Chapter 18
The little girl stared at her hands in amazement as her fingers danced across the keys, beautiful music flowing from her fingertips.
“Daddy, I really did it!”
Pure joy filled her voice.
“Yes, you did.” The man smiled and looked up at the woman leaning against the piano, chin resting on her hand, watching them with a radiant smile.
She was breathtakingly beautiful in a fiery red dress, her luxurious curls cascading over pale shoulders, looking like something from a movie.[]
The man patted his daughter’s shoulder, then walked to the woman. With his left hand behind his back, he bowed at a perfect 45–degree angle and extended his right hand palm–down.[]
“May I have this dance?”
“I’d love “I’d love to.” The woman placed her hand in his with a sparkling smile.[]
As the melody continued, the man in his crisp white shirt took her waist and they began to waltz. The red dress swirled like fire, the moment frozen in perfection.
The little girl played with absolute concentration, pressing each key with care.
When another breeze lifted the lace curtains, she looked up through the window.
On the second–floor balcony of a house not far away, a young boy in a cream–colored polo shirt was watching them.]
Beneath fine dark hair, his eyes were black as night–calm but sharp as a blade.
Time seemed to blur as Amelia recognized that young, familiar face morphing into the adult Nathan she knew.
Mature, reserved, dangerously sharp beneath the surface.
Beep beep beep…]
In the hospital room, Amelia’s eyes flew open.
Everything was spinning–thie white ceiling, the walls, her entire world tilting and swaying.
Nausea hit her in waves.
The smell of disinfectant filled her nostrils. Her temples pounded.[]
She felt like she was lying on the deck of a ship in rough seas.
The vision kept replaying: her parents dancing, Nathan’s dark eyes watching from afar.]
Tears slipped silently down her cheeks–she couldn’t tell if it was from physical pain or emotional devastation.[]
“…did you hire someone to run her down? You’re so desperate to cover it up!”
“Harper, that’s enough!”
Arguing voices drifted from outside. Harper and Nathan, going at each other
What was happening?
Amelia struggled to sit up, fighting the dizziness. She checked the chart beside her bed.]
Concussion
Chapter 18
She touched the bandage on her forehead, remembering the impact. Then instinctively placed her hand on her stomach.]
There was still some aching pain.[]
Was the baby…?
”
She wasn’t sure.
“…are you going to fight me over her?”
The argument outside was escalating. Harper sounded like she was being attacked.[]
Amelia forced herself up, slipped on the hospital slippers, and used the wall for support as she made her way to the door.[]
In the emergency stairwell, she saw three figures: Nathan, Harper, and Vivian.[]
Nathan was still wearing his morning suit. Vivian had changed into a cream Chanel outfit.[]
They were tangled up with Harper in her white coat, some kind of physical altercation happening.
Worried Harper was getting hurt, Amelia called out: “What the hell is going on?“]
“Mia!” Harper immediately rushed over to support her.
Nathan stayed put, holding Vivian’s arm, his eyes scanning Amelia from head to toe before settling on the bandage.[]
“What happened?” Amelia asked.[]
Before Harper could explain, Nathan spoke with cold mockery: “Looks like you’re just fine.“]
Seeing Amelia standing there–pale but clearly conscious, with what looked like a minor bandage–Nathan’s rage boiled over.[]
So this whole thing was an act she’d staged with Harper? Fake a car accident to force him to abandon Vivian and rush over?]
Thinking about the phone call in the car, about Vivian’s guilt and worry making her cough up blood, Nathan’s fury intensified.
No wonder Harper hadn’t wanted him to see Amelia earlier.
He never should have believed Harper’s bullshit![]
The veins in his neck bulged with anger as he looked away.[]
All his panic and concern had been for nothing![]
Amelia was confused. She’d just woken up, and the concussion was making her nauseated and dizzy.
Harper exploded: “Fine? Don’t you see the injury on her head? Did you ignore everything I just told you?”
Vivian shot back: “You mean that tiny bandage?“]
“Vivian!” Harper was seeing red.]
Vivian stood tall, playing the righteous defender. “You called Nathan dozens of times while he was driving, then had Harper scream at him and order him to come here—for this minor scratch?“]
“Do you know how dangerous the highway was? How much you put Nathan at risk? Harper, your tone made me think Amelia was dying!”
“Amelia, Harper–1 may be dying, but I won’t stand by and watch you two abuse Nathan like this!”
Vivian’s voice was strong and defiant. She stepped out from behind Nathan, her body trembling but her stance firm.]
Like a brave warrior protecting her man.[]
Nathan said nothing, just stared at Amelia with obvious irritation
Chapter 18
“You’re lying! I’m going to rip you apart!” Harper finally snapped and lunged at Vivian.[]
Vivian didn’t back down, ready to fight.
Nathan reached out to intervene while Amelia, still confused about what was happening, tried to pull Harper back to protect her.
The emergency stairwell erupted into chaos.]
Harper and Vivian were at the center, Harper having lost all rational thought while Vivian kept glancing at Amelia even while fighting.
Neither was holding back.
“You’re actually choking me!“]
SLAP.
“Ow! Harper, you hit my face!“]]
Amelia and Nathan tried to separate them, all four bodies tangled together in the narrow space.
The fight moved from the stairwell entrance deeper into the stairs, Harper and Vivian’s screams echoing off the walls.[]
Suddenly, something vicious flashed in Vivian’s eyes.
She slammed her own head toward Harper’s while pretending to accidentally body–check Nathan’s arm with force.]
In that instant, Amelia–who was still holding Harper back–felt a powerful shove against her lower back.]
She suddenly realized she’d somehow moved from the back to right beside the stairwell.[]
Her baby was still inside her. This was a staircase. If she fell…]
No!
Everything happened in split seconds. Amelia twisted her core and reached for the railing, trying to steady herself.
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