Chapter 5
I didn't react. I only bent down, futilely trying to gather the scattered gems. My hand was cut, but I couldn't feel the pain.
Riccardo stared at me in shock, his outstretched hand frozen midair.
"Lia…"
Lina leaned over, feigning concern.
"Don't pick them up, Sis. I'll ask Mom to buy you a better one."
Instinctively, I shoved her away. She retaliated with a push. I slammed into the cabinet behind me. Pain radiated from my stomach.
She used the momentum to hurl herself into the champagne tower.
Crash!
She curled up amid the shattered glass, screaming, "Why did you push me, Lia?!"
"Lina!"
"Call the hospital!"
Riccardo and my father rushed to her side, shielding her from view. No one saw the blood seeping between my legs.
"Lia… you've disappointed me," Riccardo said, turning to me, exhaustion in his eyes. "Stay here and reflect. Think about how you'll apologize to Lina!"
They fled with her toward the hospital.
I trembled, dialing the family doctor. "Help… save my child… I'm bleeding."
"Miss Lia?" The voice hesitated. "The Don just instructed everyone to treat Miss Lina. Please wait…"
Wave after wave of pain hit me. I curled up on the carpet.
A few guests moved to check on me, but suddenly a group barged in.
"Make way! We're here to treat Miss Lia."
I exhaled in relief—until I saw the woman at the front, dressed in a white coat, smiling in a way that made my blood run cold.
"Miss Lia," she said, "Miss Lina specifically asked us to check on you."
Lina? No… this could only be bad.
I tried to struggle, but my body refused to obey. They dragged me to an unfamiliar room.
The woman in front smiled, speaking as if savoring it.
"No one here knows you're the heiress. Miss Lina instructed us… to make sure your child disappears from this world."
"No… what do you want? Money? Anything! I'll give you whatever you want!"
She scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. It's obvious neither Don wants you anymore. Where would you get the money? I suggest you lie still—less struggle means less pain."
"No… no…"
I thrashed, fumbling into my pocket and pressing the emergency number.
Riccardo answered, but Lina's tinkling laughter came through instead.
"What's wrong, Sis? Are you in trouble?"
Riccardo's voice came faintly from the distance, "You're too kind. This little princess has been spoiled by me long enough. It's time for a little… punishment."
The call was abruptly cut.
The fake doctors burst into laughter.
"Told you so! Didn't believe us, huh?"
"No one cares about you anymore, Lia!"
A heavy metal tray swung down toward me—
Bang!
The hand gripping it was blown off by a gunshot.
A deep, magnetic voice rang out above me, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
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