Chapter 3

3

As his accusations hit me, a sharp pain flared in my knees and legs. It felt like a thousand red ants were biting deep into my marrow.

I struggled to stay upright, staring at him in disbelief.

"Silas... you think I played you?"

His eyes were filled with genuine hatred. "Isn't that what happened?"

"Of course not! I lost the baby after kneeling in that snow for two days for you!"

"Silas, you'd really believe Jade over me?"

I started coughing again. It felt like my entire chest was vibrating with a violent, agonizing rhythm.

He stood there and watched me suffer. When my face was flushed and I finally caught my breath, he spoke.

"Once, I was stupid enough to believe you."

His phone rang. Silas ignored me and walked to the other side of the room.

I slid down the wall, my strength failing. I heard him mention my name on the call.

He gave me a cold, sideways glance.

"It's just her old illness. She just needs to lie down. She doesn't need surgery."

"Heh, she survived two days in a blizzard years ago. She can handle a little pain."

He hung up and ordered the nanny to take me back to my room.

Before he walked past me, he didn't even look down.

"If you stay in your place, I might let you see the child from a distance. If you touch Jaden again, I won't be so nice."

The sounds of Jade and the baby laughing drifted from downstairs. I covered my mouth to muffle my coughs, digging my nails into my aching legs.

I had been in pain for five years. I should have been used to it.

But since the birth, the agony had been escalating. Today, it finally hit its peak.

I woke up later from a feverish sleep, feeling like I was soaking in freezing water.

I couldn't take it anymore. I reached for my phone to order some heavy-duty painkillers online.

But when I tried to pay, I saw that my secondary credit card had been frozen.

I called Silas's assistant. The man, who used to be so eager to please me, sounded bored.

"Ms. Sterling, Mr. Thorne gave orders to prioritize Mrs. Thorne and the young master."

"Mr. Thorne has spent millions on your medicine over the years. You should really be grateful for what you've had."

I gasped for air and crawled toward the door. I felt like I was going to die if I didn't get help.

But the door to the servant's room was locked from the outside.

Terror gripped me as the pain intensified. I pounded on the door, but I didn't have the strength to scream.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Jade stood there, looking down at me with her arms crossed.

"Still alive? You're tougher than you look."

She stepped aside. "Don't say I never helped you. Silas is in the yard."

I didn't stop to think about why she was being "kind." I leaned against the wall and forced myself to walk outside.

As I reached the patio door, I heard Silas's voice. He sounded incredibly humble.

"Don't worry, Mr. Sinclair. You saved my life back then. I promise to take care of Jade and love her forever."

I gripped the door handle. I watched him bowing to the person on the other end of the video call.

When he hung up and saw me, his pleasant expression turned into a mask of pure disgust.

"Who let you out?"

Jade sighed behind me. "Elena kept begging me. She said Jaden is her flesh and blood. I just couldn't say no..."

I ignored her and stared at Silas.

"Silas, I was the one who begged Mr. Sinclair to help you that year. Do you really not believe I saved you?"

He scoffed. "Saved me? Mr. Sinclair testified. Jade was the one who begged him. What exactly did you do?"

He stepped past me and whispered to Jade.

"It's because you're too soft-hearted that she was able to steal your credit for five years. I told you, Jaden is your child. He has nothing to do with her."

I couldn't hold it back anymore. I screamed with every bit of strength left in my lungs.

"You forgot that I knelt in the snow for forty-eight hours for you!"

Silas pulled Jade into his arms, his eyes like daggers.

"Mr. Sinclair told me himself. Jade begged him. You were just putting on a show before he left the house."

"Elena, I'm being generous by letting you stay in this house. Stop pushing your luck!"

Those words were like poisoned arrows to my chest.

My broken body finally gave out, and the world began to tilt.

But before I lost consciousness, the head nanny ran out from the second floor.

"Mr. Thorne! Mrs. Thorne! The baby has a fever!"