Chapter 5

Catherine was pushed aside, and Elizabeth collapsed into a warm embrace. A tense yet familiar voice rang beside her ear. “Liz, are you okay? Hang in there, I'm getting a doctor!” Elizabeth could barely pry her eyes open. The world around her was a blur, but she managed to make out the face in front of her—Michael. She tried to ask him why he was there, but the moment she parted her lips, a harsh coughing fit took over, wracking her chest like it might tear her apart. Michael's hands were shaking as he scooped her up and rushed toward the emergency room. Watching the two disappear down the hallway, Catherine's eyes flashed with fury. She pulled out her phone and called William. By the time William arrived, Elizabeth was already being treated in the ER. “How is she?” he asked Catherine as soon as he saw her. “You've got the nerve to ask?” Michael grabbed William by the collar and landed a hard punch that sent William stumbling. “Are you trying to drive her to her death, William?” Catherine quickly stepped in, trying to pull Michael back as she shouted, “Michael, stop it! If you and Liz hadn't done what you did, would William have lost control and hurt the baby?! She was finally starting to calm down, then you show up and push her into such a state she needs an ambulance! What more do you want?” “What are you talking about?” Michael froze. “What do you mean ‘what we did'? William, you killed her baby?!” Wiping the blood from his lip and straightening up, William gave a cold laugh before throwing a punch of his own. “Of course—you're the father of that bastard in her belly, aren't you? I treated you like a brother, and this is how you thank me? Rushing over the moment she collapses just so you can cry together?” “Are you out of your mind? Liz loves you like crazy, and you seriously think she'd cheat on you?” Michael looked at him, stunned, then turned to glare at Catherine. “She's the one who pushed Liz too far. She wanted her dead!” “I didn't say any of that,” Catherine replied pitifully. “There's already proof of what's been going on between you two. What more lies are you planning to tell William?” Thinking of those photos and that report, William's expression turned ice-cold. The rage in him exploded all at once. “Perfect. Let's settle everything—past and present.”The two of them ended up in a scuffle, only breaking apart when the ER doors swung open again. William barked an order at the bodyguards, “Get him out of here!” Michael struggled as they dragged him away, shouting, “You're a jerk, William! One day, I'm gonna take her away from you!” “In your dreams!” William kicked him hard, eyes blazing. “I'm never letting her go!” His words made Catherine freeze for a second. When she looked up again, William was already walking up to the doctor at the ER entrance. “Mr. Turner, your wife has a chronic stomach ulcer. The emotional outburst led to significant blood flow and serious congestion, causing the bleeding. It's not life-threatening, but she needs rest and emotional stability. Also, she might have mild depression. If it worsens, it could lead to suicidal tendencies. You should watch out.” Stomach ulcer? Depression? William's expression flickered slightly, hard to read. After the doctor left, Catherine jumped in instantly. “William, maybe... maybe you should just let Elizabeth and Michael be together? The doctor said her emotional state—” “No way!” William's face turned dark in a flash, a cold sneer tugging at his lips. “Let them be together? Over my dead body. Elizabeth is never leaving me! Mary, once she wakes up, take her back to the villa. No one sees her without my say-so!” When Elizabeth came around, she found herself locked inside the villa—for over a month. Aside from Mary and a live-in doctor, there was no one. William never showed up. Phone? Internet? All cut off. She felt like she was losing it. The nightmares wouldn't stop. Each time she closed her eyes, images of blood haunted her—the cries of the baby she'd lost echoed in her mind, calling out to her. “William!” She jolted awake from yet another nightmare, curling up tight, hating herself for still calling out his name even in sleep. “Where is he? I want to see him…” Why didn't he believe her? Why did he think she cheated? Why didn't he want their child? Why did he say it wasn't his… Her depression turned darker. She became almost manic. After getting shut down yet again, Elizabeth gave a bitter laugh and quietly walked into the bathroom. By the time Mary sensed something was wrong and rushed in, Elizabeth was already unconscious. Crimson blood from her wrist spread vividly across the white tiles.