He Chose His Stepsister, I Married A Tycoon

Chapter 5

I looked at my mom in panic. Her whole body was trembling violently, both hands clutching the blanket so tightly her knuckles had turned white.

"Mom, calm down, please. Your body can't handle this. I'll make them leave right now."

Flustered, I rushed forward to push Hedy out of the room. But somehow, the person in front of me became Daisy instead.

She suddenly cried out and fell hard onto the floor. Blood immediately spread beneath her.

"My stomach hurts so bad! Larry, save me..."

Larry instantly scooped her into his arms and ran toward the emergency room.

Hedy followed closely behind. Oddly enough, though, she didn't actually look that worried.

I didn't have time to think about what kind of game they were playing. My mom collapsed right in front of me.

I caught her desperately, holding onto her like she was the last thing keeping me alive.

Suddenly, a violent force yanked me backward.

I turned around and saw Larry standing there, his sleeve stained with blood.

His face twisted with fury. Then he slapped me across the face.

"Your mom's life matters, but Daisy and the baby's don't? If anything happens to them, I swear I'll never let you off the hook!"

As if that wasn't enough, Larry raised his hand again.

"No one gets to bully my daughter!"

Summoning the last of her strength, my mother shoved Larry away before he could hit me again. Then she coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the floor.

"Mom!"

Larry let out a cold scoff and walked away without even turning back.

I ran through the hospital like a madwoman searching for doctors. I slammed into walls so hard my arms bruised purple, but I didn't even notice.

Then I heard the cruelest thing imaginable. Every available doctor in the hospital had been called away by Larry to treat Daisy.

My legs nearly gave out beneath me. I stumbled all the way to the operating room and begged him.

"Please... give my mom's doctor back."

Larry didn't even blink.

"No. Unless you kneel and apologize to Daisy."

"Fine." The words tore out of my throat.

Then, with every last piece of pride shattered, I dropped heavily to my knees outside the operating room.

"Daisy... I'm sorry."

Hedy immediately smiled smugly. "Oh dear, there's no need for this. Our Daisy is sweet and kind. She'd never hold a grudge against her own sister. But you should really learn your place in the future. Don't mess with people you can't afford to offend."

Hedy's ridicule and the judgment in everyone's eyes made my skin crawl. I felt exposed, humiliated, like a thousand tiny needles pressing into me all at once.

I hugged my shaking arms tightly and forced myself to ask again. "Now can my mom have her doctor back?"

Larry's expression didn't soften in the slightest.

"Your mom's probably faking it anyway. And even if she really dies, then she'll just be paying for Daisy's suffering. A daughter's debt, paid by the mother. Sounds fair to me."

Before I could react, his bodyguards dragged me away and threw me outside.

At that moment, I truly wanted to run back in there and destroy every single one of them. Even if it meant dying together.

But a nurse's panicked voice snapped me back to reality.

"Ms. Clark, your mother's condition is critical. Go see her now."

Everything else disappeared from my mind instantly. I ran toward mt mother's room as fast as I could.

When I got there, my mother weakly held my hand. "It's my fault. I failed to protect you. And I won't be able to protect you anymore."

I shook my head desperately, crying so hard I could barely breathe.

"No... no... As long as you're alive, that's enough for me. Please don't leave me..."

By the end, my voice had completely broken.

My mother's eyes were full of heartbreak and reluctance.

"Just promise me you'll live well. Whether you end up with the person I chose… or by yourself… you'll be okay either way."

Her voice became weaker with every word until there was nothing left but silence.

Slowly, the warmth faded from the hands that had always touched me so gently.

"Mom!"

I cried for an entire day and night. My tears ran dry. My throat became so hoarse I couldn't even speak anymore. But no matter how much I begged, I couldn't bring back the last family member I had left.

After barely holding myself together long enough to finish the funeral, I walked numbly toward the cemetery exit.

Then suddenly, someone grabbed my wrist hard. Larry stood at the entrance with anger written all over his face.

"You disappear on our wedding day and can't even send a text?"

His jaw tightened as he looked me up and down.

“And what's with the funeral outfit? Jesus, don't tell me you're trying to act like your mom's actually dead."

I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "You always thought my mom was a burden anyway. So congratulations. You got what you wanted. She died."

The color drained from Larry's face.

"...What?"