Just then, the door to the hospital room creaked open.

Kendra stepped in, her voice trembling with emotion as she said softly, “Hey… did I come at a bad time? I thought I heard you arguing in here…”

Willard immediately crossed the room to support her, his tone tender and full of concern.

“Why did you get out of bed? The doctor told you to rest.”

Kendra leaned into his arms, her tearful gaze drifting toward Daisie.

“Daisie… are you still mad at me? I’m sorry… I know it’s my fault. If it weren’t for me needing that kidney, you wouldn’t have had to go through this. I was heartbroken about your dad, too. I really did everything I could…”

Daisie felt a wave of nausea rise in her chest just looking at her.

“Keep pretending! Go on! Keep acting!” she shouted. “Willard, check the security footage! See for yourself how she bragged yesterday about faking her illness and how she admitted she was behind my father’s death!”

Kendra flinched violently, as though she’d been startled at those words.

“Willard… I didn’t… I know she hates me for taking you away, but I never said those things. I was devastated by Uncle Joe’s death, too. How could she accuse me like this?”

Willard instinctively wrapped his arms around Kendra, patting her back gently in comfort before turning on Daisie with a glare.

“Daisie, have you caused enough trouble?” he snapped. “Look at what you’ve done—Kendra just had surgery, her body’s weak, and she’s still worried about you. Yet you’re acting like a crazy woman throwing accusations!”

“I regret ever letting you through my family’s doors!” he blurted out. “Your dad’s death was his own bad luck. It had nothing to do with Kendra! You bring misfortune to your own parents, and now, you want to drag others down with you?!”

Daisie’s fists clenched so tight her nails bit into her palms. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, every breath catching in her throat.

‘So this is what he really thinks of me,’ she realized.

What else was there to say?

The proof was in the security footage, yet he wouldn’t even bother to look.

He only believed the fragile little angel crying in his arms.

At that moment, Kendra reached out gently toward Daisie’s exposed hand resting on the blanket.

“Daisie, it’s all my fault. Please don’t be upset anymore, alright—”

“Get away from me!” Daisie snapped, jerking her hand back.

“Ah!” Kendra gasped in fright, stumbling backward on purpose. Her elbow struck the insulated bottle on the bedside table, knocking it over.

The thermos hit the floor with a crash, and boiling water splashed in every direction.

“Kendra!” Willard’s expression changed instantly. Without a thought, he lunged forward, shielding Kendra with his back.

“Ugh!” he grunted as the scalding liquid hit his back, his face tightening in pain.

“Willard! Are you alright?” Kendra cried, clutching his arm in panic.

“I’m fine,” he said through gritted teeth. Ignoring the burn, he looked down to check her anxiously. “What about you? Did you get burned?”

“I… I think my ankle hurts a little…” she whimpered pitifully, lifting her foot ever so slightly.

Willard turned sharply toward the door and shouted, “Doctor! Doctor! Somebody get in here now!”

He didn’t even spare a single glance at the hospital bed behind him.

Daisie, who had been sitting closest to the table, hadn’t even had time to react. The boiling water had splashed directly onto her.

A sharp, searing pain spread across her skin, making her body tremble uncontrollably.

But that wasn’t the worst part.

Her sudden movement had violently torn at the surgical wound on her abdomen.

She could feel the warmth of her own blood gushing from the reopened incision, soaking through her hospital gown and the sheets beneath her.

The agony was unbearable. She curled in on herself, cold sweat breaking across her forehead, her lips drained of color.

Soon, several doctors and nurses rushed into the room.

“Mr. Grantham! Ms. Spender!”

“Hurry! Check her ankle! No scars, you hear me? Use the best medication you’ve got!”

Willard’s voice was urgent, his attention fixed entirely on Kendra despite the stinging pain in his own back.

With that, the medical staff swarmed around Kendra.

No one noticed Daisie.

No one saw the blood pooling beneath her, spreading wider and darker by the second.

Her vision began to blur.

