<b>Chapter</b><b>377</b>
Iletmygazedrop,strugglingtoeptthe harshreality.Eventhethoughtofitsentshiversdownmyspine.To thinkSusanwouldgoasfaraspoisoningRamonatokeepmeaway fromtheMyers family.
Comparedto herandRichard,Icherishedthe memoriesofmychildhood,whenmyparentsheldmedearintheirhearts.Yet,fatehaditscruel twists,andIwasnothingmorethansomeoneelse’sstand–in.
Outofnowhere,Gregoryasked,“Isthereanychancethehospitalstillhasmaternityrecordsfrombackthen?IsitpossiblethatanyfriendsoracquaintancesoftheMyersfamilyhada babyaroundthesametime?”
Farleyshookhishead.“That’s wayback.It’stoohardtotrackdown now.”
Afterdinner,Iwantedtoreturntothehospital.
Gregoryobjected,“There’snoneed.That’stheMyersfamily’sterritory.Ramonahasatop–notchmedicalteamlookingafterher.Ifyougothere,youwon’tbeabletohelp,andyou’llendupshingwithDorothyagain.”
“But…”Iwasinturmoil.
Somehow,stayingbyRamona’ssideseemedtheonlywaytofindpeace.
GregoryseemedworriedaboutRamona,too,buthepinchedmycheekreassuringlyandpromised,“Nothingwillhappen toher.AndI’llletyouknowrightawayifshewakesup.”
Idoubtedit.“WouldtheMyersfamilyeveninformyouifshewokeup?”
Gregoryrepliedwithouthesitation.“No.”
Iwascurious.“Thenhow…”
Hesmirked.“Ihavemyways.”
“Okaythen.”Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
“So,focusonyour jobatthehotel.”Heusheredmeintothecaranddrove
towardthehotel.
IthoughtI’dheadbacktoRiverCity oncetheordealwasover.Afterall,the
holidaywasfinishing,andJanedreamwasabouttostartupagain.ButIgot
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17:39
caughtupinthemess.WhenRamonawouldwakeupwasstilluncertain.Withthatthought,Idecided,“IwanttoreturntoRiverCitythisafternoon.”
Susan’sattitudetowardmealwaysfeltoff.Asamother,nomatterhowresentful,shewouldshowsomehesitation,right?ButIsawnoneofthatinSusan.
Gregorysawrightthroughme.“nningtoaskyourauntaboutyourorigins?”
Iadmitted,“Right.”
Henodded,“That’sagoodidea.Ramonaneverfiguredoutwhokidnappedyoubackthen.Maybeyoucanuncoversomething.”
Isighed,“Ihopeso.”
Gregorysaidsoftly,“I’vegotameetingwithFarleythisafternoonto
interrogatethesuspecthecaught.Ican’ewithyou,butI’rrangeforsomeotakeyou.”
Iturneddownhiskindness.“Noneed!Christinedrovehere.It’scloseby.Wecanmanageonourown.”
Backatthehotel,ChristinerushedoverassoonasIwalkedin,eagertohearabouttheday.Isharedeverything,leavinghershocked.Then,rememberingsomething,sheasked,“WhywasyourphurnedoffwhenItriedcalling?”
“Ranoutofbattery.”Afterexining,Iinquired,“What’sup?”
AllIcouldthinkaboutthepreviousnightwasthepaternitytest,soIhadnoenergytoworryaboutmyphone’sbattery.Andtoday,Iwastoobusytoevenlookatmyphone.
Christinesighed,replying,“Yourex–husbandBryantwaslookingforyou!Heevencametothehotel.”
Iwaspuzzled.“Whatfor?”
Christineadded,“Hedidn’tsay,butheseemedupset.Probably,itwassomethingimportant.Turnonyourphoneandgivehimacall.”
“Okay.”Afterchargingmyphone,abarrageofmissedcallsfromBryantpoppedup.
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17:30页
Asinkingfeelinggrewin mystomach.Iimmediatelycalledback,andBryantansweredquicklyinastern andmandingtone,“DonemeddlingwiththeMyersfamily’smess?Backat thehotel?”
Ianswered,“Yes.”
Bryant’s icyvoicecamethroughagain.“Meetmedownstairsinfiveminutes.We’reheadingbacktoRiverCity.”
Iwastryingtosayno.“Bryant,Idon’t…”
“Youraunt’sdoctorissuedacriticalconditionnotice.“