Chapter 159

Danger was quietly closing in, and Hilda had no idea.

Not long after, a waitress walked over with a cup of steaming coffee, her smile polite and professional."Ma'am, the coffee you had earlier has been sitting for a while. It might have gone cold. I've brought you a fresh one."

Her tone was warm, and her reasoning sounded perfectly normal.

Hilda didn't think twice. She nodded, accepting the offer.

The waitress set the cup down and placed it in front of her. "Please enjoy," she said softly before heading back toward the front desk.

Feeling thirsty, Hilda lifted the cup and took a sip.The taste was fine, so she had a few more. But within moments, her body gave way. Darkness swallowed her, and she collapsed on the table before she could call out for help.

Gasps and shouts erupted from nearby diners.

"Oh my God! What happened?"

A few rushed to dial 911, while others crowded around in shock.

The commotion grew, drawing the attention of the waitress who had served her.

When her eyes landed on Hilda, lying motionless on the table, her blood ran cold.

This wasn't what she signed up for.

She had been told the drug would only upset the woman's stomach, and nothing life-threatening.

But looking at her now, so still and pale... what if she had really killed her?

Her hands shook as panic set in. No money in the world was worth this.She bolted out of the restaurant, disappearing before anyone could question her.

Minutes later, an ambulance pulled up. Inside the restroom, Eleanor heard the noise outside but didn't think much of it.

She splashed some cold water on her face,steadying her emotions, and finally stepped back out.

But when she returned to the dining area, the table where Hilda had been sitting was empty.

She frowned and quickly stopped a waiter passing by. "Excuse me, the lady who was just sitting here,where did she go?"

The waiter was still rattled, patting his chest before answering. "She had some kind of medical emergency. They rushed her off in an ambulance.Honestly, it didn't look good. Her face was pale,almost bluish. I don't think she'll make it."

Eleanor didn't wait to hear more. Her stomach dropped as she grabbed her bag and sprinted out of the restaurant.

By the time she reached the hospital, her nerves were frayed. Spotting a doctor stepping out of the emergency room, she rushed forward. "Hello, please,can you tell me if a lady named Hilda Benton was just brought in? How is she?"

Her voice trembled with urgency, edged with fear.

The doctor, assuming she was family, let out a heavy sigh. "Her condition is very serious. She was brought in too late... you should prepare yourself for the worst."

Eleanor slowly let go of the doctor's hand, her mind spinning.

Hilda was going to die?

They had only met once, and before she could find the truth, Hilda might be gone forever?

The thought of never seeing her again squeezed Eleanor's chest tight. No.

Hilda couldn't die.

She had to save her.

She had to do something, anything.

Her hand was just about to reach for the emergency room door when Jeff and Lainey rushed in.

Jeff, thinking she was about to cause trouble, yanked her back several steps. "What do you think you're doing? Why are you here?"

Eleanor barely managed to steady herself, her lips parting, but no words came out.

Lainey, standing close by, covered her mouth in shock. "Did my mom go to see you? Otherwise,why would you be here?"

Jeff froze at her words, then glanced at Eleanor's pale, stunned face. Suddenly, his eyes filled with rage.

"You hurt Lainey, and now you're after my wife too? How could you be this heartless?" His voice rose as he jabbed a finger at her. "Get out! Don't stand in the doctors' way. If anything happens to my wife, I swear I'll make you and the Stewart family pay for it!"

With that, he shoved her toward the side.

Eleanor's throat tightened. She opened her mouth,but not a single explanation came out.

Why did it sting so much? Weren't they just strangers?