Chapter 3

Chloe froze completely, her breath hitching in her throat.

She stopped crying, staring at me with wide, terrified eyes as if she were looking at a literal demon.

I reached out and gently stroked her hair, my touch soft and warm.

Then, I whispered with a twisted grin,

"Just kidding."

"With me around, Lily won't die that easily."

I turned back to Julian, offering him a radiant smile.

"Julian, I'll be Lily's primary doctor."

"Don't worry. I will do absolutely everything in my power to keep her alive."

Seeing that I was not only willing to forgive him but also save Chloe's child, Julian was ecstatic. He agreed instantly without a second thought.

In contrast, Chloe, who had been playing the submissive victim, started screaming in sheer terror.

She grabbed my clothes, shaking me violently.

"No! Keep away from Lily!"

"You're insane! You're going to murder her! You want revenge!"

I stumbled backward under her aggressive shoving.

Thankfully, Julian caught me. He shoved Chloe away, barking at her in fury.

"What is wrong with you?!"

"I haven't even settled the score with you about those text messages! Now that Elena has graciously agreed to save Lily, why are you throwing a tantrum?!"

Chloe pointed a trembling finger at me, her eyes filled with dread.

But all Julian saw was me, leaning weakly against his chest, tears pooling in my eyes.

I looked so fragile, so broken.

It was the exact same helpless, innocent act Chloe had used against me for years.

Chloe was on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.

She clenched her fists so hard her nails drew blood, forcing herself to calm down.

She looked at me and forced out an apology.

"I'm sorry, Elena. I was just... too emotional. I didn't mean what I said."

"Please don't take it to heart."

My smile remained bright, but my eyes were dead and freezing cold.

"It's fine, Chloe. I just got out of prison, so it's completely normal for you to be this excited to see me."

"I'm incredibly excited too. We have plenty of time ahead of us."

With that, I gently detangled myself from Julian’s embrace. I pushed open the door to the VIP ward to check on Lily.

The little girl looked just as terrified of me as her mother was.

But with Julian standing right there, she could only lie still and let me perform a series of physical examinations.

I flipped through her latest lab reports and spoke in a calm, professional tone.

"Lily's condition is indeed severe. She needs immediate surgery. Any further delay will be fatal."

"Let's schedule it for the day after tomorrow. I will perform the operation myself. Once it's done, she will be fully cured."

Hearing this, Julian pulled me into a joyful embrace, pressing his lips against my cheek.

"Elena, thank you! Thank you so much! I knew you wouldn't let Lily die!"

Only Chloe glared at me with pure, unadulterated hatred from the corner of the room.

But because Julian was watching, she had to force a fake, painful smile.

In that exact moment, a realization washed over me.

Ah.

Being the bad guy...

Actually felt incredibly good.

Later that evening, after I finished showering in Julian’s luxury mansion, Chloe blocked my path at the top of the stairs.

She grabbed my wrist with a iron grip, her voice a venomous hiss.

"Tell me the truth. You're going to kill Lily on that operating table, aren't you?"

"You pathetic loser. Did the prison guards I paid not teach you how to behave over the last three years? The moment you get out, you immediately try to seduce Julian again. Go tell him the surgery is canceled, or else... I will make your life a living hell!"

I looked down at my wrist, watching a red bruise slowly form under her grip.

I let out a low, dark laugh.

"What are you so terrified of, Chloe?"

"Every surgery carries a risk of mortality. If Lily dies on the table, it's just her bad luck for having a mother like you."

"Besides, Julian is waiting for me in the master bedroom right now. Don't worry, he won't grieve for Lily for too long. We will have another baby very soon."

My blatant provocation pushed Chloe over the edge.

She bared her teeth, her voice shaking with rage.

"You will regret this!"

"I am throwing you out of this house tonight!"

With a sudden burst of strength, Chloe dragged me toward the edge of the staircase.

She released her grip and threw her own body backward, screaming at the top of her lungs.

"Ah—!"