Chapter 3

I opened the car door to find that Zoe was already sitting in the passenger seat.

Before she could speak, Leonard explained, "The back seat has more space. It''s more comfortable for you to sit there."

The custom-made pregnancy seatbelt hung beneath the seat. I placed my things without saying anything and quietly got in the car.

As long as Zoe was around, I would always be in second place.

The atmosphere was tense. Leonard tried to start a conversation, saying, "You brought so many flowers? Your father must be pleased in the afterlife.

"If he knew that his daughter, who traded her life for his, was so filial, he would be happy even in the afterlife."

His words were insincere. If it weren''t for the two of them, my father wouldn''t have died. How could he be happy, all alone in the underworld?

I replied coldly, "It''s been three years. That''s why this much is needed."

Zoe rolled her eyes and lightly reproached me, "Why are you sulking so early in the morning? Do you think that you''re the only one who''s sad about Dad''s death? Leonard, let''s not pay her any attention."

They started discussing the new variety show that Leonard''s company, Gallagher Group, was investing in. Zoe was the rising star they were promoting.

She made countless requests, her mouth continuously flapping. Leonard, however, looked at her with affection and smiled indulgently as he agreed to each one.

On the vast, snowy road, it was clear that I was the only one who was truly heartbroken.

I remembered that it had been three years since new soil had been added to my father''s grave. I opened the inheritance account my father had left behind. The 300 thousand dollars was gone.

I checked the details, and the remittance came from Eden Plastic Surgery, with the note—"Eye repair surgery."

My eyes fell on the transaction date, and the impact hit me like a heavy blow to the head. It was on the eighth day of the New Year, the day my father died.

It was because of a failed cosmetic procedure that my father had died saving Zoe. She felt no guilt and had even used his life savings on this.

A deep sadness filled my heart, and I felt how unjust it was for him.

On the way to the grave, I held my stomach, walking ahead with uneven steps.

Behind me, Leonard carried Zoe.

I glanced back. She whispered in his ear, and his face was full of youthful innocence, joy shining as if he had found a treasure.

He deliberately walked slowly. Snow gathered on his shoulders, and his perfectly tailored suit was covered in mud. Perhaps he was hoping to grow old with her.

The phone rang, and he freed one hand to answer.

"Mr. Gallagher, Mrs. Gallagher''s pregnancy has caused Ms. Zoe''s skin to become mismatched. The rejection is severe!"

Zoe''s face instantly darkened. I turned around as if I hadn''t heard anything and quickened my pace.

For a brief moment, I felt a sense of relief.

It was my father who had saved me. He knew the pain I had endured.

Standing before the headstone, I opened the cloth bundle. It wasn''t filled with flowers but photos from the past three years.

Each photo had been torn from the pictures I had taken with Leonard.

My father hadn''t been able to see me for the last time before he died, so I burned these photos for him to see.

"Just wait, Dad. I''ll join you soon," I murmured.

The wedding photos burned to ashes before Leonard and Zoe finally arrived.

With tears in my eyes, I prepared to kneel and bow. But Leonard removed his suit jacket and placed it beneath my knees.

His expression was one of concern. "The ground is cold, Alicia. Kneel on this, and don''t press on your stomach."

Zoe sneered, clearly having no intention of kneeling. She was the one who should apologize to my father.

I urged angrily, "Zoe, kneel and bow to Dad!"

"Zoe is wearing a short skirt, so it''s not convenient for her to kneel. It''s fine as long as her heart is in the right place." Leonard shielded Zoe by standing behind her.

I stood up straighter, my eyes red. "It''s a must. Wasn''t it you who set the fire that killed Dad?"

Both of them froze. Zoe squeezed out some tears and unwillingly knelt.

Leonard was driven mad with distress. "Alicia, are you done? Zoe didn''t even know that Lewis was home when the fire happened. Besides, even Lewis didn''t blame her. What right do you have to blame her?"

Zoe covered her face and started crying.

"Enough, Leonard. The sight of Dad''s burn injuries when he died trying to save me is a nightmare I can''t forget. I owe Alicia everything. If she wants to uncover my scars, let her!"

It again became my fault, as it had been all my life. Everyone in the family favored her except for my father... but he had left me.

I didn''t want to argue anymore. I simply knelt and bowed.

As I bowed, Zoe whispered, "The fire was intentional. That old man wouldn''t give me the money for surgery when he was alive, so I had to make him die. Now, I can have his inheritance!

"Before Dad breathed his last breath, he saw me take the blood you gave him and immediately understood the situation. Do you think he died out of pain or anger?"

I reached into my pocket and pressed the button to pause the recording.

When I saw the transfer receipt, I sensed that something was wrong. Even after hearing the truth, I found it hard to accept.

My body trembled, and my fists clenched. Dirt wedged into my nails. I struggled to stand, but my body gave way, and I collapsed.

Leonard had poured the medicine onto my collar.

The last thing I saw before I passed out was Zoe''s smug smile.

Perhaps because of overuse, but I had developed a resistance to the drug.

In the hospital, I regained consciousness, but my body was immobile.

With all my strength, I started recording once more.

"Umbilical cord blood may have cosmetic benefits, but extracting it early could cause premature birth, and the mother could face life-threatening complications!

"This is the last thing I can do for Zoe. The baby''s six months old. It''s not too small, and I''m confident that I can keep it alive. As for Alicia, she''s been through multiple resuscitations and always comes back from the brink of death, so there''s nothing to worry about."

On the operating table, I fainted from pain, no longer breathing.

The doctors, however, focused on saving my baby.

Leonard immediately stood up and ordered, "Save Alicia!"

"I''m sorry, but the patient has previously signed a do-not-resuscitate agreement. We must respect her wishes."