Lydia Austin sat on the cold hospital chair, her face etched with sorrow and despair.
Her father had died instantly at the scene of the car accident. Her mother was in critical condition with multiple organ injuries, teetering on the edge of life and death. Although her younger sister wasn't severely injured, she had fainted from the shock of the bloody scene and had yet to regain consciousness.
The accident was deemed entirely her father's fault, and Lydia was now responsible for all the compensation to the deceased driver's family and an injured passenger.
The sudden blow was enough to break Lydia both mentally and physically, but this wasn't even the worst of it.
Her father's company had gone bankrupt, leaving behind a mountain of debt. The creditors had tracked her down to the hospital, and upon learning of her father's death, they relentlessly hounded Lydia, refusing to let her go.
Lydia sat there, stunned and tearless, when a nurse approached her.
"Miss Austin, please make sure to pay your mother and sister's hospital fees as soon as possible. If you don't, we will have to stop their treatment."
"Okay, okay, I'll find a way," Lydia replied, her voice shaky.
The medical bills alone were already beyond Lydia's means, not to mention the compensation for the accident victims and her father's enormous debts. Even if she sold her soul, it wouldn't be enough.
Despite feeling utterly helpless, Lydia knew she had to try her best to find a solution. There was no one willing to help her now, except for one person she could think of—Kellan Erickson.
"Kellan Erickson..."
Lydia could only call out her boyfriend's name, unsure of how to continue.
"Do you need something?" Kellan's voice came through the phone.
"I... my mother is sick. She needs money urgently. I…" Lydia, despite her inner turmoil, cast aside her pride to explain her predicament. But before she could finish, Kellan's cold voice interrupted her.
"Money? Are you asking to borrow money from me, or are you trying to scam me?"
"Scam? Kellan, what do you mean by that?"
Kellan's sudden accusation made Lydia's blood run cold. What had she done to make Kellan think she was a scammer?
"Stop pretending. You've shown your true colors, and yet you continue to act. Lydia, you're shameless. To scam money, you'd even curse your own mother."
"I... Kellan, I don't understand what you're saying. I didn't..."
Before she could finish the word "acting," she was cut off again.
"Lydia, what other shameless demands do you have? Who else do you want to curse? Let me tell you, even if your family is ruined, I won't give you a single penny."
Kellan's voice was filled with rage, but his anger only made Lydia feel a bitter sense of irony. It seemed Kellan already knew about her family's downfall. When the walls come crashing down, even the ones you love most are quick to distance themselves.
However, Lydia's current situation didn't allow her any pride. No matter how Kellan treated her, she needed to cling to this last straw.
"I..."
Just as she was about to swallow her pride and ask for help, a woman's voice came through the phone.
"Darling, the bathwater is ready. If you don't hurry, it'll get cold."
"Hurry up, I'm waiting for you in the bathroom."
The sweet, syrupy voice was enough to make anyone melt, but it sent a chill down Lydia's spine. That voice...
"Kellan, you and..."
"It's good you heard," Kellan interrupted coldly. "I was just about to tell you. Don't think deceiving me was something to be proud of. I never truly cared about you."
Kellan's words were like a dagger of ice, plunging Lydia straight into the depths of despair.
"Did she tell you that she was deceived?"
"Yes, she did. What are you planning to do? Threaten her? Lydia, I'm warning you, she's my woman now. As long as I'm here, you won't lay a finger on her."
With an angry warning, the call was abruptly ended.
Was this still the man she loved?
Anger, unwillingness, and a sense of desperate grievance instantly consumed Lydia.
In the VIP high-class ward, Merrick Lawrence, who had been in a coma for three days, finally woke up.
With bandages wrapped around his head, slight scratches on his face, and a furrowed brow from the headache, none of these could hide his rugged and handsome appearance.
"Why does my head hurt so much?"
Merrick cursed under his breath as he sat up. His sister, Briley, quickly came to his bedside with concern.
"Thank heavens, you're finally awake."
"…"
"Your driver is dead."
"Damn it, I will make the person responsible pay dearly." Merrick's brow furrowed deeper.
"Merrick, the person responsible is also dead, and it was Dexter."
"Dexter?"
Merrick was utterly shocked. Why was Dexter the one responsible? Did Dexter do it on purpose, or was it just a coincidence?
"That's right, it was Dexter. He had his wife and kids in the car. The crash happened on the highway near the airport. Dexter was likely trying to flee from his debts and was speeding. The police determined that his car was going too fast, causing him to lose control and break through the highway barrier, crashing into your car."
Briley relayed the preliminary findings of the police investigation to Merrick.
"..."
Merrick fell into silent contemplation. According to Briley, this tragedy might have been an accident. No, even if it was an accident, even if Dexter was dead, he would never forgive the party responsible. His feud with the Austin Family was irreconcilable in this lifetime.
"What about Dexter's wife and kids?" Merrick asked in a low voice.
"His wife is critically injured and still hasn't come out of danger. The doctors say her chances of survival are slim. His younger daughter is in a coma from the shock and trauma. The elder daughter has returned from abroad to handle the situation."
Briley continued, "Our second uncle has been getting restless while you were unconscious. Grandpa has given you a strict order: as soon as you wake up, you need to get married and have children. Only then can he officially hand over the company's leadership position to you."
"Uncle is so impatient. He can't even wait to confirm if I'm dead or alive before showing his true colours. Fine, I'll crush all his hopes," Merrick said coldly. "He wants an heir? If that's what Grandpa wants, I'll give it to him."
After dark, Briley left, and Merrick went out for some fresh air.
As he passed through the hospital park, the sound of painful sobbing made him stop.
Lydia stood in the hospital park, unable to face her mother and sister and even more unable to accept Kellan's betrayal at this time. She couldn't help but cry out loud.
"Why... why..."
Lydia didn't even know what she was asking. She just felt that everything was so unfair, making her both angry and aggrieved. The worst part was that there wasn't a single person willing to help her.
At that moment, the sky seemed to share her sorrow, and a torrential downpour began. The rain mixed with her tears, washing them away. In the pouring rain, the sight of a woman crying her heart out made Merrick frown.
The room was pitch black, with not a single light to break the darkness. It was so dark that it was terrifying, causing panic. Equally uneasy was the anxious heart within.
Where was she?
Lydia propped herself up and sat on the bed. Her head was still a bit dizzy, and she couldn't recall what had happened before.
Lydia didn't have much time to dwell on her thoughts before the dark bedroom door was pushed open. The moment she heard the door creak, she started trembling with fear.
Who could it be?
The figure that entered seemed to be a man, judging by his silhouette. He quickly shut the door behind him and, moving with familiarity, made his way directly to the bedside. He could see a woman sitting there, but her face was obscured by the darkness.