Chapter 4

Ethan was furious: "Heather had a miscarriage. Did you do it!"

Before I could answer, he angrily grabbed my throat: "Who else but you couldn't tolerate the child in her belly!"

I was confused: "Ethan, what are you talking about? I..."

He slapped me across the face.

Looking into each other's eyes, only shocking ferocity remained in Ethan's: "Heather is delicate. You must apologize to her in person!"

He turned to the bodyguards and commanded sharply: "Take Natalie to the hospital!"

Already weak, I couldn't resist the bodyguards' restraint.

By the time we reached the hospital, Heather was watching me with a victor's gaze: "Ethan, I lost my child. A simple apology won't make this go away!"

I forced myself to stand, the sharp pain in my abdomen making me stagger.

Ethan instinctively stepped forward: "Are you uncomfortable?"

Then, thinking better of it, he looked at me with disgust: "Trying to play weak to avoid punishment? Kneel and apologize to Heather!"

My heart turned completely cold: "I won't admit to something I didn't do!"

Heather's provocative expression intensified: "Fine, since Natalie won't apologize, let's have her mother from the nursing home kneel and beg for my forgiveness. Ethan, like mother like daughter! We need to solve this problem at its root!"

Hearing her threaten to use my mother to make me submit, I couldn't take it anymore and lunged forward to grab her throat: "She knows nothing about this. Don't drag my mother into this!"

The next second, Ethan violently pushed me away: "Have you lost your mind, Natalie? I told you to apologize to teach you a lesson, not to escalate your attacks on Heather!"

I crashed heavily onto the floor, every bone radiating dense pain.

"Go bring Natalie's mother here!"

My heart seized with panic.

Looking up, I saw Heather's increasingly smug expression.

My eyes reddened: "My mother is my only family. You can't touch her!"

To break free from restraint, I bit down on Heather's arm.

Ethan was livid and flung me three meters away: "Natalie, will you ever stop!"

I flew straight into the window, countless glass shards piercing my skin.

Ethan instinctively took a step forward, but Heather rushed over to help me first: "When that old hag arrives, guess how I'll torture her?"

My heart raced with panic: "My mom is old. She can't take any harm!"

In my panic, I grabbed a fruit knife nearby and rushed at Heather.

"Ah! Help!"

Unexpectedly, Ethan blocked the woman.

The bodyguards pinned me firmly to the ground.

"I've been more than generous with you. What has Heather ever done to you? Look at yourself—you're like a shrew!"

Ethan's eyes turned red with anger, pointing at my nose and roaring.

But all I could think about was my mother's uncertain fate.

I cried my heart out: "I'll apologize! Just don't touch my mother, and I'll kneel and apologize!"