The scene was too bloody, too cruel, haunting Mia's mind to the point where she couldn't even bring herself to pick up her phone again.
After all, it was her father, the man who gave her life, raised her. Now, teetering on the edge between life and death, she couldn't remain detached.
Julie's voice came through the phone once more: "Mia, if you don't come today, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Then came William's agonized groans, each one stabbing at Mia's heart. The phone call ended abruptly. She climbed out of bed, grabbed her phone, and rushed out of the bedroom.
The villa felt eerily empty, not a servant in sight, as if they had vanished. She grabbed an umbrella and exited the villa. Dressed too lightly, the cold wind hit her face, and she immediately began to shiver.
Standing at the entrance, waiting for a taxi, she stared at the empty, pitch-black road, her anxiety growing. She tried calling for a ride, but there wasn't a single one available. In desperation, she dialed Lambert's number. Once, twice—no answer.
A fire seemed to burn inside her as she walked down the road, more than twenty minutes passed, and finally, a taxi sped towards her. She ran into the street, forcing the driver to slam on the brakes.
Mia tossed aside the umbrella and hopped into the passenger seat, quickly typing Garcia Family's address into her phone, urging the driver to go faster.
The taxi had been arranged by Hannah at a high cost, especially for Mia.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, the elderly man's condition had worsened. Doctors and nurses crowded around the room, performing their final efforts to save him. The family members waited outside, their faces grim, unsure of the current state. At the doctor's request, everyone's phones were set to silent to avoid any interruptions, and they spoke in hushed voices.
They'd been trying to resuscitate him for half an hour with no success. His life seemed to hang by a thread, showing no signs of ending.
"Lambert." The elderly man gathered a bit of strength, raising his hand to call out.
"Dad, we're all here. Whatever you want to say, we're listening. We'll help you fulfill your wishes. You won't have any regrets," Ferguson said, moving aside the nurse and approaching the bed, taking his father's hand.
It sounded like a respectful, filial statement, but in reality, he was just letting his father know that his time was almost up, and now was the moment to sort out his inheritance.
Jonathan followed, leaning over the bed, tears streaming down his face, sobbing in agony: "Grandpa, you haven't even seen your great-grandson born yet. You have to hold on! Hannah's pregnant, and she hasn't even had the chance to see you!"
Jennifer stood behind Lambert, guiding his hand into his father's. "Dad, Lambert's here. Do you have something to say to him? Hold on, Mia is about to give birth, remember? You said you had a gift for your first great-grandson. You have to give it to him yourself."
"Didn't the check-up say Mia was having a girl? How did it change to a boy?" Ferguson asked deliberately in front of his father, though he had no idea what gender Mia's baby was.
"How could you tell Hannah was having a boy after only a month of pregnancy, Ferguson? You may be lacking in common sense, but Jonathan, how can you, as a father, be so incompetent?" Jennifer's words left both Ferguson and Jonathan speechless.
"Lambert," the elderly man called again.
Lambert's heart ached. For a moment, he wanted to rise and hold his grandfather's hand, but his hands remained gripping the wheelchair tightly.
"Dad, if you have something to say, Lambert's right here," Jennifer crouched beside the bed, asking gently.
"Great-grandson, little great-grandson," the elderly man's words were unclear, but everyone heard them clearly and looked toward Lambert.
Lambert pulled out his phone. There were two missed calls from Mia. He quickly typed a message: *Come to the hospital with Ethan. Grandpa wants to see you.*
Two minutes passed with no reply. He called Mia, but the phone was off.
He called Ethan, sending him to Jennifer's villa to pick up Mia. He timed it, and by now, Ethan should have arrived. But both calls went unanswered.
"I'll go get Mia," Lambert said, pushing the wheelchair back a couple of steps.
"Lambert." Just as he was about to move, the elderly man urgently called his name again.
"Forget it, I'll go," Jennifer said, sensing an unease in her heart. She pushed Lambert back to his grandfather's side. "With the way Grandpa's acting, he's reluctant to let you go. I can't feel at ease with you leaving either."
Lambert, as the eldest grandson, was naturally the one to stay, while Jennifer couldn't compare.
The elderly man clung to Lambert's hand. He was torn, worried about Mia.
Then, Lambert realized, Jennifer was more eager than anyone for Mia to give birth. She hoped to control things with Mia's child, and Mia was at her villa, making it easier for her to act swiftly.
"Alright," Lambert agreed.
Jennifer drove through the heavy rain, making her way home. She called Mia's landline, but there was no answer.
A sudden idea struck her. She drove straight to Garcia Family and called her people, ordering them to hurry there as well. Time was running out—if she didn't act fast, Mia might be tortured to death by Hannah and Julie.
At the Garcia Family villa, Hannah waved a contract signed by William in front of Mia. "This villa, along with the last of his shares, are now under my name. And you, Mia, will be the murderer."
Julie shoved a bloodstained knife into Mia's hand.
Mia struggled desperately, trying to crawl to William's side, but Julie held her down, preventing her from moving.
"Sign it, Mia. If you sign over the shares, I'll let you and your child live. Otherwise, your whole family will die here," Hannah snarled, slapping Mia hard across the face.
"Lambert won't come to save you. He's at the hospital, taking care of his dear grandfather. Didn't you know, Mia? Grandpa's condition is critical, and Lambert plans to have your baby forcibly removed to please him," Hannah cruelly told Mia, trying to crush her spirit.
No! This can't be happening! Lambert would never be so cruel, never! Mia repeatedly denied it in her mind, tears streaming down her face. She dug her nails into Julie's arm, causing the flesh to bruise.
"Wretched woman, you're asking for it." Julie, enraged, kicked Mia in the stomach and tried to force her hand to sign the contract with her fingerprint.