Chapter 2
Brianna's POV
"Inject the sedative. Start immediately."
At Warren’s command, Dr. Vance raised the syringe, pinning down the crying, struggling Lydia on the operating table.
"No—Mommy! I’m scared!"
That scream shattered my remaining sanity. I broke free from Warren and charged into the operating room. "Let her go! Inject her and I’ll tear you apart!"
Just steps from the operating table, Warren grabbed me by the waist from behind and dragged me back.
"Brianna, that’s enough."
I turned and slapped him hard across the face.
Warren turned his head back slowly, his grey-blue eyes cold with the indignation of an offended Alpha.
"You are putting your own child on a test bed for Lorelei’s daughter," I trembled all over. "You don't deserve to be her father."
He didn't answer. A sharp pain pricked the side of my neck. I looked at the syringe in his hand in utter shock. "You..."
My vision blurred rapidly. Before I collapsed, I only heard Lydia’s heartbreaking screams.
When I woke up, daylight was streaming through the window. My head was heavy and throbbing, but the thought of Lydia snapped me into instant terror. Without even putting on shoes, I stumbled straight toward the operating room.
"Lydia! Mommy’s here!"
I pushed open the door. It was completely empty, save for a pool of dark red, dried blood in the center of the operating table, almost soaking through half the sheet.
"No... Lydia!"
Cold dread consumed me. I searched the hallways frantically. Near total despair, laughter drifted out from a VIP ward. The door was ajar. Through the crack—Warren sat on the sofa, gently feeding peeled grapes into Clarissa’s mouth one by one. Lorelei leaned happily on his shoulder.
That scene stabbed straight into my heart like a poisoned dagger. My daughter was missing, her life unknown, yet here he was, playing the doting father.
"Warren Crawford!" I kicked the ward door open. "Where is Lydia? Where is my daughter?!"
The loud crash frightened Clarissa into crying out. "Daddy Warren! The bad woman wants to kill me!"
Lorelei turned pale and instantly dropped to her knees, sobbing pitifully. "Brianna, please don't hurt Clarissa. Blame me if you must, I was the one who begged Warren to save my child... You can hit me or curse me, just spare us!"
Her pathetic act completely ignited my fury.
"Shut up!" I backhanded her across the face.
Lorelei screamed and hit the floor, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
"Lorelei!" Warren’s expression changed drastically. He pulled her into his arms and turned to glare at me coldly. "This is a hospital, not a place for your tantrums!"
"Tantrums?!" I pointed at the empty operating room, screaming at the top of my lungs. "She used my six-year-old daughter for human drug testing! The operating table is covered in her blood! Tell me, where is Lydia?!"
"Enough!" Warren shoved me roughly to the ground. "I’ve already arranged the best doctors to examine her. It was just an experimental drug, it won't kill her! Do you have to make a scene in the hospital? Look how sensible Lorelei is, and look at you—you’re acting like a lunatic!"
I hit the floor hard, scraping my knees, but I felt no pain. I just stared at him. "I’m only asking you one thing. Where is Lydia?"
Warren looked toward the empty operating room in the distance, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by defensive anger. "Lydia will be fine. Get out! Don't disturb Clarissa’s rest!"
Suppressing my tears, I searched the hallway room by room, but couldn't find her anywhere.
Just as despair hit, a hand reached out from behind a corner and grabbed my arm. It was Nurse Sarah. She glanced left and right, whispering, "Follow me, quick!"
My heart leaped. I followed her into a quiet back hallway. Sarah’s hands were shaking. "My parents are bedridden and need money to survive. I daren't offend Dr. Vance, but I have a daughter her age. I look at her and see my own kid." She bit her lip and pointed to the storage room at the end of the hall. "The child is inside. That’s all I can do." Before she finished speaking, she turned and hurried away.
I rushed into the storage room and found Lydia in a dark corner.
She lay on the freezing floor like a discarded rag doll, drenched in blood. The wound on her abdomen was still oozing.
"Lydia!" I fell to my knees, picking her up with trembling arms. Her body was terrifyingly cold, her breathing so faint it was barely perceptible.
"Mommy..." She slowly opened her weak eyes. "Mommy, don't cry... Lydia won't eat apple pie ever again... Lydia will be good..."
"It’s Mommy’s fault! Mommy will take you to a doctor!" Tears flooded my eyes as I held her tight.
Her tiny hand weakly gripped my collar, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. "Mommy... if I die, will Daddy regret it? Will he like me just a little bit?"
"You won't die! You’re not going to die!"
Completely broken, I carried her and ran out into the hallway, screaming frantically, "Doctor! Help! Save my child!"
Several medical staff ran over from the nurses' station. Before they reached us, a nurse shouted, "Alpha’s orders! Miss Clarissa is experiencing drug rejection. All doctors must report to her VIP room for a consultation immediately!"
The medical staff turned away one by one, rushing toward the VIP ward without looking back. In the empty corridor, only I and the dying Lydia remained.
Desperate, I carried my child and charged toward the VIP ward. "Warren! Save Lydia! She’s really dying!"
Two guards blocked the door firmly. From inside, Warren’s impatient voice drifted out: "Let her make a scene outside. Don't let her disturb the doctors checking on Clarissa."
Then came Lorelei’s fragile voice: "How do you guards do your job? The Alpha said he doesn't want noise. Throw this mother and daughter out!"
"Understood."
The two guards grabbed me, dragging me and my dying child toward the hospital entrance like trash. The doors slammed shut behind us.
I wrapped Lydia in my arms, frantically rubbing her freezing hands.
"Wake up, baby. Look at Mommy. We’re going home."
Her eyelashes fluttered weakly.
"Mommy... I’m cold..."
"I’m holding you. You won't be cold soon."
"Will Daddy... come home too?"
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.
She never got her answer. The breathing in my arms grew lighter and lighter, until it stopped completely. The little hand clutching my shirt slowly slipped down, and her body gradually turned stiff in the morning breeze.
