Chapter 4
Iliana let out a delighted squeal and hooked her arm around Alison's wrist. "This is great. With Alison here to keep me company, I don't have to put up with you every single day, you annoying guy."
She sent Harrison out, and as soon as it was the two of them, her expression changed completely.
She folded her arms and let out a cold laugh. "I checked you out, Alison. Thirty-two, lost your parents in an earthquake."
She sneered, "You are an orphan who nobody ever loved, huh? No wonder the second someone throws you a bone, you come crawling over like some pathetic mutt, wagging your tail and begging for scraps.
"Would your parents be proud of how low you've sunk?"
Iliana's gaze dropped to Alison's flat belly, her tone getting nastier. "Luckily, your baby didn't make it. If it had, it'd be another mistress. Like mother, like daughter. She'd grow up as shameless as you, out there seducing men."
Alison finally snapped. She swung her hand and landed a stinging slap right across Iliana's face.
A bright red mark appeared on Iliana's cheek, but she smirked.
Then, covering her face, she ran out, crying, "Harrison! Did I do something wrong? Why did Alison hit me?"
Harrison immediately rushed forward, gently held her face, and then shot Alison an irritated glance. "Alison, that was too much."
Alison stepped out of the bedroom, her eyes red and puffy.
She'd endured seven years of swallowing her pride for love, and everyone seemed to forget she was stubborn to the core. She'd rather shatter than bend.
Locking eyes with Iliana's defiant stare, Alison raised her hand again.
But Harrison seized her wrist in a grip so strong that it felt like he might snap it. "Alison, how long are you going to make a scene?"
Alison's tears streamed down her face, and the memory of Harrison reaching out to her during the earthquake kept flashing through her mind.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here," he'd said. "I'll protect you for the rest of my life."
But that promise was only real for that brief moment when he said it.
She yanked her hand free from Harrison's grip.
In the chaos, Iliana lost her footing, grabbed Alison in panic, and the two went tumbling down the stairs together.
Alison's lower back slammed into the sharp edge of the stairs, sending a jolt of pain straight to her brain.
When she snapped back to reality, she realized she couldn't move.
"Harrison," she called out, her voice trembling with pain. "I can't get up. It hurts so much."
But all she got in response was the sight of Harrison rushing off, cradling Iliana in his arms, his back to her as he hurried away.
The love Alison once held for Harrison flickered out, leaving nothing behind but cold ashes scattered across her heart.
Right now, Alison thought, 'I guess I don't love Harrison anymore. Not at all.'
Everything went dark, and Alison passed out.
When she opened her eyes again, she was still lying on the cold floor, blood spreading out in a large pool, staining her white loungewear red.
Alison clenched her teeth through the pain in her lower back and picked up her phone. The screen was shattered, and the social media app was still on.
In the family group chat, Stella was flooding the chat with over 99 photos. [My daughter-in-law gave birth. It's a boy. The Potter family finally has an heir.]
Harrison didn't reply, but for the first time, he made a post on his social media.
The photo showed Harrison and Iliana's hands joined together, holding the baby's tiny hand.
The caption read: [That's all I ever wanted.]
Alison saw it and quietly gave it a like. Her heart was done with Harrison for good.
She called an ambulance herself and was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night.
The doctor's eyes widened in shock when he saw her injuries. "Why did you wait so long to get help? Where is your family?"
Alison's voice was hoarse. "I don't have any family."
The doctor paused. "Your lower back is injured, so you can't do any heavy lifting from now on. You need to take it easy for a while. Don't catch a cold, and don't get hurt again, or you'll really suffer when you're older."
Strangers cared more about her than Harrison ever did.
Alison's eyes were dry, and she gave a nod in response. "From now on, I'll love myself."
After her surgery, Alison lay in the hospital room, quietly counting down the days until she could finally leave.
Suddenly, the hospital room door was kicked open. Harrison stormed in, his eyes blazing red, and gripped her wrist hard. "Alison, where did you hide the baby?"
"What? What baby?" Alison asked, genuinely confused.
She had just signed her company's transfer confirmation. For three days, Harrison had completely ignored her, but today he suddenly burst in, grilling her out of nowhere.
"Stop pretending," Harrison snapped.
Harrison, captain of the rescue team, always kept his cool. But for the first time, he totally lost it in front of Alison.
His eyes were bloodshot, his voice rough and hoarse. "Iliana saw you take the baby with her own eyes. When did you become so cruel? Why get a baby involved in our drama?"
He took a deep breath. "If you're jealous that Iliana is a mom now, we can have a kid too. Tell me where the baby is before things blow up, and I won't blame you for taking the baby."
Alison was taken aback. "So, in your eyes, I'm someone so despicable?"
Harrison, blinded by rage, grabbed Alison's hand and shoved her into the bathroom.
Ice-cold water blasted from the showerhead, soaking Alison, who was barely recovered from her illness.
The cold seeped into her bones, making her teeth chatter uncontrollably.
"I'm making you snap out of it." Harrison gritted his teeth. "Tell me, where's the baby?"
Nobody could defend themselves against something they never did.