Chapter 4

Catherine was seething, her eyes bloodshot as she spun around the room, looking for tools. Finally, she grabbed a thick syringe, a pair of surgical scalpels, a hammer, and even a wrench. "I've got to teach you a lesson today," she snarled. "Let's see if you dare seduce Cillian again." Tania was so weak that she couldn't even get out of bed. Shocked, she shouted, "Catherine, are you insane? What are you doing?" She struggled to hit the call bell, hoping to bring in a nurse. But the nurse took one look at the scene and immediately backed away. "My family owns this hospital, and Cillian already warned them." Catherine cackled. "No one's going to save you." Ignoring Tania's screams, she stabbed the thick syringe into her arm until blood spilled everywhere. Then, she used the scalpel to hack her hair into a wild mess. Finally, she picked up the hammer and aimed at Tania's foot, bringing it down hard. A sharp pain tore through Tania, and a horrifying scream escaped her lips as her fingers almost ripped through the bedsheet. Despite being on the verge of passing out, she managed to call the police. However, she could only choke out a "Help me" before falling unconscious. … When Tania woke up, her wounds had been treated, and her right foot was in a cast. Beside her sat Cillian as usual, but he was scowling at her. "Tania, you've gone too far," he scolded. "How could you call the police? They took Cathy away for questioning because of you." His reprimand pierced right through Tania's chest like a blade. She let out a soft chuckle, her eyes brimming with tears. "Why, you ask? Because she was torturing me! You were the one who treated my wounds. Don't you know what she did? "I've been screaming in pain for half an hour. Your office is right across the hall, yet you just listened to her torture me." She thought her words would move Cillian, yet his response proved her wrong. "Cathy was just throwing a tantrum." He sighed, as if she was the one being unreasonable. "If you'd just let her blow off some steam, it would've been over soon enough. Did you really have to make such a fuss? "We're family, after all. Getting the police involved was completely out of line." Tania choked out one last sob before falling silent. She jerked her head aside, refusing to look at Cillian again. She felt like her chest had been hollowed out. What was even left to say? But Cillian didn't leave. Instead, he pulled out a reconciliation agreement. "Sign this, and I'll bring Cathy home today." So Catherine could come back and keep hurting her? Tania sneered. "I'm not signing anything. She attacked me on purpose. I want her license revoked, and I want her in prison." "Tania!" Cillian bellowed, his usual gentle demeanor disappearing. He sprang to his feet and roared, "Catherine's my sister. How dare you say something like that? How did you become someone like this? "I fell for you because you were gentle and kind. You couldn't even bear to hurt stray cats. But now, you've let me down." Cillian couldn't be bothered to continue the discussion anymore. Motioning for his bodyguards to come in, he ordered, "Hold her down and make her sign the agreement." With that, the guards stepped forward. One of them twisted Tania's hand and forced her to scrawl her signature across the paper with her broken hand. Then, under Cillian's orders, they hoisted her up and began slapping her across the face. They didn't stop until the 99th slap, and by then, her face was already swollen beyond recognition. The entire time this was happening, Cillian was standing by the side filming with his phone. When it was over, he wiped the blood from the corner of Tania's mouth. "Tania, this is for your own good," he said, the tenderness in his voice back again. "I'll show Cathy this video, so she'll accept it as your apology." Then, he rushed out without sparing her another glance. Blood seeped through Tania's fresh dressing. Her wrist was bent at a strange angle, and huge fingerprints marred her cheeks. This time, Cillian didn't treat her injuries. He had once promised to take care of her and to never leave her behind. He did neither of those. Tania's tolerance for physical pain was high, but the incessant throbbing in her chest just wouldn't stop. It felt like torture. She blankly stared into space and murmured, "Cillian… if I could go back in time, I would never have saved that cat." With that, she slipped into unconsciousness. … Half a day passed before a nurse finally dared enter Tania's ward and check on her—thus saving her life. After that, Tania spent three days in the ICU again, and when she was discharged, Catherine sent her a message. "Cillian's throwing me a grand birthday party. You're also invited. "You must come. I've prepared a surprise for you!"