She could hear their voices, Willard’s worried tone calling Kendra’s name again and again, but it was like listening from underwater.

She tried to open her mouth to call for help, to say anything.

But the sound that came out was barely audible, even to herself.

The footsteps faded.

The room fell completely silent.

In that stillness, Daisie felt something inside her finally shatter.

Hatred bloomed in her chest like wildfire, spreading until it filled every corner of her being.

Once she went abroad, she swore she would make Willard and Kendra pay—strip them of everything, down to their skin and bones.

And when Daisie made a promise, she always meant it.

But before she could think another thought, the pain overwhelmed her. Her body gave out, and one more time, she fell into unconsciousness.

How long she lay there, Daisie didn’t know. She was just jolted out of unconsciousness by pain.

The burn on her skin had been wrapped in a few hasty turns of gauze. It was so thin she could still feel the swollen outline of the blisters underneath. The bandage at her abdomen was tied tight and crooked; she could feel a faint seep of blood through the layers.

Just then, the door burst open.

Kendra barged in. Her cheeks were flushed, her step light and composed. There wasn’t a trace of the frailty she used to pretend to have.

“Hey there, Daisie. Feeling any better?” Kendra mocked.

Daisie’s eyes reddened. She glared at Kendra, the hatred in her chest so fierce she could barely breathe.

Kendra didn’t seem to care. She sat at the bedside, crossed one leg over the other with casual ease, and lounged as if she were visiting a friend’s home, not a hospital.

“I heard… you’re planning to leave?”

Daisie’s heart tightened.

How did she know? Was she just guessing, or had someone told her?

Leaning closer, Kendra lowered her voice. “Don’t kid yourself. You really think that old woman’s going to help you? If she dares send you away behind her son’s back, Willard will turn against her in a second.”

Daisie felt her world drop as she realized that Kendra knew. Of course, she knew.

“But,” Kendra’s tone shifted, and she twirled a lock of hair around her finger, “if you really want to go, it’s not impossible.”

Daisie kept her eyes locked on her, waiting for the catch.

“Beg me.” Kendra laughed, covering her mouth. “Kneel, apologize three times. Slap your own face while you say, ‘Kendra, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have tried to steal Willard from you. I’m nothing but a delusional bitch.’ Maybe then I’ll be in a good mood and tell Willard to kick a nobody like you out.”

Daisie gripped the sheet until her nails bit into her flesh.

Kendra scoffed. “What? You’re not willing? Looks like you still haven’t faced your situation. What do you have left? No home, your father is dead, your mother is disabled, your brother is in prison, and you’ve lost a kidney. You’re literally a complete waste.”

“If you stay in the Granthams’ place, you’ll be my punching bag, my mobile blood bank, my organ reserve. I’ll use you how I please. Willard will only help me; he won’t spare you a glance!”

She rose, walked to the window and stared out with a lightness that made Daisie’s blood boil.

“Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you. Those gambling debts your brother had? I arranged that trap. Your father’s company goes bankrupt—I had people mess with it. As for your mother, the driver who hit her and put her in the hospital—I hired and paid him.”

Daisie’s breath stopped. Her pupils dilated; it felt as though all the blood in her veins froze.

Her brother… her father… her mother…

Everything—the ruin of her family—had been orchestrated by Kendra from the start?!

Her rage swallowed her sanity in an instant.

“Kendra! I’m gonna kill you!” Daisie roared.

Where it came from she didn’t know, but strength surged through her. She lunged off the bed, grabbed a handful of Kendra’s hair and yanked backward with all her might.

Caught off guard, Kendra screamed and staggered, slamming into the wall.

“Ouch! Ouch! Let go! You lunatic!” she shrieked, clawing blindly at Daisie’s face.

But pain didn’t register for Daisie; she clenched Kendra’s throat, and her eyes went white with revenge.

“It’s you! It’s all you! Give me back my parents! Give me back my brother! Give me back my kidney!”

Her wound split open, blood quickly staining the hospital gown, but she didn’t care. She only wanted one thing—to drag Kendra down to hell with her!

