His Destructive, Toxic Love novel Chapter 233

Three years later, at Oak Falls Hospital.

The place was bustling, with the faint scent of disinfectant lingering in the air. A young mother, her face etched with worry, sat across from the orthopedic doctor, holding a three-year-old boy in her arms. There was a noticeable bruise on the boy's lower leg.

"Doctor, how’s my son's leg injury... is it serious? It's all bruised up."

The doctor carefully examined the boy's leg, pressing gently on the bruised area to gauge his reaction.

"I don't think it's anything major," he reassured her with a smile. "Kids are always getting bumps and bruises. You don’t have to worry too much. Just keep an eye on it for a few days."

The woman felt a bit relieved but still couldn't shake her concern. "But what if the pain doesn't go away?"

"If you're really worried, we could have an X-ray done to get a better look at the injury," the doctor suggested, writing out a prescription. "But honestly, from what I see, it shouldn't be anything serious."

She took the prescription from the doctor, glanced at the medication names, and nodded. "Alright, I'll apply the ointment for a few days and see how it goes."

"Don't worry too much."

She nodded again, picked up the little boy, and headed out.

From the opposite direction, a man was walking towards them, deep in conversation with Dillon.

Back at home, Eliza gently placed the sleeping toddler in his crib. Three years ago, she had fled from the painful memories of Falconridge to the unfamiliar town of Oak Falls, hoping to start anew with a fresh identity. But fate had other plans. She found herself pregnant.

This unexpected news caught her off guard and filled her with joy and anticipation. To make ends meet, she found a job as a caretaker for an ailing, bedridden old man. The old man realized she was alone and pregnant, without even a formal identification, and he took pity on her. He proposed a sham marriage to give her legal status, allowing her to find a respectable job in Oak Falls. She accepted his kind offer.

Not long after they obtained the marriage certificate, the old man passed away. Having no children of his own, he left his house and savings to Eliza. Eliza changed her name to Valerie, got a new set of identity documents, removed the mole near her eye, cut her hair short, and started wearing glasses. She became an art teacher.

These past three years had been tough for her, juggling work and raising her child. Fortunately, the neighbors were kind, and her son was now old enough for kindergarten. Her eyes were full of tender love as she gently squeezed her son’s little hand.

"What's going on here?" Chelsea rushed in, her eyes immediately darting to the sleeping toddler in the crib, scanning his tiny body for injuries. "How did he get hurt? What were the kindergarten teachers doing?"