The Runaway Groom
Chapter 436

Chapter 436

The patient on the bed was burned from her right cheek down to herneck.

Although it had been bandaged and medicated, the gruesome carnageunderneath could not be concealed.

Unlike incisions or lacerations, burn scars remain because the deadskin cells would linger.

While grafting and plastic surgery were advanced enough to restoreIrene’s face completely, the problem was that she was pregnant rightnow.

She must get an abortion for the antibiotics necessary for surgeries,and even if she did not, it would lead to defects in fetal development ora miscarriage.

Stephen tried to reason with her, saying, “You can have anotherbaby..."

Irene was staring blankly up at the white, fluorescent lights that weredizzying, and closed her eyes. “No. There's a reason I survived thatexplosion... Maybe it's someone up there intent on having me keep mybaby."

In the instant she was falling into the river, she somehow slipped out ofthe explosive vest, which only detonated after she dropped underneaththe river.

Though the resulting flames and shockwave still struck her while shewas underwater, she survived her injuries.

Disfigurement certainly did not matter to her.

Even if beauty was life and death for the ladies, she had no use for it.Was there anyone whom she wanted to look pretty for?

Stephen sighed. “Isaac Jefferson is devastated about your death.”“He’s not grieving me. He's probably just sorry for his son who doesn'thave a mother,” she replied.

Her tone was cold and devoid of her usual passion and liveliness—whatIsaac said before left her feeling a fool for all the love and adoration hehad for her.

Turning to Stpehen, she said, “I would recover in five days at most, butI don’t want to stay or I might have second thoughts. Book me a flight toMead Clinic in three days, and thanks for saving me a spot all thiswhile.”

She had somewhere to be, at least.

“After you helped me so much with Mick, I'll do whatever I can to help.”Stephen then held her gaze for a while, and told her what was weighingdown on his mind. “I'm worried that the body we used wouldn't keepIsaac fooled. There’s a chance that he'd notice...”

“He probably wouldn't notice. He was there, and he knows howpowerful the blast was, and that the bomb was tied to me. He shouldactually be surprised that there was a body at all, since I should be inpieces.”

“Your body was fully intact when you were brought in—it's only naturalthat we used an intact body as well, “Stephen pointed out. “Hissubordinates might get suspicious since they're constantly watching.”“Then I should thank you for getting the perfect replacement,” Irenereplied.

“Call it a coincidence that there was a fire at the orphanage north of thecity. There were five dead, and one of them was a woman with aroundthe same weight and height. She was burned extensively to the pointthere's no chance of recognition, so Isaac won't be able to tell as longas he doesn't do a DNA test.”

“Oh, right... About the other favor, I have footage here of one of Isaac'sboys holding your baby. Suffice to say, I think he had been rescuedalong with your mom.”

Stephen had recorded the video in secret and showed it to Irene.Although he was too far away to capture Tommy's face, Irene couldrecognize her baby's cries.

Her baby... She felt as if a meat hook was driven through her heart atthe thought of leaving him and not seeing him, suffocating her fromsheer agony.

“I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

She did not deserve to be a mother for what she was going to do tohim.

Like a broken string of pearls, her tears streamed out of the corner ofher eye, trickling into her hair.

Stephen sighed. “Why hurt yourself like this?"

Irene pursed her lips. “Isaac will definitely protect Tommy as long as hestays at his side. The life and education he would have is much betterthan anything I have to offer-"

“That's not what I mean—you have no reason to leave. You have a child,and Isaac would never blame you for Yvaine Lynd’s death.”

“Have you ever been in love?” Irene asked, cutting him short.

“Things are fine between my wife and myself,” Stephen replied.

“Then how would you feel if the person you love and thought was inlove with you, turns out to not have loved you at all? Would youunderstand the despair?”

Stephen frowned. “Is it really that complicated?”

“I didn’t know before,” Irene said bitterly. “But being in love hurts.”

That was when the door swung open, and Stephen turned pale whenhe saw who it was!