The Billionaire's Rental Wife Is A Hot Shot
Chapter 172: Faking to Live

Chapter 172: Faking to Live

Evelyn hugged her mother’s tightly, tears flowing freely as though they had been waiting all these years to burst out. Gracia sobbed too, her fragile body trembling from the release of emotions she had suppressed for so long. The joy of seeing her daughter again mixed with the agony of the years they had lost—it was overwhelming.

Neither of them spoke at first, letting the tears do the talking. Evelyn’s heart ached at the sight of her mother’s frailty, and yet, she felt an indescribable joy. She was alive.

"I missed you so much," Evelyn whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.

Gracia nodded, her hand gently brushing against Evelyn’s tear-streaked face. "And I missed you more, my little Eve. There wasn’t a single day I didn’t think of you."

Their moment was interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps. Dr. Wismay approached cautiously, a kind yet firm expression on his face. "Miss Evelyn," he began, "I understand this is an emotional time, but your mother’s health is still fragile. Too much stress could be dangerous for her."

Evelyn immediately pulled back slightly, her concern overriding her emotions. "I’m sorry," she murmured, her eyes darting toward the monitors beside the bed.

Gracia smiled faintly, wiping her tears. "It’s okay, Eve. Just seeing you... it’s enough."

A bittersweet smile played on Gracia’s lips as she studied her daughter closely. "You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman," she murmured, her voice tinged with both pride and heartbreak. "The last time I held you, you were just a little girl, chubby cheeks and all."

Evelyn sniffled, a playful pout forming on her lips. "And you’ve grown old," she teased, wiping her own tears away.

Gracia chuckled, her laughter weak but genuine. "You haven’t changed a bit," she said, pulling her daughter into another hug. This time, Evelyn was mindful of the devices attached to her mother’s chest, careful not to cause any discomfort.

Dr. Wismay cleared his throat, stepping back to allow them more time. Evelyn shifted to the chair beside the bed, holding Gracia’s hand tightly, as though letting go might make this moment disappear.

Meanwhile, Damien was driving at full speed to the hospital, his phone buzzing incessantly with updates. Hearing the good news that Gracia was awake, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief.

When he arrived, his tall figure filled the doorway. Gracia’s gaze immediately landed on him, and a flicker of recognition passed through her eyes. She remembered him—the man from the ship, the one who had rescued her.

Her lips curved into a small, approving smile as she turned to Evelyn. "Is he your boyfriend?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity and a hint of mischief.

Evelyn’s cheeks flushed as she quickly shook her head. "No, he’s just a friend," she clarified. Then, with a playful glance at Damien, she added, "My husband’s best friend."

Gracia’s eyes widened in surprise. "Husband?" she echoed, the word hanging in the air.

Evelyn nodded with a smile. "Yes, Mom. I’m married."

Gracia’s expression shifted from shock to joy, as though she were trying to piece together how much time had passed. "I suppose you’d be around twenty-seven now," she murmured.

Evelyn nodded again, her smile growing. "And that," she said, gesturing toward Rita, "is Rita—my bodyguard and also your granddaughter’s best friend."

Rita stepped forward, her excitement barely contained. She gave a deep bow and greeted Gracia in her usual chirpy tone. "Hello, Elder Madam! It’s so good to see you awake finally. We’ve all been waiting for this day."

Gracia nodded, her smile warm but faint. Her gaze returned to Evelyn. "Granddaughter?" she asked softly, as though the word itself were a gift.

"Yes," Evelyn replied, her voice filled with pride. "She’ll be five in a few months."

A mixture of joy and sorrow flickered across Gracia’s face. "I’ve missed so much," she whispered, her voice heavy with regret.

Dr. Wismay gently interrupted their conversation. "Let’s not tire her out too much," he said. "I’ll need to check her vitals."

Evelyn and Rita stepped aside as Wismay’s team began their examination. The doctor noted that Gracia’s blood pressure was slightly elevated, likely due to the emotional stress, but overall, her condition was stable.

Once the examination was complete, Wismay looked at Gracia and asked, "If you’re feeling up to it, I’d like to ask you a few questions. Please let me know if you feel any discomfort."

Gracia nodded, her grip on Evelyn’s hand tightening for support.

Wismay adjusted his glasses and began. "When you were brought here, the reports indicated you were diagnosed with severe psychosis..." He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "But it seems you were faking it. Could you elaborate on that?"

Gracia’s expression darkened, and she let out a heavy sigh. "Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I pretended to be mentally unstable."

The room fell silent. Even Damien, who had taken a step closer, seemed to hold his breath. Rita, ever diligent, turned on the recorder to document everything.

Gracia took a deep breath and began her story. "When I was first kidnapped, they tried to break me. For years, they tortured me, trying to drive me insane. One day, I overheard them say that if I didn’t lose my mind, they had orders to kill me. So, I gave them what they wanted. I acted the part, became the ’madwoman’ they needed me to be, just to survive."

Evelyn’s hands trembled with rage, and her jaw clenched. The pain in her mother’s voice was almost unbearable.

Rita muttered under her breath in Spanish, "Qué monstruos. How can anyone be so cruel?"

Wismay nodded thoughtfully, his expression grave. Damien exchanged a glance with Evelyn, silently acknowledging the strength it must have taken for Gracia to endure all of this.

After a moment, Wismay spoke. "Since she was pretending, I don’t believe we need to proceed with any psychiatric treatments," he said.

Damien’s brows furrowed. "Does that mean we can take her home?"

Wismay smiled reassuringly. "Yes. We’ll discharge her tomorrow. The remaining physical health treatments can be done at your home. I’ll send a team and visit regularly."

Evelyn’s eyes glistened with gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly.

As Wismay and his team left the room, he paused to glance back at Gracia. "You’re lucky to have such a remarkable daughter. She moved heaven and earth to find you."

Gracia’s eyes filled with tears once more as she looked at Evelyn. "Indeed, I’m truly blessed."

Evelyn shook her head, her voice firm. "No, Mom. I’m the lucky one. If you hadn’t taken me in from the orphanage, I wouldn’t have had this life."

Gracia gasped, her hand flying to her chest. "You... you know I am not your real mother?"

Evelyn nodded, her smile warm and unwavering. "You’re my mother, always have been and always will be."

Gracia broke into sobs, pulling Evelyn into a tight embrace. Even Rita wiped away a stray tear, unable to hold back her emotions.

Wismay watched the scene quietly, a soft smile on his face. He hoped the evil forces that had torn this family apart would face justice. And Evelyn? She had already vowed to make sure of it.