“Help! Willard! Help me!” Kendra cried as she thrashed, her face flushing purple.

At that moment, the ward door was flung open with a violent crash.

Willard burst through the door, his face twisting the moment he saw what was happening.

“Daisie! What are you doing?! Let her go!”

He strode forward, fury exploding through him, and hit Daisie hard in the chest.

She was already too weak to withstand the blow. Her body flew backward, slamming onto the floor. Her forehead struck the edge of the bed frame with a sickening thud, and her vision went black. Warm blood trickled down the side of her face, pooling beneath her cheek.

The pain from her abdominal wound flared violently, making her curl up in agony.

“Kendra! Are you okay?” Willard ignored Daisie completely, rushing instead to cradle Kendra in his arms. His voice trembled with concern as he examined the red marks on her neck.

Kendra collapsed against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably, her whole body shaking.

“Willard… I was so scared… She suddenly went crazy! She tried to strangle me! She said she regretted everything, that she wanted to kill me and take her kidney back…”

Willard’s gaze turned to Daisie, who lay on the floor with blood matting her hair. There wasn’t a trace of pity in his eyes, only blazing rage.

“Daisie! You’re beyond saving!” he spat through clenched teeth, his eyes bloodshot. “You don’t deserve to stay in this hospital another second! Guards!”

Two bodyguards rushed in at his command.

“Take her back. Lock her in the basement. No one opens that door unless I say so!” he ordered coldly.

“Willard, please don’t…” Kendra pretended to plead, tears glimmering prettily in her eyes. “Daisie is still injured…”

“She won’t die,” Willard cut her off sharply, pulling her close and leading her out. “Women like her don’t deserve to breathe the same air as us.”

The bodyguards grabbed Daisie by the arms and dragged her away like she was nothing but a piece of trash. She didn’t fight back. She didn’t beg.

Blood blurred her vision, but through the red haze, she saw Willard tenderly protecting Kendra as they walked out together.

Hate?

Of course, she hated them. She hated them with every fiber of her being!

‘One day,’ she swore, ‘they will apologize to me and beg for my forgiveness!’

Now, she finally understood—in Willard’s heart, Kendra was everything. And Daisie was worth less than an insect beneath his feet.

The bodyguards dragged her across the floor and then threw her into the basement.

The iron door slammed shut behind her with a deafening clang, followed by the sound of a lock turning.

Darkness. Damp air. The stench of mold hit her face.

She crumpled onto the cold concrete floor, her body like a discarded rag doll.

Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around her stomach.

In the dark, she curled up, biting hard on her lip to keep herself from crying.

She couldn’t die.

If she died, Kendra would win.

If she died, there would be no one left to avenge her parents and her brother.

If she died… she’d lose her baby, too.

Suddenly, the basement door clanged open again.

Harsh light flooded in, and Kendra stepped inside, her high heels clicking sharply against the concrete. She held a perfumed handkerchief over her nose, her face twisted in disgust.

She prodded the curled-up woman in the corner with the tip of her shoe. “Get up.”

Daisie didn’t move.

Kendra signaled the guards, and they yanked Daisie to her feet.

“I’ll take you somewhere nice,” Kendra said with a cruel smile.

They dragged Daisie out, shoved her into a car, and drove away.

She didn’t know where Kendra was taking her, and she didn’t even have the strength to ask.

When the car stopped, she realized they were at the hospital.

The guards dragged her into an elevator, then into a patient ward.

On the bed lay her mother—pale, unmoving, a ventilator hissing softly beside her.

“Mom…” Daisie’s dry, cracked lips trembled, and tears burst from her eyes.

She tried to rush forward, but the guards pinned her down.

Kendra stepped to the bedside, leaning down, and spoke to the unconscious patient.

“Auntie, look who’s here. It’s Daisie, your wonderful daughter.

“She’s pathetic now. Lost a kidney, got tossed aside by Willard, and locked up in the basement like a dog. Your family’s finished. Your husband’s dead. Your company’s gone. Your son’s useless.

