Chapter 4

Polina's POV

The night I left the Harper villa, I contacted a luxury consignment store.

I dumped all the jewelry Ethan had given me onto the counter.

The owner, wearing gloves to examine the pieces, couldn't take his eyes off them.

"These are all excellent pieces. Especially this pink diamond. It was the Harper family's auction item last year, wasn't it? Are you sure you want to sell everything? You'll take a big hit on the value."

"Sell everything. Buy them outright, don't go through consignment. I need the money urgently."

I signed the papers and looked at the bank card now loaded with a substantial sum.

Combined with my own savings from recent years, it would be enough for the surgery fees in Switzerland and living expenses afterward.

After finishing all this, I found an inconspicuous hotel to stay in.

I'd planned to wait quietly until surgery day and disappear completely.

But Ethan clearly had no intention of letting me go.

On the third afternoon, I was sitting on the hotel bed organizing visa materials when Ethan's assistant suddenly called.

"Miss White, Mr. Harper requests that you go to the private hospital immediately."

I didn't hesitate before hanging up. "I'm not available."

Since we were done, I had no obligation to be at his beck and call.

The other end paused, then spoke with some arrogance.

"Mr. Harper said if you don't arrive within half an hour, your mother's special medication and caregiver fees at the nursing home will be immediately suspended by finance."

My hand shook violently, and the phone nearly slipped.

After the White family went bankrupt, Mother couldn't handle the shock and had a mental breakdown. She'd been staying in an expensive private nursing home ever since.

It was her lifeline, and my only weakness.

Ethan's knife cut precisely where it hurt most.

"I understand."

I hung up, grinding my teeth.

Half an hour later, I arrived at the hospital's VIP floor.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, a strong smell of disinfectant hit me.

Ethan stood at the end of the corridor, his face terrifyingly dark.

Seeing me arrive, he said nothing, just strode over and grabbed my wrist.

"Polina, how long are you going to keep this up?"

He stared at me, his eyes looking at me like a criminal. "Lily's severe depression relapsed. She just slit her wrists in there and is being resuscitated."

"Was it you who contacted the gossip media? Spreading rumors online to provoke her, saying she's a homewrecker who stole someone's position? Do you want to drive her to death?"

He shook me until I felt dizzy. I only found it absurd.

"Ethan Harper, have you lost your mind? I haven't even left my room these past two days, and I haven't been online."

"Still lying!"

Nina suddenly rushed up, shoving her phone in my face, the screen nearly poking into my eyes.

"Polina, the evidence is right here and you're still pretending! All those gossip outlets say Polina White leaked the information! Who else could it be but you?"

Just as I was about to speak, the hospital room door suddenly opened.

Lily rushed out barefoot.

Her hair was disheveled, her wrists wrapped in blood-stained bandages, her entire being in a state of hysteria.

"It was you! You want to kill me! I'm not a homewrecker! I truly love Ethan!"

She screamed, grabbed a glass water cup from the cabinet by the door, and hurled it at me with all her strength.

I was being held tightly by Ethan's grip on my wrist and couldn't dodge.

The glass smashed hard into my temple and shattered.

Searing pain hit me. Warm liquid flowed down along my brow bone, instantly blurring my left eye.

My vision turned blood-red.

I swayed, barely able to stand.

"Lily!"

Ethan cried out, released me to catch the swaying Lily.

"It's okay, it's okay, I'm here."

He held Lily protectively in his arms, soothing her gently. When he turned to look at me with blood all over my face, his eyes filled with disgust.

"Go get bandaged!"

He shouted harshly, "Don't bleed here and frighten Lily, or I'll make the White family pay the price!"

I wiped the blood flowing into my eye with my hand.

Looking at this pair before me, I suddenly didn't want to explain anymore.

There was nothing to explain.

I was going to forget it all anyway.