Chapter 267 Captured Back
In the hospital room, Sophia slowly woke up in the hospital bed, her mind clearing as waves of excruciating pain washed over her. Her body was burned, especially her arms and legs, the searing sensation feeling like knives cutting into her skin, almost unbearable. She struggled to open her eyes, the surroundings blurry, with the urgent beeping of machines and hushed conversations filling her ears.
As her mind cleared, heart-wrenching images flooded back—Anna's body trapped in the inferno, eventually turning to ashes and disappearing from her sight. In that moment, it felt like her entire world was collapsing, the pain in her heart making it hard to breathe.
"Anna!" she called out weakly, tears streaming down her face, filled with endless guilt and regret. She couldn't forgive herself, couldn't forget the once vibrant Anna, now reduced to ashes before her eyes.
"I need to find out what caused the fire!" Sophia's voice was faint but resolute. Her heart was heavy with guilt for Anna.
"You need to rest, Sophia," Henry said, walking to her bedside, his face full of concern. "Your body hasn't recovered yet; you can't take on more pain."
"I don't care!" Sophia's voice rose, her eyes flashing with anger and sorrow. "I can't let Anna die in vain! I need to uncover the truth for her!"
Henry's heart tightened; he knew Sophia was on the verge of a breakdown. He spoke softly to comfort her, "Sophia, Anna's death was an accident. You need to get better so you can do more for her."
"Anna was our only daughter left!" Sophia's voice was filled with despair, tears flowing uncontrollably.
Even though she knew Anna had killed Molly, now that Anna had paid with her life, Sophia could only remember her fondly. Henry felt the same.
His heart was heavy with helplessness. He understood Sophia's pain, but he knew that if she kept going like this, she'd only fall apart more.
Henry held her hand, his tone gentle yet firm, "I understand how you feel, but you have to live. Anna would want you to be happy; she wouldn't want to see you in such pain."
Sophia's emotions gradually calmed, but she still hadn't given up on seeking justice for Anna. Just then, the door opened, and several police officers walked in, their expressions serious.
"Sophia, Henry, we need to talk about Anna," one officer said, his tone heavy.
"What happened?" Henry immediately stood up, a sense of unease creeping in.
"Regarding the fire investigation," the officer continued, "we've confirmed that the person who died in the fire wasn't Anna, but a nurse from the hospital."
Sophia's heart sank, her mind going blank. She stared them in shock and confusion. "Then where's Anna?"
"We're doing everything we can to find her," the officer said, his voice tinged with frustration. "But we currently have no leads."
At that moment, the door burst open again, and Emma was wheeled in by George, followed by two burly bodyguards. The four of them instantly drew everyone's attention.
"What are you doing here?" Henry asked, immediately on alert, his brow furrowed.
Emma didn't answer, just smiled slightly, her gaze steady. Behind her, the bodyguards began to move. One grabbed a disheveled woman's arm, while the other stood by, seemingly waiting for a signal.
"Let go of me!" the woman struggled in terror, her voice filled with despair, but it was eerily familiar.
Her clothes were tattered, her face unrecognizable, looking utterly wretched. She tried to break free, but the bodyguard's grip was like a vice, making escape impossible.
"Don't move!" the bodyguard ordered, his tone brooking no argument. He yanked her towards the center of the room, his movements rough and swift, as if handling a worthless object.
"What are you doing?" Sophia's voice was filled with anger and confusion, her eyes flashing with uncertainty.
The bodyguards mercilessly shoved the woman to the ground, her body hitting the floor with a thud. She groaned in pain, trying to prop herself up, but her strength was gone, leaving her helplessly sprawled on the floor.
The room's atmosphere instantly froze, everyone's eyes fixed on the wretched woman. Henry and Sophia exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with confusion and unease.
"Who is she?" Henry finally asked, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
"I don't know," Sophia shook her head, her heart full of doubt. She stared intently at the woman on the floor, feeling a growing sense of unease.
Emma stood aside, a calm smile on her face, as if she had anticipated all of this. She slowly approached the woman on the floor, her gaze complex.
"Don't recognize your own precious daughter?" Emma asked mockingly. The room's air instantly thickened, everyone stunned, staring at the wretched woman in disbelief.
Sophia's heart jolted, countless questions and unease flashing through her mind. Could Anna really be alive?
"Anna, is that you?" Sophia asked cautiously.
"Yes, it's me," Anna admitted bluntly, her voice filled with resignation.
"How did you end up here?" Sophia's voice trembled, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She was unable to understand Anna's choices.
"I wanted freedom, to escape this place," Anna said softly, tears glistening in her eyes. "But they caught me."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sophia's voice was filled with disappointment and anger. "I thought you were dead! Do you know how much I suffered?"
"If I tell you, will you help me escape? You'd just send me to jail," Anna shouted, her eyes filled with helplessness and despair. "I just want to live, is that so wrong?"
The police observed quietly, not expecting to catch a fugitive while notifying the family, and witnessing such a dramatic scene.
Henry finally spoke, his tone firm, "Anna, what you did was escaping custody. You need to go back to the hospital."
"No!" Anna refused angrily. "You have no right to be my parents!"
At those words, Sophia and Henry's faces turned dark. They had given so much for Anna, only to be met with such ingratitude.
"How dare you say that!" Henry couldn't hold back any longer, ready to lay everything bare.
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