Hedy’s POV
When I opened my eyes again, everything felt numb.
Bryson’s face lit up with relief the moment he saw me.
“Hedy, you’re finally awake,” he said, his voice brimming with joy.
His eyes softened with pity as he carefully gathered me into his arms, just like he used to—like nothing about Debbii had ever happened.
“Give me back my phone.”
I pushed him away hard, my expression blank, my voice flat.
For a second, his expression stiffened. Then, forcing a placating smile, he said softly, “Hedy, I’ve already paid for your mom’s treatment. She’s fine now.”
I didn’t reply. I simply held out my hand, palm up, demanding.
His face darkened. Still, he placed the phone into my palm.
“Hedy, I know you’re still thinking about what happened yesterday,” he said, voice lowering, “but you were the one who made a mistake. You should apologize to Debbii.”
I let out a cold laugh.
“Apologize to Debbii? I was the one locked in a freezing storage room. My mom was the one who almost died. And you want me to apologize to her?”
He hadn’t expected me to explode like that; his face turned cold.
“I’ve explained this to you so many times—Debbii didn’t do it on purpose. You’re the one who left a scar on her neck, the one who ruined her reputation in the industry. You must hold a press conference to clear things up and apologize to her in person.”
I stared at him in disbelief. Was he insane?
He wanted me to apologize to the person who nearly killed my mom?
Grinding my teeth, I pushed myself up from the bed. I needed to leave, to go to the hospital and see how my mom was doing.
But before I could take a single step, his hand shot out and grabbed me, iron-tight.
“This isn’t a negotiation, Hedy,” he warned, his tone cold. “The press conference is in five days. Start preparing now. Don’t forget—your brother’s still in prison, and your mom’s in a hospital owned by the Lundeberg Corporation.”
His words froze the blood in my veins.
My mom and my brother were still in his hands. I had no power to resist.
I looked at him blankly, my heart like stone.
“Five days, right? Fine,” I said at last. “I’ll do it. But you’re going to pull all your people off my brother’s case and let the process go through normally.”
If he withdrew his men, I could arrange for mine to step in.
That way, five days from now, my brother could leave with me and my mom.
I kept my expression steady as I looked at Bryson.
For a fleeting moment, he felt as though I were far, far away from him. I could tell his heart gave a small, panicked tremor as he reached out a hand toward me.
But before he could say anything, Debbii called him.
By the time he returned from answering her call, Bryson agreed to my terms without hesitation.
He left with a smile, holding the contract I had just signed.
I struggled to my feet and headed straight for the hospital.
When I reached my mom’s room, what awaited me wasn’t her lying in bed but hospital staff clearing out the space.
A sudden wave of dread surged up inside me. I grabbed the nearest staff member's hand, trembling.
“The patient who was here—where is she?” I demanded.
She gave me an impatient glance.
“Dead,” she said flatly. “Family couldn’t pay the fees. She held on for a whole day before passing. Her body’s in the morgue.”
All of a sudden, the world tilted. I dropped to my knees on the cold floor, nearly fainting.
“No… that’s impossible. Bryson said he paid. How could she be dead?”
I shook my head frantically, refusing to believe it.
At the sound of Bryson’s name, the staff member suddenly became interested. She gave me a slow once-over, then sneered.
“Oh, so you’re that little homewrecker everyone’s been talking about? Everyone here knows Sir Bryson is Miss Debbii’s boyfriend. They’ve been childhood sweethearts. You’re the only shameless one trying to use your mom’s illness to cling to him.”
She let out a sharp laugh.
“Your mom’s medical fees? Nobody paid a cent. But yesterday, Miss Debbii took a full million from Sir Bryson and treated the hospital staff to afternoon tea. See? Some people are just born lucky while others aren’t. Guess you’ve finally learned your place, huh?”
Blood roared in my ears when I heard that. My eyes burned red, like they were bleeding.
So Bryson hadn’t refused to pay for my mom’s treatment.
It was Debbii—she’d taken the money and spent it on tea for the hospital staff?!
I couldn’t take it anymore. Shoving the staff member aside, I ran for the morgue.
The moment I pulled back the white sheet, my vision went black, and I collapsed onto the cold floor of the morgue.
