Rowan’s heart clenched. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to shield her from the weight of this loss.

But he had no rightful place to do so.

The piercing ringtone shattered the silence again.

Kinsley numbly picked up the call.

"I'm going on a business trip tonight. My mom is in the hospital. Take care of her."

Before she could utter a word, the call ended.

Rowan had overheard Enzo’s voice and fury flickered in his eyes.

"Kinsley, how can he treat you like this?"

“What happened back then wasn’t your fault. And both of you lost your fathers; doesn’t he know what that pain feels like?"

She remained silent for a long moment before speaking, her voice soft but unwavering.

"Rowan, I know you mean well."

"But I owe him. This debt will be repaid soon."

Rowan’s gaze darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the medical report she pulled from her bag.

"My doctor reviewed it. He recommends I seek treatment abroad."

"So, I’m leaving."

Rowan reached out instinctively, his fingers curling around her wrist. For a brief second, words hovered at the edge of his tongue, an urge to confess what had long been buried.

But fear crept in. If he spoke, would he lose even their fragile friendship?

In the end, he let her go.

Instead, he fished a small candy from his pocket and pressed it into her palm.

"Peach-flavored, your favorite."

Kinsley curled her fingers around it and hurried off.

Near Samantha’s hospital room, she took a deep breath, composing herself.

The moment she stepped forward, a pillow flew out and struck her.

Samantha’s furious voice cut through the air.

"Did Enzo not call you?"

"If you don’t come, who will take care of me?!"

Her sharp eyes burned with disdain, her glare ice-cold.

Quinn stood nearby, draped in a princess-style gown that looked painfully out of place.

Wrinkling her nose in irritation, she spoke with thinly veiled disdain.

"I can’t blame Auntie for being upset. Since Enzo assigned you to take care of her, you should at least do it properly."

"What’s that smell? Kinsley, when did you become so unkempt?"

Kinsley swayed slightly, a sudden wave of dizziness washing over her.

Steadying herself, she forced her legs to move and walked to Samantha’s bedside, glancing at the medical chart.

A common cold.

The sight made something snap inside her. Without another word, she turned to leave.

To Samantha, it was an unforgivable offense. Disrespect. Defiance.

Throwing off her blanket, she pushed herself forward and grabbed the hem of Kinsley’s dress.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

"If Enzo didn’t stop me every time, do you really think you’d still be standing here?"

"A murderer’s daughter, how clean can you be?"

"Who knows if every penny you spend is built on the blood of others!"

The commotion spilled into the hallway, drawing a crowd. Murmurs and whispers filled the air.

Kinsley tried to wrench free, but her strength was fading fast.

She opened her mouth, but any words she had were swallowed by the rising noise.

Then, pain. Her head slammed hard against the metal railing.

A sharp, white-hot ache burst behind her eyes.

The world around her blurred, voices turning into distant echoes.

Somewhere in the haze, she heard her name.

"Kinsley! Kinsley!"

Rowan had just arrived, intending to check on Samantha.

Instead, she saw Kinsley collapsing.

Rowan hadn’t expected to walk into this scene.

Panic gripped him as he rushed forward, crouching down to gather Kinsley into his arms.

Without hesitation, he turned and bolted toward the emergency room, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Behind him, Samantha stood frozen, momentarily stunned. Quinn, too, seemed slightly shaken, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her dress.

"Auntie, I think he was Kinsley’s university classmate. They seem really close."

Samantha’s expression darkened.

"Then why is she still clinging to my son?!"

"Quinn, you have a kind heart, no schemes, no deceit. Never let yourself be wronged, understand?"

Not once did she spare a thought for Kinsley’s condition.

Meanwhile, inside the emergency room, the situation had turned dire. The hospital had already issued two emergency notices.

"Kinsley! Stay awake! You’ll be okay!"

The usually composed Rowan was visibly shaken, his voice raw with urgency.

Kinsley barely managed to pry her eyes open.

"I’m fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

And then, darkness swallowed her whole.

***

Kinsley’s eyelids fluttered open and the first face she saw was Enzo’s.

Her lips parted, dry and cracked, but no sound came out.

Enzo barely spared her a glance, his voice laced with indifference.

"You're awake?"

She stared at him, dazed, as if time had rewound to the past, back to when his presence still held warmth.

Feigning a few coughs, Enzo rose from the chair, his expression unreadable.

"Since you’re fine, get up already."

"I was only gone for a few days and you’ve already stirred up trouble."

"Apologize to Quinn and this matter ends here."

Kinsley’s lashes quivered. She looked at him, confusion flickering in her eyes.

Seeing her hesitation, Enzo let out a low chuckle, void of humor.

"You don’t remember? Before you fainted, you bumped into Quinn. She’s fragile and now her leg is broken."

