Dumped Then Claimed By A Billionaire (Nerissa and Owen) novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Nerissa had spelled it out for everyone.

Mrs. Sullivan had one son and one daughter.

Her daughter married out.

If something happened to Leo now, it was obvious who would benefit.

Realizing the answer, Mrs. Sullivan’s face went pale. She looked at Nerissa. “Nerissa, do you mean… that person is your aunt Luna?”

“Yeah,” Nerissa gave a small nod. “I’m eighty percent sure it’s her.”

To Nerissa, there was no one else it could be but Luna.

Mrs. Sullivan’s eyes filled with tears. “No, it can’t be. Luna and your dad are siblings, just four years apart, they grew up together and have always been so close. Luna’s always been so kind, always looking after your dad and me, giving her all. How could she ever hurt him? No, I just can’t believe it…”

Mrs. Sullivan couldn’t even bring herself to think about it.

That was her flesh and blood.

She nearly died giving birth to Luna, it took two whole days and nights before Luna finally came into the world.

Because of that, Mrs. Sullivan doted on Luna more than anyone.

Even after Luna got married, Mrs. Sullivan kept her living at home and even bankrolled her son-in-law’s business ventures.

Mrs. Sullivan just couldn’t wrap her head around the idea that Luna would ever do something so terrible.

Mrs. Sullivan stammered, “It… it must be someone from the other side, not your aunt…”

Seeing Mrs. Sullivan on the verge of breaking down, Nerissa gently helped her into a chair. “Grandma, please, just try to take a breath.”

Mrs. Sullivan clutched Nerissa’s hand tightly. “Arie, let’s call the police. We need them to handle this!”

If Luna really was behind this, the cops would dig up the evidence.

If it wasn’t her, they’d clear her name for sure.

As a mother, Mrs. Sullivan was at a loss. Calling the police was all she could think of.

“No,” Nerissa shook her head. “Grandma, we don’t have the key evidence yet. If we go to the police now, we’ll just alert the culprit. Dad can’t defend himself right now, and there’s no way we can keep an eye on him every

second. We can’t call the cops, and we can’t let anyone catch wind of this. Let’s wait until Dad wakes we decide what to do.”

Mrs. Sullivan realized Nerissa was making sense. “Alright, Arie, I’m with you, whatever you say.”

up

before

Nerissa said firmly, “And Grandma, you can’t breathe a word of what I found here to anyone, not even Luna, her husband, or Anna. This stays just between us.”

“Okay,” Mrs. Sullivan nodded. “But Arie, trust me, it couldn’t have been your aunt. She and your dad are really close. She’d never do something like this, I’m sure of it.”

Until she saw the evidence with her own eyes, Mrs. Sullivan just couldn’t believe that the daughter she’d nearly died to bring into the world would ever raise a knife against her own brother.

Nerissa didn’t directly deny Mrs. Sullivan’s words. “Grandma, neither you nor I get to decide who hurt Dad. Let’s leave it to time, once Dad wakes up, the truth will come out.”

“Dad was right there in that car accident nineteen years ago. He must know something, and that’s why someone made sure he’s been stuck in that bed all these years.”

Suddenly, Nerissa remembered something. “Oh, and Grandma, there’s one more thing I need you to help me with.”

“What is it?” Mrs. Sullivan asked.

Nerissa leaned in close to Mrs. Sullivan’s ear and whispered a few words.

After hearing what Nerissa said, Mrs. Sullivan nodded. “Okay.”

Mrs. Sullivan never doubted Nerissa for a second. If her granddaughter asked, she’d do it, no questions asked.

Ten minutes later, Mrs. Sullivan walked out of the yard of his son.

She’d just stepped out when Luna showed up.

Luna hurried over, worry etched on her face. “Mom, why are your eyes so red? Have you been crying?”

Mrs. Sullivan quickly wiped her eyes. “No, I wasn’t.”

Luna could immediately tell something was wrong. “Mom, what happened? I can tell you’ve been crying! Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Mrs. Sullivan let out a heavy sigh. “I just went to see Leo. Arie said he’s been getting worse lately. I’m really worried, what if he never wakes up?”

