Chapter 4

Elena froze, confusion flashing in her eyes. "Why do you need to go to the hospital? Who's sick?"

"Hmph, who else? His girlfriend, of course."

Marcus sneered. "Elena, don't listen to his emotional manipulation. He just wants to run away with his girlfriend."

Hearing the word "girlfriend," Elena's face instantly turned cold, resentment surging in her eyes.

Seeing this, I knew I had to tell the truth.

"Elena."

"Listen carefully. The sick person is your own daughter, Piper!"

"If I don't pay within half an hour, the heart donor will go to someone else!"

What?

Elena's eyes widened. She pushed Marcus aside and ran to me in three quick steps.

"Piper's still alive?"

"You're not lying to me?"

Her face was full of excitement.

"I'm not lying."

I took a deep breath. "If you don't believe me, my phone has photos of Piper and me, plus photos of her medical records."

Elena quickly turned and snatched the phone from Marcus, frantically scrolling through the screen.

But the light in her eyes gradually changed from hopeful excitement to disappointment.

"There's not a single photo on the phone. You're lying to me!"

She clenched her fists in anger.

"That's impossible. There were definitely..."

I frowned, about to explain, when I caught the mocking smile on Marcus's lips. I immediately understood.

Marcus must have just formatted my photo gallery.

That's why Elena couldn't find anything.

This Marcus was truly cunning and vicious, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals.

"Honey."

"I told you, this Nathan Anderson is full of lies and can't be trusted."

Marcus patted Elena's shoulder.

"I'm not lying!"

"Piper really is still alive!"

I shouted loudly.

Marcus frowned and gave the event manager a look.

The manager understood. He raised his hand and slapped me.

"Still making excuses?"

"Hand over the wedding ring now! Or don't blame us for not holding back."

The security guards behind me laughed menacingly.

"I didn't steal the ring. How can I hand it over? Let me go..."

"Stubborn fool. Beat him!"

The manager led the assault, raining punches and kicks on me.

Tied to the pillar, I couldn't protect myself, couldn't fight back, couldn't dodge.

Fists fell on my face like a rainstorm.

After several rounds.

I was beaten bloody, my ears ringing, excruciating pain spreading throughout my body.

"I'm not a thief, I'm not..."

I weakly looked at Elena through blurred vision. "Piper really is still alive. You don't have to let me go, but you must go to the hospital and pay."

"I'm begging you... she's our daughter. Please..."

As I spoke, I began crying in desperation.

Elena's expression showed a flicker of emotion.

Before she could speak, Marcus pointed at my nose and cursed, "You're such a bastard! To escape punishment, you'd even exploit your dead daughter."

Hearing this, Elena's expression turned cold again, as if she wished I were dead.

"I didn't! I really didn't! I can swear... there's only fifteen minutes left! We're really running out of time!"

My whole body trembled as I choked out the words.

"Still acting?"

Marcus narrowed his eyes, raised the knife again, and slowly walked toward me. "I'll pry out two of your front teeth. Let's see if you tell the truth then!"

I kept staring at Elena.

But this time she chose silence.

Marcus raised the knife toward my mouth.