She struggled to get up but then she clutched her ankle in pain as she winced.
Shane immediately checked her injury and without hesitation, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the hall in princess style. He was completely oblivious to the shocked gazes around them.
When I met my father’s gaze, I saw nothing but disappointment and anger in his eyes.
"Get out! Before my banquet starts, just get out! You’re an embarrassment!"
With that, he left as he wrapped onto my stepmother, who had just arrived.
Utterly defeated, I reached up to touch my swollen cheek and felt a slight dampness. It seemed her sharp nails had cut my skin.
I left the banquet and took a taxi to the hospital. On the way, I received a message from a friend. He was one of the judges for the competition.
"Samantha, what is going on? Shane had just called and withdrew your reward!" he asked.
I turned off my phone and closed my eyes in exhaustion.
Right at the entrance of the hospital building, I bumped into a doctor from the obstetrician and gynecologist department. He asked, "Miss Jenkins, what brings you to the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"
I shook my head, trying to smile, but the motion pulled at the cut on my cheek.
You need to take care of yourself because you have a weak body. No stress, no late nights, okay?" he advised.
Just then, a commotion erupted nearby. I looked up and saw Shane anxiously dragging an emergency doctor over to check on Clara.
"I understand," I muttered.
“Where's the father? I still have some precautions to explain to him!” he inquired.
I instinctively touched my lower abdomen and glanced toward Shane, who was holding Clara so tenderly. A bitter smile curled my lips and I said hesitantly, "The child had no father. I'll give birth to it alone."
The doctor looked momentarily surprised but softened his tone. "Your health is fragile and the pregnancy is unstable. You must be careful."
"Doctor, I’ve already contacted the hospital at the Trifecta Country and arranged to deliver there. I’m leaving tomorrow."
Just as I was about to leave, I received a message from Clara. [Can you believe it, Samantha? I just sprained my ankle and Shane rushed me to the hospital. He even gave me a lucky jade pendant!]
I opened the attached photo. My breath caught. That pendant was so familiar to me because it was my mother’s keepsake.
How did she get it?
I rushed to Clara's hospital room, only to find Shane meticulously peeling fruit for her. It was something he had never done for me.
"Clara! Give me back the jade pendant!" I shouted angrily.
Clara froze hearing my shout but with feigned innocent she asked, "Samantha, I don’t understand what you’re talking about."
Hearing the anger in my tone, Shane immediately stood in front of her to block her from me and looked at me condescendingly as he said, "Samantha, I thought you came to apologize. I didn’t expect you to act so ungrateful!"
I thought I could stay indifferent, but the coldness in his eyes pierced me like an icy dagger.
"Shane! How could you give my mother’s pendant away?" I shouted.
"It’s just a useless broken jade pendant! Why are you so worked up?" he asked.
Smack! I was so angry that I slapped him.
"That’s not just an ordinary pendant! It’s the only thing my mother left me!" I yelled.
Shane’s face darkened with regret, but before he could say anything, Clara who saw his expression suddenly shouted with rage, "Samantha! What right do you have to hit him? Isn't it just a trash? I'll return this to you!"
Before I could do anything, she had hurled the pendant hard to the floor and it shattered into several pieces.
A crushing weight pressed against my chest and I gasped for breath.
"Ah! Clara! Look at your face!"
A shard had bounced up and cut Clara's cheek. Seeing this, Shane panicked and ran to call the doctor.
My eyes zeroed to Clara who had shed all her pretense from her demeanor. Seeing the smugness in her eyes, I asked in a hoarse voice, "You've taken away my father and Shane, so tell me Clara, why are you doing this?"
