waking

Chapter 43 

Rosalind turned pale. Her efforts to hide her panic were in vain. She resolved to trick Naomi into coming back and then lock her in the basement. 

Rosalind thought, ‘I’ll starve her and torment her daily until she begs for mercy. It’s not the first time I’ve done this.‘ 

Naomi locked eyes with Rosalind, pausing before she smiled. “Fine. Let’s head back to the Edwards manor for that DNA test.” 

Rosalind breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s go then!” 

“Excuse me. I’m going to the restroom.” 

“I need to use the restroom,” said Naomi, picking up her bag and walking towards it. However, she veered off towards the kitchen instead. 

Naomi was aware of Rosalind’s scheme and decided to play along. Most importantly, Naomi wanted to see if she mattered to Shawn. 

Soon, Naomi emerged from the kitchen and went to the bathroom. Inside, she contacted Zoey. Then, she decided to tell Shawn where she would visit. 

With everything ready, Naomi walked out with her bag. 

While Naomi was occupied, Rosalind called Javier and Victoria. Since Dillon wasn’t with Rosalind, she called Freddy instead. 

Until Rosalind was married into the Patterson family, she thought Freddy, her backup, could still be useful. 

“Let’s go!” Naomi glanced at Rosalind, pretending not to know what Rosalind was up to. 

Inside Naomi’s bag were a razor–sharp fruit knife and some herbal anesthetic medicine she made herself. She knew she needed to be ready to defend herself when they got back to the Edwards manor. 

Two cars, one black and one white, pulled up at the Edwards manor one after the other. Javier and Victoria waited at the door. And Freddy, who was cuckolded, had also arrived. 

Naomi stepped out of the car, clutching her chain bag tightly. With no expression, she approached and said, “We’re here for the DNA test, right? Let’s get on with it.” 

“What’s the hurry? Let’s talk inside,” Javier replied with a forced smile. Javier had been stressed these past few days. Recently, his business deals had been hijacked; the bank had denied their loan; and their investors had pulled out, leaving the Edwards family in a financial mess. 

After Rosalind’s call, Javier and Victoria plotted together. They planned to knock Naomi out and deliver her to Quinn Group’s CEO, Nicolas. Nicolas couldn’t get Naomi’s jewelry ad out of his head. Conveniently, Javier had come to see him, hoping Nicolas could help the Edwards family out of their current mess. Nicolas’s only condition was getting Naomi. Javier agreed without a second thought. 

Javier knew nothing about a wheelchair–bound scarred man, but Quinn Group was such a big name in Atopan. 

Javier and Victoria glanced at each other. Victoria stepped up, trying to grab Naomi’s hand, but Naomi smoothly stepped back, 

“We’ve got dinner ready at home. Your dad and I have been feeling guilty for what we did to you over the past years and We owe you an apology,” Victoria said. “Naomi, can you forgive us just this once?” 

Softening her tone, Victoria acted all motherly. “Naomi, your sis was always fragile, so maybe we favored her. Right, weak kids usually get more love from their parents. But that doesn’t mean you’re not our kid. 

“Rosalind mentioned about your secret paternity test. How can you say you’re not ours? We found you at the orphanage and did a DNA test pronto, You’re the girl we got separated from at the hospital.” 

Victoria said, her eyes getting teary, “My poor kid, I’m sorry. It’s all on us. With your sister’s condition, we’ve neglected you for too long.” Despite how Victoria showed her guilt, Naomi stayed poker–faced. She glanced at Freddy, smirking slightly. “Freddy, do you buy this? 

Freddy remained silent. 

Naomi checked her phone and said, “Let’s get going. You said dinner’s ready, right? I’m starving” 

“Sure thing, come on in, Victoria said eagerly. 

Stepping back into the door, Naomi gripped her bag chain tighter. She was ready to whip out that fruit knife if needed. Naomi didn’t care if the whole Edwards crew saw blood for her own safety. 

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Chapter 43 

Scanning the place, Naomi noticed not much had changed, except for two new servant faces. Naomi refused to come back to a life where she did all the work. Victoria and Rosalind wouldn’t lift a finger to do housework. Without Naomi, Victoria and Rosalind had to hire help. 

A smirk crossed Naomi’s face as she sat down in the dining room. 

Victoria poured a glass of milk for Naomi, trying to butter her up. “Rosalind said you’re into milk now. This is imported, just for you. Welcome home, Naomi.” 

Naomi stared at Victoria for a moment before finally cracking a smile. “Thanks, Mom.” 

Her voice softened back to its usual gentle tone as Naomi admitted, “Honestly, I’ve always been jealous of Rosalind.” 

After saying that, Naomi took a sip of milk. In her past life, she’d gathered plenty of herbs with Wilson. He was a strange one, sometimes like a kindly old man, sometimes strict as can be. 

He had Naomi try every herb that could knock someone out, and in big doses too. His reasoning was to build her resistance and help her spot them right away, so she wouldn’t get drugged later on. 

And now, Naomi could tell. There were definitely roofies in this milk. 

Naomi thought, ‘Well, the Edwards family is as “kind” to me as ever. if that’s how they want to play it, I’m not going to hold back either.’ 

Naomi put down her glass and shot another text to Shawn. This time it was short: [Mr. Fischer, help me!] 

Then, she slipped her phone into her pocket and put on a show of feeling dizzy. Pressing her fingers to her forehead, she let her eyes go unfocused. 

“I’m feeling a bit dizzy, I think I’ll go rest,” Naomi said weakly. 

“Naomi, let me help you,” Rosalind stepped forward, reaching out to support Naomi. “I’ll help you upstairs to rest.” 

“Okay. Thanks, Rosalind,” Naomi replied. 

As Rosalind supported her, claiming they were headed upstairs, Naomi leaned into her weight. But suddenly, Rosalind turned and headed for the basement instead. 

Rosalind thought to herself, even if she had to hand Naomi over to Nicolas, she’d better vent her anger first. 

In the basement, as Rosalind turned to grab some rope, Naomi’s eyes snapped open, completely clear–headed. 

The instant Rosalind turned back with the rope, with a stick, Naomi didn’t hesitate to strike her heavily on the head. 

Rosalind widened her eyes, looking at Naomi in disbelief. Then, she collapsed heavily onto the ground. 

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