every ounce of frustration and anger had settled on Emilia's shoulders, and he longed for someone to blame.

"You mean... Emilia stopped you?" Violet's eyes went wide,dread crawling into her voice.

Maybe Emilia had known all along what Rodger planned, keeping him from meeting Asclepius. Such cruelty seemed beyond belief.

"That's exactly it. Today was supposed to be the day we wrapped up the divorce, but she ignored everything we agreed on and disappeared. While I was looking for Asclepius, she suddenly stepped in front of me and refused to budge.I couldn't believe it," Rodger explained, his frustration simmering.

He had scoured every hallway in the hospital, asking anyone who might have answers, but Asclepius was nowhere to be found. Even the hospital director had no clues to offer.

The only piece of information he picked up was that Asclepius had disguised as Landon's staff, working on a surgery for a child who'd suffered a terrible accident.

Rodger wasted no time, instructing someone to look into Landon and the child, hoping to track down Asclepius,

Violet shivered, her words barely a whisper, asking, "Do you think Emilia did it on purpose?"

Feigned emotion tangled in her voice as she said, "Is she still mad about what happened at the pool? | tried to explain it was never her fault. I don't understand why she still hates me..."

Rodger watched her tears spill and felt his heart twist with sympathy. He held her tenderly. "You don't have to defend her. She's jealous and spiteful, and you know she pushed you. There's no reason to make excuses for someone like that." "Rodger... I can't take this pain any longer..." Violet's expression turned to one of extreme distress, and the next moment, she was scratching at her skin. "I can't stand the itching..it won't stop..."

Panic washed over Rodger as he grabbed her wrists. "Stop, Violet, you can't scratch! Please, hold on. I'll get you to a doctor right now!"

With trembling hands, he lifted Violet into his arms and hurried from the room, his face pale with terror.

Rodger never suspected she was faking every symptom just to turn him further against Emilia.

She knew that if Emilia hadn't stalled Rodger, Asclepius could have treated her, sparing her from more suffering.

The idea that her one hope for relief slipped away because of Emilia left her seething with anger, wishing she could see her rival suffer in return.