Chapter 145 Just a Dream

I clung to my daughter, her tiny body shaking in my arms like a delicate flower caught in a storm. My heart was racing, and every step I took splashed water, urging me to go faster. The rain blurred my vision, but I couldn't stop. I knew a bunch of big guys, like demons, were hot on our trail.

I had no clue why they were after us; my mind was a mess of wild thoughts and guesses. Was it about money? Some twisted plot? None of that mattered now. All I knew was I had to protect my kid, no matter what, even if it cost me my life.

I ran like my life depended on it, each step driven by sheer will. The wind ripped the little flower umbrella from my hand, and it spun away into the rain. I barely noticed it; my only focus was my daughter. I held her tighter, her warmth giving me the strength to keep going, like a mama bear protecting her cub.

But I could feel my energy draining fast. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't outrun those guys. They caught up, their huge figures closing in like dark clouds, surrounding us. Despair hit me like a wave, dragging my heart into a dark pit. But I still held my daughter tight, my body a last shield for her.

Clara, flanked by two security guards, strutted towards me with a mix of arrogance and urgency. Her eyes were cold and determined as she reached out with her perfectly manicured but fierce hands, trying to grab my daughter. I stumbled back, terrified, but my eyes blazed with anger. I screamed, "Stay away! What do you want? This is my child; you can't take her!"

Clara's face twisted with a sinister glint in her eyes. She barked, "This child can't stay with you. She's a Howard. Hand her over!" She lunged at me again, her hands like claws trying to rip my daughter from my arms.

"No way! I'm her mother. I love her more than anyone, and I'll protect her with my life. You'll never take her!" I yelled, clutching my daughter tighter, my arms straining. I twisted and dodged, determined to keep Clara from taking her.

My daughter, scared by our struggle, started to cry. Then, out of nowhere, a hard blow struck my head. With pain exploding, my vision going dark, I collapsed like a puppet with cut strings. Clara snatched my daughter, a triumphant look on her face. The bodyguards surrounded her, and they started to leave, leaving me alone in the cold rain. My tears mixed with the rain, blurring my vision.

How could I just let them take my daughter? Desperation filled me. I wanted to scream for help, but my throat was choked. I tried to stand, but my limbs felt like lead. Each attempt was like pushing against a mountain. After what felt like forever, I managed to move slightly.

People walked by without a second glance. "Please, help me..." I tried to shout. 

Clara, holding my child, stopped and looked back at me with a cold stare. "Don't waste your energy," she said. "You're no match for me."

"Let go of my child!" I roared, but my voice came out weak and pitiful.

Clara sneered, "From now on, this child has nothing to do with you."

Ignoring her taunts, I kept struggling. After what felt like forever, I managed to move a little more. Gritting my teeth, I used all my strength to stand up.

It was just a nightmare, but the terror lingered. My head felt heavy, like a boulder pressing down, and I struggled to get out of bed. My body was weak and unresponsive. When I tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness hit, and I fell back onto the bed. I realized I was probably sick, and the helplessness scared me.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I instinctively touched my abdomen, my eyes empty but with a hint of relief. Thankfully, I didn't have a child. If I did, when Edward and I eventually divorced, Hayden and Clara would surely come after my child like wolves. The dream of those burly men who were directed by Clara fighting me for my child filled me with lingering fear. I couldn't let that happen, not even in my imagination. I couldn't accept my child being taken away.

I didn't know how long I slept again. When I woke up, sunlight was streaming through the thin curtains, casting dappled light in the bedroom. It should have been a warm and cozy afternoon, but I felt cold, like I was in an ice cellar, the chill seeping into my bones. 

Gritting my teeth, I used all my strength to move from the bed to the floor. Just as I managed to stand up, a fierce nausea surged from my stomach, and I bent over, retching. I stumbled to the bathroom and barely made it to the toilet before I vomited violently. Stomach acid poured out, filling the bathroom with a pungent smell that made me feel even worse.

I never expected my digestive system to protest so violently. After vomiting, I struggled to lift my head and looked at myself in the mirror. My face was so pale and haggard that I barely recognized myself. My skin was dull, my eyes lifeless, and my lips cracked and peeling. The radiance I once had was gone. Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt a pang of sadness. I used to be confident and radiant, never imagining I would end up so miserable. But I couldn't let this bring me down. I had my pride, and I couldn't let others see me so weak.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stand up, gripping the sink tightly. The pain in my limbs still came in waves, and my foggy brain felt like it was wrapped in thick cotton, making it hard to think clearly. The constant nausea was a grim reminder that my health was in serious trouble.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a cheerful chime, lighting up with a message from Edward: [Don't forget to go to the Howard Mansion tonight.] Short and to the point, just like him, with that icy vibe.

Even though I felt like crap, I dragged myself to the Howard Mansion. As soon as I walked in, Clara wrapped me in a big hug. Normally, I'd hug her back just as eagerly, but now, seeing her familiar face, I felt a shiver run down my spine, like her embrace could crush me any second.

Marital Turmoil: Back Off, First Love!
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