Chapter 100: Putting on an Act
Caleb Quinn and Henry Sterling had gotten into a conflict.
’Henry Sterling is here too?’
’Did he come with Wendy Wynn?’
Vivian Lowell frowned and decided to go over to Caleb to see what was happening.
Just then, a CLANG echoed from the hospital room, as if something had fallen to the floor.
Vivian Lowell jumped, startled. She thought Wendy Wynn might be doing something to Eleanor Rhodes. But when she pushed the door open, she saw Wendy herself collapsed on the floor.
Next to her lay the kind of stand that holds an IV drip by the bedside.
There was a trace of blood on Wendy’s forehead.
Eleanor Rhodes was stunned for a moment. Seeing someone enter, she said to Vivian Lowell, "Vivian! She just turned around and hit it herself. I didn’t even touch her!"
"I know!"
Vivian Lowell replied to Eleanor Rhodes without a second thought.
No matter what, Vivian would definitely believe Eleanor.
She hurried inside, hugged Eleanor—who was a bit faint at the sight of blood—and pressed the emergency call button, summoning the nurses to come quickly.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway outside.
Vivian Lowell turned to see Caleb Quinn and Henry Sterling.
"Tanya, are you okay?!"
"Wendy Wynn! You... Why is she here? What’s going on?"
Caleb rushed to Eleanor Rhodes’s side, observing her carefully while shooting a very wary look at Henry Sterling and Wendy Wynn.
"What else could it be? This woman must have been trying to hurt Tanya! Don’t tell me she’s pulling another self-harm ploy, is she?"
Caleb was blunt, shifting his body slightly as if to shield Eleanor Rhodes.
Henry Sterling looked over.
His eyes were deep and complex—Vivian couldn’t decipher them, at any rate. He asked, "Why is she on the floor? What did she come to you for?"
The two questions made Eleanor Rhodes’s expression darken.
She glanced at Henry Sterling, trying hard to suppress her emotions. "Why Wendy Wynn came here is a question you should ask her, not me."
Henry Sterling didn’t speak.
He looked at Eleanor, then at Wendy, seemingly torn.
Vivian Lowell couldn’t stand it anymore. She gave Julian Faulkner a look, and he went outside to get the nurses, intending to have them take Wendy away first.
"Professor Sterling."
Vivian helped Eleanor Rhodes sit down properly and asked, "How did you know Tanya was being discharged today?"
Henry Sterling was taken aback by Vivian’s sudden question. He then replied, "I... I have a few friends who are doctors at Concordia."
"I asked them for information and then came over."
"Oh."
Vivian Lowell nodded.
She had some understanding of Henry’s motives, but...
Vivian pointed at Wendy Wynn and said, "As a professor at Aethelburg University, it’s not surprising that you have connections at Concordia Hospital. I also believe you wouldn’t do anything to harm Tanya."
"But, if I recall, Miss Winslow has been abroad for many years, right? She doesn’t have many friends in Aethelburg. So how did she find out Tanya was here?"
"Forgive my bluntness, Professor Sterling, but don’t you think Miss Winslow isn’t quite who you imagine her to be?"
Vivian was tempted to just play the recording she’d just made for Henry, to let him see Wendy Wynn’s true colors!
But seeing Henry’s conflicted expression, his pale face, and the way he was holding Wendy, she found it difficult to say anything.
’Forget it.’
’If I show him this and he still chooses to protect Wendy, Tanya will only be more hurt.’
Seeing Henry Sterling remain silent, Vivian said listlessly, "I believe Tanya didn’t push Miss Winslow. Besides, don’t you find it strange?"
"The last time we were with Miss Winslow, she also acted so frail and weak, as if we had hurt her. It’s the same this time."
"What a coincidence, Miss Winslow, wouldn’t you say?"
Vivian Lowell glanced at Wendy Wynn.
Wendy, cradled in the arms of the crouching Henry Sterling, looked deathly pale. Her eyes were dull as she struggled to open her mouth.
"I..."
