Chapter 6

I pressed one hand to my bleeding abdomen, the other to Jack's pounding chest. "Jack, your heart's racing. Are you worried about me?"

Jack froze at my question. Was he really worried about me?

For the first time, the fake gentleness vanished from Jack's face, replaced by a grim, hard expression. But a faint smile spread across my lips as I watched him.

"Our baby was a girl. She kept crying, saying she was scared, cold, and alone in the dark. Jack, I'm sorry. I failed to protect our little one. It's all my fault," I said.

I bowed my head as Jack wrapped his arms around me. I could feel his heart pounding beneath my palm.

My expression stayed icy, but a satisfied curve tugged at my lips.

It didn't matter if Jack was just acting and accidentally fell for me, or if he'd spun so many lies that he started believing them himself.

As long as he cared, I could pull him into the abyss with me when the time came.

"Jack, will you really marry me? Chloe said you've been lying to me, that you actually love her," I said.

Jack froze, his chest tightening with a strange mix of pain and longing.

He instinctively wanted to deny it, to insist Chloe was just like a sister to him.

But before he could speak, the hospital room door swung open. "Scarlett, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."

At the sound of Chloe's voice, Jack quickly let go of me, as if he didn't want to be seen holding me.

Without his support, I almost slipped off the bed. As soon as I steadied myself, Chloe rushed over and clutched my arm.

"Jack only locked you in the basement so I wouldn't be embarrassed at the funeral. Please, don't blame him," Chloe said.

"Let go," I snapped.

"No, Scarlett, I'm begging you. I'm sorry. If you don't forgive Jack, I'm not leaving," Chloe pleaded. Her sharp nails were digging into my skin.

I jerked my arm away in pain, but Chloe suddenly collapsed against me as if she'd been struck.

The impact slammed into my wound, and the agony hit me so hard I almost passed out. I was too weak to push her away.

But Chloe deliberately dug her hand into my abdomen and twisted, then suddenly wailed. "It hurts. My hand got cut by glass. Let go of me."

I was gasping for air, the pain making my whole body tremble, but before I could react, someone grabbed me and dragged me, flinging me to the floor with brutal force.

I could only clutch my wound desperately, blood pouring through my fingers. The pain was so intense it made my eyes sting and blur.

Forcing myself to lift my head, I saw Jack and Kevin, who had returned at some point, flanking Chloe on either side. Both of them looked tense and panicked.

"Why is there so much blood? Where does it hurt? Don't be scared, I'll take you to the doctor," Jack said.

I watched as Jack, as if he was devastated, pulled Chloe tightly into his arms and strode out of the room.

Kevin didn't even look at me, just followed closely behind Chloe, visibly anxious.

"Don't cry, Chloe. I am here," Kevin said gently.

I curled up on the floor, shaking like a discarded rag doll.

Only after they'd been gone for a while did I let my tears fall, whispering, "It hurts."

But all I got in return was the icy silence of the empty room.

As the dizziness from blood loss took over, I blacked out.

When I came to, two nurses were giving me an injection.

"That illegitimate daughter of the Sullivan family is really spoiled rotten. Just a tiny piece of glass, and the director himself was called in to treat her. If he'd come any later, the wound would've already healed," one nurse whispered.

"That's right. Seriously, look at this one instead. If I hadn't found her collapsed on the floor during my rounds, she could've died here, and no one would've noticed," the other nurse added.

My chest felt empty, like I was numb inside. I just stared at the ceiling in a daze.

It wasn't until the phone rang beside me that I answered it on autopilot.

Chloe said, "Scarlett, you're finally awake. I've got some great news. My mom's being buried in the Sullivan Memorial Park today.

"So what if your mom was born with a silver spoon? She died, and now my mom is your dad's wife. You and your mom are both trash."