Chapter 3 Determination

The mention of that bastard child filled Zacharias with contempt. He wanted Yvonne dead more than ever. Back then, Yvonne and another man spent a night in a hotel, humiliating him and his family.

She even got pregnant from the affair and gave birth to the child before she was imprisoned.

Yvonne looked at Zacharias in despair. He became so strange that she felt he was not the man she knew. "The child is innocent."

"Is it? Lara was innocent when your mother switched you two out and made her live a life of a peasant!" Melissa screeched, and she slapped Yvonne again. If it weren't for George, she wouldn't stop until she had had her fill.

Yvonne hung her head low again, her ears ringing, and her cheeks were swollen. She let Melissa do as she pleased. After all, the family did raise her for two decades and more. She should repay them.

She took a deep breath and looked at Zacharias, her eyes red. Weakly, but also with resolve, she said, "I'll do it…" She would do anything as long as her child was spared.

"You're despicable to the bone." Zacharias felt his heart squeeze when he saw how humble Yvonne had become, but he didn't show her mercy. "Drag her to do a checkup and let the doctor handle this. Make sure she signs the papers."

"Don't touch me!" Yvonne's voice was trembling, but there was no cowardice or plea in it. She slowly stood up. Yvonne was harried, but she looked at George with determination. "You know full well about my condition. Once I donate my kidney, we're even. Just let me go."

She was born with a heart condition and a frail body. Giving birth five years ago almost killed her. The Starrs knew that, and yet they demanded her to donate her kidney. They clearly wanted to kill her.

George frowned, and something in him stirred. After all, he did raise Yvonne for more than two decades, and she had always been an obedient girl.

Melissa, however, wasn't going to let her go. "You're going to pay even in death!"

"Enough." George sighed. "Give your kidney, and that'll be enough. The years in prison should have punished you for your crimes. Lead an upright life, and we won't come after you again."

Yvonne smiled, her arms limp. 'Lead an upright life?' she mused in sorrow. 'With how I'm doing, I won't come out of the surgery alive.'

"You think a kidney's enough to cover for your sins? You stole 21 years of Lara's life, and now she's dying!" Zacharias wasn't pleased even after all that. It almost felt like he wouldn't stop until he had pulverized Yvonne.

Yvonne wondered, 'All the people who loved me now take Lara's side. Isn't that enough? How much more do they want from me? What wrong did I ever do?'

"Zacharias," Yvonne said weakly and laughed all of a sudden. "If you hate me so much, you can crush my body after I'm dead." Even her lips were pale, making her look extremely sorry. "Just don't touch my child."

Cruelty flared in Zacharias' eyes. He thought, 'Even now, she's protecting that bastard?'

"You think we won't?" Chester answered while giving Yvonne a look of mockery. "You're evil to the core, just like your wench of a mother. That bastard should be damned. It's nothing but an embarrassment."

Yvonne said nothing, but then everything turned dark. She fell before she could even leave the ward. Before she lost consciousness, she thought she heard someone call her "Von."

'Zacharias?' she wondered. 'How ironic.'

"Ignore her. She's just acting. No wonder she agreed to the terms. Prison has taught her nothing!" Chester fumed. He went into the bathroom and filled a basin with cold water to splash Yvonne awake.

Yvonne wanted to open her eyes, but she had no strength. She knew why Chester was so agitated. He didn't want Zacharias to know she had a congenital heart condition, and the kidney donation would kill her.

"Chester!" Zacharias grabbed Chester's hand before he could splash water on Yvonne. "That's enough."

"What? You pity her?" Chester shot Zacharias a look of mockery. "Don't forget, you're Lara's fiance. She only got into a car crash because of you."

Zacharias paused for a moment, and he slowly let go of Chester's wrist.

The water eventually fell onto Yvonne's face.