Murphy was quiet for some time before he spoke, âThere isnât an antidote for the hallucinogen. The composition of the hallucinogen is very complex. Wicked Palace created it to be used as a lethal weapon. The point of its existence is that it has no cure,â Murphy explained.
Sophiaâs expression darkened.
She looked at Evan like he was her last hope.
Evanâs features were twisted with concern. If she becomes worse than she is now, I donât know how Iâll be able to take it.
âYou should get someone to get started on making an antidote, Dad. We might still be able to save Nicole,â Avril proposed.
Murphy sighed. âI already tried many years ago. Your motherâs friend took the drug accidentally. But it was useless. One wrong move would create a poison instead of a cure!â
Murphyâs solemn delivery sounded as though he was sealing Nicoleâs fate.
âNicole is a good person. Nothing bad will happen to her. Sheâll be fine.â
Sophiaâs assuring words could just as likely have been for her own sake as it could Evanâs.
Evan was stunned for a period of time before he turned to leave.
Sophiaâs heart ached as she gazed at his lonely and forlorn figure.
Nicole and Evan were about to get married. How could something like this happen?
âHavenât the both of them suffered enough? Why are they still being tortured? Nicoleâs illness affects Evan as well. They share each otherâs burdens. Evan cares more about Nicole than he does himself. No one is more hurt by this than him.â
Tears welled up in Sophiaâs eyes as she spoke.
Donât they deserve their happily ever after? How many more times can their relationship be tested?
If I could rewind time, I would prevent Evan from ever meeting Nicole. Then, heâll end up with some girl he isnât as in love with and lead a boring but stable life!
Please let my son be alright!
âDonât be sad, Sophia. Ms. Lane might be able to overcome this. Evanâs powerful love for her could be her source of strength.â
I hope so too. Evan loves her so much. If anything happens to her, Evan will be absolutely crushed!
âCheer up, Sophia. As long as one remains determined and strong, miracles can happen.â
Sophia sighed. âI never thought the day would come where a drug from Wicked Palace would come to haunt my daughter-in-law and son. If I had known, I would have destroyed all the drugs in Wicked Palace when I left!â
Murphy had nothing to say.
Naturally, your son is more important to you than Wicked Palace.
But there are some drugs in Wicked Palace that save lives instead of causing suffering. It would be a waste to destroy those drugs too.
Murphy saw no point in arguing with Sophia while she was in a fit of rage.
He turned to Levant and Avril and said, âGo check on Evan. He might need help.â
âOkay.â
Avril nodded and bustled off. Is the worry getting to Murphy too?
Why else would he get me to go to Imperial Garden?
Imperial Garden is Stephenâs home. Dad was the one who made me promise never to see him again. But how can I not see him if Iâm at Imperial Garden?
Every step she took was fraught with anxiousness, afraid that at any moment, Dad would halt her.
She only breathed easy once she was a distance away. Suddenly, someone called out to her from behind.
Not knowing what Murphy was going to say, Avril was rooted to the ground momentarily. Seconds later, she bolted off before he could call out to her again.
After his shouts fell on deaf ears, Murphy let out a heavy sigh as he watched her fled away in her car.
âWhatâs wrong with that brat? All I wanted was to ask her to bring Evan some supplements. Why did she leave in such a hurry?â