Chapter 4

Sophia's POV

Xander walked toward me step by step.

The oppressive force was suffocating.

"Xander... what do you think you're doing?"

I stepped back, blocking the ICU door.

"Move aside."

His voice was hoarse, brooking no argument.

"You want to hurt Aria?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"She just had major surgery less than a month ago! Her body is so weak-drawing blood could kill her!"

"Only 400cc."

Xander stopped in front of me, looking down from his height.

"Just 400cc will save her life."

"What about Aria? What happens to Aria?"

I screamed.

"She's a vegetable! She has no ability to resist, and you're going to exploit her like this?!"

"She's a living corpse!"

Xander shouted back.

"Sophia, wake up! Aria lying in there is just a breathing corpse! But Luna is a living person! She's only twenty years old. She got hurt at the racetrack trying to save me! I can't let her die!"

"I won't allow it!"

I spread my arms, gripping the doorframe desperately.

"Over my dead body will you touch a single hair on her head!"

"Sophia!" Xander lost his patience.

Behind us, a nurse's panicked cry came from the operating room.

"Patient's blood pressure dropping! Heartbeat weakening!"

The sound was like a death knell.

The last trace of hesitation vanished from Xander's eyes.

He waved his hand. Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward.

"Pull Mrs. Shaw away."

"Don't touch me! Get away!"

I struggled desperately, sinking my teeth into a bodyguard's hand. Blood immediately flowed.

The bodyguard yelped in pain and instinctively released me.

I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around Xander's legs, kneeling on the ground.

"Xander, I'm begging you... I'll stop making trouble. I'll sign. I'll sign the divorce papers right now! I'll do whatever you say, just please spare Aria... She's my only family left..."

Xander looked down at me.

For that instant, a flicker of reluctance crossed his eyes.

But immediately, the nurse shouted again.

"Mr. Shaw! She's not going to make it!"

That flicker of reluctance was instantly replaced by ruthlessness.

"I'm sorry, Sophia."

Xander bent down, prying my fingers away one by one.

"I'll compensate you later."

"I don't want compensation! I want Aria alive! Xander, you murderer! You'll face retribution for this!"

I screamed until my voice went hoarse.

Xander ignored me and kicked the door open.

"Doctor! Go in and draw blood! I'll take responsibility for anything that happens!"

The doctors hesitated, but under Xander's intimidating pressure, they wheeled their equipment into the ICU.

I was held back, forced to watch helplessly as the door closed.

I saw the doctor roughly disconnect the lines attached to Aria's body. I saw that thick needle pierce my sister's emaciated arm.

Dark red blood flowed through the tube.

They were draining Aria's life away.

I stopped struggling.

I collapsed to the floor, staring at the harsh fluorescent lights on the ceiling.

My heart died.

In that moment, the Sophia who had loved Xander for ten years died completely.