Wendy suddenly burst into tears, leaning her head against Henry Sterling’s chest. "Henry... no, it’s not like that. Miss Rhodes, she..."
"We... I came here because I accidentally saw you asking the doctors here for information."
"I know you were worried about her, and I know she didn’t want to see you. I came because I didn’t want you to be so sad. I hoped she would agree to see you."
"Just now... just now Miss Rhodes said she’s doing very well and doesn’t want to see you. I was about to kneel and beg her... She didn’t push me, I was just careless, I..."
Wendy’s words were broken and halting.
After hearing this, Vivian Lowell laughed out loud.
’This Wendy Wynn...’
’Even at a time like this, she still has the mind to put on a show?’
"Professor Sterling."
Vivian looked at Henry Sterling and asked, "Do you believe Wendy Wynn?"
Henry hesitated. He looked at Wendy, then back at Vivian. "It’s true that I wanted to see Eleanor Rhodes. What happened with the Lion Cat was my and Wendy’s fault."
"And... I thought we were friends, weren’t we? Is it too much to visit a friend who’s been hurt?"
"Not too much."
Vivian’s eyes were calm. "But since you’re friends, you should also respect your friend’s wishes. What Wendy Wynn just said was a complete pack of lies."
"But she was right about one thing. It’s true that Tanya doesn’t want to see you."
"I imagine you’ve been a bit angry these past few days, with Caleb Quinn constantly blocking you from coming here. You probably feel like this is between you and Tanya, so why is Caleb interfering, right?"
Henry Sterling didn’t answer.
The way he pursed his lips told Vivian that he tacitly agreed.
Seeing this, Vivian continued, "But have you ever considered if Tanya really doesn’t know what’s going on? And why would she be willing to let Caleb interfere?"
"Besides, the person who suddenly meddled in this affair wasn’t Caleb in the first place, was it? As for who it was... I don’t think I need to say more."
Henry Sterling’s body jolted. He understood.
Just then, Julian Faulkner returned with the nurses.
The nurses saw Wendy Wynn on the floor and came over one by one to check her wound. They said it needed to be cleaned and bandaged to prevent infection.
It wasn’t convenient to do that in this room, so Wendy needed to be moved to the one next door.
Hearing the nurses say this, Vivian Lowell didn’t hesitate to show them the door. "Professor Sterling, since it’s not suitable for Miss Winslow to remain here, you should accompany her to the room next door."
"Oh, right. Miss Winslow, perhaps you’re unaware."
"While you were in here talking with Tanya, Julian Faulkner and I happened to be right outside. I was about to come in, but you seemed so engrossed in what you were saying that I didn’t want to interrupt."
"It’s just that... I accidentally turned on my phone’s recording function, so I recorded everything you said."
"Those lies you just told... they didn’t sit right with me. Why don’t you think it over and try telling Professor Sterling the truth this time? How about it?"
!?
Henry Sterling turned his head, looking from Vivian to Wendy with a confused and shocked expression.
Wendy Wynn panicked, frantically denying it. "No, no, I didn’t! Henry, I was just so sad to see you so distracted and listless!"
"You were never like this before! When we were abroad, you were so proud, so full of life."
"Before I returned, I went on the Aethelburg University website and saw a video of you giving a speech. You were different from how you are now! I just couldn’t bear it... I couldn’t bear to see you so miserable because of her."
"I came here to tell her that since you two have nothing to do with each other anymore, it would be better to just let go."
"Henry, I did all of this for your own good. I want you to be happy, do you understand?"
"..."
Wendy Wynn continued her tearful plea, looking deeply moved.
At that moment, Eleanor Rhodes tugged on Vivian Lowell’s sleeve and whispered, "Vivian, isn’t our movie about to start?"
"Can we go? I’m a little tired. Let’s just watch the movie and get dinner early. I want to go home."
"I haven’t been home for so many days in the hospital; my mom must be worried about me. Vivian, let’s go."
"Okay." Vivian Lowell gently took Eleanor’s hand. Not wanting to look at Henry Sterling and Wendy Wynn any longer, she turned to leave.