Fake Daughter Is The Real Legend (Iris Sutton) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18 The Decision

Everyone expected Ares to push her aside

Or order security to remove her.

Instead-

He simply stared at her.

His eyes were bloodshot.

Desperate.

“Can you save her?”

The room fell silent.

Iris looked at Emma.

Then at Henry Caldwell.

A difficult decision formed instantly.

Turning around, she searched the crowd.

“Xavier

Her voice wasn’t loud.

Yet everyone heard it.

“Your medicine.

Xavier froze. His hand instinctively moved to his pocket.

Inside was a small white pill.

His eyes widened.

“You mean…

That medicine?

The one they had spent months developing?

The one Henry wanted more than anything?

The one they intended to trade for the rare herb?

If they used it now, the deal was gone.

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Chapter 18 The Decision

The herb would be gone.

The research project could lose years of progress.

The financial loss alone would be enormous.

For a long moment. Xavier didn’t move.

Then he saw Emma.

Saw the blood.

Saw Iris.

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Use it.”

No hesitation remained.

“Saving her comes first.”

Xavier nodded.

He had never questioned Iris’s decisions before.

He wasn’t about to start now.

In full view of everyone, he pulled the white capsule from his pocket.

Henry’s eyes widened in shock.

Before he could react, Xavier tossed it.

Iris caught it cleanly.

Then immediately placed the medicine into Emma’s mouth.

The entire ballroom held its breath.

A few seconds passed.

Emma suddenly coughed violently.

Then-

Another mouthful of blood splattered onto the floor.

Dr. Lawson immediately stepped backward.

Both hands flew into the air.

:::

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Chapter 18 The Decision

Don’t look at me!” His voice rose instantly This has nothing to do with me!

Hepointed accusingly at Iris.

“She’s the one who gave her the medication! If they’d gone to the hospital, she would’ve been fine”

The guests exploded into discussion.

“She’s finished.”

One woman shook her head. “Trying to show off in front of Ares Barclay? What an idiot.”

“I’ve never seen her before.”

“Pretty face, though.”

Another sneered.

“Beauty doesn’t matter.” She folded her arms. “Women who pretend to be experts are the worst.”

The voices grew louder.

And louder.

And louder.

Ares slowly lifted his head.

The noise grated against his nerves.

His gaze swept across the crowd.

Ice-cold.

Terrifying.

The entire ballroom froze.

Then he spoke.

Two words.

“Shut up.”

The ballroom fell silent instantly.

Unlike Dr. Lawson’s panic and the crowd’s eager anticipation of disaster, Iris remained perfectly calm.

Her gaze never left Emma’s face.

One second.

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Two seconds.

TINee

Time seemed to crawl.

Then-

“Cough!”

Emma suddenly coughed again.

Everyone held their breath.

This time, however, something was different..

Color had begun returning to her face.

The ghostly pallor faded.

Her eyelashes fluttered.

Slowly, she opened her eyes.

“Uncle…” Her voice was weak and hoarse. “What happened?”

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then the realization hit.

She was awake.

Actually awake.

Henry nearly ran over despite being confined to a wheelchair.

“Mr. Barclay!” His voice shook with relief. “I’ll have someone prepare a room immediately.”

Ares looked down at Emma.

The tension that had gripped his body finally cased.

Okay

As he carried her away, his eyes swept over the crowd.

Dr. Lawson’s earlier diagnosis still echoed in his mind.

Emma’s diet was strictly monitored.

Every meal.

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Every snack

Nothing entered her mouth without approval.

This wasn’t an accident.

Someone at this gala had fed her something they shouldn’t have.

And nearly killed her.

Ares instinctively searched for Iris.

Only to discover she was gone.

The little doctor had appeared just as quickly as she’d disappeared.

While everyone’s attention remained focused on Emma, Iris quietly slipped back to her family.

Richard and Eleanor had been stuck at the edge of the crowd the entire time.

Neither had managed to get close enough to see what happened.

All they knew came from secondhand whispers.

And those whispers had nearly given them heart attacks.

“Iris…” Richard lowered his voice. “How did you know about that medicine?”

Iris had already prepared an explanation.

“I’ve known Xavier since childhood.” She shrugged casually. “I keep up with some of the projects his team is working on.”

Richard nodded.

That made sense.

L

“I had no idea you were friends with Director Hayes’s son.”

Then he noticed Chloe standing nearby.

Her face was pale.

Distracted.

Unusually quiet.

“Chloe?” Richard frowned. “Are you feeling okay?”

She jumped.

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Chapter 18 The Decision

Clearly startled

ON She forced a smile Tm fine

But her thoughts were anything but calm..

It couldn’t have been the mango cake… right?