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My younger brother from my maiden family called in a panic,
"Evelyn, the company is being audited by the IRS. The bank is calling back our loans too. What's going on?"
Alexander's doing.
He was forcing me to admit this was all an act, forcing me to apologize to Isabella.
I held Lily close. Her breathing grew weaker.
"Mommy… it hurts…"
"It's okay, sweetie. Mommy's here."
Night fell. The bodyguards' mocking voices continued.
"Madam's acting could win an Oscar."
"Yeah, still crying like it's real."
I closed my eyes, letting go of any last hope of getting help from others.
I could only rely on myself.
I took out a hairpin and started picking the lock.
My nails broke. Blood blurred my vision. I kept picking.
Lily's hand grew colder. She trembled in my arms.
"Mommy, am I going to die?"
"No, darling. Mommy will definitely save you."
I didn't know how long I picked, but finally, the lock loosened.
Just then, the iron door suddenly swung open.
Alexander stood there with Isabella. He glanced at Lily lying in a pool of blood, his brow furrowed.
Isabella dramatically covered her mouth,
"Oh my god! How did Lily get so hurt? Mommy, even if you want attention from Daddy, you can't do this to Lily!"
She turned to Alexander, her eyes welling with tears,
"Daddy, look! To get back at me, Mommy didn't even spare Lily!"
Alexander's face turned dark. He pointed at me and roared,
"Evelyn! You actually hurt her! Are you insane?!"
I held Lily, who was barely breathing, tears streaming down,
"Alexander! Look carefully! Your precious Isabella ordered these nails hammered in!"
"What? Dare you speak it again!" Alexander glared at me. "Stop talking nonsense! And stop pretending!"
"Take Lily to the hospital now. Those nails can't be real. Let's see what kind of show you can put on!"
He still didn't believe me. Or maybe he'd rather not believe.
Isabella pretended to mediate,
"Daddy, don't be angry. Mommy might have been too upset and did something stupid."
My daughter was dying, and they were still putting on a act.
This was the man I loved for over a decade. This was the girl I treated like my own daughter.
I stopped talking, just holding Lily tightly.
Lily was rushed to the hospital. Alexander followed closely.
His face was stern and cold as he barked at the doctors,
"Examine her thoroughly. Leave nothing out."
Watching him like that, despair washed over me.
He still doubted me.
Even with our daughter bloody and broken on the stretcher, he still thought this was a show I directed.
Half an hour later, the doctor came out of the examination room, his expression grim.
