The moment we entered the hospital, we bumped into Sandra and Kian.

Kian had a bandage casually wrapped around his hand, even tied into a ridiculous bow.

Sandra was gently blowing on it, her face full of concern like a newlywed wife fussing over her husband.

When she looked up and saw me, a trace of panic flashed in her eyes, then it quickly turned into disgust.

"Jack Lou! Why did you bring Annie to the hospital again?!" Sandra bellowed at me without even looking at her groggy daughter.

"I've told you that children don't need treatment for minor issues. It's to help her boost her immune system! You keep bringing her to places full of germs like this. What if you ruin her health?"

Before I could even respond, she turned to the nurse and barked, "Throw this man out at once! I am the mother of that child. Only I can decide how to care for my daughter."

The nurse that she called out to came up to me at once. I had previously met that nurse among Sandra's group of friends.

They were college mates, often going to beauty spas together.

A professional smile hung on her face, completely different from a real doctor's concern.

"Sir, Ms. Wren is the only registered guardian in our system. You do not have visitation rights. Please leave the room immediately."

I did not move. I spread my arms, shielding Annie, who was shivering in my embrace.

"I am her father!" I enunciated while glaring at the nurse.

Kian, who had been silent the entire time, snickered and walked over impatiently.

Seeing Sandra turn away in annoyance, he did not hesitate and shoved me hard with his bandaged hand.

All my attention was on Annie. Caught off guard, I slammed into the IV stand behind me. My head hit the metal frame of a chair.

Blood instantly started pouring down.

Kian looked down on me condescendingly. He then leaned in close and spoke in a voice filled with contempt that only I could hear.

"Tsk, you don't even have the right to accompany your daughter to the hospital. Jack Lou, you're such a loser of a father."

I hugged Annie tight, looking at him with hatred in my eyes.

Suddenly, several uniformed security guards surrounded us.

Even the onlookers were driven away.

The lead guard, looking fierce, did not bother asking anything. He reached straight for my arm.

"Don't you dare touch my child, or I'm calling the police!" I exclaimed.

His hand froze midair, hesitating a little. He looked at the nurse before looking at Sandra.

Sandra, who had been witnessing everything from the side, suddenly walked over.

A pathetic sliver of hope rose in my heart. I thought that Sandra had finally remembered that she was a mother, that she was going to come and comfort the terrified Annie.

However, I was wrong.

She walked over straight to Kian without even looking at us.

Taking out a tissue, she carefully wiped a few drops of IV fluid that had splashed onto his bandaged arm, her voice anxious and tender.

"Is your hand okay? If the fluid contaminates your hand, I'll never forgive him!"

My heart sank completely.

In Sandra's eyes, the blood running down my head and our daughter lying unconscious were worth less than a few drops of liquid on her lover's bandage.

Kian looked at how nervous Sandra was and flashed a smug smile. He held her hand and looked at me provocatively before putting on a pitiful victim's act.

"Sandra, Jack really hates me. If I hadn't moved away quickly, the IV stand was going to hit my head. For our safety, you and I should split up."

The nurse instantly chimed in, nodding fervently, "Yes, Ms. Wren. That man was really agitated earlier. We couldn't stop him at all!"

Sandra turned to look at me. Those eyes, which used to be full of love, had nothing but resentment and contempt in them.

"Jack, can you stop being such an immature child? Kian is a patient right now! If you hurt him, you won't be able to afford the compensation!"

I looked at her as if I were looking at a stranger. Was that woman, who was yelling at me, all because her lover had a few drops of IV drip splashed on him, really the wife that I had loved for so many years?

Not getting a response from me, she looked even more annoyed.

"Another thing, that IV stand incident just now? You owe Kian for that. I'd suggest that you be smart and give me some money, and we'll part ways peacefully!"

My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

Looking hurt and confused, I asked Sandra hoarsely, "Is there nothing else left but money on your mind?"

Enduring the sharp pain at the back of my head, I held Annie with one arm. With the other, trembling, I reached into my coat and pulled out a prescription, folded neatly and carefully.

"When Annie was first diagnosed with a genetic disease, none of us gave up. I worked day and night, traveling for business. I finally earned enough to hire the most authoritative specialist abroad. I finally had enough to support her expensive hospitalization and imported medication."

My eyes reddened as my vision began to blur, yet I was still staring at Sandra.

"Have you forgotten what you told me through tears? You said you would stay with Annie and I until she recovers. You said that this family will never be apart! W-What happened to you?"

My voice had a hint of desperation that even I had not expected from myself.

Sandra looked at the prescription. Her gaze turned from impatient to mocking.

She scoffed, "That was all lies!"

She reached her hand out and snatched the prescription from me before tearing it into shreds.

"Only an idiot like you would treat that burdensome daughter like she's some precious treasure. If I hadn't said that, how else would you have willingly fallen at my feet?

"Besides, Kian can give me a better life now. You and Annie are nothing but a burden to me!"

I looked at Sandra as if I were looking at a stranger. That was the first time I truly saw her for who she was.

Kian grew even more arrogant at Sandra's attitude toward me. Stepping on the shredded prescription, he went forward, trying to take Annie away from me.

"Give me the child. You piece of trash. After the divorce, you won't have the right to look after her!"

The security guards instantly pounced.

A few of them grabbed me by the arm, trying to take Annie away from me. My arm hurt a lot.

Annie was startled by the commotion. When she saw Kian trying to grab her, the usually obedient girl broke down completely.

She shuddered violently in my arms, muttering, "I-I'm sorry. I-I'm sorry! I-It's really dark here!"

My heart completely sank.

No wonder Sandra tried stopping me from bringing Annie to see the doctor.

I did not know where I found the strength, but I managed to break free from their grasp and hugged Annie even tighter.

With my other hand, I quickly grabbed my phone and called my assistant.

"Get Director Lenox to the lobby right away!"

I swept a glance at Kian, who was still in a daze, and added, "Monitor the stock of Kian Bar. If necessary, acquire it right away!"

Kian was first stunned when he heard the name, but then he bawled as if he had just heard the world's funniest joke.

"Who are you pretending to be? Acting like a big shot! You? Buying my bar? Ordering Director Lenox to come here? Who the hell do you think you are?"

He stepped forward and slapped me.

I could instantly taste blood in my mouth.

As if that had not relieved him enough of his anger, Kian yelled at the security guards, "What are you still standing there for? Hit him! Kill him! If anything happens, I'll bear the responsibility!"

Receiving orders and no longer worried, the security guards rained down punches on me.

I was only focusing on protecting Annie in my arms.

Just when I was about to lose consciousness, two voices rang out in unison.

"Mr. Lou, why didn't you tell me beforehand that you were coming?"

"Mr. Lou, we've successfully acquired Kian Bar!"