chapter 4

In the final second before I lost consciousness, I thought I saw flashes of bright light.

Then several dark figures cut through the water, swimming toward me fast.

A strong force lifted my body, dragging me violently out of the freezing lake.

I coughed harshly, struggling to catch my breath.

Fresh air rushed into my lungs as I collapsed on the cold ground, coughing violently. The water I spat out was laced with the metallic taste of blood.

A moment later, a warm coat was draped over my shoulders.

I forced my head up.

Through my blurred vision, a sharp, unfamiliar face came into focus.

He was half-kneeling beside me, his eyes brimming with unguarded worry and burning urgency.

"Winona," the man said, his deep voice steady but trembling slightly. "It's me, Marsh."

Marsh Wade.

From the Wade family.

My mind buzzed in shock.

He was the man Dad had once chosen for me in a marriage alliance.

I clung to his wrist like it was the last lifeline I had.

"My children…" I forced out the words with the last shred of my strength, my voice breaking. "Please… go to the swimming pool at the villa… save my three kids…"

Marsh clasped my icy hand and gently patted it.

"Don't worry."

Those two words drained the last bit of strength from me.

My vision went black, and I slipped into unconsciousness.

…

When I woke again, the faint scent of disinfectant filled my nose.

I was lying on a soft bed inside what looked like a VIP hospital suite.

I jerked my head to the side.

Beside me, three small hospital cribs stood in a row. Inside, Jasper, Rowan, and Dexter slept peacefully.

Their breathing was steady, their cheeks flushed with health.

For the first time, every nerve in my body relaxed.

Tears streamed down my face.

But then, a familiar hollow pain gripped my lower abdomen—an emptiness I knew all too well.

My heart was ripped apart again.

Fred… he was gone.

"Ms. Ford, you're awake."

A young nurse hurried over as soon as I opened my eyes, expertly checking my blood pressure and heart rate.

"You just had a miscarriage. Your body is very weak, so you must stay calm and avoid any emotional shock."

The door opened.

Marsh walked in. He had changed into clean casual clothes, his expression still serious, but his eyes on me were much gentler.

He gestured for the nurse to leave.

"My children…" My voice was still hoarse. "Fred… is he…"

Marsh's eyes darkened with gravity, but he didn't lie.

"I'm sorry. By the time you got to the hospital, his heartbeat was already gone.

He paused, then added, "The other three children are fine. After my team rescued them, the doctors ran a full check-up. They were just a little shaken."

Only then did I understand.

After I ran away from Lynchester, Dad and Marsh had been searching for me all along.

The new, silent bodyguard the Brown family had hired was sent by Marsh.

Once he confirmed my identity, he immediately reported it.

Then, Marsh fly overnight from thousands of miles away.

Luckily, he arrived in time.

"It's all my fault…"

I curled up in the blankets, finally breaking down and crying.

"If I hadn't run away… if I had listened to Dad… none of this would have happened…"

My children wouldn't have nearly drowned.

Fred wouldn't… just be gone like this.

"Everyone has to pay the price for their choices."

Marsh handed me a tissue, his voice calm.

"What matters now is learning to grow from it."

He looked at me, his gaze deep. "Mr. Ford will arrive in half an hour. His private plane has already landed."

My crying stalled. I stared at him in disbelief.

Dad… was coming?

Marsh suddenly asked, "What do you plan to do about Robin and Melanie?"

I wiped my tears and said each word slowly, "I want them to suffer, to the point that life is worse than death!"

Just then, Marsh's phone rang.

He picked up the phone, listened for a moment, his expression subtly shifting, then handed it to me.

"It's Mr. Ford. He wants to say a few words to you first."

I took the phone, trembling, and held it to my ear.

On the other end came a voice I had longed to hear day and night, yet felt ashamed to hear, urgent and overflowing with emotion.

"Winona… my daughter… you've suffered so much…"

Just that one sentence.

All the resentment and regret I had bottled up for two long years completely shattered in that moment.

"Dad!"