From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 141

“Okay.”

Adolphus pulled out a set of disposable acupuncture needles from his pocket and headed into the visiting room. He spotted two prison guards about to take someone out and quickly called out to stop them.

“Hey, I’m a doctor. I know some emergency care. You can leave him with me.”

The guards glanced at the ID in Adolphus’s hand, then set Aiken back down and stepped aside, giving Adolphus space to work.

One precise needle was all it took. Aiken’s eyes fluttered open, dazed at first, then filled with dread when he saw Laurinda standing nearby. Regret washed over him. He wished he’d never asked to see her.

“Aiken, quit pretending. My friend here is an expert at acupuncture, and trust me, he knows exactly where to poke to make it hurt. If you don’t want to suffer, just be straight with me. Who put you up to this?”

Aiken refused to meet Laurinda’s eyes. He squeezed them shut, desperate, but he knew he couldn’t avoid answering her.

“I don’t know who he was. He just showed up out of nowhere, handed me your medical records, and told me you aren’t Abbott’s real daughter. He said if I got you kicked out of the Austin family, I could take over and everything would be mine.”

“He also told me that once I was in charge, he’d help me out. He wanted me to find a way to marry into the Gates family, promised he’d help me climb even higher. He even said I might get the chance to go to Cabinda for bigger opportunities.”

“I was in debt back then. I needed the money, so I did what he said. I had no idea where Abbott’s real daughter was, so I just brought Laura in…”

Laurinda could tell Aiken wasn’t lying. She got up and turned to Adolphus. “Let’s go. That’s all he knows.”

As they left, Aiken managed to sit up and shout after her, his voice echoing in the room. “Laurinda, don’t forget what you promised me. Make things a little easier for me in here!”

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