Chapter 4

"You're Elena Sterling?"

Hailey stood over me, looking down as I was pulled back onto the rooftop. Her pupils dilated with fear.

I sneered, "What? Believe me now?"

"Have you ever seen Ethan this terrified?"

But the next second, her trembling stopped, and a manic look flashed in her eyes.

"No! That's impossible!"

"I am Ethan's wife! I am the rightful Mrs. Vance!"

She screamed, pulling a marriage certificate out of her bag and slamming it against my chest. "You're just a side chick who can't face the light!"

Hesitantly, I opened the certificate. My brows furrowed deeply.

The red seal, the watermark, the serial number...

Everything told me this marriage certificate was real.

Then I remembered our wedding three years ago.

Ethan had insisted on going to the county clerk's office alone to handle the paperwork, claiming he didn't want me to get tired.

I burst into laughter.

I laughed at my own stupidity.

I had been fooled by this scumbag for years.

I looked up at Hailey, my eyes filled with endless hatred.

"Great. You two can keep each other company on the road to hell legally."

"You're the side chick! Why are you acting so righteous?!" Hailey screamed.

She panted, her voice dropping, "But... Ethan has never raised his voice at me. Yes, it must be you! You seduced him!"

"You knew he wanted a baby, so you got pregnant by some random guy to trap him, didn't you?"

"This baby can't be Ethan's... it's impossible..."

With a crazed look in her eyes, Hailey picked up the knife from the floor and held it high above me.

"Once I kill the bastard in your womb, you'll be next!"

As the blade came down, I realized what she was doing.

I scrambled to roll away.

Seeing me struggle, Hailey screamed hysterically, "Pin her down! Once she's dead, Ethan will only love me!"

The bodyguards pinned my arms and legs. I watched Hailey raise the knife again.

"Hailey! Don't you dare..."

"Ahhh!"

The excruciating pain of the blade piercing my body cut off my scream.

The waves of pain kept me conscious.

I screamed until my voice went hoarse, finally turning my head weakly.

I saw Christian, who had been on the verge of death, crawling toward me with immense effort.

"Elena... wait for me... Christian is coming to save you..."

His eyes were bloodshot, tears streaming down his face.

With every inch he crawled, the arrows in his chest dug deeper.

Looking at the trail of blood behind him, my heart shattered.

"Christian! Stop moving! Just run! Leave me!"

But he kept crawling, his voice fading.

"I'm not leaving... I won't let... my sister... suffer..."

But I had never seen my brilliant, proud brother in such a pathetic state...

I fought uselessly against the hands pinning me down, regret consuming me.

If only... if only I hadn't insisted on marrying Ethan.

If only I had cut Ethan off the moment I heard rumors of his affair.

My baby wouldn't have died, and my brother wouldn't be in this state.

I turned and glared at Hailey, screaming with all my might, "Hailey Miller! You and Ethan Vance will pay for my brother and my baby in blood!"

Hailey didn't care at all.

"No one can save you today! You're both going to die!!"

"Stop!"

Ethan stumbled through the rooftop door, his face turning pale as death at the sight.

The next second, dozens of private helicopters circled above the rooftop.

My father, William Sterling, stood at the open cabin door, looking down at the scene.

"You dare touch my children? You're dead!"