Chapter 3

Hearing my cries, the old housekeeper opened the door for me. I seized the chance and rushed straight to the hospital.

The moment I reached the front desk to inquire, the nurse spoke anxiously, "We haven't been able to reach you. The patient only has one last breath left."

At her words, tears spilled from my eyes. I followed her toward the ICU.

As we passed a consultation room, a doctor said impatiently, "If you'd come any later, the wound would've healed on its own."

At that moment, Michael spotted me and stepped into my path.

"Who gave you the nerve to sneak out?"

As if he'd found an outlet for his anger, he grabbed my wrist tightly, refusing to let me go.

Nancy, who was following behind him, immediately spoke up, "Venus, you even followed us to the hospital? What are you trying to do?"

My mother was still waiting for me—I couldn't waste time here.

"Let go. I need to see my mother."

A mocking smile appeared on Michael's face. "Your mother's been lying there for years. What's there to see?"

Seeing the devastation on my face, a flicker of pity crossed his eyes.

"Venus, apologize to Nancy, and we'll let this go."

Before I could respond, Nancy clung tightly to his arm, casting him a resentful glance.

"Michael, she clearly hasn't learned her lesson. It's fine if I suffer a little, but now, she's even ignoring you. People will start talking."

At that, Michael let out a cold laugh. "So unrepentant? I'll teach you some manners."

He signaled for the bodyguards to drag me back to the villa.

I refused, struggling violently. In the chaos, my nails scratched the back of his hand.

Michael immediately kicked me away. His eyes were filled with disgust as he shouted, "Doctor! Hurry and give me a prophylactic injection!"

After ordering the bodyguards to restrain me, he called over several nurses. "Give this madwoman a few doses of anesthetic."

The injections went in one after another. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and the world around me began to blur.

Tears slid silently down my face.

To give Michael a child, to prevent viral infection, I had endured 999 experimental injections and swallowed thousands of secret pills. By now, I was no longer contagious.

All this time… he had only felt disgust and fear toward me.

The voices around me faded. My restrained hands lost all strength, and darkness slowly swallowed me whole.

…

A sudden chill hit me.

I woke with a gasp after being splashed with cold water, only to find myself back at the villa.

Nancy stood before me, an empty basin in her hand, a cold smile on her lips.

"I gave you a chance. Who told you to be so ungrateful?"

Ignoring the dizziness in my head and the suffocating pain in my ribs, I demanded, "What happened to my mother?"

Nancy glanced at me, leaning lazily against the doorframe, her tone casual.

"That old hag? She's dead."

Then she added, "Since things have come this far, I might as well tell you—last night, I was the one who ordered the housekeeper not to contact the hospital."

A vicious gleam flared in her eyes.

"The title of Mrs. Dalio can only belong to me."

She clapped her hands, summoning the bodyguards.

"Take some private photos of her. Make sure she's naked."

As the men closed in, I stumbled backward, my breathing turning ragged.

Rough hands tore at my clothes. My pale skin was grabbed and bruised, blooming with dark, ugly marks.

I kicked and struggled with all my strength, but they forced me into a corner.

There was nowhere left to run.

My hand brushed against the edge of the window. Tears surged uncontrollably.

With every ounce of strength I had left, I climbed over the ledge—and jumped.

Michael… in this life or the next, I will never see you again.

…

Back at the company, an inexplicable restlessness gnawed at Michael.

He stared at the scratch on the back of his hand and muttered, "Venus… why are you always so disobedient?"

His gaze fell on the photo of him and Venus on the desk, and his heart softened slightly.

Forget it. He could teach her properly later.

That kick earlier… he'd acted too quickly and hadn't held back. He wondered if she was in pain.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

His expression eased, a faint smile touching his lips. "Has Venus admitted her mistake?"

"Mr. Dalio… Madam… she jumped off the building."