Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption-Chapter 172: Are you incapable?

"please bring Bella in," Jessica called, her voice calm and composed.

Due to the guards sending everyone away even Bella was also ushered out the room leaving only Donald and Jessica.

Donald nodded and quietly left the ward. Moments later, he returned with Bella, who didn’t seem too concerned about the unconscious woman lying on the bed. Instead, her eyes were fixed on her sister-in-law.

She had lost her composure at the news of Matilda’s case not optimistic that she was beginning to wonder if she was in anyway connected to them.

"Are you okay?" Bella asked softly, her tone laced with worry.

Jessica gave a light smile. "What could possibly happen to me?"

Bella sighed and took a deep breath. Jessica looked at her and gave a small nod. "Go back to your office, get me some hot water and my bag."

Jessica had left her bag behind earlier when she came to check on Matilda Santiago. She hadn’t expected the situation to be this critical.

To the untrained eye, Matilda looked completely lifeless—just a body waiting to be transferred to the morgue. That’s why everyone had given up hope when she walked in.

But Jessica wasn’t going to let that stop her. Even if there was only a 10% chance, she had to take it. That was why she ordered everyone out of the room.

A crowded ward wasn’t helpful for the type of treatment she planned to give and not just that but patients needed an uncrowded place.

Jessica had been trained in both Western medicine and traditional herbal healing. And for this situation, she knew Western medicine wouldn’t be enough.

Her hands moved quickly over Matilda’s body, pressing key pressure points to help bring warmth and life back into her limbs. She worked with precision, her fingers firm yet gentle, as she focused on reviving even the faintest sign of life.

Soon, Bella returned with a jug of hot boiled water and her bag. Jessica sighed in relief. She unzipped the bag and immediately pulled out a small vial—an emergency anti-poison serum she had carefully prepared by herself and she always carried it with her.

As she worked on Matilda, she had begun to notice subtle signs—tiny discolorations and twitching patterns—that pointed to poisoning.

Her eyes narrowed. That meant someone had managed to poison Matilda again even while she was being closely monitored in the hospital.

Jessica didn’t hesitate. She opened Matilda’s mouth and poured the bitter serum down her throat, forcing her to swallow. Then she quickly began preparing another herbal remedy using the hot water Bella brought.

She mixed several herbs—okino, uda, ogiriisi, ngwu, and wild bitter root (aja mgbede)—into a steaming cup. She had originally prepared these herbs to help Matilda flush out lingering toxins, but now they might actually help save her life.

Bella held the cup carefully while Jessica lifted Matilda’s head and gently helped her drink the steaming concoction. The smell was sharp, the taste strong and bitter, but Jessica didn’t stop until she had finished.

"Bella, get the trash can ready," Jessica said. "Also, open the windows and turn off the air conditioner."

Bella quickly followed the instructions.

Minutes passed. Then beads of sweat began to form on Matilda’s forehead. Her body twitched lightly, and Jessica kept massaging her with a towel soaked in warm herbal water. She didn’t stop, her focus unshaken.

Finally, Matilda jerked.

Jessica moved fast, supporting her body as Matilda coughed violently and vomited a thick, black, clotted mix of blood and water into the trash can. Bella jumped slightly at the sight.

Jessica held her gently. Matilda was weak, her eyes still closed, but her breathing was more stable now.

"Get a bowl of warm water," Jessica whispered.

Bella nodded and returned quickly. Together, they wiped down Matilda’s body and laid her back on the bed, clean and calm.

"Call in Donald," Jessica said as she wrung out the towel.

Outside the ward, Donald had been pacing the hallway anxiously. Before Jessica arrived, he had all but given up and was about to inform the Santiago family of Matilda’s death.

As soon as Bella opened the door as one summoned from afar, Donald rushed forward. She stepped aside, silently letting him through.

He entered the room, heart pounding, and halted when he saw Matilda breathing faintly on the bed. His eyes darted to Jessica, but her expression was cold.

"Mr. Donald," she said sharply. "Are you just incapable... or were you never truly trying to keep her alive?"

Donald froze. He had thought about it many times while Jessica worked on Matilda—how careless he had been. How he assumed everything was fine, only to find out someone had gotten to her again, right under his nose.

Now, faced with Jessica’s piercing glare, he felt like a child being scolded by an elder. Her commanding presence wasn’t something he had seen in others from the Santiago family. They were powerful, yes, but known for their warmth and grace—until pushed too far. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Donald swallowed hard.

Jessica’s tone grew colder. "How come you couldn’t find the person responsible giving them chance to extend their ugly fingers? Even here, in the hospital, they still managed to hurt her."

She pointed at the trash can. "Take a good look at that."

Donald lowered his eyes. The contents made his face darken. He clenched his jaw, his hands forming fists at his sides. He couldn’t believe such had come out of his mother’s body.

Without another word, he spun on his heel and stormed out of the room.

Jessica let out a tired sigh. "He’s hot-headed."

She picked up her phone and made a quick call. "Brian, follow Mr. Santiago. Be discreet."

After hanging up, she ran a hand over her face. She had promised herself to stay away from the Santiago family. And yet, again and again, she found herself tangled in their matters.

She sighed again, eyes resting on the now-stable Matilda as Bella busied herself with checking vitals, adjusting drips, and preparing additional nutrition.

Jessica watched her silently. It had been a long time since they worked together. Bella had always been capable, but today, she was even more efficient.

"Thanks for the help," Jessica finally said.

Bella smiled lightly. "Buy me lunch then."

Jessica raised a brow. "Do I have to buy lunch? Why not come home for one instead—and bring Ethan with you."

Bella blushed and turned her face away. "Why not call him yourself, if he’s that important to you," she muttered, barely audible.

Jessica burst into soft laughter. "He’s a good guy, you know. At least, he stood by your brother through the darkest times, he even stood long before I met him."

"That was for my brother," Bella replied quickly, her cheeks still flushed.

Then her expression changed slightly, her brow furrowed and she looked at Jessica seriously.

"Do you know he’s adopted?"