Chapter 498

Nathaniel's eyes locked onto Eleanor, his voice trembling. "Grandmother..."

Rosalind spun toward Nathaniel, her gaze piercing. "Nathaniel, who's been poisoning your mind? Was it her?"

Her finger jabbed accusingly at Isabella.

Isabella paled, her words stumbling. "I-"

Rosalind's expression darkened with realization. "Of course! Isabella must have planted doubts in your mind about Harrison's baby, didn't she?"

Eleanor started to speak, but Rosalind urgently pulled her aside. "Mrs. Eleanor, we need to leave."

"But..." Eleanor hesitated.

"Trust me on this. Now!" Rosalind insisted, guiding her toward the exit.

At the threshold, Rosalind turned back to Nathaniel, her voice icy. "Harrison was kidnapped. They took her to an operating room to forcibly terminate her pregnancy!"

Nathaniel went rigid, shock rippling through him. "What did you say?"

Rosalind's laugh held no humor. "We don't know who ordered it yet, but..."

Her gaze swept over Isabella and Victoria with deliberate meaning. "We've apprehended the perpetrators. Soon we'll know exactly who wanted to harm Harrison and her child."

With that, Rosalind ushered Eleanor out.

Nathaniel turned to Dominic, his voice strained. "Is this true?"

Dominic nodded grimly. "Every word, Mr. Falcon. Ms. Harrison endured something horrific tonight. Kidnapped, taken to surgery for a forced abortion. Mrs. Eleanor and Professor Alistair both intervened. One minute later, and Ms. Harrison and the baby would have been lost."

Nathaniel stepped forward, urgency tightening his features. "Her condition? Is she injured?"

Dominic shifted uncomfortably. "Unknown, sir. Mrs. Eleanor had me removed from the room. If you're concerned about Ms. Harrison, perhaps you should-"

Nathaniel was already striding toward the door before Dominic finished speaking.

Isabella's sharp cry cut through the air. "Nathaniel! Stop! You promised to sever ties with her! You can't go!"

Her words found no purchase. Nathaniel didn't so much as glance back as he stormed out.

Dominic followed silently.

"Nathaniel!" Isabella's voice cracked with fury, her fists clenching at her sides.

Victoria's face twisted with worry. "This is disastrous. The termination failed. No wonder those kidnappers and doctors stopped answering my calls."

Isabella's mind raced, the implications crashing over her. Harrison had been saved. That dangerous life still grew inside her.

"Why? Why couldn't they finish it? That child is a catastrophe waiting to happen. If Nathaniel learns the truth... We're losing control of this situation!"

Isabella clutched Victoria's arm, her voice shaking with terror.

"Mother, what now? What if those men talk? Eleanor and Professor Whitmore are involved. Nathaniel's gone to Harrison. If they discover our role in this... Eleanor will destroy us!"

Isabella winced, phantom pains from Eleanor's cane still fresh. The mere thought of Eleanor's wrath made her blood run cold.