Chapter 4

Belen held herself tightly and trembled with fear. She repeatedly prayed silently for Ellen.

Three hours later, the door to the operating room was open. The doctor announced that Belen was out of danger, but her lung infection was severe and that she had to be hospitalized for a few more days.

Belen worriedly followed the nurse to transfer Ellen to the ward.

She stayed by the bedside and was almost sleepless through the whole night.

The next day, Belen finally awoke. "Belen, why did Lanny do this? I have watched him grow. How could he..."

"Mom, I'm sorry." Belen felt deeply guilty. "It's all my fault. I lied to you before. I was not in a relationship with Lanny back then. He and I..."

She looked into Ellen's eyes but couldn't tell the latter the truth.

Belen was stunned. Then she had a vague guess. "You silly girl..."

Belen dared not meet Ellen's gaze, and tears brimmed in her eyes.

"Don't cry. Lanny doesn't deserve you." Ellen lovingly caressed Belen's cheek. "It's okay. We have four days left before we leave here. After that, we'll cut all ties with that scoundrel."

"Okay," Belen replied and sobbed.

At that moment, the door to the ward was pushed open.

Lanny strode in. He looked grave. "Belen, where are you going?"

"Get out!" Belen pushed him forcefully. "Haven't you done enough harm to my mom? How dare you come here?"

Lanny didn't ask further but looked at Ellen. "Mrs. Gilbert, I'm here to apologize to you. I didn't intend to harm you. Belen hired someone to kidnap my girlfriend, so I had no choice."

With that, he turned and left.

The next day, Belen went downstairs to buy breakfast. She spotted Jayde near the fountain, and she was pushing a wheelchair. An elderly woman with gray hair was in it.

"Jayde, your boyfriend offered to pay my medical expenses, but I refused, as you suggested..."

"Grandma, you did well," Jayde chuckled softly. "He admires me for being stubborn and arrogant. It's a long game to catch such a big fish. The money we're losing now is nothing. Lanny is not doing what he should be doing now. He will eventually leave the fighting world to inherit his family's business. After I get married to him, we won't have to live a hard life anymore."

As she finished, she noticed Belen was watching her. She met Belen's gaze and stammered, "Belen..."

Belen didn't stop walking, but Jayde grabbed her wrist. "Grandma, this is the Belen. We went to the same school. She is a top student." Jayde eagerly introduced Belen to the old lady. "Belen, this is my grandma."

"If you want to seduce Lanny, go ahead, but please leave me out of it." Belen shook off Jayde's hand.

"I'm really sorry," Jayde abruptly apologized. "I just wanted to know how important I was in Lanny's heart. I didn't expect it would cause you so much harm. How's your mother doing?"

Upon hearing that, Belen clenched her teeth. "Do you have the nerve to ask me that?"

"Sorry," Jayde said. Her innocent eyes widened. "I truly didn't know he cared about me so much that he would threaten your mother's life..."

"Shut up!" Belen clenched her fists and desperately tried to suppress her anger.

In the next moment, Jayde gripped Belen's hand tightly and forced it onto the wheelchair.

Before Belen could react, the wheelchair tipped over into the fountain pool.

Jayde's grandma tumbled into the water.

"Ah-" Jayde screamed in panic. "Grandma. Grandma!"

The piercing scream quickly attracted a crowd.

Lanny rushed over from a distance after he saw what was going on. He swiftly helped Jayde's grandmother out of the water.

Jayde saw her grandma's forehead bleeding profusely and cried uncontrollably. "Belen held a grudge for the incident yesterday and purposely pushed my grandma into the water..."

With those words, she got down on her knees in front of Belen.

"I'm sorry." Jayde sniffed and said, "You can vent your anger on me, not an eighty-year-old woman. Grandma is my only family left. I promise I'll stay far away from Lanny..."

Lanny's expression changed drastically as soon as he heard Jayde's words. "Belen, you're courting death!"

Slap-

He then slapped Belen across her right cheek.

The crowd gasped.

Belen felt her cheek burn and sting, and soon he gave her another slap.

"We have known each other for so many years, but I never knew you could be so heartless." Lanny was furious, and his eyes were full of disappointment. "Apologize to Jayde and her grandma!"

"I didn't harm anyone. Why should I apologize?" Belen glared at Lanny, and she was completely disappointed. "Why are you sure that I pushed her? You believe whatever she says. Lanny, you'll realize how ridiculous you are one day."

Her heart felt numb from the pain.

How could she have been so blind to fall for such a jerk?

"I told you to apologize. Didn't you hear me?" Lanny's gaze was icy.

Belen raised her hand and intended to slap him, but he caught her wrist.

"Mr. Lewis, please take my grandma to get her wounds dressed..." Jayde said weakly.

Lanny frowned and pushed Belen away. Then he gently put the elderly woman back in the wheelchair.

Belen stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

Just then, a girl wearing a baseball cap walked over with her phone in her hand. "Excuse me, I was recording a video earlier and accidentally captured that woman deliberately pulling your hand to touch the wheelchair. Do you want the video?"