My Husband Freed the One Who Killed My Sister

Chapter 4

Then what had it all meant—the child she had lost, the fact that she would never be able to have another?

What had it meant that Liam had slaughtered his way through their enemies' hideout for her, then knelt beside her hospital bed and sworn he would never betray her?

Nora suddenly laughed.

Her eyes were red as she laughed, tears streaming down her face without end.

She let go of Olivia and moved the gun to her own chest. "If my death can buy Isla a doctor, then go ahead. Shoot."

Liam met her gaze, his eyes empty of everything but indifference. "That decision is Olivia's."

Nora's voice trembled. "So if she says no, Isla dies. Is that it?"

Liam said nothing.

And his silence was answer enough.

It felt as though countless frantic voices were screaming inside Nora's head. Her eyes burned crimson as she suddenly twisted around and snatched the gun back. "Then you can go to hell with her!"

She raised the gun to Liam's forehead and pulled the trigger without a moment's hesitation.

"Liam, watch out!"

In that split second, Olivia shrieked and threw herself forward, shoving Liam away.

The bullet grazed past her hair and struck her in the chest.

Her slight body swayed like a leaf falling in autumn, then crumpled softly into Liam's arms.

"Olivia…"

Liam's voice caught in his throat, every word trembling.

The next second, he lifted his eyes and looked at Nora. The killing intent in them was so cold, it was as if he had already torn her to pieces a thousand times over.

A doctor shoved Nora out of the ward. She could only stand there and watch as the man who had once taken bullets and knives for her, the man who had sworn to protect her all her life, now panicked, grieved, and unraveled beyond control for another woman.

Nora's fingers were white where they gripped the gun. She could barely feel her own heartbeat anymore.

When she finally returned to the ward, Vincent had already taken Isla away. All he left behind was a message she had not yet had time to read: Mrs. Bennett, Miss Collins's condition can't wait any longer. An old friend of mine happens to be a retired doctor. I'm taking her there first to see if he can help.

By the time Nora arrived at the old doctor's house, the makeshift operation was already over.

Fortunately, against all odds, Isla had survived.

But because treatment had come too late, she had still fallen into a coma.

While wiping his hands, the old doctor said, "The surgery saved her life, but her condition is still very serious. If she doesn't receive better treatment afterward, I can't say when she'll wake up."

"Mrs. Bennett, if possible, you need to get her to a proper hospital as soon as you can. I've done all I can."

After thanking the old doctor, Nora clasped Isla's hand tightly.

"Vincent, please stay here and look after her for now. Liam and Olivia won't be able to find this place."

Vincent nodded. "I understand, Mrs. Bennett. It's just that Miss Collins's condition…"

"I'll find a way to get her out of Stonevale."

Tears fell one by one onto Isla's pale skin. "She's my only family now. I can't… lose her too."

After a while, Nora wiped her tears away and prepared to go back to Bennett Manor to figure out her next move.

But just as her car neared the estate, the police knocked on her window. "Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Liam Bennett has reported you for illegal possession of a controlled firearm and for intentional assault. You'll need to come with us."

Liam had already made up his mind.

He was going to avenge Olivia—and teach Nora a lesson she would never forget.

With the evidence stacked against her, Nora had no way to defend herself. She was detained for seven days.

Her hands were cuffed behind her back as she was forced into the police car. By then, Liam's car was already parked outside the detention center, waiting.

Olivia had just come out of surgery. She leaned weakly against Liam's shoulder as he helped her slowly out of the car.

In her hands was a dessert box from the hardest-to-get shop in all of Stonevale.

A sharp pain stabbed through Nora's chest.

Suddenly, she remembered how, back then, Liam had been targeted by their enemies because he had gone out to buy desserts from that very shop for her when she was pregnant and craving them.

Even later, when Liam had dropped to his knees at her feet in tears and wrenched the knife from her hand before she could hurt herself, telling her none of it had been her fault…