A cold scoff echoed in Kinsley’s heart.

Her hand instinctively rested on her lower abdomen as if seeking comfort in the silence. The words of defiance swirled on the tip of her tongue, but in the end, she swallowed them whole.

"I understand."

Enzo’s gaze darkened, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. His voice turned even colder.

"Good. Don’t think faking an illness will get you out of this."

"Rowan was your classmate, wasn’t he? He seems awfully heartbroken over you."

For a fleeting moment, jealousy thickened the air between them.

Then, without another word, Enzo straightened and strode out.

The moment Enzo left, Kinsley struggled to sit up.

After a brief moment of thought, she stepped out, her mind set on one thing: finding Quinn’s ward.

When she arrived, the sight before her made her pause.

Quinn sat on the hospital bed.

"Enzo, I'm really fine. The wedding date is already set; we can’t postpone it over something this minor."

"Here, touch it and see. It’s really nothing."

A sudden tickle clawed at Kinsley’s throat, forcing out a harsh cough.

Enzo’s body stiffened. In an instant, he was by her side.

His hand lifted slightly, hesitating mid-air, before he withdrew it as if burned.

Turning away, his voice was steady, emotionless. "The wedding will proceed as planned. Just focus on recovering."

"And as for you, atone for your mistakes. Isn’t that what you do best?"

Kinsley bit her lip, something flickering in her eyes.

As soon as Enzo walked out, the sweetness in Quinn’s expression vanished.

Without a hint of discomfort, she stood up and strode toward Kinsley with ease.

A cold draft swept through the room.

Kinsley’s body tensed as a sharp pain surged through her chest. A metallic taste flooded her mouth before blood trickled from the corner of her lips, her face losing all color.

But Quinn wasn’t satisfied. She lifted her hand again, ready to strike.

Kinsley’s eyes turned icy as she blocked her without hesitation.

Her voice was frigid, each word sharp as a blade.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Quinn’s breathing turned ragged, her face twisting in anger.

"Kinsley, you’re shameless!"

"I am Enzo’s fiancée, yet you had the audacity to get pregnant with his child?"

"What, do you think this child will make Enzo change his mind?"

She let out a cold laugh, arms crossed as she loomed over Kinsley.

"Let me make one thing clear: Uncle Atlas’s life is between you two. You will never be together!"

"Even if Enzo agrees, Aunt Samantha will never let you set foot in the Keller Family!"

"My advice? Get rid of it while you still can."

With that, she sauntered toward the luxurious sofa and sat down, her glare never wavering. Her fingers clenched tightly around the armrest, the fury in her eyes barely contained.

Kinsley lowered her head, her hand instinctively resting over her stomach. Her voice was calm, indifferent.

"That’s none of your concern."

She turned to leave, unwilling to waste another breath.

But Quinn wasn’t done.

"Kinsley!"

"You’re not worthy! You don’t deserve to carry Enzo’s child!"

"The position of the Keller Family’s matriarch belongs to me and me alone!"

Feigning weakness, she deliberately made herself look disheveled, then stepped in closer, her presence suffocating.

Kinsley was in no condition to fight back.

She took a step back. Then another.

But in the next instant, Quinn’s fist struck without warning.

A sharp, searing pain exploded in Kinsley’s abdomen. Her breath hitched as she doubled over, unable to stand upright.

She reached out, trying to shield herself.

But Quinn was relentless. Her grip was like iron, her strength overwhelming.

Kinsley’s fingers fumbled for the door handle, her weak voice barely escaping her lips.

She tried to call for help.

But her cries were swallowed by the merciless blows.

She felt the life within her slipping away, warmth pooling beneath her as crimson stained the cold floor.

Kinsley’s eyelids fluttered shut. The pain was unbearable. Darkness swallowed her whole as she lost consciousness.

Quinn’s breath hitched. It wasn’t until she saw the vivid red spreading beneath Kinsley that the reality of what she had done struck her.

Her body trembled as she collapsed onto the floor, fumbling for her phone.

"Enzo, I’m scared; please, come quickly!"

On the other end, something clattered, his phone, perhaps, as he hurried over.

Moments later, Enzo appeared in the doorway.

His breath caught at the sight before him.

Kinsley lay motionless, her body lifeless on the bloodstained floor. His chest tightened.

Without hesitation, he strode forward, reaching down to scoop her into his arms.

But Quinn threw herself in front of him, her voice quivering, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I’m the real victim here, Enzo. Are you really going to leave your fiancée behind?"

For a heartbeat, he hesitated. His gaze locked with hers, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

And in that fleeting pause, Rowan stormed in.

Without a second thought, he crossed the room, lifted Kinsley into his arms and turned to leave.

"If anything happens to Kinsley, you’ll live to regret it."