Chapter 7

A few days later was the Carter family dinner. Lila hadn't planned on going, but thinking about how long it had been since she last saw Franklin Carter, she finally changed into an evening gown and went. She was leaving soon. No matter what, she wanted to go say goodbye to Franklin. As soon as she arrived at the Carter residence, she saw Evan walking in, hand in hand with Chloe, under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Bringing his mistress to a family dinner—he was publicly embarrassing her. But Lila no longer felt hurt. She didn't care. Ignoring the whispers around her, she headed straight for Franklin's room. "Grandpa, Evan and I are getting divorced." She got straight to the point the moment she entered, telling Franklin she was leaving. Franklin sat up abruptly, grabbing her hand in alarm. "Lila, are you upset with Evan? Listen to me—he still has feelings for you. That mistress he's keeping… There must be some kind of misunderstanding." "Grandpa," Lila said, smiling bitterly. "Please don't try to talk me out of it. I've thought it through. After everything he's done to me recently, it doesn't matter how he feels about Chloe. There's no future between us." Hearing the pain and resolve in her voice, Franklin let out a long, heavy sigh. "Then it's his loss. But remember, Lila. Even if you're no longer my granddaughter-in-law, you'll always be the little girl I love most. As long as I'm alive, that mistress will never be welcome in this family." Lila's nose burned. In her previous life, Franklin had protected her the same way. "Grandpa, you should rest." She stood up. "I'll go get you a glass of warm milk." She stepped out and poured a glass. But just as she returned and was about to knock, she heard a dull thud from inside the room. "You old bastard!" Chloe's voice came through the slightly open door. "How dare you stand in the way of my marriage into the Carter family? I'll kill you!" Lila froze. Her blood ran cold. She shoved the door open and saw Chloe pressing a pillow hard against Franklin's face. His frail hands were weakly clutching the sheets, barely moving. "What are you doing?" Lila rushed forward and shoved Chloe aside. The pillow fell to the floor. Franklin's face had gone pale and blue. He was completely unconscious. "Help! Call an ambulance!" Lila's scream brought everyone running. Evan was the first to burst in. The moment he saw what had happened, his face turned ashen. "Grandpa!" He scooped Franklin into his arms and ran out. As he passed Lila, his eyes were as cold as ice. … The hospital corridor lights were harsh and sterile. The "In Surgery" indicator light outside the operating room stayed lit all night. Lila sat on a bench, hands trembling nonstop. Chloe curled up in Evan's arms, sniffling and sobbing, shooting Lila poisonous glances whenever she could. At dawn, the doctor finally came out. "Mr. Carter, Mr. Carter Senior suffered from prolonged oxygen deprivation. It's very likely he'll remain in a coma." Evan slammed his fist into the wall. Blood streamed from his knuckles. Inside the VIP room, he looked at both women with a dark expression. "What the hell happened?" he asked, voice low and tight. "It was her!" Chloe shrieked, pointing at Lila. "She tried to kill Mr. Carter Senior! When I walked in, she was holding a pillow over his face!" Lila stared at her in disbelief. "Say that again?" "I'll say it as many times as I need to!" Chloe sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "Evan, I was so scared. She almost killed me too." Evan's gaze grew colder until it pierced through Lila like an icy blade. "Lila," he said, his voice deadly quiet, "After everything Grandpa did for you, how could you do this?"