“And it’s all because of your precious daughter! That shameless bitch just wouldn’t stop clinging to Willard and wouldn’t stop provoking me. That’s why your family ended up like this!

“She’s cursed! She ruined her own parents’ lives! You’re lying here because of her!”

“Kendra! Shut up!” Daisie roared, struggling wildly against the guards. “Don’t you dare talk to my mother like that!”

Suddenly, the heart monitor beside the bed began to give a sharp, continuous alarm.

Her mother’s fingers twitched, and a tear slipped from the corner of her eyes.

“Mom! Mom!” Daisie cried hysterically.

She felt her heart being torn apart. In her desperation, she fought to break free.

Kendra watched Daisie’s agony with a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

“See? Even your mother can’t stand the sight of you. She doesn’t want you here. She hates you, Daisie.”

Doctors and nurses rushed in, but despite their efforts, it was too late.

Her mother was gone.

Kendra gestured to the guards. “Take her away.”

“No! I’m not leaving! Mom! Mom!” Daisie shrieked.

Her nails raked the guards’ arms until blood streaked down, but they still dragged her off, shoving her back into the car and dumping her again in the dark, damp basement.

Suddenly, warm liquid soaked through her pants and the blanket beneath her.

What came next was a stabbing pain that ripped through her abdomen.

“No… No! The baby… My baby…”

She curled over, clutching her belly, her face drained of color.

At the door, Kendra froze as she noticed the spreading pool of blood beneath Daisie.

Questions flooded Kendra’s head. ‘Her baby? Daisie’s pregnant? She’s carrying Willard’s child?’

For a split second, panic flickered across her face. But then, it quickly hardened into resolve.

‘I won’t allow this baby to live!’ she swore.

“Help… Help me…”

Daisie reached out a trembling hand toward the small window. Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Kendra… Please… Call a doctor… The baby… Save my baby…”

Her voice broke. “I know I’m worthless… But please… Have mercy…”

Kendra stared at the growing pool of blood beneath her and let out a cold laugh.

“Save you? Keep dreaming.”

She slammed the window shut, cutting off Daisie’s desperate gaze and voice, then turned and ran away.

“No… Don’t go… Save my baby!”

Daisie cried with everything she had left, but the basement door was soundproof; no one outside could hear her.

The pain was unbearable; her mind drifted in and out.

Blood kept flowing, spreading across the cold floor.

She could feel it—the tiny life inside her slipping from her little by little.

Her vision dimmed, her body grew heavy, the darkness pulling her under.

Outside the basement, Willard had just returned from work.

He frowned, pausing mid-step. ‘Did I just hear something? A faint sound… coming from the basement?’

“What is it, Willard?”

Kendra walked over quickly, slipping her arm through his with a sweet smile. Her voice was soft and coaxing.

“Didn’t you promise to go with me to pick up the new season’s bags? There’s a limited edition that’ll sell out fast if we’re late.”

Willard tilted his head, listening again. But the sound was gone.

A strange unease stirred in his chest. For a moment, he was confused. “I thought I heard something… from the basement. Daisie…”

Kendra’s heart skipped a beat, but she masked it with a calm face. She tugged his arm, her tone casual.

“Oh, come on, what could it be? Probably just the wind. Let’s go, or we’ll be late and someone else will snatch that bag!”

She pressed herself against him, her soft body brushing his arm.

Willard couldn’t bring himself to push her away. Besides, he told himself, maybe it was just his imagination.

‘After all,’ he thought, ‘Daisie’s always manipulating me. Maybe this is just another one of her tricks to get my attention.’

“Alright. Let’s go,” he said finally, brushing his thoughts aside and opening the car door for Kendra.

The engine started, and the car rolled away from the Granthams' estate.

Meanwhile, in the basement, Daisie’s consciousness wavered.

Blood pooled around her, the floor cold and slick beneath her.

With every passing second, she felt herself slipping further… into the void.

Just as she was about to lose consciousness completely, the iron door burst open from the outside with a deafening crash!