My stepmother came to me, helping me up. “The floor is so cold, and your body is already weak. How could you treat yourself this way? Come inside with me. If you have any grievances, we can discuss them behind closed doors as family.”

She even removed the cashmere shawl from her own shoulders and carefully draped it over my shoulder, which was trembling slightly from the cold. The soft texture and lingering warmth made me feel momentarily dazed.

She practically carried me into the villa, but her steps hesitated slightly at the archway leading to the living room. Very skillfully, she positioned me in a shadowed spot where I could clearly hear the conversation in the living room.

Joan's discontented mutter reached my ears. “Thomas, now that Victoria knows about Grandma, will our plan change?”

Thomas's voice was as cold as ever. "What’s to change? An elderly woman on her deathbed is the best bargaining chip. With a few tactics, we won't be afraid that Victoria won't sign and give away her shares in the Lawrence Family. Once we have the shares, wouldn't it be perfectly natural for a heart-diseased old woman to ‘suddenly take a turn for the worse’ in a nursing home? Then we'll arrange for Victoria to suffer ‘excessive grief’ and have a little ‘accident’. Everything will fall into place."

In that moment, I charged into the living room like a wounded, trapped beast that was utterly enraged, my eyes bloodshot.

"Thomas! Joan! Are you even human? She is my grandmother! How dare you... how dare you plan...”

My body shook with rage, my voice was hoarse and broken, and I could hardly speak a complete sentence.

Thomas clearly hadn't expected my sudden appearance. His expression shifted abruptly as his sharp gaze darted toward my stepmother, who was behind me.

But my stepmother rushed forward, positioning herself between him and me with a feigned look of benevolence to mediate.

Thomas watched her performance and sneered, "Beatrice, have you finished your act? You were so eager to lure Victoria here—wasn’t it because of her grandmother's old house in the suburbs? Though it may be dilapidated, the location and land are valuable. You've wanted to get your hands on it for a long time, haven't you?"

His words struck like thunder. Not only did they make my stepmother's face go pale and her eyes dart away, but they also made me realize instantly that, beyond Thomas and Joan's vicious schemes, my stepmother had also had her own agenda.

The revelation of the layers of truth made me dizzy. Despite my weakened state, a surge of unexpected strength erupted within me, propelling me forward toward Thomas without hesitation.

"Victoria, are you crazy?"

Thomas roared and, in a flash, grabbed my raised wrist. Meanwhile, Joan, who had followed him, shoved me hard.

Since I was already feeling lightheaded and dizzy, the shove sent me staggering backward. The moment I crashed against the cold wall, a sharp pain shot through my back.

And in the split second before I lost my consciousness, I thought I saw the icy glint in my stepmother's eyes, Thomas's furrowed brows, and Joan's slightly curled lips.

When I regained consciousness, I was alone in a hospital bed. Though an IV needle pierced the back of my hand, no one was by my side.

My fever had not subsided, and it worsened in the middle of the night, making my head pound like it was about to explode. Weakly, I reached out and pressed the call button by my bed.

One minute. Two minutes. Five minutes … but still ... not a single nurse came.

I pressed it again, but there was still no response.

I had to bring this fever down. The desire to survive forced me to drag my heavy body out of the ward by leaning against the wall step by step.

Although the corridor was empty, a group of doctors and nurses gathered not far away, outside the VIP ward. They looked nervous and talked in a low voice, “Miss Lawrence said her heart was uncomfortable, and Mr. Crawford is inside with her."

"Mr. Crawford ordered to neglect all other patients. Miss Lawrence must not suffer any mishap.”

So that was it. All the medical staff were gathered outside Joan's VIP room, while I, the genuinely frail and feverish Mrs. Crawford, was left to fend for myself in a regular ward.

Knowing our family history of heart disease, Joan was now using this very reason to torment me. How utterly ridiculous.

Despair mixed with feverish dizziness washed over me. I leaned against the icy wall, nearly collapsing to the floor. But the instinct to survive kept me from falling, at least, not here.

Summoning my last ounce of strength, I groped my way to the direction of the nurse station in my memory.

