Chapter 4

Ember didn't say a word, but her hands quietly clenched into fists under the blanket.

Fortunately, Nathan wasn't expecting an answer from her. Instead, he started reprimanding her. "You must have gotten this weak because of all the overthinking you do. I've already asked the doctor to get you a full body checkup. When the results are out, you have to do something about that bad habit of throwing tantrums."

Ember still didn't say anything.

Nathan's expression froze for a moment.

He wondered, "Since when has Ember become this quiet around me?"

A strange feeling stirred inside him.

He was about to ask when his phone rang.

Bella's voice sounded through the phone. "Nathan, I think I have a fever…"

Bella had only said a few words, but Nathan's expression had already shifted. "Are you home? I'll go get you right away!"

With that, he grabbed his coat and was about to get up.

But then, when he saw the IV bag that was nearly empty and Ember's pale face, he frowned a little. "Bella is—"

"Go ahead." Ember's expression was calm. She had already painstakingly propped herself up and pressed the call button. "There are doctors and nurses here looking after me. Bella needs you more."

There was not a hint of her usual spoiled clinginess, or any insistence that he should stay with her at all times.

She didn't even lose her mind from jealousy as soon as she heard he was going to see Bella.

It was as if she didn't care at all.

As a result, all the annoyance and reprimand Nathan had prepared beforehand fell completely flat.

For the first time ever, he tried to explain. "Bella is all alone. She doesn't have any family here, so I can't leave her alone."

Bella didn't have any family, but neither did Ember.

Still, Ember didn't mention anything about that. She just nodded. "I know. Just go."

Nathan was going to say something when Bella's message came in.

He could only give Ember a long, heavy look. With a quick "I'll be right back," he strode out of the ward.

Soon, the nurse came in.

As she swapped out Ember's medicine, she complained, "We've already told your husband that you're in bad shape. The complications are severe, so you need someone with you at all times. When is he coming back?"

"He won't be coming back," Ember replied. "Also, he's not my husband. Could you please get me a caregiver?"

Usually, every time Bella summoned Nathan, he wouldn't be coming back any time soon.

But this time, Ember was wrong.

Nathan came back in no time, and he even kicked open the door of the ward in fury. "Ember, I never knew you'd be capable of this. I can't believe you'd be vicious enough to poison Bella's water!"

"What are you saying?" Ember was bewildered.

Nathan responded, "Bella only drank a cup of water in our house last night, and she's had signs of poisoning since this morning. Are you going to tell me that you didn't do it?"

"It wasn't me!" Ember had just gone through a wave of cancer pain. She was completely drained of strength, but still, she gritted her teeth and argued, "There are surveillance cameras in the living room and corridors of the villa. Just check the footage, and you'll know I didn't poison her!"

Faced with Ember's eyes that were reddening in anger, Nathan faltered for a second. "Is that true?"

Ember was about to argue her case when a small figure came into the room. Ian shouted at Ember, "Mommy is lying! I saw Mommy putting something in Bella's drink!"

The child's piercing voice made Ember's ears ring.

"Ian, what are you saying?" she asked.

She could clearly see a hint of panic flashing across Ian's eyes before he hid behind Nathan.

But when she was about to prod further, she found herself being violently dragged off the bed.

The IV tubes scattered on the floor. The startling bloodstains on the snow-white sheets looked like huge jaws that were threatening to swallow her whole.

"Still trying to fool me? No wonder you were so generous today. You're just feeling guilty! Ember, you're really something, aren't you?" Nathan was so furious that his voice was shaking. "Go and kneel in front of Bella's ward until she wakes up!"

"Daddy!" Ian suddenly gripped Nathan's sleeve with a look of panicked regret on his face. "Mommy is—"

Nathan seemed to have gotten the wrong idea. "Are you saying that since Bella was hurt so badly, this punishment is nowhere near enough for the culprit?"

Ember stared intently at Ian, the child she had cherished and protected for five years. However, at that moment, Ian didn't even dare glance at her. His voice was muffled, yet exceptionally clear. "Yes."

That single word had completely shattered Ember's heart.

She never knew that the child she had fought so hard to bring into the world would one day plunge a blade straight into the most vulnerable part of her heart without hesitation.