Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 64

"The woman is dangerously obsessed with Asher," Alexander said angrily. "She's been pursuing him for ten years. In all that time, Asher's probably exchanged fewer than ten sentences with her. Her mental state is clearly unstable. Gabriella, she likely did this out of jealousy—hating you for 'taking' Asher from her."

Lady Blackwood Jr.'s chest heaved with fury. "Complete lunatic! If anything happens to my son, I swear I'll make her pay!"

Lady Blackwood's expression darkened as she glared at her daughter-in-law. "Victoria! Asher is still in surgery. How dare you speak of 'if anything happens'? What kind of mother are you? Are you wishing ill on your own son?"

Lady Blackwood Jr.'s eyes were red-rimmed. "Mother... I didn't mean it that way..."

Fresh tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

Lord Blackwood gave her a reproachful look. "Stop crying. Our son is fighting for his life in there. Your tears are bringing bad energy at a time like this."

Gabriella had no capacity to listen to their bickering.

For her, each minute—each second—stretched into an eternity of torture.

Self-reproach, regret, anxiety, and fear engulfed her completely. The emotional weight pressed against her chest, making her heart ache and breathing difficult. The sensation resembled the suffocating feeling of a drowning person in their final moments—desperate for air that wouldn't come.

The minutes ticked by agonizingly slowly.

The sun began to set.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the doors to the operating theatre finally opened.

Lady Blackwood Jr. was the first to rush forward. "Doctor, how is my son?"

The others quickly gathered around as well.

Gabriella's hands trembled uncontrollably, her palms cold with sweat, her heart suspended between hope and dread.

The surgeon removed his mask, his tired face breaking into a relieved smile. "He's out of danger now."

Collective sighs of relief echoed through the corridor.

Gabriella's nerves, which had been wound tight all afternoon, finally began to loosen slightly.

Asher was transferred from surgery to the ICU. The doctor explained that he needed to remain there for a few days to prevent post-operative infection.

With the immediate crisis passed, Lord Blackwood Sr. began to examine the day's events more critically.

He fixed Lord Blackwood with a stern gaze. "How did that woman infiltrate the estate? The security there is supposedly impenetrable—no one should be able to enter without an invitation. What have you found out?"

Lord Blackwood suddenly remembered the numerous calls he'd received that afternoon, which he'd been too distressed to answer.

"Let me check on the investigation," he said, making a call.

After the conversation, he explained: "She entered as Damian Walsh's guest. The security footage shows she was wearing a mask, claiming she had a cold. Since Walsh personally vouched for her, the guards didn't feel they could ask her to remove it."

"The Walsh family?" Lord Blackwood Sr. frowned.

"Their explanation is that Damian has been abroad for years and only recently returned to London. He claims he wasn't aware of the woman's history with Asher."

Lord Blackwood Sr.'s eyes grew cold. "A conveniently perfect explanation. This is clearly more complicated than it appears. Keep digging."

"Of course."

Randolph, who had been restraining his anger while Asher's life hung in the balance, now spoke up forcefully.

Randolph was genuinely furious. Not only had the engagement ceremony been ruined, but his younger daughter had been kidnapped, and his elder daughter had nearly been killed trying to rescue her. They were the victims, yet were being blamed and accused—there was no justice in such twisted logic.

Not allowing anyone else to speak, he continued challenging Lady Blackwood: "You criticize Gabriella for acting impulsively, but if it had been your son with a knife at his throat, would you have remained so perfectly calm and rational?"

"And this talk about Asher taking the knife for Gabriella—are you suggesting the blade should have found my daughter instead?"

"This is absurd. The culprit is obvious, yet you're blaming my daughter, who is also a victim. Does the Blackwood family subscribe to victim-blaming?"

Lord Blackwood Sr. cleared his throat pointedly. "Ahem."

"Randolph, please calm down. This situation is certainly not Gabriella's fault." His sharp gaze turned toward Lady Blackwood. "What kind of unreasonable statements are you making?"

Lady Blackwood was too incensed to bear this criticism. Her chest heaved with indignation. "Fine! Now you're blaming me too! I won't argue with you anymore!"

She turned and walked away.

"Randolph, please don't be too upset. This incident was clearly a security failure on our part," Lord Blackwood Sr. said reasonably.

Randolph composed himself, though his expression remained cold. "Since Asher is out of danger, I'll be leaving now. Lucy is traumatized, and I need to check on her."

Lord Blackwood Sr. nodded and said to his son, "See Randolph out."

As Gabriella moved to see Asher, Randolph's face remained stern. "Gabriella, come home with me. I don't want them blaming you if there's any change in Asher's condition."

This statement caused visible discomfort among the Blackwoods, but after Lady Blackwood's harsh words, they understood why the Rodriguez might feel alienated. They could hardly object.

Gabriella looked at her father with conflicted emotion. "Dad..."