My blurred vision scanned the medicine boxes until I spotted the familiar name of the fever reducer. Ignoring dosage and instructions, with trembling hands, I unscrewed a mineral water bottle and swallowed several pills hastily.

I leaned against the wall, drenched in cold sweat, and finally received a message from Hugh.

[All materials will be ready in three days.]

A smile touched my lips. [Three days from now is the Lawrence Group's anniversary celebration. Let all truths be revealed that very day.]

This time, I would destroy them all completely.

The fever reducer cooled my burning body. I was lying in a hospital bed with my eyes barely open when I was roughly yanked upright by the bodyguard and dragged into a ward filled with medical equipment.

The sight before me instantly plunged me into an icy abyss—it was Grandma!

She was lying on the bed with several tubes inserted into her body. An oxygen mask covered her gaunt, aged face. The flickering numbers and wavering lines on the monitor were the only proof that she was still alive.

Standing on either side of her bed were Thomas and Joan.

When he saw me brought in, Thomas immediately began accusing me. “Victoria, because of your hysterics at the villa, Joan’s heart has been uncomfortable ever since then. She’s so weak—she can’t endure your repeated torment.”

“Now, at the bedside of your beloved grandmother, kneel before Joan. Apologize for all your past thoughtlessness and cruelty. Beg for her forgiveness.”

“Furthermore, at the Lawrence Group anniversary celebration in two days, I demand you publicly announce that you'll transfer all Lawrence Family shares and assets under your name—including those left by your mother—to Joan. And you will sign the formal bone marrow donation agreement on the spot.”

A chill ran through my body. I just stared at the demons before me and stayed silent.

Thomas closed in on me. His mouth curved into a cruel smile. Slowly, his hand moved toward the ventilator’s power plug beside the bed.

“If you can't do it, I wouldn't mind helping your grandmother find complete release right now, in front of you. After all, living like this must be quite difficult, wouldn't you agree?”

I stared intently at my grandmother's sleeping face, watching the faint rise and fall of her chest. A surge of overwhelming rage, humiliation, and terror threatened to tear me apart.

I can’t let my grandmother die before my eyes!

A flash of unconcealed delight passed through Joan’s eyes. She even lifted her chin slightly, waiting for my submission.

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, there was only dead ashes and cold numbness left in my eyes.

My legs felt weak as I took two steps forward. Before my sleeping grandmother's hospital bed, I slowly bent my knees and knelt before Joan.

Through clenched teeth, I forced out the broken, hoarse words, “I’m… sorry… Joan. Please forgive me. In two days, I’ll do as you ask.”

A dazzling smile blossomed across Joan's face. “Victoria, get up now. I forgive you. From now on, let's be good to each other. Our family shouldn't be like this anymore.”

Thomas finally retracted the hand that was hanging next to the ventilator and nodded in satisfaction. “Remember what you said today, and remember what you should do, two days from now. Don't let us down at the celebration.”

He signaled for the bodyguards to escort me back to rest. As the door closed, I caught one last glimpse of my grandmother still sleeping in the hospital bed, and the man and woman standing side by side like victors.

As soon as I left the ward, the bodyguards escorted me back to the villa and imprisoned me there. I could only entrust Hugh to save my grandmother. After waiting anxiously, all I received was a message. [My Condolences] and a video.

My body went cold as I opened it with trembling hands.

In the footage, it was in the evening. Grandma was lying alone on a hospital bed, with monitoring equipment connected to her body, and she looked extremely thin and weak. She seemed to sleep very restlessly, her brows frowning slightly.

At this moment, Joan crept stealthily into Grandma's room. She pulled a small syringe from her pocket and, without hesitation, plunged the needle into Grandma's arm.

“Ugh!” Grandma's eyes widened in terror. Her body began to struggle violently, her frail limbs kicking helplessly against the sheets.

Joan held her down firmly, her eyes gleaming with a near-manic satisfaction.

Within minutes, Grandma’s struggles grew weak … then she stopped completely.

At this moment, the ward door was slammed open from the outside, and Thomas walked in quickly. When he saw the scene in the room and the glaring line on the monitor, his face immediately changed drastically.

