Chapter 4

Instantly, a metallic taste spread through my mouth.

Adrian held up his trembling hand, guilt flashing briefly in his eyes.

"What gives you the right to hit Vanessa? Your so-called family member verbally attacked her first. Is this the kind of manners you have?"

I blinked away the tears in my eyes, unable to believe he'd said such a thing.

Everyone thought orphans, with no parents to raise them, had no manners—were wild children.

He used to smash bottles over people's heads to shut them up, to protect me from mockery.

Seeing my tear-filled eyes, Adrian's eyes flashed with pain, but Vanessa clung to him, trembling:

"Adrian, if you hadn't arrived in time, they would've ganged up and beaten me to death..."

Adrian seemed to imagine her being hurt, and disgust colored his gaze.

"Tomorrow at the charity gala, you'll publicly apologize to Vanessa! Don't think I don't know—if we don't clear this up immediately, Margaret will definitely spread rumors about Vanessa everywhere!"

I shook my head helplessly. "What if I don't—"

"If you don't apologize, I'll cancel the donation to the orphanage. And the card you use to pay for Margaret's medical expenses—I'll stop that too."

"Think carefully about how long it'll take you to find a matching heart donor on your own. Hmm?"

Looking at Margaret growing weaker in the hospital bed, I finally gave in.

The next day at the charity gala, Adrian handed me a prepared apology statement.

Vanessa walked over and dug her nails deep into my arm when no one was looking.

Her smile remained perfect.

"Lydia, an apology should be sincere."

The next second, her high heel kicked into the back of my knee, and I collapsed to the floor in humiliation.

Like a puppet on strings, I recited the apology:

"Margaret struck first. I'm apologizing on her behalf to Vanessa and will compensate for medical expenses..."

Murmurs rose from the audience:

"That's what happens when you have no parents to raise you properly—hitting people at the drop of a hat. I don't know what Adrian sees in her."

"Like mother, like daughter. Even though she's not biological, her behavior is just as crude."

"I think Vanessa is much more elegant. Lydia's position might be changing hands soon."

...

Contemptuous gazes burned like hot coals.

Vanessa watched me with a victor's stance.

I struggled to stand. Still feverish, I swayed, and Adrian instinctively stepped forward.

"Are you feeling unwell? You look terrible."

I pushed his hand away. He cleared his throat. "Don't misunderstand. I just don't want you ruining this event."

Vanessa pretended to help me up but whispered in my ear:

"Take care of yourself, Lydia. But I just heard the donor suddenly changed their mind and won't give your precious Margaret a heart anymore. Looks like you'll have to wait another ten years."

"Oh wait—who knows if she'll even survive ten more years."

The woman's taunting expression filled my vision. I couldn't take it anymore and grabbed her by the throat.

"What gives you the right to joke about her life?"

The next second, Adrian shoved me away without holding back.

"Lydia, have you lost your mind?"

"I made you apologize so you'd learn your lesson, not so you could escalate and hurt her more!"

I fell hard down the steps, every bone in my body screaming in pain.

Vanessa's taunting smile didn't fade. Where Adrian couldn't see, she mocked me freely.

Just as I lunged at her again like a madwoman, shoving Adrian aside...

A call from the hospital interrupted me:

"Lydia, Margaret has suddenly... disappeared!"