Her eyes grew red again. “Luna, why does your brother have to go through so much? After all the trouble we went through to find Arie…”

“It’s alright, Mom, don’t be so pessimistic,” Luna said, hugging her. While Mrs. Sullivan couldn’t see, a sly smile played at Luna’s lips. ‘Arie’s medical skills are top-notch, she’ll definitely get Leo back on his feet. We just have to trust her and not stress her out, Luna thought to herself.

Hearing Luna say all that, Mrs. Sullivan just couldn’t believe for a second that her own daughter could be the one behind Leo’s suffering.

If Luna really was behind all this, why would she put so much faith in Arie?

Anyone could tell from Luna’s words that she trusted Arie every bit as much as Mrs. Sullivan herself did.

Mrs. Sullivan took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “You’re right, Luna. Arie will definitely get Leo back on his feet. I trust her.”

Luna snorted to herself.

Trust Nerissa?’ Luna thought.

‘Mom’s really getting senile,’ Luna thought.

‘Hasn’t Mom noticed that Nerissa’s already laying the groundwork in case she can’t cure Leo?’ Luna thought.

‘Otherwise, why would Nerissa go out of her way to tell Mom that Leo’s getting worse? She’s obviously setting up an excuse in case she can’t cure him,’ Luna thought.

But Luna knew better than to say any of this out loud.

If she did, what if Mom started looking for a better doctor for Leo?

No, Leo had to die while Nerissa was the one treating him.

Coma patients were always hanging by a thread, and Leo was already showing signs of decline. Looked like his time was almost up.

A flicker of cunning flashed in Luna’s eyes as she gently wiped away Mrs. Sullivan’s tears. “Come on, Mom, don’t cry. New Year’s is just around the corner, and we’ve finally got Arié back. Let’s try to be happy this year.”

Mrs. Sullivan looked at her daughter, her emotions all over the place. ‘Could it really be Luna?’ she couldn’t help but wonder.

‘Is it really my own daughter?’ the thought echoed in her mind.

‘Leo, please… wake up soon,’ Mrs. Sullivan begged silently.

‘Wake up and show me the truth,’ she pleaded in her heart.

Just let my daughter be cleared,’ Mrs. Sullivan prayed silently.

Time flew by, and before anyone realized it, New Year’s Eve was here.

This

year, the Sullivan family was livelier than ever, with four new faces around.

Besides Nerissa, Hunter, and Mrs. Berenson, there was also Van Sullivan.

Van’s dad died when he was little, his mom left, and his grandparents passed away three years ago. Mrs. Sullivan, being his second grandma, just couldn’t let him spend New Year’s all by himself.

Nerissa and the three elders were busy putting up the New Year’s couplets, while Van and Anna were working together to decorate the windows with paper cutouts.

As they worked, Anna asked, “Van, I’ve noticed you barely talk to Arie. Is it because she’s been divorced? Do you have a problem with that?”

Van glanced over at Nerissa, who was laughing and chatting with Mrs. Berenson. “I just can’t open up to someone who was unfaithful in her marriage, didn’t take responsibility for her family, and even had an abortion.”

Even though Ariel was his blood relative, and besides Anna, the only sister he had, Van just couldn’t bring himself to accept her.

She was the only sister he had apart from Anna.

But no matter how hard he tried, Van just couldn’t get over it.

‘Seriously, what kind of mom doesn’t love her own kid and only thinks about herself?’ Van thought, feeling bitter.

‘If she never cared, then why bother having a child at all?’ he couldn’t help but wonder.

‘Why bother getting pregnant at all?’ Van thought, frustration simmering inside.

‘Why make an innocent kid take the fall for everything?’ he couldn’t help but feel bitter.

Ever since he learned what kind of person Nerissa was, Van had been losing sleep. ‘Why are there so many heartless and selfish people in this world?’ he wondered, feeling both angry and helpless.

Anna quickly said, “Van, don’t say stuff like that! Grandma told me not to tell anyone about Arie’s divorce, and Arie never said anything about having an abortion. Don’t just make things up.”

Van gave a sarcastic laugh. “Like anyone would actually admit to something like that.”

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