Chapter 2

Marcia wiped away her tears and stood outside the emergency room, feeling a mix of anger and fear, overwhelmed by confusion and helplessness.

Suddenly, the emergency room door opened, and William was pushed out by a nurse, wearing an oxygen mask.

His face was pale, twisted, and lifeless, as if he had just emerged from a coffin. The stroke had robbed him of speech, but his weary eyes fixed on the bruises on Marcia's face, and he struggled to speak, only to choke on his own saliva.

Tears streamed down Marcia's face again. "Dad, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have... ignored your advice and married Alan. I'm sorry..."

William trembled, pointing at the bruises on Marcia's face, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

Marcia forced herself to help her father back to his room. William pointed at her face, a mix of saliva and tears running down, completely unlike the commanding figure he once was.

Marcia felt a pang of sorrow but managed to smile weakly. "Dad, I'm fine. I just... fell..."

William's tears flowed freely, and he tried to lift his trembling hand to hold Marcia's. But just then, the door burst open.

Alan stormed in, impeccably dressed. "BITCH! How dare you touch my mother!"

He grabbed Marcia by the throat, rage radiating from him.

"Ugh!" William, seeing his daughter being attacked, gasped and struggled to move closer.

Alan slapped Marcia hard, sending her crashing to the ground like a worn-out doll, a cruel smile forming on his lips.

He turned to William. "William Roberts, you looked down on me before. Now, you're about to go bankrupt! What right do you have to be arrogant? And your precious daughter? Hahaha!" He yanked Marcia's hair, sneering, "You thought I was beneath her? Well, I don't want her anymore! Without money, who would want this filthy bitch?"

"Alan, watch out!"

Kate's panicked voice came from the doorway.

Alan turned just in time to see Marcia struggle to her feet, a vase in hand, swinging it toward him with all her might.

He pushed William aside, blocking her with one hand while swinging a vase back at her head.

Kate rushed forward and kicked Marcia in the stomach repeatedly, shouting, "Bitch!"

Marcia gritted her teeth, her hair matted with blood, glaring at Kate and Alan with the fierce intensity of a wounded wolf.

Pain surged through her abdomen, followed by a warm rush down her thighs as blood began to seep out.

"What's happening?" Alan grabbed Kate.

Kate looked down, horrified. "Alan, she... she's pregnant?"

Alan's face went pale, and he clenched Marcia's chin tightly. "How dare you betray me? Tell me, whose is it?"

He picked up a nearby stool and struck Marcia repeatedly on her abdomen, each hit harder than the last, when a loud thud interrupted him.

William had struggled and fallen off the bed.

"Cia... Cia..." he called, his voice slurred. Seeing the blood on his daughter's body made him tremble even more, gasping for breath, his eyes filled with hatred and despair.

Marcia, already reeling from Alan's blows, found a flicker of clarity upon hearing her father's voice.

"Dad, Dad... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Tears mixed with blood streamed down her face as she crawled toward William, leaving a long trail of blood behind her.

Just as she reached for his hand, Alan stomped down on hers, growling, "Bitch, tell me, who's the father?"

The pain was numbing. Marcia looked at William, who was trembling, his eyes fixed on her.

"HELP HIM. SAVE MY DAD!" Panic clawed at her as she struggled to reach him, but then William's head tilted to the side, a tear rolling down his cheek, and he drew his last breath...

In just a few days, Marcia lost everything...