I’d just given birth when I saw Julian Albright’s stepsister, Tiffany, snapping photos of me on her phone. “Stella, you look absolutely repulsive after giving birth. Julian will probably be scarred for life just seeing you like this, won’t he?” I shrieked at her to get out. My brother, Leo, snatched her phone and deleted my private photos. But she started wailing loudly outside the hospital room. “Those were my photos! What right do you have to delete them?” Julian’s face was livid. He threw a punch that sent Leo sprawling to the floor. “Get on your knees and beg Tiffany for forgiveness, or I’ll make you pay dearly!” Leo refused to apologize. So, Julian threatened to break my brother’s hand. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I stumbled out and slapped Julian across the face. “Julian, we’re done! I want a divorce!” Julian’s face instantly swelled red. He stared at me, his eyes wide with shock and disappointment. Just then, Tiffany charged forward and slapped me hard across the face. “Stella, don’t push your luck!” I lost my footing and fell heavily to the ground. The stitches from my delivery ripped open, and agony ripped through me, sweat chilling my skin. Crimson blood spread beneath me, staining the pristine white hospital gown. “Stella!” Leo screamed, his voice raw. He struggled, crawling clumsily towards me from where he lay on the floor. But Julian’s relatives dragged him back like a dead dog. Tiffany looked down at me, her voice sharp and venomous. “Stella, how could you do this?” “This is your husband! You hit him for your brother? Did you ever truly love him?” Julian glanced at me coldly, then pulled Tiffany into his arms, comforting her. It wasn’t until the nurse brought the baby out. I struggled to lift my head and saw Tiffany holding him, standing not far away. A cruel smile curved Tiffany’s lips. “Choose your precious son, and Leo loses both his hands. Choose Leo, and from today on, this child has nothing to do with you. I’ll raise him as my own.” “Stella, choose!” My newborn child had become their bargaining chip. No one around tried to stop them. Some even looked on, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Leo was already in so much pain he was on the verge of passing out, but he still screamed at me, “Stella! Don’t worry about me! Choose the baby! Choose the baby!” Julian looked at me, drenched in blood, without a trace of pity in his eyes. “Stella, stop making a scene. Tiffany just wants justice. Pick one, and we can drop this. Otherwise, you’ll face the consequences.” My breath hitched. On one side was the child I’d carried for nine months and given birth to. On the other was the only family I had left in this world. They were both my flesh and blood; I couldn’t choose. The baby seemed to sense the tension around him and suddenly burst into tears. That weak cry pierced my heart like a needle. On the other side, Leo was desperately calling my name, again and again. My body trembled violently, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood. Everyone covered their noses and recoiled in disgust. Tiffany gloated, “No time to hesitate! Three seconds! One, two—” I reached out, wanting to touch my baby, then wanting to comfort the injured Leo. But my gaze finally landed on Julian’s face, the man I’d loved for five years. And who was now hurting me at my most vulnerable. My lips quivered. Before I could even scream an answer, my vision went black, and I completely passed out.
“Leo!” I snapped my eyes open, struggling to sit up. But a strong hand pressed down on my shoulder. I looked up, meeting Julian’s deep-set eyes. He was sitting by my bedside, a hint of exhaustion in his gaze. “Julian, where’s Leo?” I grabbed his wrist, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “What did you do to Leo? Tell me!” Julian frowned, prying my hand away, his tone calm. “You’ve been unconscious for a day. Since you didn’t make a decision, I chose the baby for you. If Tiffany hadn’t been kind enough to plead, Leo would have lost both his hands.” “What?!” I stared at him in disbelief, roaring with fury, “Julian, you piece of trash!” I tried to get out of bed, to rush to my brother’s side immediately, but he held me down firmly. “You just gave birth, you can’t move! Stella, it’s done. Making a fuss won’t change anything now. You need to take care of yourself.” “Let go of me!” I shrieked, like a cornered beast pushed to its limits. “That’s my brother! My only family! How dare you make that decision for me? How dare you break his hand? Julian, I’ll kill you!” The hospital room door burst open with a bang. Tiffany walked straight to the window, carrying a thermos. With a flick of her wrist, scalding chicken soup splashed out the window. “You ungrateful viper! Who do you think you are, to even touch anything from our Albright family, let alone drink our chicken soup?” She turned around, her face filled with disgust. “Stella, your parents died early, so no one taught you gratitude, right? Julian has been pouring his heart out for you, and what do you do? You dare to blame him for hitting your uncivilized brother?” “I should’ve just let them cripple your brother completely. It would’ve saved everyone a lot of trouble.” Tiffany pulled out her phone and slammed it onto my bedside table. The screen lit up, showing a video of Leo being held down and beaten. A bodyguard swung a wooden club at his hand, the sickening crack of bone breaking clearly audible even through the screen. Leo was curled on the ground, groaning in agony, hoarsely and despairingly calling out for his sister. My whole body trembled. A surge of