Daniel sighed.

“That’s what you owe Chloe—just a hand.”

I stared at Daniel and Andrew in horror.

They stood there, unmoved, watching as I writhed and sobbed in agony. Only when my hand was nearly crushed beyond recognition did the bodyguards finally let go and dragged me—limp and broken—to Chloe’s hospital room.

She was already in bed, looking pristine and well-tended despite the act she had played earlier. When she saw me crumpled on the floor, barely conscious, she eased herself into Andrew’s arms with calculated fragility.

“Uncle Andrew,” she murmured, “how could you let Aunt Elise be treated this way? As long as the baby is safe, I can handle a little suffering…”

There was pity in her words, but the contempt in her eyes burned through me.

Daniel stepped forward and kicked me, hard.

“She’s repaying her sins. Keep an eye on her. If anything happens to the baby, she’ll pay tenfold.”

I looked up at the three of them—Chloe nestled safely in Andrew’s embrace, Daniel looming protectively beside them—and for a moment, it was like they were posing for a portrait. The perfect family.

Except I was the discarded piece. The forgotten extra.

The clown.

The bodyguards dragged me from the room and darkness swallowed me whole.

Memories clawed their way back, my parents’ accident, the moment I was disowned by my foster family, the threats of being cast out of the only home I had ever known. It all returned like a fever dream.

But this time, something was different.

A figure appeared in the black haze—warm, protective. Someone I had known before. Someone who wrapped me in their arms and didn’t let go.

Who was he?

I faded into unconsciousness.

When I finally awoke, my hand was heavily bandaged. The pain was distant but present—constant and throbbing. It hadn’t been a nightmare.

My hand was gone. Destroyed.

Demi Whitmore—their grandmother—was seated beside me, her eyes glassy with tears.

“Elise, sweetheart, you’re finally awake,” she said softly.

I glanced down at the wrapped mass where my hand had once been and let out a broken sob.

Why?

Why did they do this to me?

My cries startled her. She reached out, desperate to soothe me.

“It’s going to be okay. Your hand… we’ll find the best doctors. I promise we’ll try everything to fix it.”

But the more she comforted me, the harder I cried.

Eventually, the sobs overtook me and I slipped into unconsciousness again, the pain too much to bear.

I hadn’t even truly fallen asleep when my phone vibrated against the nightstand.

A message from Daniel lit up the screen.

[If you don’t want anything to happen to your parents’ inheritance, go back to Chloe’s room and do as you’re told.]

Attached was a picture—a precious box from my late parents.

My heart stopped.

No.

Those were my parents gave to me. The only people who had ever truly loved me.

I yanked out the IV and stumbled from the bed. My mind screamed in panic, overriding the pain as I rushed barefoot down the hallway to Chloe’s ward.

When Daniel and Andrew saw me barge in, disheveled and desperate, they let out sighs of relief.

“We didn’t want to force you,” Andrew said calmly. “Just behave, wait for Chloe to deliver the baby and no one will touch your parents.”

But how could I ever trust them again?

They were the reason I was in this state to begin with.

I snapped.

I lunged toward Chloe and wrapped my good hand around her neck.

“Give me back that box—or I swear I’ll choke you right here.”

The rage, the grief, the betrayal—it all came pouring out.

Andrew and Daniel went pale. They didn’t dare touch me.

Finally, Daniel gave in. He nodded to a guard, who pushed forward a metal cart with the box resting on top.

“This is what you wanted. Take it. Just let her go.”

I released Chloe’s neck and grabbed the box.

But the moment I did, Chloe jerked her arm and knocked the cart over.

The box tumbled to the floor and landed with a hollow thud.

Nothing spilled.

It was empty.

I looked up, fire in my chest.

“You lied to me?” I roared. “Where the hell are the things inside?!”

Daniel hadn’t expected me to react with such fury.

He let out a sigh.

“The baby in Chloe’s belly has been stirring up trouble lately. We even consulted someone—said there’s a bad omen to the southwest.”

“The things inside the box were buried in that exact direction, so Andrew and I sent someone to relocate them.”

“As long as you behave,” he added, “once Chloe gives birth, we’ll—”

But before he could finish, a bodyguard burst into the room.

“Sir, the things you ordered us to move… they’re gone.”

The words hit me like a knife.

“Give them back!” I screamed. “Give them back to me!”

I tried to lunge at them, but the bodyguards intercepted me and shoved me to the ground. A swarm of them pinned me down.

Andrew stood in front of Chloe protectively, while Daniel issued his order calmly.

“Take her away. Lock her up for a few days. We’ll deal with her after the banquet at the main house.”

Tonight was their big event—a formal gathering at the Whitmore Family’s ancestral estate. An important announcement had been promised, so they couldn’t afford delays.

They looked down at me, bruised and writhing, with conflicted expressions. But ultimately, they walked away.

“It’s fine,” Daniel muttered. “Once we’re back from the banquet, we’ll talk to her. She’s always been soft. A few kind words and she’ll forgive us—like she always does.”

The bodyguards dragged me to the car and drove me back to the Whitmore estate. But on the way, a group of people suddenly appeared in the road, forcing them to stop.

I didn’t see who they were.

By the time Andrew, Daniel and Chloe arrived at the family banquet that evening, the great hall was already full. The guests looked surprised to see Chloe among them—heavily pregnant, unwed and clearly out of place.

Whispers rippled across the room, but no one said anything openly.

Demi’s face darkened when she saw the three of them enter.

Once everyone was seated, the eldest of the family stood and cleared his throat.

“Today, we share some good news,” he declared. “The Whitmore Family is gaining one more at the table.”

A new place setting.

An extra pair of spoon and fork.

Some had heard rumors that someone from the main branch had secretly married the late son years ago—but few believed it.

Until now.

Demi stood and addressed the room.

“I’ve brought her home today and I’m introducing her to all of you.”

Andrew and Daniel exchanged alarmed glances. They were just about to speak when both their phones buzzed.

A message.

[Sir, something urgent—Miss Elise has been taken.]

Their faces paled. They began to rise.

But a man’s voice cut across the hall.

“My dear nephews, where do you think you’re going?”