Chapter 794

"I didn't..." Madeline Delmonico denied vehemently.

Her fingers tightened around the handkerchief until her knuckles turned white. This secret must never come to light, or she would lose everything she had.

Vivian Laurent's piercing gaze saw right through the lie.

Madeline had indeed suffered a miscarriage without proper recovery, leaving lasting complications. The symptoms varied—some experienced excruciating abdominal pain, while others suffered debilitating headaches.

"If you say so, then it must be true. But identifying the root cause is crucial for proper treatment." Vivian's tone remained calm. "If you trust me, you could show me your medical reports. This condition might not require medication—acupuncture could suffice."

She paused deliberately. "I'd also like to examine the medicine Zoe Chamberlain gave you."

Madeline's eyes darted nervously. Could she trust this young woman?

Yet Vivian had instantly recognized her miscarriage—a testament to her medical expertise. Refusing cooperation might risk exposure...

"Fine. Let's see what you can uncover. But if you fail, I won't let your unauthorized visit slide."

"Understood." Vivian nodded.

Madeline retrieved a small porcelain vial from her purse—Zoe's precious remedy she carried everywhere for sudden headaches.

"Be careful with it. This is extremely valuable."

Vivian uncorked the vial and inhaled the scent of a single pill. Her expression darkened instantly.

"You take this daily?"

Disbelief colored her voice. How could Zoe dare to do this?

Why would Madeline ingest unverified medication so blindly?

"Yes, it works wonders. Is there a problem?" Madeline tensed at Vivian's reaction.

"For how long?"

"Over two weeks now. The headaches were unbearable before this."

Vivian's voice turned grave. "Do you even know what you're consuming?"

"W-what is it?" Madeline's hands trembled.

"Morphine." Vivian enunciated each syllable. "An addictive narcotic. It merely masks pain while creating dependency."

"Zoe never treated your condition—she hooked you on drugs. This likely contains other additives too. Once addicted, you'd become her puppet, forced to obey her every demand for your next fix!"

Madeline's face drained of color. "No... that's impossible..."