Chapter 3

After leaving the banquet hall, I made up my mind. This time, I would make sure both my child and I survived.

I didn't return to my apartment downtown. Instead, I headed straight for the airport.

In my previous life, staying in this city drove me to the brink. This time, I would leave before they could harm my child. They were ruthless, and I no longer had any ties holding me back.

But I had underestimated Luke.

The moment he realized I was missing, he had my bank account frozen. My phone was tracked, and even the flight I had booked in advance was canceled.

I was like a caged bird, unable to escape.

In the end, I had no choice but to hide away in a small rental house in the suburbs. The landlady saw my pregnant belly and took pity on me, charging me only half the rent. But I knew this peace wouldn't last.

Sure enough, Luke showed up at my door two days later.

"Whitney, what are you doing here?" he asked, standing at the doorway with a gentle expression. His perfectly tailored suit was completely out of place in this run-down neighborhood.

I looked at him coldly. "What is it, Mr. Stratton?"

"What are you talking about, Whitney? We've all been so worried about you."

Sorrow flickered in his eyes. "I want to take you back home. Let's live together as a family again."

My heart skipped a beat.

A family? Could it be that, given a second chance at life, my compliance finally meant something to them?

But just as I wavered, his next words plunged me into an abyss.

"Actually…" A faint trace of unease crossed his face. "We need you to help Yvonne. She found an old remedy. Combined with the blood of a premature baby, it could cure her illness."

My whole body trembled as memories of my past life came flooding back—the blinding lights of the operating room, the stench of disinfectant, the urgent shouts of the doctors, and then… total darkness.

"Get out!" I screamed, shoving him away. "Don't you dare lay a hand on my child!"

Why did I even have any expectations for them? How ridiculous.

"What's wrong with you?" Luke frowned. "It's just delivering the baby a little early and taking some blood. It won't harm the child at all. Why are you being so selfish?"

"Selfish?" I barked out a laugh as tears streamed down my cheeks. "Luke, this is your child too! How could you—"

Before I could finish, Mom and Dad suddenly dashed up the stairs.

"Whitney!" Mom threw herself at my legs, sobbing. "Please, save Yvonne! She's your sister!"

I shook her off harshly. "My sister? When have you ever treated me like a daughter?"

"Why, you!" Dad's blood boiled. "At least we took you back and gave you a comfortable life. How can you be so heartless?"

"I'm not the heartless one. It's you two!" I screamed, my heart shattering into a million pieces.

I had stayed out of their lives, letting them live happily as a family. Why did they still have to push me to the edge and demand my child's life?

"Whitney…" Yvonne slowly emerged from the stairs. "I'm sorry… It's all my fault for falling ill…"

Her pallor was ghastly, and she shook like a leaf in the wind, as if she could collapse at any moment. The sight of her made Mom and Dad feel bad for her. They rushed over to support her.

"Don't say that!" Mom hugged her, tears spilling down her face as she shot me a vicious glare. "It's all because we brought this wretch back. She made you sick! She has money now, but it's still not enough for her. She even stole what was yours! She's the one who ruined you, so it's only right for her to pay you back with her life."

I sneered. These were my biological parents. They called me a wretch, looked down on me, cursed me, and wished for my death.

And yet… what had I done wrong? Compared to me, weren't they the ones who were more despicable?

"Alright, Whitney. Stop making a scene," Luke said, grabbing my hand.