"You knew she had asthma and couldn't stand the smell of smoke, yet you still brought her into the kitchen. You're such a cruel woman."
I trembled, my voice weak. "It's not like that. She insisted on coming to the kitchen to see the secret recipe. I didn't expect anything to go wrong."
"The doctor is here now. Please, let him check on me first. I'm really in pain … " My vision started to blur.
Colin sneered, "The doctor is a specialist I brought from the provincial hospital to assess Selena's health. He's not here to help you with your little act! Do you have any idea how much it costs to get him here? Don't think you can gain sympathy with a mere scratch."
Lana narrowed her eyes, her voice icy. "You're Colin, the manager of Fortune Eatery in this area, right? This is your wife. She got seriously injured saving me and now you're quibbling over medical expenses? Are you even human?"
Colin looked at her dismissively. "And who are you to interfere in my family's business? Charlotte, you're getting better at staging these dramatic acts."
Lana stood up. "How much are the medical expenses? I'll cover them all!"
Colin glanced coldly at me and then at Lana. "You'll pay? Who do you think you are? You must be in cahoots with Charlotte. Huh, I've seen this kind of trick before. Even if we had the best doctor here, I wouldn't let him treat her."
I clutched my abdomen, breaking into a cold sweat from the pain. "Colin, even if you don't care about me, you should care about the baby in my belly. It's your own flesh and blood!"
I originally wanted to wait until the food festival was over and tell him the good news when he was in a good mood, but who knew it would turn out like this?
Colin's expression froze instantly. "What baby?"
Before he could say more, Selena let out a pained cry and collapsed into his arms. "Colin, I can't breathe. I feel so uncomfortable. It's all because Charlotte insisted on dragging me into the kitchen to see her recipe. I told her I have asthma, but she still pulled me into the smokiest part."
Selena's words twisted the truth. I stared at her in disbelief. "You're lying! You tricked me into showing you the secret recipe and then pushed me towards the boiling oil!"
Coughing pitifully, Selena looked at Colin. "Charlotte, why are you saying such things? Colin, she's always been targeting me, probably because you're always concerned about my health. Did she … did she try to kill me just now?"
Colin's eyes turned sinister. "Charlotte, you're a lunatic! You actually tried to kill Selena. How could you be so wicked? You vile woman!"
I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. "Say whatever you want. You don't believe me anyway."
I felt the bleeding worsen and gripped Lana's hand tightly. "Miss Bennett, please take me to the hospital. I'm afraid the baby won't make it."
Lana nodded immediately. "Don't worry. My car is right outside. I'll get you to the hospital now." She moved to help me up.
"Stop right there!" Colin blocked the doorway, clutching a contract and pointing at me. "You've always been jealous of Selena and now you've resorted to this despicable tactic to harm her. You must apologize to her in front of everyone right now. Only when Selena forgives you can you leave. Otherwise, you'll kneel here until she does."
I glared at him in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? Just because of her one-sided story, you're willing to forsake your own child?"
Selena leaned weakly against Colin, speaking softly. "Charlotte, as long as you admit your mistake, I'll forgive you right away."
