Chapter 3

The thought of how much pain she had endured because of us made my throat lock up.

Tears streamed down my face in hot, helpless waves.

When David finally realized Emily still wasn't moving and a nurse had run out to call a doctor, even he looked startled.

He said, "Emily, did you lose your voice? Say something. Apologize."

He hesitated, stepping closer.

Maybe Emily sensed how desperate I felt.

Even unconscious, she whispered one word, "Mom..."

The moment her voice slipped out, I felt myself pulled straight back into my body.

And the moment David heard Emily's voice, his concern twisted into rage.

He whipped out his phone, started recording, and shouted at me, "Sophia! This is what your daughter learned from you?

"I'm done. I don't want this ungrateful kid. Come pick her up and take her home before she embarrasses me again."

He nudged Emily with his shoe.

At that exact second, the doctor arrived and barked at him, "Are you blind? Your daughter is critically injured. Don't touch her again. You don't deserve to be her father."

Before David could argue, more nurses rushed in.

They had just checked the security footage. They kicked open the door of the abandoned storage room next door.

One nurse urged, "Bring a stretcher! We have two critical patients who need surgery immediately."

David wanted to shoot back, but when he turned his head, he froze.

In all the chaos, he saw them wheel out a blood-soaked Emily and my own barely-breathing body on another stretcher.

He went pale, like someone had struck him with a bolt of lightning. He didn't move. Just stood there, hollowed out, as the truth hit him all at once.

The doctor rushed down the hallway with a face full of urgency.

David finally snapped out of his shock and stumbled after him.

He asked, "Doctor, are you working with Sophia to put on some kind of show? Emily's fine, right?"

His voice trembled as he reached out with an unsteady hand.

But when the nurse rolled Emily onto her back and David saw her bruised, swollen face and the blood still seeping from the cuts, cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

He let out a strangled scream. "Emily! Sweetheart, don't scare Daddy like this."

His panic only earned him a disgusted glare from the nurse.

One nurse sneered, "Now you're worried? Where was all this when she was being attacked?"

They shoved him aside to make space, and he staggered back—just far enough to see me being brought out as well, pale and barely breathing.

David flinched.

He said, "Honey, did you do all this just to get me to come home? You paid the doctors and nurses, didn't you? Tell me..."

I still didn't have the strength to get up and defend Emily myself.

But the shock of it all jolted me so hard that it pulled my mind back into my body. I could finally force my eyes open.

Staring at David's stunned, unbelieving face, I grit my teeth and rasped out, "David, you let that woman beat Emily like this. What kind of father are you?"

The fury and the terror of losing my child pushed me back into myself.

I dug my nails into my palm, using the pain to stay conscious.

For Emily, I had to survive. For Emily, I had to fight.

And for both of us, I would take back everything that was stolen.

But David only shook his head as if refusing to hear me. "That's impossible. Vanessa would never do something like this.

"Emily acted out because of you. She attacked Vanessa like a wild animal, and Vanessa pushed her by accident."

I choked on my own rage, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Even then, even half-conscious, I forced my arm up and pointed at Vanessa, whose face had gone ghostly pale.

I spat, "I know you locked me in that room. You vile woman. I swear I'm not letting you walk away from this."

Back when I got those photos and messages she sent to break me, I was so hopeless I thought dying would be the only way out. And in that moment, all I could think was: You two were trash. Even if I died, I'd come back just to haunt you.

But now, I didn't think that way anymore.

After seeing everything Emily had suffered because of me, all I felt was how weak and foolish I used to be.

If I really died today, who would protect my sweet Emily?

She would've been left at the mercy of that woman.

Those two could've walked away with everything they wanted without paying any price for it.

Emily pulled me back from the edge with her love.

So I would not let them win. I would not die.