Chapter 4

"Rosalind, she's the mother who raised you. What did you do to her?" I demanded.

Rosalind watched me fall apart and smiled with satisfaction. "I told her everything. I told her I'm pregnant with Nicky's child and told her the truth about Sally's death.

"I also told her that Nicky didn't miss Sally's burial because he couldn't bear the pain of losing his daughter. He missed it because he was with me, looking for comfort.

"She couldn't take it. She had a heart attack right there on the spot."

I stared at her, unable to believe what I was hearing. "Why? My mother was so good to you. Wasn't destroying my family enough? Why couldn't you leave my mother out of this?"

I no longer cared what Nicholas had done. All I could think about was how unfairly my mother had been treated.

My furious accusations only made Rosalind bolder. "Good to me? She knew perfectly well that I had feelings for Nicky, yet she still pushed me into blind dates.

"If she really cared about me, she should have convinced you to divorce him instead of using my own good as an excuse to keep me away from Nicky.

"After she learned the truth, she even hit me. Aren't the two of you, mother and daughter, just full of yourselves?

"Today, I'm going to watch you kneel and beg me like a dog."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly threw herself against the wall.

The next second, Nicholas pushed open the door and walked in. The first thing he saw was Rosalind sitting on the floor, clutching her bleeding forehead as she trembled.

He shoved me hard to the side. Panic and heartache filled his eyes as he pulled Rosalind into his arms. "Stephanie, have you lost your mind? How could you go after Rosie like that?"

My lower back slammed into the corner of the table, and the pain made my vision go black for a moment.

But I had no time to think about the pain. I hurried to explain. "Nicholas, she did that to herself. I never touched her. My mother's condition is critical. She's the one stopping me from leaving. I'll explain everything when I get back."

I tried to push past him toward the door, but he grabbed my wrist and yanked me back.

He glared at me with rage in his eyes and unleashed a torrent of curses. "How much longer are you going to keep losing your mind?

"You dare hurt her right in front of me. If I weren't around, you'd never pass up a chance to hurt her.

"Besides, I'm the one who hired your mother's caregiver. If there were really an emergency, she'd call me first."

Worry for my mother consumed me, and I had no strength left to argue with him. "Nicholas, just trust me this once. Let me go see my mother."

I remembered that Rosalind wanted me to kneel and beg her. I did not dare waste another second.

I dropped heavily to my knees in front of her and pleaded, "Rosie, I was wrong. My mother raised you for 20 years. Please let me go see her."

Nicholas froze. Something like worry flickered in his eyes as he looked at me.

Just as he was about to move, Rosalind put on an innocent expression. Her eyes were rimmed with red. "Stephie, Nicky said Mom is doing just fine. How could you curse her like that?

"You hurt me, and now you're kneeling in front of me on purpose. Are you having another episode?

"Nicky, maybe we should find Stephie a different doctor."

Nicholas's face darkened at once, and his voice turned cold and merciless. "Stephanie, if you keep putting on this act, even if you have a child of your own, I won't let you raise it."

Then he took Rosalind's hand and led her out. "Let me put some medicine on that cut."

A metallic taste filled my mouth. I reached for him, but he shook me off.

"Nicholas, I'm not acting. If you don't let me see my mother now, it'll really be too late."

But he kept walking without hesitation. He did not look back at me even once.

Just then, the phone in my pocket began buzzing frantically.

"Ma'am, we couldn't save her. She has passed away."

Blood rushed to my head, and my mind went blank.

By the time I came back to my senses, I had already caught up to the two of them.

Only one thought echoed through my mind. I had nothing left. They owed my daughter and my mother their lives.

"Rosie, watch out!"

I lunged at Rosalind, who was closest to me, but before I could reach her, Nicholas kicked me hard and sent me flying backward. He put his full strength behind the kick, and it struck me squarely in the stomach.

"It hurts!"

A sharp, twisting pain tore through my lower abdomen. A sudden rush of warmth poured down my leg.

Before I lost consciousness, I forced my eyes open.

Nicholas held me with one arm. His other hand was covered in blood, and his eyes were filled with terror and panic.