She ran after the rolling hospital bed like a madwoman, clutching her brother's blood-soaked hand.
His lips trembled, his throat rattling with a gurgling sound. "Sis… Sister…"
Tears fell one by one, her heart breaking into pieces. "It's okay, you'll be okay. Sean, you have to hold on—your sister will always stay with you!"
"Big sister…" Suddenly, the hem of her clothes was grabbed from behind, along with a weak, soft voice. "Let go… if you keep holding on, you'll only delay the doctors…"
Slap!
Elena spun around and struck with all her strength, her eyes bloodshot like a wild beast. "Sophia! What the hell did you do to Sean?"
"I didn't…" Sophia whimpered pitifully, blood seeping from the corner of her lip. She kept shaking her head, looking helpless and wronged. "I just came to see him. I don't know why Sean suddenly got like this…"
"I only told him… that I found a box in your room filled with cash, at least a few million…"
"I only told him… that since he got sick, the family hasn't given you a single penny, and the money for his treatment these three years… might have a shady source…"
"I only told him… that I've often seen you at night, getting into different men's cars…"
"Sophia!!"
Elena felt like she was about to explode. Hatred consumed her whole body. She screamed hysterically, wishing she could tear Sophia to pieces:
"I swear, if anything happens to Sean, I'll kill you with my own hands and bury you with him!"
Sophia flinched, her pretty face paling, her eyes misting over with fragile innocence. "Sister…"
"Get out—!"
Elena couldn't stand the sight of that fake, pitiful face for another second. "Get the hell out of here!"
Sophia sniffled, covering her cheek with one hand, and ran out of the hospital in tears. A nurse rushed up, calling urgently, "Family member, hurry and sign the papers!"
Elena's eyes burned red as she followed the nurse to the emergency room, her hands shaking as she scrawled her name on the critical-condition notice.
Just then, the doors of the ER swung open.
Sean's doctor rushed out, face grim. Elena clutched his white coat desperately. "Dr. Zhao, please, you have to save my brother. No matter how much it costs, I'll pay!"
The doctor sighed. "We'll do everything we can. But whether he can pull through… it depends on his own willpower."
"Of course, if we had a suitable bone marrow donor right now, that would be the best outcome."
A bone marrow donor…
Lucian. Only Lucian could save Sean now.
Elena didn't hesitate. She bolted out of the hospital. She had to find Lucian, at any cost. This was her debt to Sean, one she could never repay in this lifetime.
Then, a familiar figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
Lucian stood there, clutching a document in his hand. Behind him stretched the long hospital hallway, harsh white light glaring from overhead. He didn't move, only stared at her, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes fathomless.
"Lu… Lucian…"
The moment she called his name, his brows furrowed.
His pale skin made his sharp eyes look even darker, and even the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye carried a chilling edge. His presence pressed down on her so heavily that she trembled.
Afraid he might turn away, Elena dropped to her knees before she could think, her voice hoarse:
"Lucian, I was wrong…"
"Five years ago, I never should have dared to crawl into your bed while you were drunk. I know I was wrong…"
"Whatever happened back then—it was all my fault. Punish me however you want, kill me if you must, I'll take it. But please, I beg you, save Sean!"
She slammed her forehead onto the cold marble floor.
Thud—!
The sound echoed clearly through the hospital corridor.
"Heh… hehehe…"
Lucian's chest burned, the taste of blood rising in his throat. "Elena, you think by doing this, I'll save your brother?"
He glared down at her kneeling body, at the blood seeping from her broken skin, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. "Let me make this clear—you don't stand a chance."
"Your dignity means nothing to me!"
The cruel words crashed down on her heart like a hammer. But she forced herself to bear the pain, again smashing her forehead against the marble, sobbing, pleading desperately:
"Lucian, please… I beg you…"
Lucas, his assistant, shifted uncomfortably. "Mr. Sterling, Miss Sung, she—"
A deadly glare cut him off. "What, you want to kneel with her?"
Lucas shrank back, biting down the words. "…I wouldn't dare."
Lucian gave a cold laugh, turned, and strode away, his figure brimming with rage. No matter how Elena begged, he didn't look back once.
"Lucian…"
Don't go. Please don't go…
Elena stumbled after him, but her ankle twisted, and she crashed to the ground. Sweat drenched her, even her hair clung wetly to her forehead.
Still, she forced herself up, chasing after him with everything she had. "Lucian, wait for me…"
She followed him all the way to the parking lot.
The engine roared to life. The Bentley began rolling toward the exit.
Elena flung herself in front of the car. "Stop!"
Lucas's hands shook on the steering wheel. "Mr. Sterling, what should we do?"
A cold, low voice came from the back seat. "Run her over."
Lucas froze, cold sweat breaking out. "Mr. Sterling…"
Lucian's eyes narrowed, a murderous gleam flashing. "I don't like repeating myself a third time. Run. Her. Over."
Lucas had no choice. He pressed down.
Bang—!
Elena's body was thrown to the ground. Pain wracked her as she curled into herself.
"Lucian…"
Clutching her stomach, she struggled to rise.
But the Bentley suddenly reversed, swerving past her, then sped out of the hospital like a beast unleashed.