pure hatred welled up inside me. I violently shoved Julian away, using every ounce of strength I had. Unprepared, Julian staggered back two steps, hitting the wall. I didn’t look back, didn’t spare him another glance. Like a madwoman, I bolted towards the hospital entrance, desperate to find my injured brother. As soon as I burst through the doors, my steps froze. My blood ran cold. At the bottom of the hospital steps, Leo was curled on the ground, his left hand hanging limply, blood soaking his clothes. His face was ashen, his brows tightly furrowed. He was still murmuring, “Stella… my hand…” I stumbled forward, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “Leo, I’m here! I’ll get you help!” One hand clutching my intensely painful abdomen, the other I painstakingly threaded under Leo’s armpit, half-lifting, half-propping him up. We leaned on each other, struggling step by step towards the hospital entrance. Just as I used my last ounce of strength to push open the hospital door, Tiffany and her bodyguards blocked the way. A cruel smile played on her lips. “Stella, you want to save your brother?” “It’s simple. Get on your knees and kowtow ten times, until I’m satisfied.” “You’re dreaming!” Leo suddenly lifted his head, his voice hoarse. “Stella, let’s go! Don’t beg her! That woman isn’t worth bowing to!” “We’ll go to another hospital! Someone will help me! Stella, let’s go!” Tiffany looked down at us, her tone arrogant and unyielding. “Let me tell you, one word from the Albrights, and no hospital in this entire city will dare to admit him.” I looked past her to Julian. He stood there silently watching, letting Tiffany freely humiliate us. I managed a bitter laugh, tears welling in my eyes, but I stubbornly refused to let them fall. “Julian, that day you proposed to me, your promises… have you forgotten them?”
My voice trembled, but each word was crystal clear: “You said you’d treat Leo like your own brother, cherish him.” “But what happened?” Julian froze, as if struck by a heavy blow. The coldness on his face crumbled instantly, a flicker of panic in his eyes. Tiffany noticed and reassuringly linked her arm through his. “Stella, how can you say that about Julian? He’s been good enough to Leo! It’s Leo who was rude and disrespected me first. He did something wrong, so he deserves to be punished!” “Don’t emotionally blackmail Julian!” Julian stepped forward, his tall frame radiating intense pressure, his eyes filled with disappointment and disgust. “Stella, I thought you were a reasonable person. I never expected you to be so biased and ungrateful!” “You don’t have to kneel. Just abandon him, and there will still be a place for you in the Albright family.” “Which is more important, your child or your brother? I think you should understand.” I scoffed, forcefully pulling off my wedding ring. With a flick of my wrist, the diamond ring hit the ground hard. It landed at Julian’s feet, like his own shattered heart. My voice was as cold as ice. “Julian, we’re finished!” With that, I gritted my teeth, supported Leo, and walked away without looking back. We tried three major hospitals, but were stopped at the entrance of each. I knew in my heart that Tiffany had already made calls. She wanted to push us into a dead end. By nightfall, I finally found a small clinic. I grabbed the old doctor who came to meet us, begging desperately, “Doctor, please, look at my brother’s hand. We’ll pay whatever it costs.” Dr. Miles frowned as he carefully cut open Leo’s sleeve. His entire arm was severely swollen and bruised. He gently touched the wound, and Leo almost passed out from the pain. Dr. Miles sighed, his voice grave. “The injury is too severe. I can only do basic first aid here. You need to get him to a major hospital as soon as possible. If you delay any longer, the fractured bone pressing on the blood vessels for too long could lead to amputation.” Hearing those words, my body swayed, and I fell heavily to the ground. “Stella!” Seeing this, Leo struggled to get up from the bed. His movements were too quick, aggravating his injury, his face contorted in pain. But he still gritted his teeth and stretched out his hand towards me. “Stella, don’t worry. I still have my other hand.” “As long as you don’t think I’ll be a burden, a cripple.” The despair in Leo’s eyes pierced me. “Leo, don’t worry, I won’t let them amputate your hand.” Suddenly, the clinic door burst open with a bang. Tiffany looked down at us. “Stella, I thought you’d found some better place. So, you’re just hiding out in this dump?” She looked maliciously at Leo, trying to provoke him. “Leo, blame your sister. She refused to kneel, and now you’re going to lose your hand.” Dr. Miles frowned. “Ma’am, there’s a patient here. Please watch your language.” “Watch my language?” Tiffany scoffed, pulling a wad of cash from her bag and tossing it on the table. “Hey, this money is enough for half a year’s rent for your clinic. Now get them out. Otherwise, I won’t just shut you down; I’ll make sure you can never practice here again.” A bodyguard stepped forward, glaring menacingly at Dr. Miles. Dr. Miles hesitated for a long time, then finally sighed, quietly putting away his reduction forceps. “Miss, I’m sorry…” The word “amputation” still echoed in my ears. I scrambled up, my knees hitting the floor hard, and began to kowtow repeatedly to Tiffany. Ignoring the blood gushing from my forehead, I pleaded in a hoarse voice, “Tiffany, please take my brother to see a doctor. Don’t let him lose his hand. I’ll agree to anything you want. I’ll be your slave, whatever it takes!” Tiffany folded her arms, a