Chapter 3

Bellatrix set down the phone. She didn’t want this marriage at all anymore. She was certain Regina would be more than happy to see it end. Regina was the illegitimate daughter of her father had after a drunken mistake. When Bellatrix angrily confronted her father about it, her mother stood up and accepted Regina. Her kind-hearted mother believed that a child was innocent. She taught Bellatrix that resentment would never lead to happiness. Even when Regina always stole her toys, her mother still urged her to forgive. On the day her mother died unexpectedly, Regina didn’t even attend the funeral. Yet Bellatrix held on to her mother’s words—do not resent Regina. Even when Cillian suddenly declared Regina to be the love of his life, Bellatrix never outwardly showed her heartbreak. But now, Regina returned, acting like their whole family had wronged her—again. And once more, Cillian didn’t think—he just sided with her. Bellatrix refused to bow to Cillian’s authority. Her father could never bear the news that she was dying. Her phone remained silent, with no reply from Regina. She was too exhausted. She wanted to rest—when suddenly, it rang. It was Elise, the senior housekeeper of the Lancaster estate—someone who had long been like family to them. “Miss Lancaster!” Elise shouted, her voice frantic. Bellatrix frowned. “What’s wrong, Aunt Elise?” “It’s your father, young miss,” Elise began, growing more anxious with every word. “He collapsed suddenly in the early hours this morning.” For a moment, it felt like her heart stopped. The pain in her chest surged again. A wave of fury overtook her—Cillian. He really did it. She had to go home. She had to see her father. “Lancaster Tower,” she told the cab driver as she got in. As the car moved, her thoughts drifted back to her father. After her mother’s death, he had been the only family she had left. Elise and the family doctor were already waiting for her when she arrived. She ran straight to them. “Dr. Horan, how is my father?” she asked urgently. “Master Lancaster suffered a heart attack this morning, but thankfully, it wasn’t severe. We managed to stabilize him and prevent further damage,” Dr. Horan said. Bellatrix breathed a momentary sigh of relief—until he continued. “But,” he said. “But?” Her heart tightened again. “We ran some additional tests,” he explained. “I discovered plaque buildup in his arteries. If he’s subjected to any more stress, it could trigger a stroke.” Her eyes widened. “Is there any way to stop it?” Dr. Horan shook his head and gently patted her shoulder. “The only thing I can recommend now is rest. He must remain calm and avoid further agitation. Beyond that... we can only hope for the best.” “I understand,” Bellatrix murmured. If her father knew about her condition, it would only make things worse. Dr. Horan nodded with sympathy. “If you need anything, call me immediately.” With that, he left. Bellatrix didn’t hesitate—she rushed upstairs and entered her father’s room. Everything inside looked just as she remembered. But Joe Lancaster no longer looked like the energetic man he had always been. His face was pale, and he lay weakly in bed, staring out the window. “Dad.” He turned to her and smiled faintly. “Bella,” he said. “You’re here.” Her chest tightened. Her eyes stung. She slowly approached the bed. Seeing him so fragile and weak broke her heart. All these years, she had focused only on Cillian, playing the obedient housewife, desperately trying to win his affection—while neglecting the only family she had left. Now, looking at her father like this, the guilt consumed her. “Dad, what happened? Why... why are you like this?” she knelt beside him and held his hand. Before he could respond, Elise entered the room. He gave her a subtle shake of his head, but Bellatrix reached out and grabbed Elise’s hand, commanding, “Tell me the truth, Aunt Elise. If you really care about my father’s health.” Elise sighed. “Your father’s company has been facing financial issues recently. Almost all investors have pulled out. The board is in chaos—they don’t know what to do. The final straw was yesterday. One of the biggest investors called and announced he’s withdrawing. His exit would cause Lancaster Group to go bankrupt. That’s when your father collapsed.” Bellatrix’s fury surged again. It had to be Cillian. And then—another wave of shame crashed over her. Cillian had treated her father so cruelly, and yet she had still loved him. She clenched her jaw. How foolish she had been. “I’m sorry, Dad,” she whispered. He looked at her with a soft smile. “Don’t apologize. This is all my fault. I didn’t make the right decisions. Don’t worry... I’ll—” He started coughing violently before he could finish. “Dad!” Bellatrix’s eyes widened in alarm. Fear and panic gripped her chest. “Please, lie back. Don’t push yourself. It’ll be okay. Everything will be fine.” She gently helped him recline. A few seconds later, Elise returned with a glass of water and handed it to him. He took a sip. Gradually, his breathing calmed, the color returned to his face, and the tension in his hands eased. “I’m sorry, Bella,” he said weakly. “Don’t be, Dad. Just rest now,” she whispered, watching as he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep. Her phone buzzed. A message from Regina. She opened it—it was an address. “Cillian is with me. I know you’re looking for him.” Regina’s follow-up text came seconds later. Bellatrix walked out of the estate without hesitation and got into a car. But the moment she arrived at the address Regina had sent, she heard the intimate voices of a man and a woman outside the door.