Chapter 6

Miranda stayed in the hospital for nearly ten days, and Dorian hadn't visited once. Her phone, which had always been buzzing with messages, was now eerily silent. On the other hand, Joanna sent her messages from time to time. "Mrs. Cannon, I heard tomorrow is your wedding anniversary with Dorian—is that true? Sorry, Dorian insisted on taking me to Hoburgh to pick out jewelry, so he won't be able to make it home and celebrate with you." "This 'Eternal Love' sapphire is beautiful, isn't it? Dorian got it for me. Don't be mad, he got you one, too, just a bit smaller." "I only kissed him once, and he couldn't wait to get back to the hotel. Was he always this passionate? I can hardly keep up." The next video that popped up had a thumbnail so shocking that Miranda, who had already decided not to be provoked, couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of pain. She deleted the video instantly and was about to block Joanna when a new message popped up. "I've been looking into some overseas investment projects recently. Dorian suggested your family invest, so I guess I should thank you in advance." Miranda sat upright, alarmed. She screamed inwardly, "No! This can't happen." Before becoming vice CEO, Joanna had been just a regular clerk. She could never handle high-risk overseas investment projects. If she tried, she would drive the Doyle family into bankruptcy. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get through to Albion, so she called her mother, Vanessa Foster, instead. Vanessa laughed softly. "Your father went to sign a contract… You're our only child. Supporting Dorian isn't the right thing to do? "Don't refuse. Anyway, our family's fortune will come to you sooner or later." Albion and Vanessa had always spoiled her, but hearing those words made her heart ache as if it were on fire. For her sake, they had left Truestin, where they had spent most of their lives. Over the years, they had gradually invested heavily in the Cannon Group. All of this was done to ensure she could hold her head high within the Cannon family. If the Doyle family went bankrupt, Miranda would never forgive herself. Unable to reach Albion, she forced herself out of bed despite the pain and headed to the Cannon Group building. But when she reached the lobby, the receptionist stopped her at the entrance. "Ms. Goodwin said no unauthorized visitors are allowed inside." The receptionist, who had been very friendly to her just two weeks ago, now looked at her with nothing but contempt and mockery. Miranda was incredulous. "I'm not an unauthorized visitor! My husband is in the CEO's office! Call Dorian down!" "Mr. Cannon has to follow Ms. Goodwin's instructions. This is in company policy, everyone knows it." The receptionist sneered. "You should just go home and take care of the baby." Frustrated and humiliated, Miranda stood in the lobby and called Dorian 33 times, but he didn't answer any of them. She pleaded with his assistant, driver, and secretary, yet no one would help her up to the CEO's office. The evening banquet and public apology had already stripped her of any standing in Cannon Group. In the end, she still couldn't stop Albion from signing the contract. Then she saw Joanna step out of the elevator, holding the contract, walking side by side with Dorian, and shot her a victorious smile. "Mrs. Cannon, this isn't a place for you." Dorian frowned when he saw her. "Joanna's right. You should stay home and rest." He didn't even realize that Miranda hadn't been discharged from the hospital yet. Albion looked at her, puzzled. "Randa, you've lost so much weight. Did you argue with Dorian?" Faced with Albion's concern, Miranda felt a lump in her throat and choked back her sobs, unable to speak. Albion had a heart condition, and she didn't want to worry him. At this point, she couldn't tell him the truth and could only reassure him and see him safely back home. Afterwards, she pleaded with Dorian, her voice trembling. "For the sake of our three years of marriage, can you handle this project yourself? Don't let my family go bankrupt. I'm begging you!" But her plea was met only with Dorian's dissatisfied sigh. "You're being petty again. Losing money isn't the end of the world—we can make it back. What matters most is that Joanna actually learns something." Upon hearing this, Joanna smiled sweetly. "Dorian, you're so good to me." As Dorian turned away, Joanna whispered to Miranda, "Don't worry, I'll throw all your family's money into high-risk projects and go big. Maybe your father will make a fortune… only to die before he gets to enjoy a single penny." "Joanna! You're doing this on purpose!" Miranda finally snapped, lunging to grab the contract from her hands. In the struggle, the two of them tumbled over the railing on the third floor, nearly falling. In that critical moment, Miranda saw Dorian's face flash with panic as he ran toward them. "Dorian, save me!" she shouted, reaching out with all her strength. But Dorian glanced at her, hesitated only a few seconds, and then ignored her hand, rushing straight to Joanna. Once again, he abandoned her at the brink of life and death. That realization extinguished the light in Miranda's eyes completely. She could no longer hold on and fell from the third floor, her right leg snapping loudly and twisting into a grotesque angle. Old injuries were aggravated, and with the new ones, Miranda passed out once again.