"Johnny, listen to me. I won't let them take your arm. I promise."
Before I finished speaking, the clinic door exploded inward.
Ellie stood in the doorway, sneering down at us. "Well, Sister-in-law. I expected you to run somewhere decent. Instead, you're hiding in this rat hole?"
She turned to John, her voice dripping with venom. "Johnny, if you want someone to blame, look at your sister. You're going to lose that arm because she was too proud to kneel."
The old doctor frowned. "Miss, please. There are patients here. Watch your tongue."
"Watch it?"
Ellie scoffed. She pulled a thick stack of cash from her designer bag and tossed it onto the table.
"Old man, that covers your rent for six months. Throw them out. Now. Or I won't just shut you down—I'll make sure you never practice medicine in this city again."
A bodyguard stepped forward, glaring at the physician.
The old man hesitated, eyes darting between the money and the thug. Finally, his shoulders slumped. He sighed and lowered the forceps. "Miss... I'm sorry."
Amputation. The word rang in my ears like a death knell.
I scrambled to my knees, slamming them against the concrete, and bowed until my forehead struck the ground before Ellie.
Blood trickled into my eyes, but I didn't care. "Ellie, please! Take him to a real doctor. Don't let him lose his arm. I'll do anything—I'll be your servant, your slave—anything!"
Ellie crossed her arms, watching me grovel.
"Begging me? Sister-in-law, have you lost your mind? I never said I'd help him just because you banged your head on the floor."
The last thread of hope snapped.
I snatched a scalpel from the tray and lunged, pressing the blade against her throat.
"Get him to the best hospital! Now!" My hand trembled. "Find the best orthopedic surgeon! Or I swear I will slit your throat right here!"
Ellie went rigid, face draining of color. She shrieked.
"Charlotte! Are you insane? Brother! Help me!"
Cole burst in a second later.
His eyes went red the moment he saw the blade against her skin. "Charlotte! You dare touch her?"
He didn't ask questions. He delivered a brutal kick to my abdomen.
I flew backward, crashing onto the floor. Pain exploded through my body—it felt like every rib shattered on impact.
"Cole, open your eyes!" I clutched my stomach, gasping, glaring up at him. "She's stopping John from getting treatment! She's trying to kill us!"
Cole didn't look at me. He was too busy checking Ellie's neck for scratches.
When he finally turned, his gaze was ice. "I told you. I will destroy anyone who hurts her."
He barked at the bodyguards.
"Break the boy's other hand. Make her understand what a fate worse than death really feels like."
Terror flooded my veins. With shaking hands, I fumbled for my phone. The moment the call connected, I screamed.
"Is this Jacob Mason? From The Ark? I am the daughter of Mason Pruitt and Penelope Fox! They're going to kill my brother! They're breaking his hands! Please, save us!"
Cole marched over and snatched the phone from my hand.
"Calling for backup? I'd like to see who has the guts to interfere with my business!"
But before he could hang up, a thunderous voice roared from the speaker—authoritative enough to silence the room.
"I don't care who you are. Take your filthy hands off her immediately! If you touch her again, you will pay with your life!"
