My eyes lit up. Finally, there was a sliver of hope.

But just as Lionel picked out a few bodyguards to head out, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, then at me.

After a pause, he put the call on speaker.

Elliot's impatient voice came through on the other end of the call. "Gracie came to you, didn't she? Don't listen to her.

"Some guy just called me from Sophie's phone and said if I don't hand over 50 million dollars, he'll kill her and the baby. Tell me that's not the dumbest thing you've ever heard. These women, I swear. Jealousy makes them do the craziest things."

His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. I felt as if I had fallen into a deep abyss, my mind going completely blank.

I could never have foreseen that the brother who once vowed to cherish me forever, the Elliot who once pledged a lifetime to Sophie, would turn out to be so utterly cold and ruthless. He was willing to throw us all away for one woman.

Rage and despair twisted in my chest. I screamed, "Elliot Quinn, are you even human? Are you really going to wait until we're dead before you believe me and Sophie? Did you forget what you've seen with your own eyes?"

He had been reborn, same as me. So why wouldn't he believe us?

He sneered. "You just want Dad to hand the company over to you, right? But you'll get married someday. What's the point of giving you everything?

"Besides, I called the driver at home. He said nothing's going on. Last time I trusted you, Ava ended up dead. This time, there's no way I'm falling for it again!"

His accusations left me breathless.

The driver he had spoken to had gone back to his hometown three days ago. There was no way he could know what was happening here.

I opened my mouth to explain, but the line had already gone dead.

Lionel, who had just agreed to go with me to check on Sophie, now tuned me out and said with evident disgust, "So it really was all an act. Throw them out! Toss out that little brat who helped her lie too!"

Suppressing the pain in my body, I held the already unconscious Henry tightly. "Don't you dare touch me! My dad will never let you get away with this!"

The bodyguards hesitated, startled by my defiance.

Lionel sneered, then drove his shoe into my chest.

I hit the stone steps with Henry in my arms. Thank God he landed on me and wasn't hurt.

"Who are you trying to scare? If your dad finds out you faked something like this, do you think he'll still take your side?"

I stepped back in despair. The Lionel standing before me was so cold he felt like a stranger.

I was still lost in sorrow when he kicked me once more. This time, the tip of his polished shoe hit my jaw, tearing open a long gash.

"This is what you get for lying! You're a Quinn, yet all you know is cheap schemes and petty drama. You and Sophie will never measure up to Ava."

Tears streamed down my face from the pain, yet he seemed not to notice at all.

At that moment, my phone lit up.

Lionel yanked it from my pocket and mocked, "Is Sophie calling you to come home and figure out a plan after realizing her lie is failing?"

But the voice on the other end was brisk and unfamiliar. "Ms. Gracie Quinn? This is the police. The situation at your home has been contained. The intruders fled. Your sister-in-law is in critical condition and needs to be rushed to the hospital. Can you get there in time to sign the consent forms?"