His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker. Chapter 856 Can I stay here?

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"Is... is she awake?"

Miss J quickly stood up the moment she saw Jace walking out of Bella’s hospital room. Her hands were clasped together so tightly her knuckles had gone white, her eyes filled with worry and hope.

Jace gently shook his head. His expression was tired but calm. "No. She just fell asleep. The doctor said she’ll probably sleep for another ten hours. Her body needs the rest to recover."

Miss J’s heart immediately sank. "...That long?" She looked toward the closed door with concern, her eyes searching for any sign of movement through the small glass window. "Is..." She hesitated before asking, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is her mental condition really that serious?"

Jace immediately shook his head, his expression firm. "No. It’s not because she’s mentally ill." His voice hardened, his eyes darkening with anger. "The person we trusted the most... our housekeeper... was secretly poisoning Bella."

Miss J’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her mouth fell open. "...What?"

Jace clenched his fists, his jaw tight enough to crack. "She had been mixing a drug into Bella’s food and drinks for quite some time. The doctor said that drug can affect the brain. It can cause hallucinations, memory disturbances, confusion, nightmares, and make a person slowly lose their grip on reality. It was designed to break her down from the inside, piece by piece."

He paused, his voice dropping to a low, bitter tone. "So everything Bella experienced...the fear, the confusion, the nightmares was all caused by that drug. None of it was real. None of it was her fault. The doctor believes she’ll gradually recover now that it’s out of her system, but her body and mind need time to heal."

Miss J stood there in complete shock, her hand pressed to her chest. Her heart felt like it had stopped beating. She felt the blood drain from her face.

"...Miss Clara?" she whispered. "The same Miss Clara Bella always spoke about? The one who made her tea and tucked her in at night?"

Jace nodded once, his expression grim. "Yes. That Miss Clara." His voice was filled with restrained anger, barely contained. "We trusted her. Bella trusted her even more. And she betrayed that trust. She betrayed all of us."

Miss J felt her chest tighten. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She couldn’t imagine how heartbroken Bella would be once she learned the truth. The woman she had loved like family, the woman who had been a constant presence in her life, had been secretly destroying her from within.

After a long silence, she looked toward the hospital room, her gaze soft and sorrowful.

"...Can I stay here?" she asked softly, her voice fragile. "I just want to be nearby. I don’t want her to wake up alone."

Jace gave a small nod. "If you want. I’m going to finish the discharge formalities. I’ll be back soon."

"Thank you," Miss J whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jace nodded before quietly walking down the corridor, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. He paused once, looking back at her, then continued on his way.

Miss J was left standing outside Bella’s room.

She gently looked through the small glass window on the door.

Bella was sleeping peacefully, her face soft and relaxed, her hands gently resting over the blanket. The afternoon light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across her features. Her chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm. She looked at peace.

A faint smile, filled with both love and sorrow, appeared on Miss J’s face.

"...Rest well, my precious girl. I’ll be here when you wake up." She pressed her palm gently against the glass, as if she could reach through and touch her daughter’s face. "I won’t leave you again. I promise."

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The next morning...

Soft golden sunlight slipped through the curtains, gently filling the hospital room. Dust motes danced lazily in the warm beams, and the faint scent of fresh flowers drifted in from somewhere outside.

Bella slowly stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered before she rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up on the bed. The sheets rustled softly beneath her fingers. Her body felt heavy, her limbs sluggish, as if she had been asleep for days.

For a few seconds, she simply looked around.

The white walls. The medical equipment. The unfamiliar ceiling. The unfamiliar smell of antiseptic and clean linen. Everything looked strange and foreign.

A small frown appeared on her face. "...Where am I?"

An uneasy feeling slowly spread through her chest. Her heart began to beat a little faster. Instinctively, she looked around the room, searching for a familiar face.

"...Leo?" Her voice was soft at first, barely above a whisper.

When no one answered, her heart began beating faster. Her breath quickened.

"Leo..." She called a little louder, her voice tinged with panic.

Still... silence.

Panic immediately flooded into her heart. "Jay!" She called anxiously. "Jay! Jay!"

Then another familiar name escaped her lips. "Jaceee!" Her voice trembled.

The room remained quiet.

Bella quickly threw the blanket aside and climbed out of bed. The cold floor met her bare feet, sending a chill up her spine. The moment her feet touched the ground, a wave of dizziness washed over her. The room tilted, and her vision blurred. Her chest tightened, and she suddenly felt as though she couldn’t breathe.

"...Leo..." she whispered helplessly, her voice breaking.

Just as her body began to sway—