She Called Me Fake, I Outshone Her

Chapter 3

My eyes burned red with anger.

"She isn't even six years old yet... how could you give her sleeping pills? I thought you were at most reckless, but I never imagined you could be so cruel!"

Before Thessaly could reply, I had already lifted Lila into my arms and rushed toward the car.

"Get us to the hospital quickly."

Thessaly clung tightly to Caelan's hand, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Honey, I only wanted our daughter to fall asleep sooner..."

But this time, Caelan did not even glance at her. He started the engine and drove away at once.

Thankfully, we arrived at the hospital on time.

Lila's stomach was pumped, and her life was no longer in danger. However, she would need to stay under observation for several days.

Looking down at Lila's pale face, I noticed the dark circles beneath Caelan's eyes had grown deeper than before.

He spoke to me with sincere regret, apologized formally, and asked if I would continue staying at the hospital to look after Lila.

"You have my word, I will speak with Thessaly properly about this," he said. "The child is innocent. I hope you will not hold what the adults have done against her."

Caelan was always generous. He transferred another one million dollars into my account.

Feeling suddenly energized, I promised him immediately.

"Mr. Alderidge, you can rest assured I will care for Lila as if she were my own daughter."

For the next few days, I enjoyed a rare stretch of quiet and calm at the hospital.

Then Coralie called me, her tone full of exasperation.

"Caelan and Thessaly are back together again. I heard that just recently, Caelan was all set to file for divorce, but Thessaly threatened to harm herself, so he called it off. After everything that happened, what on earth did Thessaly do to finally make him see straight?"

I told her everything about the sleeping pills.

Coralie responded with a sharp, angry remark about Thessaly's character and choices.

"Just be careful, though. Word is that the Alderidge family is planning a large gathering soon... it's meant to celebrate Lila's sixth birthday, and also to announce to everyone in their circle that Thessaly is back in her place as Mrs. Alderidge. And from what I hear, Thessaly is organizing the whole event herself."

I assumed that as a child therapist, I would not be invited to such an exclusive gathering, so I did not give it much thought.

But when the day of the reception arrived, Lila refused to let go of my hand.

She had relied on me from the time she was small, and during her hospital stay. When she felt most vulnerable, I had stayed by her side the entire time.

"Jovana, please come with us," Caelan said, addressing me directly.

Standing beside him with their fingers intertwined, Thessaly gritted her teeth in frustration, though she did not openly challenge me as she had done in the past.

Inside the grand hall, guests chatted and glasses clinked, creating an atmosphere of harmony and celebration.

I spotted Coralie across the room, walked over with Lila in my arms, and said, "It seems Caelan's decision to seek a divorce finally made Thessaly act more reasonably..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Coralie and I were suddenly seized.

Three or four men disguised as waiters pulled small knives from under the tables, grabbed hold of us firmly, and pressed the blades against our necks.

I could hardly believe it. I was still holding the child. Thankfully, Lila did not seem frightened; she simply stared with wide, curious eyes, looking all around her.

Taken completely by surprise, the guests screamed and rushed toward the exits.

At that moment, Thessaly's voice rang out, high and trembling.

"Honey, save me..."

Had she been taken hostage as well?

While everyone else fled, Caelan pushed against the crowd and moved toward us, his voice steady and firm.

"What do you want? Name your price... money, cars, even a private jet? I will give you anything you ask, just let them go! Do not hurt them!"

The leader of the kidnappers let out a harsh, mocking laugh.

"To think that the great Mr. Alderidge would one day be on his knees begging me! Unfortunately, I don't want any of those things. I want the woman you love most to die! You have three here. Choose one to live, and the other two will die..." His words hung in the air.

Caelan, Coralie, and I all frowned in shock and alarm. Only Thessaly began to scream in panic.

"Honey, help me! You promised you would protect me forever!" Coralie let out a groan of disbelief. "Wait a minute... if he's supposed to be choosing the woman he loves most, why am I being held here too?"

The kidnapper sneered. "Everyone knows the two of you, Jovana and Coralie, are just stand-ins. We want to see... will our distinguished Mr. Alderidge choose his true love, or one of her replacements? This should be very interesting to watch."

Having heard this same twisted idea many times before, we all instinctively turned our gaze toward Thessaly.

After all, she was the only one who truly believed that Coralie and I were mere substitutes.

Feeling all three pairs of eyes on her, Thessaly looked up at Caelan with tears streaming down her face.

"Honey, you don't believe what they say, do you?"

Caelan's lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but before he could say a word, the kidnapper dragged the blade across my cheek.

"Enough talking! Mr. Alderidge, make your choice now!"

My face burned with sharp pain, and warm blood began to trickle down my skin.

Without hesitation, the man shifted the knife and pressed it against Coralie's face.

"Any longer, and this pretty lady will be scarred too."

Coralie shouted a stream of furious threats, her voice sharp and unyielding.

"Caelan Alderidge... if you let anything happen to Jovana or me, I swear I will bring down your entire family's business and leave you with nothing!"

At that moment, Lila, sensing the danger around her, tightened her arms around my neck and began to cry loudly.

Thessaly continued to sob, her voice shaking. "Honey, please save me..."

"Quiet, all of you!" the kidnapper roared. "Caelan Alderidge, you have five seconds left to decide."

"Five."

"Four."

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

"Wait!" Caelan shouted. "I choose..."