6
Thinking of my plan, I turned and followed Rodney into H50
When I woke again, my gaze met the stark white ceiling above me. Ignoring the weakness that still clung to my limbs, I tried to push myself upright.”
But before I could, a long and strong hand reached out from beside me and pressed me firmly back down.”
It was Rodney. The faint crescent–shaped bite mark I’d left earlier was still etched into his wrist.”
His brows furrowed as he forced me back against the pillow, and then he reached for a glass of juice.
“Drink some juice first,” he said.”
I pushed his hand aside without a second thought, my voice urgent. “Where’s my daughter? Where is she?!“”
He answered as though I hadn’t even asked. “Not a fan of cranberry? I’ll have someone bring another.“>
My patience snapped. I knocked the glass from his hand, sending the dark red liquid splattering across the floor.
“You murderer!” I screamed. “Where is my daughter?!“}
His expression darkened instantly. Rage flashed in his eyes as he slammed a fist into the wall./
“Daughter, daughter–she’s all you ever think about! Let me tell you–because of you, Harper was frightened and lost so much blood she’s on the verge of collapse! Until you make amends, I will never let you see that bastard again!”
My heart twisted like a blade was buried inside.
“She’s not a bastard,” I rasped, my throat raw. “She’s your child!“}
But Rodney’s gaze was as cold as iron, unmoved by my pain.}
T
“That brat is in the emergency room right now,” he said flatly. “If you don’t apologize to Harper, I’ll order the doctors to stop trying to save her.”
The words knocked the air out of me. I slumped back onto the bed, my voice trembling.”
“Fine… I’ll apologize to her.“\
For a moment, his expression faltered–surprise flickering in his eyes–but just as quickly it was gone, replaced by that familiar, impenetrable mask.[
In silence, I let him drag me toward Harper’s hospital room.
We hadn’t even stepped inside when chaos erupted from within. Rodney’s assistant burst out, panic written across his face.”
“Sir, the doctor says Ms. Driscoll has lost too much blood–she needs an immediate transfusion!“}
Rodney froze, then whipped around as if a thought had just struck him. Without warning, he yanked me into the room.
“Doctor! Use her blood!”
The doctor frowned, glancing from me to my hospital gown. His eyes
widened.”
“Sir, that patient is already anemic. Drawing her blood could put her in serious danger. We can easily request compatible blood from the bank-”
Rodney’s voice cut like ice.
“I’m not asking for your opinion. Just do as I say.“”
Under his unyielding demand, the thick needle pierced my arm.”
I shut my eyes tight, forcing myself to endure the dizziness. I only wanted this over with. The sooner it was done, the sooner I could see my daughter.
Rodney reached as if to smooth the deep furrow in my brow, but I turned my head sharply away.”
“Freya,” he murmured, voice low and falsely gentle, “I know you’re in pain, but this is you paying for what you’ve done. Bear with it. It will be over soon.“”
I didn’t so much as glance at him.
When it was finally over, my body gave out. I collapsed weakly onto the floor.”
As he moved toward the ward door, ready to rush to Harper, I forced my voice out, hoarse and faint.
“Now… can I see my daughter?“W
Even then, seeing me like this, he only scowled.
“You care so much for that brat,” he said coldly, “but you still haven’t apologized to Harper. Until you do, you won’t see Farrah.“”
I no longer had the strength–or the will–to remind him that my daughter was his own flesh and blood.
Four more days–just four more days, and I could take her away for good.
When that day came, Rodney would never again be her father!”
6:11 AM
Freya’s POV
arper’s hospital room.”
On the bed, Harper had rosy cheeks and no trace of the blood loss she’d supposedly suffered.”
She curled her arm around Rodney’s hand and smiled sweetly at me. “Freya, I really must thank you for giving me your blood. If it weren’t for you, I might not have been able to keep the baby. If that had happened, I would have let Rodney down.”?
Expressionless, I lowered my head and gave her a curt apology.
Her eyes glimmered with a fleeting triumph before she softened her gaze, looking at me with a mock pity.
“Your daughter’s dead now, yet you were still willing to give me blood. You really are… such a good person.“”
Her words froze me in place. My eyes widened in disbelief. “What nonsense are you talking about? Didn’t Rodney say my daughter was still in the ER?!”
She feigned surprise, covering her mouth delicately.”
“Oh? Rodney, you didn’t tell her?” She gave me an apologetic look, though her voice carried a cruel lilt. “I’m so sorry… but your daughter really is dead. They’ve already sent her body to the morgue.”
She shot me a deliberately provoking glance.
My mind went white. Without another thought, I lunged forward and clamped my hands around her throat.
Her face instantly twisted in fear.
In the next moment, Rodney yanked me backward and hurled me across the room.”
My head slammed hard against the corner of the wall, and in an instant, blood trickled down my face.”
But the pain barely registered. I staggered to my feet and rushed at her again, desperate for her to explain herself clearly.” Rodney pinned me down with a grip like iron, his expression glacial. “How dare you lay a hand on Harper in front of me!” “I’ve already apologized to her!” My voice cracked with fury. “I just want to see my daughter!”
“You killed my son, and now you want to kill my daughter?” My throat burned as I shouted at them both. “I swear, Rodney, you and Harper will get what you deserve!”
Something flickered in his eyes–panic–but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by a deep frown and cold contempt.”
“You really have gone mad. You were the one who lost our son. And your daughter’s fine–Harper was only teasing you. Can’t you be reasonable for once?”
I wanted to scream until my voice tore apart. I wanted to destroy the two of them standing before me.”
But then, a thick needle jabbed into the back of my neck.”
edle ja
The strength drained from my body, and I collapsed to the floor,”
When I opened my eyes again, Rodney was sitting by the bed. My voice came out hoarse, barely more than a whisper.” “Rodney… I’ll give you and Harper my blessing–if you give me back my daughter.“\
He stiffened at my
words.[
After a long moment, he spoke, his voice heavy. “Farrah… She didn’t make it. The resuscitation failed. She’s… gone.“! My eyes slowly widened as his words sank in.
A laugh burst from me, sharp and hollow, filling the hospital room with its echo. It was laughter steeped in pain.
Tears streamed freely down my face as I looked at him, my gaze brimming with hatred.
“I don’t believe my daughter is dead! Bring her back to me, Rodney! Or I swear, I won’t spare Harper or that bastard child of hers!”
His expression hardened. “What do you think you’re going to do to them? You already kidnapped Harper, and the two you gave birth to are the real bastards! They’re innocent!“\
I no longer argued with him over the children’s parentage. My voice was low, cold, and unshakable.
“She’s not innocent! If she is truly dead… I will make sure they are buried with her!“}
Rodney’s chest rose and fell sharply, his eyes widening in disbelief as if he couldn’t fathom I would say such a thing.
At that moment, Harper strode in from the doorway and, without warning, she slapped me hard across the face.
