Chapter 4

Samuel continued, "Alright, good girl.

"I'll take Eve to get her leg checked out, then I'll come back to see you."

With that, the two of them disappeared from the room. The smile disappeared from my face as I unfolded the paper, staring blankly at the words "Divorce Agreement."

Then I sent it to my lawyer.

Samuel brought Evelyn back to the country, acting like he just assumed I wouldn't mind her and her kid being around.

"Vivian, it's not safe for Evelyn to live alone, so I was thinking," he started.

I cut him off.

"Fine, I don't mind," I said.

He froze, the words caught in his throat. "You don't mind? Seriously?"

I nodded, but for some reason, that unsettled him.

"Alright," he said.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the sound of Evelyn and Samuel flirting and giggling in the living room.

Trying to ignore the stabbing pain in my stomach, I opened the door—just in time to see Evelyn throw herself at Samuel, and the two of them ended up sprawled together on the couch.

Evelyn shot me a smug, challenging look, while Samuel just froze, caught off guard.

For once, he actually tried to say something.

"Don't get the wrong idea," he said.

I almost laughed. Seriously? You two already have a kid together, and you want me to not get the wrong idea?

But I just gave a noncommittal hum.

Just then, my phone buzzed—it was an unknown number.

"Is this a family member of Richard Lane?" the voice on the other end asked.

My heart skipped a beat. "Yeah, that's me. What's up? Who are you?"

The voice on the other end was urgent. "This is Kingston General Hospital. Mr. Lane was in a car accident and is currently in emergency surgery. Please come to the hospital as soon as possible."

My mind went completely blank. I bolted out the door, moving almost on autopilot.

In my panic, I stumbled and crashed hard to the floor, completely humiliated.

But I couldn't waste a second. All I could think was: car accident, surgery, my only family fighting for his life...

I rushed to the emergency room doors. "Dad."

A nurse quickly blocked my way, her eyes full of sympathy. "Family members aren't allowed inside."

I stared at the operating room doors, tears streaming down my face. My heart felt like it was being twisted into knots, the pain so sharp I was shaking all over.

I cried out, my voice breaking, "No, Dad, please, don't leave me.

"Please, don't leave me. I'm begging you."

My dad's assistant stood nearby, blood all over him, panic in his eyes. "Miss Lane, it was a hit-and-run. The driver who crashed into the Chairman did it on purpose."

The operating room doors swung open.

They wheeled out someone under a white sheet. "I'm sorry, we did our best," the doctor said.

I dropped to the floor, completely losing it. My desperate, gut-wrenching cries filled the hallway.

"Dad." I screamed.

But there was no one left to come back to me. The man who promised to protect me forever was gone.

I spun around, fixing the assistant with a fierce glare. "Find out who did this. I want them to burn in hell for what they've done."

But just as the assistant was about to leave, Samuel rushed over and blocked his path.

"You're not going anywhere," Samuel said, his voice cold and unyielding.

I jerked my head up, staring at him in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

Then it hit me.

I whipped my bloodshot gaze to Evelyn, who was looking away, guilt written all over her face. My rage boiled over. I could barely contain myself.

"Was it you?." I shouted.

Samuel caught my wrist mid-air before I could strike.

He held me back, his brow furrowed in frustration.

"It wasn't Eve. It was her brother. He didn't do it on purpose. Vivian, just let it go, alright?" Samuel said.

My wrist throbbed, and I just stared at him, my gaze hollow, as if all life had drained away.

"Let it go? Samuel, that was my dad. He was the only family I had left." I shouted, my voice breaking.

He took a deep breath. "I'm your family now. And one day, even Eve's kid will call you 'Mom.'"

"Who cares? I don't need any of that." I snapped.

I threw him off, my eyes cold and empty. "Get lost. Go away."

Samuel pulled Evelyn close as they left, and as he passed by me, he gave me a ruthless warning.

"Just calm down. As long as I'm here, nobody gets to make Evelyn upset," he said, his tone cold and final.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to hold it together as I buried my father.

My lawyer had already gotten the divorce certificate.

"Miss Lane, shall we proceed?" he asked.

I gripped my phone tightly. "Yeah."

After hanging up, my eyes were bloodshot, and all that was left in them was coldness.

"Dad, rest assured. I won't leave in disgrace. I've got two big paybacks lined up for him," I muttered, my voice cold and determined.