As they were chatting, the nanny quickly stepped up.

"No need."

Dahlia made her way to the couch and sat down. "Could you make me a cup of chamomile tea to calm my nerves?"

"Of course, Ms. Dahlia. I'll do that right away," the housekeeper said without any further questions and hurried off to the kitchen.

Dahlia leaned back on the sofa, propping herself up with one hand on the armrest. Her eyes were closed as she pondered her next move.

...

Upstairs, Sandy, stirred by the noise below, shuffled out of her room, still half-asleep. The sight of Dahlia with a bandage wrapped around her forehead, looking pale and weak on the couch, startled her awake. The first thing that hit Sandy was the thought that her mom was seriously hurt. Tears sprang to her eyes immediately. Her mind went straight to Charles.

She dashed back to her room, grabbed her smartwatch, and called Charles. He was at Oakwood Manor, having just finished giving Aiden some instructions, when he got Sandy's call.

"Daddy... daddy... Mommy's hurt! There's so much blood on her forehead, and she's fainted on the couch. Is Mommy going to die? Daddy, I can't lose her! Please, come quickly and save her!"

Sandy's voice trembled with genuine fear, her heartache pouring through the phone.

Charles was alarmed at Sandy's tears. "Don't worry, Sandy, Mommy will be alright. I'm on my way."

Upon hearing that Dahlia had fainted, he didn't bother calling her back. Instead, he contacted Dr. Nelson, urging him to rush to Greenrose.

After hanging up, he jumped into his car, flooring the gas pedal and racing towards Greenrose.

After hanging up, Sandy sprinted downstairs, almost tripping in her haste. With tear-streaked cheeks, she stood up from where she had stumbled at the corner and ran to Dahlia's side. "Mommy, please don't die. I've called Daddy, and he's coming soon..."

Dahlia was busy scheming on how to drive a wedge between Evelyn and Charles. Evelyn's resentment toward Charles was clearly driven by his defense of and favoritism toward Sandy. If Dahlia could make Charles despise Evelyn again...

Her plotting was cut short by Sandy's tearful cries beside her. When Dahlia heard that Sandy had called Charles, her expression darkened. She hadn't planned on letting Charles know about her actions or injuries tonight; explaining them would be tricky.

"Who told you to call your father?"

Sandy was always causing more trouble than help!

With tears still on her face, Sandy looked at Dahlia's displeased expression. Her lips were quivering as she was too scared to speak.

Dahlia had no energy to deal with Sandy. The call had already been made, and she couldn't tell Charles not to come-that would be too obvious.

After a moment of thinking, Dahlia

instructed Sandy to wait for Charles at the door, Meanwhile, she intentionally reopened her bandaged wound, making herself appear weak as she lay back on the couch

When Charles arrived, he found Sandy waiting at the door. Sandy saw him, burst into tears and ran into his arms. "Daddy..."

She didn't fully grasp the severity of Dahlia's injuries, but the sight of blood had instinctively frightened her.

Charles, holding Sandy, hurried inside. Dr. Nelson followed close behind.

Charles saw Dahlia's injury, and his expression grew serious. He set Sandy aside and quickly moved to the couch with concern etched on his face. "Dahlia."

"Charles, don't worry. I'm okay."

Dahlia held Charles' hand, her eyes watering.

Dr. Nelson stepped forward to treat Dahlia's wound. As he removed the bandage, revealing the gruesome injury, Charles' face darkened further.

Dahlia gripped Charles' hand tightly until Dr. Nelson finished. "Ms. Dahlia's injuries were caused by repeated impact against a hard surface," he said, his voice serious.

This wasn't an accident; it was deliberate. Accidents didn't cause such severe injuries.

"Who did this?" Charles asked, his tone icy as he turned to Dahlia.

Dahlia shook her head softly. "Charles, no one did. It was an accident."

Without a solid plan to blame Evelyn, Dahlia couldn't risk pointing fingers. Evelyn's behavior tonight had unnerved her, and she wasn't sure how Charles felt about Evelyn at the angry

moment. She feared all might lead

confrontation with Evelyn might lead torevelations about her own actions that night.

Letting Charles find out in such a way would only play into Evelyn's hands. Dahlia wasn't about to be that careless.noveldrama

"Charles, my head feels so dizzy, and I'm not feeling well. Can you help me to my room to rest?" Dahlia asked softly, tugging at Charles' hand. Her vulnerability was on full display.

This was her calculated move, taking advantage of the situation to ensure Charles stayed overnight. "Was it Evelyn?"

Charles' expression turned ice-cold.

He remembered his heated exchange with her at Maple Garden earlier that night. Evelyn was upset that he hadn't taken her side and had not blamed Sandy, so she angrily declared, "Dahlia should pay with her life!"

Charles could tell Evelyn was serious about that threat. He looked at Dahlia's forehead wound and was almost certain it was Evelyn's doing.

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