Chapter 3

The sedative slowly clouded my mind.

Slumped on the couch, I stared at my daughter across the room, swallowed by despair.

Through the haze, I heard the doctor answer a call, addressing the caller with deference.

A spark of hope flared in my chest. Had Brandon finally remembered us? Was he coming to take Nina to the hospital?

I fought through the heavy fog to force out a sound.

"Brandon... is that you? Take Nina to the hospital... She needs surgery right now..."

The doctor glanced at me with a conflicted look, then put the call on speaker.

Instead of Brandon, Vanessa’s sickeningly sweet voice purred through the line.

"Vivi? Are you and Nina doing okay? Brandon is right by Bella's side while she gets a full checkup. He couldn't step away, so he asked me to check in on you."

Hearing her voice made me go completely numb.

Vanessa let out a soft, smug chuckle.

"Brandon said that whatever happened at the venue today must not leak to the press. The company has a top-tier medical team, so there's no need to make a scene at a public hospital and drag the Hayes family name through the mud. You all know what to do, right?"

"Vanessa..."

My voice shook with pure fury.

"Put Brandon on the phone. I want to hear him say it."

A mocking scoff came through the speaker.

"Vivi, why can't you face reality? Brandon only cares about Bella right now. He doesn't have time for you. Tell Nina to hang in there. It's just a little blood; she won't die. Think about the bigger picture for the Hayes family."

Jason looked over at Nina, his brow knotting.

"Miss Miller, Miss Nina has lost a significant amount of blood and remains unconscious. Our team here doesn't have the equipment for emergency resuscitation. Perhaps we should ask Mr. Hayes if we can transport—"

"Jason," Vanessa snapped coldly.

"It was just a piece of falling set equipment. How bad could it possibly be? If she won't wake up, give her more medication. If the bleeding won't stop, wrap her in gauze. Wrap it tighter until it stops leaking. Do I really have to teach you how to do your job?"

The doctor blanched upon hearing her words.

"Miss Miller, that's dangerous. The child needs a comprehensive scan. If we proceed like this, what if—"

"What if what?" Vanessa's tone turned sharp and impatient.

"Kids bounce back fast. What could go wrong? Brandon handed his phone to me, which means his word is my word. Do you not understand plain English?"

"Think carefully about this. If the press snaps photos of a child being wheeled out of a Hayes event covered in blood, how much do you think our stock will plummet tomorrow? Can any of you afford that? Are you really going to ruin the company's reputation over one little girl?"

I shook my head frantically, tears mixing with the blood on my face.

"No... Brandon wouldn't do this. Nina is his daughter! Vanessa, you sick monster, you're going to burn in hell! This is murder! Don't listen to her, don't..."

Vanessa laughed as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Vivi, haven't you figured it out yet? In Brandon's heart, that child you pushed out never counted as his."

The line went dead.

I looked at Jason with sheer desperation.

"Don't listen to that woman! Brandon wouldn't do this to his own baby... He wouldn't..."

Jason averted his gaze, his voice chillingly detached.

"Do as Miss Miller said. Bring more medication. Increase the dosage. Get more gauze and... stop Miss Nina's bleeding."

He couldn't even bring himself to look at Nina again as he added, "We will wait for Mr. Hayes to return before making any other decisions."