Chapter 6

My mind went blank. All I could hear was a ringing in my ears.

The Black Centurion Card dropped from my hand onto the carpet, so quietly it barely made a sound.

"Mom..." I whispered, my voice trembling.

Charles was the first to react.

He rushed over and grabbed my shoulders, steadying me as I started to tremble.

He looked right into my eyes, worry etched across his face. "Anna, what's wrong?"

My tears burst out uncontrollably, streaming down my face as I completely lost it.

"My mom... My mom, she's not going to make it..." I choked out, my voice barely holding together.

My words trembled so much that it was almost impossible to understand me.

"Easy now!" Charles said, his voice cutting through the chaos.

His words were like an anchor, steady and unshakeable, keeping everyone grounded.

He ordered, "Edward, get the hospital director on the line, now!

"Victoria, prep the car!"

The Wellingtons acted with terrifying efficiency.

I had not even had time to process what I had heard.

Before I knew it, Charles was carrying me, shoving me into another car that tore out of the driveway at full speed.

The car was speeding down the road, barely slowing for anything.

Outside, the city blurred past, buildings and lights streaking by in a dizzying rush.

A sharp twist clenched in my chest.

The pain was so sharp, I could barely breathe.

I always thought I had more time.

Once I had money, I could buy Mom the best medicine, and hire the best doctors.

I could save her.

I could finally give her the good life she deserved.

But I never even got the chance to tell her the truth.

I wanted to tell her she wasn't some mistress, and she was the real lady of the Wellington family.

I wanted to tell her that her daughter would become the Wellington family's princess.

No one would ever dare to bully us again.

Why... Why couldn't I even have just a little more time with her?

Victoria sat next to me, wrapping her arms around me in a fierce, protective hug.

She didn't say a word.

Victoria just held me close, letting her warmth speak for her, silently comforting me.

Up front, Edward was on the phone, making call after call, his voice sharp and urgent.

He ordered sharply, "This is Edward.

"Get the best specialists in the hospital together for an emergency consult, right now!

"If anything happens to the patient, your hospital can forget about staying open!"

Edward's voice lost all its usual gentleness. Now it was pure authority, sharp and commanding, and nobody dared to argue with him.

The car screeched to a halt outside the hospital, barely slowing down as we arrived.

At the entrance, the hospital director was already waiting, surrounded by a group of senior doctors, all of them looking anxious and on edge.

As soon as they spotted our car, they rushed over to greet us.

"Mr. Charles Wellington, Mr. Edward Wellington, Ms. Victoria Wellington," the hospital director greeted, his voice trembling with respect.

His forehead was slick with cold sweat.

Charles didn't even spare the hospital director a glance.

I demanded, my voice trembling, "Where's my mom?"

The director stammered, "She's... She's in the emergency room."

All of us raced toward the emergency room, barely slowing down as we sprinted through the hospital corridors.

The hallway was thick with despair, the air so heavy it felt like we could choke on it.

The emergency room's red light blazed, harsh and unforgiving.

It resembled a bloodshot eye, locked onto me, leaving me no way to look away.

I slumped onto the bench in the hallway, barely able to hold myself up.

It felt like every ounce of strength had been sucked out of me.

Time crawled by, each second dragging on endlessly.

Every moment felt like a whole century, so slow it was torture.

I had no idea how long I'd sat there, lost in the haze of waiting.

The doors to the emergency room finally swung open.

A doctor stepped out, pulling off his mask.

His face was etched with exhaustion and regret.

He looked at us and slowly shook his head.

He said, "I'm sorry.

"We... We did everything we could."

It felt like my whole world was falling apart.

Everything went black, and then I didn't know anything anymore as I lost consciousness.

*****

When I finally came to, I realized I was lying in a room I'd never seen before.

It took me a second, but then I recognized it. It was my princess room in Wellington Manor.

There was an IV drip still attached to the back of my hand.

Victoria was sitting right by my bedside, keeping watch over me.

When she saw me open my eyes, her whole face lit up.

Victoria said, "Anna, you're awake?

"How are you feeling?"

I stared at the sparkling crystal chandelier above, lost in thought.

Tears rolled down silently, leaving wet tracks on my face.

I whispered, "Where's my mom?"

My voice came out rough and dry, barely audible.

Victoria's eyes were rimmed with tears.

She reached out and took my hand, holding it tight.

Victoria whispered, "Helen... She's gone.

"She passed away peacefully.

"We laid her to rest beside Dad.

"They... They can finally be together now."

I closed my eyes.

It felt like a huge emptiness had opened up inside me.

My mom was strict, serious, and rarely smiled, but spent her whole life protecting me.

She was gone forever.

Now, I was truly an orphan.

"Anna, don't be afraid," Victoria said softly, her voice gentle and reassuring.

Victoria leaned in and gently brushed the tears from my cheeks.

"You still have us," she murmured, warmth in her voice.

"We're your family now," she added, giving my hand a comforting squeeze.

I opened my eyes and looked at Victoria.

She was right.

I still had them.

I still had my brothers and my sister.

I could not fall apart now.

Mom gave everything, her whole life, to bring me back to the Wellington family.

I couldn't let her down.

I had to keep living.

And not just survive, I had to live an incredible life.

I swore to make every single person who ever looked down on my mom and me pay for it.

My gaze sharpened, bit by bit, as determination replaced the emptiness.

Sadness faded, replaced by a fierce, unwavering strength.

Victoria watched the determination return to my eyes and finally let out a relieved breath.

She knew I'd made it through the worst.

Victoria looked at me and said, "Anna, there's something I need to talk to you about."

Her face suddenly grew serious.

She said, "It's about Margaret and Emily."

"What happened to Margaret and Emily?" I asked, my voice cautious.

I looked at Victoria, searching her face for answers.

"They just won't give up," Victoria said, shaking her head.

Victoria snorted, her expression icy.

She said, "They've hired lawyers and are gearing up for a lawsuit.

"They're claiming Dad was mentally unfit when he signed the will, so it's not legally valid.

"Basically, they want to overturn the will and split the inheritance all over again."

I felt a surge of rage ignite inside me, my determination burning hotter than ever.

Those two really were shameless, and they just wouldn't quit.

"And that's not all," Victoria scoffed, her voice icy and dripping with sarcasm.

Victoria continued, her tone just as cold.

She said, her voice low and furious, "They went and spread the word about you being a love child to every reporter they could find.

"Now, news is everywhere. Turn on your phone. It's all anyone's talking about.

"They're making it out like Wellington Holdings suddenly has a gold-digging illegitimate child coming to snatch the inheritance.

"The company's stock price has already taken a hit."

They were not just out to ruin me. They wanted to take the whole Wellington family down with them.

"What else did they do?" I asked, my voice sharp and unforgiving.

Victoria looked at me, hesitation flickering in her eyes.

She said quietly, "They... Tracked down your school.

"And told your homeroom teacher and classmates all about your family background.

"Now, everyone at St. Edmund Academy knows."

My heart skipped a beat.

My school was my only sanctuary.

And they'd ruined that too.

I could already picture it.

Tomorrow, when I walked back into St. Edmund Academy, everyone would be staring at me.

I knew what they would whisper about me.

I would face disdain, mockery, isolation, and bullying.

Margaret and Emily played a very good game.

I sat up in bed, determination burning in my eyes.

I yanked the IV needle out of the back of my hand, ignoring the sting.

I called, my voice steady, "Victoria.

"Help me get ready.

"I'm going back to school tomorrow."