Chapter 6

Arvan nodded stiffly.

I handed Kirana to a trusted assistant, then walked ahead of Arvan out of the ballroom.

I didn't care about people's stares.

I only cared about one thing.

Arvan had just shattered our daughter's heart. And I wouldn't stay silent.

I led Arvan to a quiet hotel corridor.

My hands trembled holding back anger that had reached its peak.

"Do you know what you just did?" I asked in a low voice full of emotion. "You just shattered your own daughter's heart!"

Arvan stared at me sharply.

"I regret agreeing to your condition," he said in a cold tone. "It only caused problems. I should never have agreed to be Kirana's father."

I was stunned. "Kirana is your child. How can you call her a problem?"

"She is a problem!" Arvan looked at me with burning eyes. "And all of this happened because of you! I have to pretend to care, pretend to be a good father, while every time I see her, I only remember how you trapped me!"

Every word from Arvan stabbed my heart like a knife.

"She's your biological child, Arvan," I said in a trembling voice. "Your blood flows in her body. Why are you angry just because I asked you to defend her? Kirana did nothing wrong!"

"I never wanted her!" Arvan shouted loudly.

I fell silent. The world seemed to stop spinning.

Arvan continued in a lower voice but no less cruel. "I never wanted that child. I never wanted this marriage. This is all a mistake. A big mistake that should never have happened."

My tears flowed beyond my control.

"Kirana didn't ask to be born," I whispered. "She didn't ask to have a father who hates her."

"Then you shouldn't have given birth to her," Arvan said coldly. "You shouldn't have forced me to marry you. That night should never have happened."

"I didn't force you!" I screamed in frustration. "I've told you countless times, I didn't plan anything!"

"Lies!" Arvan stepped closer. "All women like you are the same. Using pregnancy to trap rich men. And now you're using that child to tie me down longer!"

I wanted to argue. Wanted to shout that he was wrong.

But then I heard a small voice from behind us.

"Dad... doesn't love Kirana?"

My blood froze.

I turned quickly and saw Kirana standing several meters behind us.

Her face was pale. Her eyes were red and swollen. Her body was trembling.

Arvan also froze. His face immediately went deathly pale.

"Kirana..." he whispered.

"Dad said he doesn't want Kirana?" Kirana's voice grew smaller. "Dad never wanted Kirana?"

"Sweetheart, listen to Mommy..." I stepped toward her.

But Kirana backed away. She shook her head with tears flowing heavily.

"Kirana heard everything," she said in a broken voice. "Dad hates Kirana. Dad said Kirana shouldn't have been born."

"Kirana, wait!" Arvan finally moved.

But it was too late.

Kirana turned and ran.

I immediately chased her. "Kirana! Sweetheart, wait!"

Kirana ran fast despite her short legs. She ran out of the corridor, crossing the hotel parking lot.

I ran with all my strength, but my dress and heels slowed me down.

"Kirana!" I screamed in panic.

Kirana suddenly stopped in the middle of the parking lot. Her body swayed.

"Sweetheart?" I ran faster.

Kirana turned to look at me with a very pale face. Her lips were turning blue.

"Mommy... Kirana feels dizzy..."

Then she fell.

"KIRANA!" I screamed and ran, catching her body before it hit the asphalt.

My little daughter's body went limp in my embrace. Her eyes closed.

"Kirana, wake up sweetheart. Wake up!" I patted her cheeks gently but she didn't respond.

Arvan ran toward us. His face panicked.

"What happened?"

"She fainted! We need to get to the hospital now!" I looked at him with teary eyes.

Arvan didn't waste time. He immediately lifted Kirana from my embrace and ran to his car.

I followed running, removing my heels so I could move faster.

Arvan laid Kirana in the back seat. I got in and held my little daughter, checking her pulse.

Weak. Too weak.

"Hurry!" I shouted at Arvan.

The car sped out of the hotel parking lot.

I kept stroking Kirana's hair, whispering soothing words even though she was unconscious.

"Hold on sweetheart. Mommy's here. Everything will be okay."

We were in the middle of the road when Arvan's phone rang.

Lara's name appeared on the dashboard screen.

Arvan glanced at the screen, then glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

"Arvan!" Lara's voice sounded panicked from the speaker. "Rio fainted! He has a high fever and is unconscious. I'm scared, please come!"

I stared at Arvan through the rearview mirror in disbelief.

"Arvan, Kirana is in critical condition!" I said loudly.

But Arvan had already stopped the car at the side of the road.

"Lara, I'll come there," he said into the phone.

"ARVAN!" I screamed.

He hung up the phone and turned to look at me.

"Rio is also sick. I have to see him."

"Your real child is dying here!" My tears flowed heavily. "Kirana needs you!"

"Rio also needs me," Arvan said stubbornly.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Arvan opened my car door. "Get out. I have to go to Lara's."

"Are you crazy?" I stared at him with eyes full of hatred. "Kirana is almost dead!"

"Get out, Reyna!" Arvan shouted.

I hugged Kirana tighter. "No."

Arvan pulled my arm roughly, forcing me out.

"Let go!" I tried to fight but he was stronger.

Finally I fell on the side of the road with Kirana in my embrace.

Arvan returned to his car without looking back.

I screamed desperately. "Arvan! Don't leave us!"

But the car was already driving away, leaving us on the dark roadside.

I looked at Kirana lying limp in my embrace. Her face was getting paler.

"Dad..." she whispered in a very weak voice, almost inaudible.

Then she completely lost consciousness.

"Kirana! Sweetheart, wake up!" I gently shook her body but there was no response.

Panic overwhelmed me. I checked her pulse again.

Barely detectable.

"No, no, no!" I laid Kirana on the asphalt and started performing CPR like I had once learned.

My hands trembled as I pressed her small chest. One, two, three, four, five.

I gave rescue breaths.

"Please wake up, sweetheart. I'm begging you. Don't leave me."

I continued the compressions. My tears dripped onto Kirana's face.

The street was deserted. No cars passed by.

I screamed for help but no one heard.

I continued performing CPR desperately. My hands were tired but I couldn't stop.

"Hold on, Kirana. Please hold on."

My tears flowed heavily. Desperation grew seeing no one coming. But I didn't give up. I kept providing aid. I didn't want to lose my daughter.

Suddenly blinding lights illuminated us.

A luxury car stopped right beside us.

The door opened and a well-dressed man got out quickly.

He knelt beside me, looking at Kirana with sharp, professional eyes.

"Give me the child," he said in a firm but calm voice.

The man carefully lifted Kirana from my embrace.

"Follow me. Now."