But he quickly composed himself. He glanced at Grandma’s lifeless body, reached out, and turned off the monitor. Then he wrapped his arms around Joan.

“It’s fine. If she's dead, then she's dead. She's just an old cripple. She didn't have long left anyway; that should have been dealt with a long time ago. This's better and cleaner.”

He even wiped the corner of Joan's eye with a handkerchief. “Let's go. I'll handle this.”

From start to finish, he hadn't called a doctor or attempted resuscitation. He simply left Grandmother lying there, alone.

I stared fixedly at my phone screen, biting my lip as I replied to Hugh.

[Release this video at the ceremony. I'll make the whole world know they're murderers!]

[In addition ... Mother’s agreement, Joan’s true condition, the stepmother’s affairs, the Crawford Group scandal... Every truth must be exposed at the celebration.”

[Rest assured, everything is arranged. I’ll personally escort you away first thing in the morning of the celebration.]

As always, no matter how late it was, Hugh replied to my message immediately.

When I saw his reply, I finally broke down and covered my face as I burst into tears.

My mother had gone, I had lost the baby, my grandmother had passed away, my body was no longer fit for pregnancy, and the love I thought I had become the one who wounded me the most .

Other than Hugh, I had no one left. Only a pack of demons eyeing me hungrily.

After crying for an unknown length of time, I rose and walked to the bathroom. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I saw a pale face and swollen, reddened eyes. But I knew I couldn't break down yet!

I splashed cold water on my face again and again to clear my chaotic mind. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I swore word by word, “They will pay the price.”

In the days that followed, to avoid arousing their suspicion, I remained unnaturally calm—even obedient.

I tried on the elaborate gowns that Thomas demanded, and when Joan deliberately flaunted them, I managed a stiff, fake smile.

In private, however, I was in constant contact with Hugh, confirming and adjusting every detail of the celebration day plan.

Amidst the surging undercurrents, the day of the celebration finally arrived.

Early that morning, I gathered my documents and prepared to leave the villa as planned.

When I pushed open the bedroom door, I was momentarily blinded by the sight before me.

The villa interior had undergone a dramatic transformation. Joan's favorite pink flowers were adorned everywhere. It was clearly a meticulously prepared celebration.

Thomas was standing in the center of the living room, carefully putting a diamond necklace around Joan's neck.

“After today, everything will be fine,” his voice carried a tone of indulgence. “You'll no longer suffer from illness, and all obstacles within the Lawrence Family will be cleared. Joan, I will make you happy.”

I stood at the staircase entrance, silently watching these two murderers with clenched fists.

When Thomas noticed me, his brows furrowed. His tone carried his usual reproach and displeasure.

“What are you doing here? Don't try any tricks again. I warn you, Victoria, today you won't ...”

"Mr. Crawford, I need to take Victoria to take care of some business."

A deep, steady voice cut through his warning.

The villa's front door had opened unnoticed. Hugh stood at the entrance, his figure straight and imposing in a perfectly tailored dark suit.

He walked directly to me and took my slightly cold hand from nervousness into his own. His broad and warm palm radiated a reassuring strength.

“Victoria,” his voice was low but clear, “Let's go.”

Thomas’s face twisted into a grim expression. His eyes, which were boiling with rage and fear, fixed on my hand that was in Hugh's. “Since President Stone is looking for her, I’ll grant him the courtesy. But Victoria, don’t forget your promise. This afternoon, at the Lawrence Family celebration, I’ll be waiting for you. You can’t escape!”

His voice was full of warning, as if no matter whom I went with, I would ultimately return to the track he had laid out for me.

Without a glance at Thomas or Joan, I followed Hugh straight to the airport.

The car was very quiet, but I could feel Hugh's gaze on me with undisguised concern.

“Everything's arranged,” he said, breaking the silence. “The evidence chain is complete. Legal proceedings can begin at any moment. Once we land, you'll be safe.”

“Thank you.” I gazed out the window at the city where I'd lived for over twenty years—a place that held all my loves and hates, joys and sorrows—now fading into the distance.

Boarding. Takeoff.

As the plane surged into the sky, I closed my eyes.

Mother, Grandmother, my unborn child ...

Please watch … the show is finally about to begin.