Chapter 8

Skyler let out an ear-splitting scream. But no matter how hard she pressed her hand against her face, the pain only intensified. A fierce slap landed on Willow's face, causing her face to turn sideways. Blood trickled down from the corner of her lips. Willow couldn't feel any pain. All she felt was a sense of amusement. The man she loved was truly blind. "My face!" Completely swollen, Skyler's face looked extremely terrifying. She was in so much pain that her teeth chattered. "It hurts so badly, Zayn! "I can't open my eyes! I think I've gone blind…" Skyler whimpered. "I won't let anything happen to you, Skyler!" Zayn vowed. Carrying Skyler gently in his arms, Zayn went straight to the office to find the doctor. Turning around when he reached the doorway, he looked down upon Willow. "You'd best pray that nothing happens to Skyler, Willow. Otherwise, I'll make sure you suffer a fate worse than death!" he warned, enunciating each word sternly. Willow laughed self-deprecatingly. She had lost her baby, and there was no hope left for Aaron. Willow was already suffering a fate worse than death. She'd like to see what else he could do to make her suffer! Fortunately, the stew had already been cooled while it was still in the pot. Skyler was not disfigured, nor did she become blind. However, she had still been scalded by the hot stew. Along with the wounds left on her face by Willow, she looked as wretched as she could be. Caroline Shepherd, also known as Mrs. Dawson, rushed to the hospital without waiting for Xavier after hearing about the incident. Caroline was just about to push open the door when she heard voices talking inside. The ward's door was slightly ajar. Nudging the door open by a crack, Caroline could clearly see Willow's mother, Sarah Stewart, crying as she held onto Skyler. "How can I live if anything happens to you, Skyler?" Sarah weeped. "Don't worry about me, Mom. Zayn will protect me. There's no way he'll let Willow go this time!" Skyler said. Sarah wiped away her own tears. "Willow's too much. There's no way I'll let that bitch go after what she did to my precious daughter!" she seethed. Caroline was just about to enter when she heard Sarah's words. She stopped in her tracks. Caroline was also a mother. As a mother, she knew how much she loved her child. She never thought that a mother would call her own daughter a bitch! Instinctively, she realized that something was amiss. Right after that, she heard Sarah ask, "Say, what should we do if your identity was revealed, Skyler?" "Rest assured, Mom. The doctor said that Willow only had a month left to live. When she dies, no one will know that she's the true heiress of the Dawson family!" There was a look of certainty on Skyler's face. "Really? She's really about to die?" Sarah was overjoyed. "She should've long been dead!" The bag in Caroline's hand dropped to the ground with a loud thump. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect to uncover such a huge secret today. Skyler wasn't her biological daughter. It was Willow all along! Hearing the sound, Sarah and Skyler's gaze turned toward the door. The expressions on their faces changed when they realized it was Caroline. "Mom…" Skyler trailed off. Caroline's whole body trembled from the overwhelming shock. Pushing the door open, she stepped in and asked, "Skyler, was what you said just now the truth?" Suppressing the panic in her heart, Skyler replied, "What's true or not, Mom? I have no idea what you're talking about!" "You're not my daughter, Skyler. My biological daughter is Willow, right?" Caroline gazed coldly at Sarah. "Why did the two of you lie to me?" she questioned. All of a sudden, Skyler was certain that Caroline had overheard everything. Skyler surveyed her surroundings with a cold gaze. The best thing about the VIP ward was that it was quiet. Zayn had even booked the entire level that she was in. No one would find out even if a person died here. There was a strangely gentle tone in Skyler's voice as she got up from the bed. "I'm your biological daughter, Mom. How could I ever lie to you? "Why don't you trust your own daughter, Mom?" she questioned. Caroline sensed something was amiss as she watched Skyler approach her step by step. She turned around to leave, only to realize that Sarah had already locked the door beforehand. Caroline was unable to exert strength because her wrists had been hurt before. Easily overpowering Caroline, Skyler slammed her head against the wall without mercy. A knife appeared in Skyler's hand just as Caroline was on her last breath. "All the secrets will be buried underground with you, Mom. "Oh, that's right. Remember, Willow's the one who killed you—not me." With that, Skyler exerted all her strength into stabbing Caroline. Again and again, she plunged the knife in her hand into Caroline's chest.