Chapter 17
Seeing that she could no longer stop Howard or deflect, Selena gave up and asked bluntly, “Did you hire someone to hit Meg with a car?”
Howard’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? Didn’t you call me here?”
Then, as if realizing something, his tone turned icy. “What exactly happened to her?”
“Howard.” Selena angrily pulled him aside. “Someone purposely drove-”
“Howard!” Alyssa cut in before Selena could finish her sentence.
She had caught up, her face clean–no trace of the fake blood left. She couldn’t risk Selena, a doctor, discovering her trick.
Looking anxious, she asked, “How’s Megan?”
Seeing Alyssa only made Selena angrier. “Howard, did you seriously bring her here to see Meg?”
Selena pointed at Alyssa, her voice sharp. “Are you trying to give Meg a stroke?”
Without waiting for a reply, she dragged them toward the emergency exit, unwilling to let them linger outside Megan’s room.
Alyssa looked startled, hiding behind Howard. “You misunderstand, Dr. Lowe,” she said softly. “I just happened to be in his car when you called. Howard couldn’t stop midway, so since he was worried about Megan, we came together.”
Selena thought Alyssa was talking nonsense. It was ridiculous that Howard brought Alyssa here, especially since he knew how much Megan despised her. There was no good reason for Alyssa to be in the hospital with him.
Alyssa could’ve waited in the car or gone shopping nearby. What a joke.
Selena sneered. “I almost forgot. The two of you were spotted leaving Larson Headquarters together.”
“I saw it trending online,” she added snidely.
“You-!” Alyssa’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Why, you!” Alyssa teared up.
At the exit, Howard instinctively shielded Alyssa behind him. The gesture only deepened Selena’s disgust.
Not only did they flaunt themselves online, but they also paraded their act here, in the hospital. Were they really worried about Megan, or just rubbing it
in her face?
“If you’re only here to show off your relationship, then get lost. I won’t allow you to act like this in front of me!”
Alyssa lowered her head in silence, feigning shame.
Howard frowned. “Stop attacking her. What did you mean just now?”
Seiena snapped, “Someone deliberately rammed Megan’s car. I suspect you arranged it–to get rid of her and marry Alyssa as soon as possible!”
Alyssa stepped forward before Howard could speak up. “Dr. Lowe, don’t you think that accusation goes too far?”
Her tone righteous, she pressed on. “There could be countless reasons for a car accident. How can you immediately pin it on Howard?
“You’re the one who called him here. And now that we’ve come, you won’t even let us see Megan. What are you hiding, Dr. Lowe? Is it because nothing actually happened to Megan‘ at all?”
Selena’s anger flared. She remembered the sight of Megan covered in blood, her panic when she learned what happened.
egan had a rare Rh–negative blood type, making her vulnerable to accidents even when she wasn’t pregnant. The fact remained that Megan was pregnant with Howard’s baby How dared Alyssa slander Megan like this?
“Why are you so defensive, Alyssa?” Selena snapped. “Are you trying to cover up the fact that you were the one who hit Meg?”
“Why, you!” For an instant, panic flashed in Alyssa’s eyes before she quickly masked it with sorrow.
Howard stepped in front of her, voice cold. “The paparazzi followed Aly from her floral studio at 8:45 pm onward. Her whereabouts were reported online, and she’s been with me ever since.”
Selena clenched her jaw. “She could’ve hired someone else to do it.”
Howard’s brows knitted, fury flashing in his eyes. “Watch your mouth, Selena.”
Inside the hospital room, Megan struggled in a sea of endless darkness. It was like a swamp, dragging her deeper and deeper.
She felt as if she had forgotten something. She reached out blindly, but fear weighed her down. Her limbs wouldn’t move.
At last, a faint light appeared. She crawled toward it with all her might. When her hand touched it, visions unfolded before her.
She saw a family of three happily living in a villa
Suddenly, a scene of a grand piano on a white carpet came into view. A young girl was seated at the bench, her fingers fumbling over the keys as she
Chapter 17
played “To Alice“.
Golden sunlight streamed through the fluttering white curtain behind the old–fashioned windowsill, filling the country–style villa with a bright and cheerful glow.
Failing to play the song correctly, the girl grew angry and began to pound on the keys. Just then, a handsome man walked up to her side.
His voice was gentle and familiar. “Meg, you need to be patient.”
The girl pouted, frustration etched on her face. “Dad, I’ve practiced for over a week, but I still can’t play it right. It’s too hard!”
Smiling, the man patted her head, then sat beside her and played the piece flawlessly.
“See, Meg? I mastered it. Since you’re my daughter, you can do it
H
The girl’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “Wow! When did you master it, Dad?”
He chuckled, guiding her small hands across the keys until the melody flowed smoothly.
“Just recently,” he said. “When I heard you were learning piano, I decided to learn it too.”
The girl played the piano seriously and complimented him. “Dad, you’re incredible!”
“You’re even more incredible, Meg.”
As the girl began to play on her own, the man’s hands slowly slipped away.
“All you need to do is believe in yourself,” he said, fully releasing her.
“You are my one and only daughter. Everything that’s mine has been yours since the day you were born. You are the heiress to the Stafford family.”
“Dad, can I really do it?” the girl asked, doubtful.
The man chuckled. “You can.”
IT
The notes of the piano blended with the sound of the wind. His gaze brimmed with affection. “See? You’re doing it already.”
