Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire-Chapter 419: Poisoning

At Lamey Country

Arlan received a call updating him on everything happening in the country. His men had sent him the latest reports, and he had just finished watching the news, seeing how Carla was arrested and how his brother-in-law was caught in the middle of the chaos.

Weakly, he slumped into his chair, his gaze falling on his wife’s unconscious form. "What should I do, Summer?" he murmured helplessly. His people were still on standby, waiting for his orders, but for the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure what the right move was.

The weight of it all pressed down on him, his mind on the verge of exploding from the pressure. Desperate for a moment of clarity, he walked into the restroom. Turning on all the faucets, including the shower, he did exactly as Rain had once advised, he let himself break.

And there, hidden behind the sound of rushing water, Arlan finally let his tears fall. He cried out his frustration, his helplessness, and the overwhelming burden of the choices he now had to make.

Arlan had no idea how long he had stayed in the bathroom, but as soon as he stepped out, he forced himself to regain his composure. Just as he did, David entered the room with urgency in his eyes.

"Sir, we’ve made some progress in the investigation," David reported.

Without hesitation, Arlan led him to the balcony, away from Carla’s presence. "Go on," he ordered.

David handed him a tablet but hesitated before speaking. "We reviewed the CCTV footage as you requested. We also searched everyone and their belongings, but... we found nothing," he admitted.

Arlan’s expression darkened. His patience was wearing thin. "You just said we had progress!" he snapped.

David shifted uncomfortably before lowering his voice. "Sir... during the private interviews with the household staff, I found a lead, but..."

"Damn it, David!" Arlan growled. "Just tell me everything already!"

David took a deep breath. "Sir, I asked the servants if they noticed anything unusual with the Madam in the past few months. Most of them said no, but Linda, one of the senior maids, remembered something odd."

He gulped before adding, "She recalled that Madam experienced shortness of breath and excessive sweating after drinking tea with Miss Carla. It happened twice when Miss Carla visited. Linda asked if she should call an ambulance or inform you, but Madam dismissed it, insisting she was just exhausted from the campaign work."

Arlan’s hands clenched into fists. His breathing became heavy as anger simmered beneath the surface.

David continued, "That made me go back and check the CCTV footage from those days. And... sir, there’s something off." He hesitated again before muttering a curse under his breath. "You should see this for yourself."

With that, he handed Arlan the tablet and pressed play.

As the footage played, Arlan’s pulse pounded in his ears. A sinking feeling gripped him, tightening like a vice around his chest. One glance at David’s conflicted expression told him that whatever he was about to witness would change everything.

And then he saw it...

His face darkened, his breath hitched, and his hands trembled so violently that the tablet slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the floor. His knees buckled, and he would have collapsed entirely if not for David’s quick reflexes, catching him just in time.

"Sir! Are you alright?" David’s voice was laced with concern, but Arlan barely heard him.

The weight of the revelation crushed him, suffocating, unbearable. A dizzying wave of darkness consumed his vision, and before he could even process what he had seen, everything faded to black.

*****

At Lancaster Mansion

As soon as Rock received the news in the morning, he didn’t hesitate. He had called David for an update on Arlan and Summer’s condition, only to find out that Arlan had collapsed.

"This isn’t good... Arlan passed out. I need to travel and see him," Rock said, his expression grim.

"But are you fit to travel?" Vernice asked, worry etched into her face.

"I’ll check with Dr. Lambert now," Rock replied. He was deeply concerned about Arlan. The man was strong, but he had been taking blow after blow. There was only so much one could endure.

"I’m going with you," Vernice said firmly.

Rock didn’t argue. At this point, he was so used to Vernice’s presence that the thought of going without her felt strangely empty.

He gave her a nod before heading to see Dr. Lambert. The doctor granted him permission to travel, but only under the condition that he bring a medical team with him.

Without wasting any time, Rock and Vernice boarded a flight to Lamey Country that very day.

The flight to Lamey Country was tense and silent. Rock barely spoke, lost in his own thoughts. Vernice, sitting beside him, could see the worry etched into his face.

As soon as they landed, David was already waiting for them at the airport. The moment Rock stepped out of the plane, David rushed forward.

"How is he?" Rock asked immediately. "He regained consciousness an hour ago, but..." David hesitated. "Sir, he hasn’t said a word since waking up."

Rock’s brows furrowed. Arlan was never the type to lose his composure, let alone fall into silence.

"Take us to him," Rock ordered.

Without hesitation, David led Rock and Vernice straight to Arlan’s room, where Summer lay unconscious on the bed. Arlan was seated on the sofa, an IV drip attached to his hand, staring blankly at his wife.

"Arlan," Rock called out, taking a seat beside him.

Arlan didn’t respond immediately. He looked distant as if lost in another world, his gaze unfocused and heavy with exhaustion. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Arlan, I’m here. Tell me what’s going on..." he softly uttered. He was getting worried seeing his friend in that state.

Slowly, Arlan lifted his gaze, his eyes dark and hollow. "She... she was poisoning her," he finally said, his voice hoarse.

Rock and Vernice exchanged glances.

"Carla," Arlan whispered bitterly. "She was poisoning Summer. And I... I didn’t see it. I let it happen."

Rock clenched his fists then he turned to David with a frown and instructed, "Tell me everything."