In a hospital…
Yara was lying in the hospital bed, her eyes squeezed shut, an oxygen mask pumping air into her. Her face, swollen and distorted by bruises and lacerations, was nearly unrecognizable, and one of her arms was covered in plaster and bandages.
At her bedside, one might notice the faint quiver of her eyelashes or see her uninjured hand clutching the bedsheet with intense force.
She had been conscious for a while but was deliberately avoiding speaking to the police or anyone else.
Nate, in his cruelty, had not only assaulted her but had forced her to endure his men as well.
The past few days had unfolded like a relentless, nightmarish dream. In this nightmare, those men had subjected her to every form of brutality and humiliation imaginable. To survive, she had been forced to comply and placate them, enduring abuse and degradation before all.
They had beaten and tormented her without mercy.
Her life felt shattered. She believed that not only Elijah, but no ordinary family would now accept a woman so scarred by violence.
Consumed by rage, her nails dug into her palms.
She blamed Elizabeth for her misfortune! How had Elizabeth managed to escape such a fate?
Yara couldn’t understand why she had to suffer in place of Elizabeth.
If only Elizabeth had been assaulted and lost at sea, Yara wouldn’t be trapped in this tragic nightmare.
Now, driven by a fierce desire for revenge, Yara’s sole motivation was to exact punishment on Elizabeth, determined to pull her into despair.
At the entrance to Yara’s hospital room, police officers were questioning Oliver, whose expression revealed profound embarrassment.
Next to him, Sophia’s usual elegance was nowhere to be seen. Her hair was hastily tied back, and her face, devoid of makeup, looked older and weary.
Oliver protested, “My daughter has been assaulted. Why are we being interrogated as if we’re the perpetrators instead of you working to solve this?”
Looking directly at him, the officer interrupted, “We are deeply concerned about Miss Elizabeth’s traumatic experience. However, Nate Crawford, identified as the ringleader, is implicated in another abduction…”
His gaze shifted between Oliver and Sophia, studying their reactions.
Upon hearing this, Sophia, who had been crying, suddenly stopped and looked away. Oliver frowned, “Yara has mostly stayed at home. How could she be involved in a kidnapping?”
The officer looked away and responded more firmly, “It appears the other abduction victim is Elizabeth Campbell, who is also your daughter.”
“Elizabeth?” Oliver, clearly shocked, turned to Sophia and demanded, “What is going on?”
“I… I don’t know anything about this. My daughter is a victim too. How am I supposed to focus on anything else?” Sophia muttered, turning away as if to dab at her tears with a tissue.
Just as Oliver was about to continue, he noticed a group approaching.
Elizabeth and Elijah were walking toward them, with Oliver trailing behind, exuding an air of authority that seemed to surpass even that of the questioning officers.
Sophia noticed them as well and stood abruptly. “Why are you here? Are you here to mock Yara?”
Elizabeth approached with a calm demeanor. “I don’t waste my time keeping track of others. Besides, I’m only interested in those ahead of me, not those trailing behind. Why bother with anyone beneath me?”
Oliver, already on edge, immediately adopted a fatherly tone and scolded her, “Elizabeth, this is going too far! How can you speak to Sophia like that? Don’t you have any respect or proper manners?”
Elizabeth held her head high, her expression calm. “I don’t see why I should offer respect to someone who tried to kill me.”
“What are you talking about? Who are you calling a murderer?” Oliver raised his hand as if to strike her.
Elijah stepped in swiftly, catching Oliver’s hand. “You think you can strike right in front of me? Do you really want to provoke the Norris family?”
Regaining his composure, Oliver’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Mr. Norris, Elizabeth is still my daughter. As her father, I have the right to…”
Before he could finish, Elijah let go of his hand. “Father, are you truly deserving of that title?”
Oliver stumbled back and collapsed onto a bench in the hallway.
Sophia joined him, concerned, and after making sure he was okay, she looked up defiantly. “The police are still here. Do you think your actions are above the law, Mr. Norris?”
Elijah wiped his hand with a wet wipe, as if repulsed by the contact.
He discarded the wipe casually, his tone deliberate. “He was about to strike my wife. I was merely protecting her. Of course…”
He paused, his gaze shifting to Sophia. “If you’re implying that I act without restraint, well, that could be arranged.”
His eyes conveyed a cold, menacing calm.
Sophia’s color drained from her face, her lips quivered, and she found herself speechless.
