Chapter 4
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When I regained consciousness, I found myself in the hospital.
My jaw was stabilized with medical equipment, and my head and face were swathed in bandages.
Jacob stood by the window, his back turned to me.
I glanced at the figure that had haunted my dreams and gave a wry smile.
Jacob heard the noise and turned around, his voice emotionless. “Ms. Caide, you’re safe now.”
My ironic smile didn’t reach my eyes.
“Is this what you wanted to see?” I asked.
Jacob’s eyes flickered slightly.
Just as he was about to speak, Eva’s voice interrupted.
She wore a pure white dress, resembling an unattractive white moth shedding its powder.
“Lilianna, I heard you were hurt?” She said with apparent concern, though both of us knew she was only there to revel in my misfortune.
I shot them a scornful look and curtly ordered them to leave.
However, Eva stood her ground.
With a sympathetic tone, she said, “Lilianna, I understand that being sick can put you in a bad mood. I won’t take it personally.”
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She added, “I brought you some chicken soup,” holding up the thermos. She unscrewed the lid, ready to serve me the soup.
I doubted her intentions and didn’t believe she was there out of genuine concern.
When I pushed her away with force, I aggravated my wounds, causing pain to surge through my body.
In the next moment, the hot chicken soup from the thermos spilled all over my body and hands.
I instinctively screamed in response.
Eva shrank back as if she were scared.
“I’m sorry, Lilianna. It was because you kept grabbing and pushing that I lost my hold on the chicken soup. Please don’t hit me, Lilianna. I’m begging you,” she pleaded, suddenly dropping to her knees.
If it had been chicken soup brought from home, it wouldn’t have been so hot.
The only explanation was that she had purposely brought it to burn me.
I was in too much pain to muster the strength to confront her.
I glared at Jacob, full of resentment. “Call the doctor!” I demanded.
Jacob stood up right away, but instead of summoning the doctor, he lifted Eva into his arms.
“Don’t be scared, Ms. Eva. Stand up quickly. She won’t dare to hit you. With me here, no one will dare to bully you.”
I watched the scene unfold in disbelief.
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In the past, despite Jacob’s fondness for Eva, he had always respected boundaries around me.
But now, my hands were blistering, and my entire body was wracked with pain.
Yet, there he was, softly murmuring reassurances to Eva, telling her not to worry.
I grabbed the empty thermos and hurled it at the pair, who were holding each other tightly on the floor.
“Get out, both of you!” I shouted.
The thermos struck Jacob’s back.
He turned and locked eyes with me, a deadly glare in his stare.
In the next moment, he lifted Eva in his arms and carried her away.
I watched as they vanished from the ward’s doorway.
Then I called John.
“If those 50% shares aren’t transferred to my name by today, just prepare for your beloved illegitimate daughter to marry that frail, dying man from the Hachett family.”
“No, Lilianna. I’ll transfer them immediately!”
I ended the call and started searching online for details about the Hachett family.
Both the Caide and Hachett families belong to Boston’s elite society, but the Caide family is relatively insignificant compared to the influential Hachett family.
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It’s rumored that the Hachett family has ties to both legal and illegal spheres.
Although they are part of Boston’s social circle, most Hachett family members have been living abroad for many years.
Long ago, a casual comment by the ancestors of both families led to a baby betrothal between their children.
The daughter of the Caide family was destined to marry the Hachett family’s second son.
To John, aligning with the powerful Hachett family an enticing prospect, so he had decided early on that Eva would the one to marry into the Hachett family.
In recent years, word spread that the health of the second son of the Hachett family was declining.
Initially, people didn’t pay much attention, but after several emergency nighttime interventions, it became clear that Ronald Hachett, the
second son, was nearing death.
When John heard, he couldn’t bring himself to let Eva marry into the Hachett family only to become a widow.
So, he turned his attention to me, and it happened that I had my own reasons to agree.
Two hours later, John called me.
“Lilianna, the Hachett family has scheduled your wedding. Their private plane will pick you up tomorrow,” he said, his voice steady and without hesitation.
I listened quietly and responded, “Okay.”
