Chapter 3

I had barely run two steps when someone roughly yanked my shoulder.

Sarah White lunged from behind, her sharp nails digging into my flesh.

"Stop her! She's trying to steal the baby!"

That shout sent the entire banquet hall into chaos.

Several bodyguards rushed forward simultaneously, blocking my path to the window.

I was forced to retreat repeatedly, my lower back hitting the buffet table.

"I'm not stealing the baby! I'm saving her!"

Liam Sterling, the fourth son, sneered, slamming a carving knife onto the table.

"Saving her?"

"You're running around with a child who's almost breathless, and you call that saving her?"

Dr. Reed quickly approached, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Mr. Sterling, we can't let her continue this madness."

"Lily's body is already naturally frail. If she falls or gets bumped, it will even be difficult to determine the cause of death!"

The baby's voice in my arms was almost crying.

"I'm not dead yet! What 'cause of death' are you talking about?!"

"Why are these people more impatient than the Grim Reaper himself?!"

I almost laughed at her remark, but more than that, I was alarmed.

Her voice was much weaker than before.

I couldn't afford to delay. I dodged sideways with the baby, stepping on a chair and scrambling over it.

Several champagne flutes crashed to the floor.

Noah Sterling cursed angrily.

"That crazy woman!"

As I landed, a hand suddenly blocked my way.

It was Mr. Sterling, David. His eyes were bloodshot, and his entire demeanor was seething with suppressed anger.

"Say that again."

My breath was ragged, I clutched the swaddle tight, squeezing out each word.

"Lily isn't critically ill; she suffered from breathlessness induced by an irritating scent."

"As long as she leaves this place and breathes clean air, she can still wake up."

Sarah White, her face pale, clutched her lower abdomen, her voice choked with tears.

"Mr. Sterling, she's slandering me…"

"I'm carrying your child too. How could I possibly harm Lily?"

At this statement, the entire hall fell silent.

The sons were also stunned.

Mr. Sterling's pupils suddenly constricted.

"What did you say?"

Sarah White's tears fell, and she gently placed a hand on her stomach.

"I had planned to tell you later."

"I found out at the hospital today; I'm already over a month pregnant."

"I know it's not appropriate to say this now, but I just wanted to be by your side, and I never expected to be falsely accused like this…"

Hearing this, the baby's voice in my arms was furious.

"Pfft! She's bringing up her pregnancy now, she's treating you all like idiots!"

"Forget about her for now; I'm really running out of air!"

Just then, Sarah White took another step forward.

The scent wafted over, and Lily in my arms stiffened.

Her already faint body temperature also began to drop.

My face instantly changed, and I violently dodged sideways.

"Don't come near her!"

Sarah White flinched at my shout, her tears falling even more profusely.

"Mr. Sterling, did you see that?"

"She's so hostile towards me; it's clearly premeditated."

Dr. Reed immediately chimed in.

"Exactly."

"And the child's problem occurred while she was under her care. The most suspicious person, by default, is her."

Mason Sterling, the second son, slowly advanced towards me, his voice low.

"Either put Lily down, or I'll do it myself."

Lily in my arms seemed to exert her last ounce of strength, calling out in a tiny voice.

"The window! To the left! There's a breeze over there!"

My peripheral vision caught sight of a crack in the side door of the banquet hall, leading to a patio.

I took a sharp breath, hugged the baby, and dashed towards it.

Mason reached out to block me, but I lowered my head and shoulder-barged past his arm.

Footsteps behind me scrambled chaotically.

Sarah White shrieked.

"Grab her! Don't let her take the baby away!"

The moment my hand touched the doorknob, I was violently shoved from behind.

I instantly lost my balance.

To protect the baby, I twisted my body, my knees and elbows hitting the ground hard.

The swaddle was still tightly cradled in my arms.

A commotion erupted around me, and the cold air from the patio finally streamed in through the door crack.

The baby's faint voice in my head trembled slightly.

"It's… it's working a little…"