Chapter 4

I turned around and saw Charlotte standing not far away, holding a little girl's hand.

Dwight was standing next to me, a hint of anger flashing on his face.

It was the first time I'd seen Charlotte in three years.

Hatred flooded my chest, and my fingers wouldn't stop trembling.

I looked at Dwight and Edward, playing dumb, though I already knew the truth. "What the hell is going on here?"

Edward couldn't meet my eyes, saying nothing.

Then I turned to Charlotte and demanded coldly, "Weren't you supposed to be dead?"

Charlotte's eyes immediately filled with tears. "Lydia, I swear I almost died.

"Back then, I was such a fool. I've spent all these years regretting everything I did."

She put on an act, pretending to be all apologetic and humble, but I could spot the satisfaction lurking in her eyes.

Dwight finally couldn't take it anymore and cut in.

"Lydia, we only found Charlotte a few days ago," he explained. "We didn't tell you because we were worried about your surgery.

"But Charlotte's carried this guilt for three years. She insisted on coming to see you."

Edward crouched down, trying to soothe me with a gentle voice.

"Lydia, your surgery is the most important thing right now," he said softly. "Let's talk about everything else after you're out, okay?"

They were both jumping through hoops to protect Charlotte, desperate to keep me in the dark.

The sarcasm burned inside me, but I kept my mouth shut.

For now, I had to play along.

I stared hard at Edward and said coldly, "When I'm out of surgery, you'd better explain who this kid is to me."

Edward's face was rigid as he nodded.

Just then, a nurse came over to say it was time to prepare for surgery.

Then the nurse took my wheelchair.

After she'd wheeled me right up to the operating room doors, Charlotte jogged over.

"Lydia, I still have something to say to you," she whispered.

With her back to Dwight and Edward, her face twisted. She said, "You know what? You're really pathetic.

"Edward and I already have a daughter. Dad only pretends to care about you because of that inheritance your short-lived mom left behind. Pretty soon, our family will finally be official.

"And as for you... If I could screw you over once, I can damn well do it again.

"Who knows what could happen on that operating table? Maybe you won't make it out alive, Lydia. Guess that's just your bad luck."

Charlotte leaned in, whispering vicious words right into my ear.

I let out a cold laugh, then raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

With everything finally coming to a head, I didn't have to hold back anymore. "Charlotte, you're such a bitch," I spat.

With that, I was wheeled into the operating room, her hateful glare burning into my back.

Dwight and Edward stood at a distance, unable to catch what Charlotte and I had actually said.

The only thing they noticed was me slapping her across the face.

They hurried over to comfort Charlotte, swearing they'd teach me a lesson as soon as I got out.

*****

Time ticked by, every second feeling endless, until the lights outside the operating room finally went out.

The surgeon, Ian Lemmon, came out in a hurry, his expression tense and sorrowful.

"She had a bad allergic reaction to the meds," he said, his voice heavy. "We couldn't save her. She's gone."

Dwight's face went pale as a ghost instantly.

Edward looked shocked and gloomy.

Sure, they were after the inheritance my mom left me, but they never wanted me dead.

Dwight lunged forward, grabbing Ian by the collar.

He asked, "What do you mean? How could this happen?

"My daughter was fine when she went in. How could she die like this?"

Ian wore a surgical mask and thick black glasses. There was no way to tell what he really looked like.

To them, he was just that shady doctor they'd hired.

But Ian was in on all their twisted schemes, and right now, he was playing his part in my little show.

Ian frowned, stepped back, and pretended to look puzzled. "Weren't you the ones who asked me to keep her paralyzed? Seems like you couldn't stand her anyway.

"Now she's had a fatal allergic reaction on the operating table, you won't need to look after her anymore. So why act so concerned now?"

Dwight just stood there, stunned, muttering to himself, "I only wanted her to stay paralyzed. I never meant for her to die."

But even so, deep inside, sadness welled up in Dwight's heart. He really did love me, once upon a time.

But after Maureen died, that love faded away, and Charlotte ended up taking most of the space in his heart.

Edward, his face filled with grief, grasped Dwight's hand and slowly pried it off Ian's collar.

Choking up, Edward said, "Dwight, don't take it too hard. Honestly, maybe this is Lydia's way of finding peace.

"She's already spent three years paralyzed. If that was going to be the rest of her life, maybe she should end her life, instead of staying trapped forever."