His Hidden Family My Ruined Marriage (Liana) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149 Check on Theo

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“Mrs. Locke, you’re overreacting. As her stepmother, am I not allowed to discipline her when she lacks manners?” Helena retorted immediately.

“I’ve never even called Lawrence ‘Dad.’ What gives you the right to call yourself my stepmother?” Liana shot back before Rosalind could utter a word.

“When elders are talking, kids don’t butt in,” Helena warned, her eyes flashing a threat.

Just then, the sound of a child’s crying echoed from down the hallway.

Everyone’s attention snapped toward the sound.

Liana flinched visibly.

“Grandma, we need to check on Theo first,” Liana said, already turning and hurrying toward the hospital room without a backward glance.

The sting of the slap burned with humiliation, but this wasn’t the time to fight that battle.

She had to make sure Theo was safe.

“I will have your husband deal with you personally.”

Rosalind pointed a stern finger at Helena before following Liana.

Helena’s mind raced. There was the matter of Anya hurting Theo, and now her own assault on

Liana.

Lawrence must not find out about either.

Pulling out her phone, she dialed her husband. Better she control the narrative than let someone else spill the beans.

“Mrs. Locke, Mrs. Liana Locke seems very concerned about Theo,” the driver remarked as they walked toward the room.

“Yes, she’s a kind-hearted girl at her core. Pity she was saddled with a venomous stepmother,” Rosalind said, her anger flaring again at the memory of Helena’s words.

“What I mean is, wouldn’t it be wonderful if she were willing to raise Theo together with Mr. Locke?” the driver clarified gently.

Rosalind’s mind lit up with the idea. She gave his arm a delighted smack. “You old fox! You’re absolutely right.”

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Chapter 149 Check on Theo

Once the seed was planted, Rosalind couldn’t let it go. “We just need a way to make Anya remove herself from the picture.”

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Liana pushed open the door to find Anya standing by the window, phone to her ear, paying no attention to the sobbing child in the bed.

“Elian, Theo is crying again, saying it hurts… but don’t worry, I’ll take care of him,” Anya was saying into the phone.

Hearing footsteps, she quickly turned.

“Doctor! We need a doctor!”

Liana rushed to the bedside, took one look at Theo’s tear-stained, flushed little face-he was crying so hard he was on the verge of hyperventilating-and yelled toward the hallway.

“Go get a doctor, quickly!” Rosalind urged her driver, hearing the urgency in Liana’s voice.

The driver sped off toward the nurses’ station. Rosalind hurried into the room. “What’s happening? Why is he crying so terribly?”

“Elian, your grandma is here. I have to go. Mrs. Forrest! What brings you?” Anya swiftly ended the call and moved to greet Rosalind.

Rosalind brushed past her. “Is this how you care for a child? Letting him scream while you’re on the phone?”

“I was just updating Elian on Theo’s condition,” Anya explained awkwardly.

A doctor rushed in and began examining Theo, pulling back the blanket.

Theo was still hiccupping with sobs, his tiny hand gripping Liana’s finger tightly.

“How is he?” Liana asked anxiously, noting the doctor’s serious expression.

“No major issue. His injuries are primarily to his chest and head. Pain is expected, but given his age and size, I’m hesitant to increase his pain medication dosage,” the doctor explained to Liana.

“Could there be other injuries you missed?” Liana frowned, her voice laced with concern.

She pulled the blanket back further, her eyes scanning his small body, then moved to check his waist and lower back.

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Chapter 149 Check on Theo

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“Theo is just very thin and frail. That’s why he’s so sensitive to pain,” Anya interjected, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes as she saw Liana’s hands go to the boy’s waistband.

She quickly masked it with an air of maternal knowledge.

Ignoring her, Liana gently tried to loosen Theo’s pajama pants for a better look.

Seeing Liana’s persistence, Anya stepped forward. “It’s good to check thoroughly.”

She reached down and rolled up one leg of Theo’s pajamas. “See?”

Liana examined the thin little leg. She could see the fading bruises from the fall, but nothing else. She gently turned his leg, then checked the other one.

She rolled the loose pajama legs up to his knees, exposing a small section of his thighs. Still, she found nothing suspicious.

As Liana was puzzling over this, Anya’s phone rang.

Anya’s eyes were fixed intently on Liana. The phone rang and rang. Finally, Liana looked up. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“Yeah, why aren’t you answering? Are you deaf?” Rosalind added, watching her.

Snapping out of her trance, Anya grabbed her phone. It was Helena.

Seeing that Liana was finally putting Theo’s pajama legs back down, Anya felt a wave of relief. She turned away to take the call. “Mom? What is it?”

“I hit Liana. I was afraid that old witch Rosalind would complain to your dad, so I told him myself. He’s ordered me to stay at home and keep a low profile for a few days. You be careful.”

“Got it.”

Anya hung up. Only then did she notice the distinct red finger marks marring one side of Liana’s face.

Liana made no mention of the assault. Anya certainly wouldn’t bring it up either. But a deep, secret sense of satisfaction curled within her.

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