look of disgusted, cruel amusement on her face. “Begging me? Stella, did you hit your head? When did I ever say I’d take your brother to the doctor if you kowtowed?” Her words were the final straw, utterly crushing the last shred of hope in my heart. I snatched a scalpel from the nearby tray and pressed it against her throat. “Tiffany, take my brother to the best hospital right now! Get the best orthopedic surgeon! Otherwise, I’ll make you pay with your life.” Tiffany shrieked and struggled, trembling all over. “Stella, are you insane?!” “Julian, Julian, help me!” Just then, Julian burst in, ignoring everything. His eyes instantly turned red, and he roared, “Stella! You’re out of your mind! How dare you hurt Tiffany!” Before I could explain, he kicked me hard in the abdomen. I fell heavily to the ground, feeling as if every bone in my body had shattered. “Julian, look closely! She’s the one refusing my brother medical help, she’s the one trying to kill us!” “She’s clearly in the wrong, yet you keep indulging her.” I clutched my stomach, struggling to lift my head, my eyes filled with accusation. But Julian didn’t care. He meticulously checked Tiffany for injuries. When he turned to look at me, his eyes held nothing but icy disgust. “I will never forgive anyone who harms Tiffany.” He barked at the bodyguards by the door. “Break her brother’s other hand! Let her taste what it’s like to wish you were dead!” In that critical moment, I fumbled for my phone in my pocket, my trembling fingers scrambling across the screen. The moment the call connected, I used every last bit of my strength to cry for help. “Is, is this Mr. Hayes from ‘The Ark’?” My voice was shaking uncontrollably, laced with tears and pleading. “I’m Arthur and Eleanor’s daughter. My brother is about to be beaten to death, they’re going to break his hands. Please, please save us…”
Julian impatiently snatched the phone from me. “Calling for help? I’d like to see who dares to interfere with my business!” However, the next second, a commanding voice boomed from the other end of the line. “I don’t care who you are, get your filthy hands off her right now! If you dare touch her again, you’ll face the consequences!” Tiffany scoffed dismissively. “Stella, do you really think a phone call can save you? Let me tell you, even if the King of Kings himself showed up today, he couldn’t save you!” With that, she smashed the phone to pieces. Just then, Julian gave a cold command. The bodyguards raised their steel pipes again. I picked up the scalpel and pressed it against my own throat. “Julian, if you dare harm my brother again, I’ll die right here in front of you! I’ll make you live with the shadow of having driven me to my death, with no peace for the rest of your life!” “Stella, are you threatening me?” I remained silent, simply glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. Julian was startled by the hatred in my gaze and stumbled backward. As we stood there, locked in a stalemate, Tiffany snatched the steel pipe. “Stella, you can threaten my brother, but you can’t threaten me.” “You dared to lay hands on me. Today, I’m going to break both your brother’s arms and legs. I’ll make sure he’s a cripple for life.” A triumphant smile played on her lips as she advanced. A wave of regret washed over me. When Julian and I first started dating, Tiffany thought I’d stolen her brother, and she constantly tormented me. At the time, I believed true love could overcome anything, never imagining I would bring such suffering upon myself and my brother. Just then, a booming sound came from outside the door. An elderly man in an impeccably tailored, classic suit pushed the door open, his sharp gaze sweeping the room. When he saw me and my injured brother, he sternly demanded, “Who did this?” Tiffany was startled by Mr. Hayes’s commanding presence. After sizing him up, her eyes filled with disdain. “All show and no substance!” “Who are you? Another one of Stella’s poor relatives? Get out of here!” Seeing Mr. Hayes didn’t react, her confidence grew, and she haughtily lifted her chin. “Let me tell you, this is Albright territory. If you don’t know your place, don’t blame us for being impolite. You’ll regret it!” Mr. Hayes countered with a faint smile, “Oh? Is that so?” The words had barely left his lips when a flurry of urgent footsteps echoed from the alleyway. A group of well-trained men in black suits rushed in. The leader walked directly to Mr. Hayes and respectfully bowed. “Sir, everything is ready.” Mr. Hayes nodded slightly, his kind gaze falling on me and Leo. “Children, don’t be afraid. With me here, no one can touch you.” The man in black understood and immediately waved his hand to those behind him. Two medical personnel swiftly approached with a stretcher, carefully securing Leo onto it. Another man in black helped me up. “Miss Reid, please don’t worry. We will do everything we can to treat your brother.” I nodded with difficulty, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. Julian and Tiffany’s faces turned pale, frozen in place. Seeing their craven, bullying nature, my heart filled with an overwhelming sense of sorrow. I had wasted so much precious time on people like this, and even worse, I had caused my brother such severe injury. Just as we were about to step onto the helicopter lift, Julian’s hoarse voice came from behind. “Stop!” Julian stumbled over, blocking our way. “How dare you? How dare you take them? Leo made a mistake and should be punished. This is our family business, and it’s none of your business, you stranger!”
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