Chapter 3

The sedative made my consciousness fade gradually.

I sank into the break room sofa, watching my daughter in the distance as despair washed over me.

Suddenly, I dimly heard the doctor respectfully call out "Mr. Lucas."

Hope flickered instinctively within me. I thought Lucas had remembered us, thought he was going to send Natalie to the hospital.

I struggled to cry out.

"Lucas, is that you? Take Natalie to the hospital quickly—she needs surgery immediately."

The doctor glanced at me with a complicated expression, then pressed the speakerphone button.

However, what came through was Winona Sullivan's affected voice.

"Vivian, are you and little Natalie okay? Lucas is with Sweetie for a full-body checkup and can't get away, so he specially asked me to check on you both."

Hearing her voice, I went numb, unable to even react.

Winona's tone lifted with a hint of laughter.

"Lucas said that what happened to the children at Lucas Corporation today absolutely cannot get out. Lucas Corporation has a medical team—there's no need to make a big fuss going to the hospital and tarnishing the company's reputation. So you all know what to do."

"Winona Sullivan."

I couldn't believe it. My voice trembled.

"Let Lucas answer the phone. I want to hear him say it himself."

A contemptuous laugh came from the other end.

"Vivian, how can you still not face reality? Right now Lucas only has eyes for traumatized Sweetie. Where would he find time for you two? Tell little Natalie to hold on a bit longer—it's just some blood loss. She won't die. It's all for Lucas Corporation's greater good."

Assistant looked at Natalie on the sofa, his brow furrowed.

"Miss Sullivan, Miss Natalie really has lost quite a bit of blood. She still hasn't woken up. We have a medical team here, but we don't have the conditions for emergency treatment. Could we perhaps ask Mr. Lucas if we could send her—"

"Assistant."

Winona cut him off sharply, her voice ice cold.

"She just got hit by a falling prop. How serious could it be? If she won't wake up, feed her more pills. If the bleeding won't stop, wrap her with gauze—layer after layer until it doesn't leak. Do I have to teach you everything?"

The doctor nearby paled.

"Miss Sullivan, that won't work. The child's condition really requires a thorough examination at the hospital. If we continue treating her this way, in case—"

"In case what?"

Winona's tone grew increasingly impatient.

"Children all heal quickly. What could possibly happen? Lucas gave me his phone—his meaning is my meaning. Don't you understand?"

"Think carefully, all of you. If the media catches photos of a blood-covered child being carried out of Lucas Corporation today, how much will Lucas Corporation's stock price drop tomorrow? Who among you can take that responsibility? Are you really going to destroy Lucas Corporation's reputation for the sake of one little girl?"

I shook my head frantically, tears mixing with blood.

"Impossible. Lucas wouldn't do this. Natalie is his child. Winona Sullivan, you crazy woman, you'll get what's coming to you! This is murder! You can't listen to her, you can't—"

Winona sounded like she'd heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Vivian, don't you understand even now? In Lucas's heart, what you gave birth to has never counted as his child."

The call was mercilessly disconnected.

I looked desperately at Assistant.

"Don't listen to that woman. Lucas wouldn't do this to his own child. He wouldn't..."

But he simply avoided my gaze, coldly giving orders.

"Do as Miss Sullivan said. Get more medication—increase the dosage. Find more gauze to... stop Miss Natalie's bleeding."

He didn't even dare look at Natalie again as he added:

"Everything else waits for Mr. Lucas's return."