Chapter 5

"Where's Sofia?!" I bolted upright in the hospital bed, my chest heaving.

The white ceiling spun above me, and the smell of disinfectant stung my nostrils.

Henson sat in a chair beside the bed, holding a small silver knife. He elegantly peeled an apple and said, "You're awake."

He did not even look up, his voice terrifyingly calm.

"I asked you where Sofia is!" I struggled to get out of bed, only to find my wrist connected to an IV line.

"She's safe." He finally looked up, those eyes that once captivated me suddenly cold as steel.

I stared at him hard, my heart racing. "What does that mean?"

He set down the knife and held out the peeled apple. "Eat something. You've been out for a whole day."

"I don't want it!" I knocked the apple from his hand, and it smashed on the floor. "Tell me where Sofia is!"

Henson's tone turned threatening instantly. "Aurelia, you'd better calm down."

"Calm down?" I nearly shouted. "You dropped Sofia from that height–"

He cut me off, his tone dismissive. "Don't worry about it. I told you, she's safe."

I froze, tears immediately flooding my eyes. "Really?"

"Of course." He picked up the knife again and started peeling a second apple.

"Then where is she now? I need to see her!"

The blade paused on the apple skin as he looked up at me. "You want to see her?"

"Yes!"

He replied casually, "Then you need to do something first. Angelina's in shock, and she's in the VIP ward right now."

My heart sank. "You want me to..."

"Go apologize to her," he said slowly. "Apologize sincerely for sending people to threaten her."

"I didn't threaten her!"

"Is that so?" He stood up, looking down at me. "Then explain why she said it was you."

I opened my mouth to argue, but I realized I had no way to prove my innocence. "Henson, I swear I didn't..."

He cut me off coldly, "I don't want to hear your excuses. I just want you to apologize. After you apologize, I'll let you see Sofia."

I gritted my teeth. I was willing to do anything for Sofia, so I said, "Fine. I'll go."

He nodded, satisfied. "Good. But before that, you need to do one more thing."

A sense of dread washed over me. "What is it?"

"Angelina needs a blood transfusion, and she has a rare blood type: O negative." He was not asking me; he was giving a command.

My eyes widened. "You want me to give her blood?"

He shrugged. "The doctor says her condition is critical."

"Henson, I just woke up! My body's still weak..."

His voice suddenly turned sharp, making me wince. "She's carrying my child! My heir! Do you want to watch them die?"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I told myself that for Sofia, I had to endure this. "Fine. I agree."

Half an hour later, I was wheeled into the blood draw room. The cold needle pierced my vein, and bright red blood flowed through the clear tube. I felt dizzy and gripped the sheets tightly.

The nurse glanced at my condition and said with some concern, "Sir, the patient doesn't look well..."

"Continue." Henson's voice left no room for argument.

I bit down hard, refusing to pass out. Sofia was still waiting for me, and I could not collapse.

Finally, they finished drawing the blood. I lay weakly on the bed as the whole world spun around me.

I used every bit of strength to ask, "Now… Can I see Sofia?"

Henson looked at my pale face, something flickering in his eyes before quickly disappearing. "You haven't apologized to Angelina yet."

I braced myself against the wall and stood up. My legs were weak, and I nearly failed. Even so, I said, "I'll go right now."

At the door of the VIP room, I stopped and took a deep breath. I asked weakly, "After I apologize, can I see Sofia?"

Henson looked coldly at my pale face. "You're awfully concerned about that runt. Just go apologize to Angelina first."

I no longer wanted to explain that Sofia was his biological daughter. In a few days, I would take Sofia and leave this place for good. By then, he would no longer be her father.