Chapter 4

Natalie's POV

I wrote those cards all night.

By dawn, my fingers were so swollen I could barely hold the pen.

A maid came in to rush me to the memorial service, scooping up the cards without daring to say an extra word.

The memorial service was held in the old auditorium.

Vivian sat in the front row wearing a black dress. Ethan stood beside her, speaking quietly. "If you feel unwell, go inside and rest first."

I was assigned to a corner, responsible for handing memorial cards to attending family members.

As soon as I steadied myself, I heard someone say in a low voice, "Her family caused Melissa's death, yet she can still stand here. Ethan is very kind."

I didn't turn around, just handed out the cards one by one.

When the memorial service began, Vivian took the stage to thank Ethan for caring for her all these years. When she mentioned Melissa, her eyes reddened. "If Melissa were still here, she wouldn't want to see the person who harmed her still occupying a spot in the memorial hall."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed into Ethan's arms.

The scene immediately descended into chaos.

Ethan caught her, his first reaction to call for a doctor.

Vivian gripped his sleeve, her breathing shaky. "I just touched the card Natalie handed over... As soon as I touched that card, my old wound started hurting."

Every gaze in the room fell on me.

I stood in place. "I didn't touch anything else. You can check right now."

Vivian closed her eyes, leaning against Ethan. "I'm just saying what I touched... I don't have the energy to argue with you."

Ethan looked at me, his eyes growing colder.

He had his assistant collect all the cards, but didn't send them for inspection. He only said, "Preserve these items carefully."

I tried to speak.

Ethan cut me off in front of everyone. "Why do you insist on making a scene at my sister's memorial service?"

With those words, I knew he had already decided I was guilty.

After Vivian was taken to the rest room, Ethan had someone take me to the back of the auditorium.

There was an accident experience chamber there.

When I saw that door, my body instinctively froze.

Ethan said coldly, "Go in and stay for half an hour. If you really didn't do anything wrong, you can come out in half an hour."

I looked up at him. "I just came out of the experience chamber yesterday. The doctor said I can't handle more stress."

Ethan fell silent for a moment.

From the rest room, Vivian called out softly, "Ethan, Melissa waited so long back then, and no one asked if she could bear it."

Ethan's expression completely darkened.

He had the staff open the door.

I was pushed inside. The moment the door sealed, cold climbed up from the soles of my feet. The mist grew heavier and heavier. I leaned against the wall. My injured fingers quickly lost strength.

Someone outside reminded him, "Mr. Ethan, Miss Natalie's vital signs are showing problems."

But Ethan first looked toward the rest room. "How is Vivian?"

When the experience chamber was forcibly opened, I had already collapsed on the floor.

After examining me, the doctor's face changed. "She must be taken to the hospital immediately. Her body can't wait."

On the other side, Vivian was also helped out, saying her chest hurt and she wanted Ethan with her.

Two ambulances stopped outside the auditorium.

The doctor told Ethan, "Miss Natalie is in greater danger. Miss Vivian is conscious. She can wait a moment."

Ethan stood between the two vehicles. His fingers twitched, as if about to come toward me.

Vivian called out softly, "Ethan, just now I almost thought I was back in that accident again."

Ethan withdrew his foot.

He got into Vivian's ambulance first, leaving only one sentence behind: "Save her."

After seeing this scene, I completely lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital.

A nurse was changing my dressing. "You were in critical condition for a long time. Your husband was just in the hallway yelling at the doctor. He nearly made the doctor cry."

When I heard the word "husband," my eyes flickered.

I asked, "Where is he now?"

The nurse paused. "He just got a call from the other ward. He went to see Miss Vivian."

I didn't ask again.

I looked at the monitor by the bed, my voice soft. "He's not my husband."

The nurse froze.

I added, "Very soon, he won't be."

The hospital room door was pushed open at that moment.

Ethan stood in the doorway, his face dark. He'd clearly heard that last sentence.