"Johnny, listen to me. I won't let them take your arm. I promise."

Before I finished speaking, the clinic door exploded inward.

Ellie stood in the doorway, sneering down at us. "Well, Sister-in-law. I expected you to run somewhere decent. Instead, you're hiding in this rat hole?"

She turned to John, her voice dripping with venom. "Johnny, if you want someone to blame, look at your sister. You're going to lose that arm because she was too proud to kneel."

The old doctor frowned. "Miss, please. There are patients here. Watch your tongue."

"Watch it?"

Ellie scoffed. She pulled a thick stack of cash from her designer bag and tossed it onto the table.

"Old man, that covers your rent for six months. Throw them out. Now. Or I won't just shut you down—I'll make sure you never practice medicine in this city again."

A bodyguard stepped forward, glaring at the physician.

The old man hesitated, eyes darting between the money and the thug. Finally, his shoulders slumped. He sighed and lowered the forceps. "Miss... I'm sorry."

Amputation. The word rang in my ears like a death knell.

I scrambled to my knees, slamming them against the concrete, and bowed until my forehead struck the ground before Ellie.

Blood trickled into my eyes, but I didn't care. "Ellie, please! Take him to a real doctor. Don't let him lose his arm. I'll do anything—I'll be your servant, your slave—anything!"

Ellie crossed her arms, watching me grovel.

"Begging me? Sister-in-law, have you lost your mind? I never said I'd help him just because you banged your head on the floor."

The last thread of hope snapped.

I snatched a scalpel from the tray and lunged, pressing the blade against her throat.

"Get him to the best hospital! Now!" My hand trembled. "Find the best orthopedic surgeon! Or I swear I will slit your throat right here!"

Ellie went rigid, face draining of color. She shrieked.

"Charlotte! Are you insane? Brother! Help me!"

Cole burst in a second later.

His eyes went red the moment he saw the blade against her skin. "Charlotte! You dare touch her?"

He didn't ask questions. He delivered a brutal kick to my abdomen.

I flew backward, crashing onto the floor. Pain exploded through my body—it felt like every rib shattered on impact.

"Cole, open your eyes!" I clutched my stomach, gasping, glaring up at him. "She's stopping John from getting treatment! She's trying to kill us!"

Cole didn't look at me. He was too busy checking Ellie's neck for scratches.

When he finally turned, his gaze was ice. "I told you. I will destroy anyone who hurts her."

He barked at the bodyguards.

"Break the boy's other hand. Make her understand what a fate worse than death really feels like."

Terror flooded my veins. With shaking hands, I fumbled for my phone. The moment the call connected, I screamed.

"Is this Jacob Mason? From The Ark? I am the daughter of Mason Pruitt and Penelope Fox! They're going to kill my brother! They're breaking his hands! Please, save us!"

Cole marched over and snatched the phone from my hand.

"Calling for backup? I'd like to see who has the guts to interfere with my business!"

But before he could hang up, a thunderous voice roared from the speaker—authoritative enough to silence the room.

"I don't care who you are. Take your filthy hands off her immediately! If you touch her again, you will pay with your life!"

Ellie Henson sneered, lip curling in ugly disdain.

"You really think a phone call can save you, Sister-in-law? Let me be clear: even if God himself came down today, he couldn't save you."

She hurled my phone against the wall. It shattered into pieces.

Cole didn't blink. "Proceed."

The bodyguards raised their steel pipes again, metal glinting under the harsh lights.

Adrenaline surged through me. I snatched a scalpel from the nearby tray and pressed the blade against my own throat.

"Cole Henson!" My voice came out raw. "Touch my brother again and I end it here. You'll spend the rest of your life knowing you drove the mother of your child to suicide. You'll never know peace."

His eyes narrowed. "Charlotte Pruitt, are you threatening me?"

I didn't answer. Just stared at him, vision blurring with hatred so intense it could burn the world down. My hand held steady, the blade biting into skin.

The ferocity in my gaze unnerved him. Cole stepped back, uncertainty flickering across his face.

But while Cole hesitated, Ellie didn't.

She lunged forward, snatching a steel pipe from the nearest bodyguard.

"You might scare my brother, Charlotte, but not me." She weighed the pipe in her hand, smiling. "You dared lay a hand on me earlier? Fine. Today I'll shatter every bone in your brother's body. He'll spend the rest of his life as a cripple."

She advanced, swinging the pipe with terrifying casualness.

Bitter bile rose in my throat. How was I so blind?

When I first dated Cole, Ellie accused me of stealing her brother, making my life misery. I was naive then. Thought love could conquer prejudice. Thought if I just loved Cole enough, his family would accept me.

Never imagined my foolishness would lead here—my brother beaten and broken because of my choices.

A deafening roar drowned out Ellie's taunts.

Wind whipped through the alley entrance. The heavy thrum of a helicopter shook the ground.

The gate crashed open.

An elderly man stepped through in a traditional charcoal tunic suit, posture ramrod straight. His hawk-like gaze swept over the scene—armed bodyguards, blood on the floor, steel pipe in Ellie's hand.

When his eyes landed on me and my battered brother, his expression darkened.

"Who did this?"

The authority in his voice was absolute.

Ellie paused, startled by his imposing aura. But arrogance returned as she looked him up and down, noting the lack of designer labels.

"Just putting on an act," she scoffed. "Who are you supposed to be? Another poor relative my sister-in-law dug up? Get lost!"

Mr. Mason didn't blink. Stood like a statue.

Mistaking silence for weakness, Ellie lifted her chin. "This is Henson territory! Get out before we make you regret being born!"

He finally spoke, a dry, dangerous chuckle escaping his lips. "Oh? Is that so?"

Combat boots echoed from the alley entrance.

Men in black suits flooded the space, moving with military precision, flanking the old man and securing the perimeter in seconds.

The squad leader walked straight to Mr. Mason, bowed deeply, and saluted.

"Mr. Mason. Area secure. Everything ready."

He nodded, gaze softening as he turned to John and me.

"Child, don't be afraid. I am here. No one will touch you again."

Medical personnel rushed forward with a stretcher, lifting my brother with practiced efficiency.

An agent stepped to my side. "Miss Pruitt, please come with us. We have the best trauma team on standby."

I nodded, knees weak with relief. A spark of hope finally pierced the darkness.

Cole and Ellie stood frozen, faces draining of color. They looked small now, stripped of bravado the moment they faced someone stronger.

Bullies. Only have teeth when the prey is helpless.

I had wasted the best years of my life on these monsters. Nearly let them destroy my brother.

As agents guided us toward the helicopter's boarding ladder, a hoarse shout rang out.

"Stop!"

Cole staggered forward, desperation on his face, trying to block our path.

"On what grounds?" He pointed a shaking finger at the agents. "John Pruitt assaulted my family! He needs punishment! This is a private matter—some mysterious old man has no right to interfere!"