Chapter 4

Edgar had been quiet for a while. Finally, he said, "Let's get her to the hospital first. If something happens to her, we won't be able to explain it to the Wildes."

That was when Silas finally moved to help me up.

I could hardly stand in the elevator, so I leaned on him. But he pulled back, looking disgusted, and only steadied me with one hand.

As everyone was getting in the car, Lisette didn't hesitate to hop into the front seat. The sign that used to say "Princess Ceci's Seat" had somehow been changed to "Princess Lise's Seat."

I closed my eyes, and it started raining outside at some point.

We were getting close to the hospital when Lisette suddenly turned to Edgar, her eyes wide with panic. "Ed, I think I left my necklace at Cecilia's place! It was a birthday gift from my dad before he passed away. I need to get it back!"

Edgar immediately stiffened. "You left something that important? We've got to get it back."

"Then, what are we waiting for? Turn the car around!" Silas exclaimed.

The pain was so bad that my clothes were soaked in cold sweat. My survival instinct kicked in, and I pleaded with Edgar and Silas, "Can you take me to the hospital first?"

I had just finished talking when Silas snapped, "Here we go again! How long are you going to keep getting jealous? That necklace is her dad's last gift to her!"

Edgar frowned. "We're not saying we won't take you there. Let us find the necklace first, then we'll head over."

We were just a turn away from the hospital, and I was on the verge of passing out from the pain.

The memory of me barely holding on after the hypothermia on that mountain just a week ago came rushing back to me. I couldn't risk my life hoping they'd suddenly change their minds.

I gathered every bit of strength and said firmly, "It's just one intersection away. Drop me off at the curb. I'll walk from there."

Everyone in the car fell quiet for a moment.

Out of nowhere, Silas yanked the door open and pointed at the pouring rain. "You want to get out? Fine. Go now! Stop wasting our time!"

I was so furious. My blood was boiling, and I stubbornly dragged myself toward the door. I figured they wouldn't—at least, they shouldn't—actually throw me out of the car, especially with my heart condition.

But as soon as I hit the ground after falling out of the car, I heard the door slam shut behind me. When I looked up, the car was already speeding off, and neither Silas nor Edgar bothered to look back.

The two people who'd always been there for me were gone in the end.

When I finally came around, I was in the hospital. I probably wouldn't have made it if it weren't for a kind passerby who helped me out.

My foggy mind cleared the second I opened my eyes. The forever I used to believe in was just a fantasy. Since they'd already broken our promise to stick together for life, I didn't need to hold on to it anymore.

…

During the three days I was in the hospital, Silas and Edgar sent a ton of texts and made endless calls, but I ignored every single one.

The Internet was soon flooded with nasty rumors about my family—claims that we'd forced Lisette's father into brutal work that led to his death and that we never even apologized. They insisted we were the ones who made Lisette an orphan.

I calmly reached out to our family's legal team. "Find out who's behind these rumors and sue them into oblivion."

The day I got out of the hospital, I tossed my SIM card, got a new phone, and had the villa cleared out. I threw away every gift Silas and Edgar had ever given me.

I took off the handmade ring that symbolized our friendship, cashed out all my investments in their company, and got everything back.

After cutting all ties with them, I returned to our family's place and waited calmly for my wedding just a month away.