Shattered Illusions Love Lies and Redemption (Lizetta and Remington) novel Chapter 1077

The butler hung up the phone, and Felix immediately supported Arthur as they rushed over.

"How is he?"

"Young Master Jerome is still in Zion City. He said he's having a private jet prepared to fly back right now. The doctor says the situation is critical. How could this happen so suddenly..."

The butler's face was ashen. Arthur swayed unsteadily on his feet.

"It's all my fault. I never should have shown him that video. I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"

As Arthur cried out, he actually raised his hand and started slapping his own face, only to be swiftly restrained by Felix.

Arthur looked as though he was about to faint and had to be held up. The butler urged Felix to take him home to rest.

However, Arthur insisted on waiting on the benches outside the operating room. But after four or five hours passed with no end to the surgery in sight, he finally couldn't hold out any longer and let himself be helped away.

The moment he got into the car, his weak, frail demeanor vanished instantly. Sitting up completely straight, he issued an order to Felix.

"Tell Director Wang and Director Tian to meet us at the usual spot immediately."

Meanwhile.

Inside the operating room, it was an entirely different scene. There was absolutely no surgery taking place.

Nelson was sitting comfortably on the operating table, happily eating the hearty beef and radish stew that Mrs. Bernice Madden had been craving. Standing right beside him—the same man the butler claimed was stuck in Zion City—was Jerome, casually leaning against the surgical equipment while holding a tablet for the old man.

The tablet displayed a video call. Lizetta's bright, smiling face occupied the top left corner, while Mrs. Bernice Madden, holding her own bowl of beef and potato stew, was in the top right.

"Slow down, Grandpa. Whatever you want to say, there's no rush."

Seeing the old man eating so quickly, Lizetta laughed softly.

Nelson slowed his pace. He took the tissue Jerome offered, wiped his mouth, and then turned to the screen to address Lizetta.

"Alright, whatever my precious granddaughter says. But we still need to settle this score properly! How could you keep something this massive from me? Do you think that was acceptable behavior?"

Not to mention, his granddaughter had just woken up from a two-day coma. Having nearly lost her to the grim reaper, Nelson's own heart ached for her too much to stay genuinely angry.

Nelson looked at Lizetta's visibly pale face on the screen and completely lost his appetite.

He shoved his bowl and chopsticks into Jerome's hands, took the tablet, and held it closer to carefully examine his granddaughter.

"Alright, Grandpa won't say anything. Grandpa has no right to lecture you anyway. This is all my fault. I couldn't even tell the loyal from the treacherous, keeping a den of wolves right by my side all these years..."

Nelson thought about the things Jerome had secretly returned to tell him in the study.

He thought about the very real possibility that Lizetta hadn't simply been swapped at birth by Hans Gardenia, but that the true betrayal originated from within the Madden family itself.

Thinking about the multiple attempts on Lizetta's life, a razor-sharp, freezing glint flashed through the old man's eyes.

His voice went hoarse. "Liz, it's my fault you were displaced from your home since you were a baby. It's my fault you nearly lost your life time and time again before we even found you. And even after you came back to the Madden family, I couldn't protect you properly. I treated a traitor like family. Grandpa has failed you..."

Nelson's voice grew lower and rougher with guilt, utterly consumed by self-reproach.