Chapter 6

“Liliane, this slap is for Grandpa Thomas! “This slap is for my—” Esther slapped Liliane several times, causing a commotion in the hospital ward. Furious, Bradley rushed in. "What are you doing, Esther!?" he exclaimed. Grabbing Esther, Bradley threw her against the bedside cabinet, causing her forehead to bleed, which looked terrifying. Liliane, holding her swollen cheek, weakly explained, "Brad, her kids died in prison. She must miss them terribly while she's sick. I can understand her." Esther retorted harshly, "My kids aren't dead! They're still alive. You can't curse them!" "Enough!" Bradley glanced at Esther with resentment and hatred. Esther felt as if a thousand arrows pierced her heart. Her beloved now regarded her like poison. Although she had decided to stop loving him, her heart still ached so badly that she could barely breathe. "Esther, you'll see them after the surgery," Bradley coldly said to the weak Esther, warning her cruelly, "But if you dare play tricks before that, you'll never see them." From the corner of her eye, Esther noticed Liliane looking at her with a sympathetic and sad gaze. A scary and absurd thought surfaced in her mind—what if Bradley and Liliane were lying to her, and her kids being alive was just a huge lie to convince her to donate her bone marrow to Felix? The moment Bradley turned away, Esther grabbed a glass from the table and crashed it into the wall, shattering it. Annoyed, Bradley looked back. Esther picked up a shard from the floor and grabbed Liliane by her hair, pressing the shard against her neck. "Brad!" Liliane gasped. Bradley's cold gaze filled with disdain. Esther's eyes welled up with tears, and the reddened corners showed her fragility. Her hand holding the shard shook uncontrollably. "Bradley, I don't trust you. I don't believe my kids are alive unless..." A tear rolled down Esther's cheek. "Unless you prove it to me." "Do you think you have the right to negotiate with me?" Bradley mocked. Esther pressed the shard harder against Liliane's skin, and the sharpness made Liliane frown in pain. "I'll kill Liliane if you don't prove it," Esther threatened. Trembling in fear, Liliane knew Esther was capable of doing what she said, now cornered. A strong killing intent filled Bradley's eyes. He questioned icily, "You're still this vile after five years in prison..." Esther snorted, looking at Bradley mockingly. She retorted hoarsely, "You're the one who has no right to negotiate with me, Bradley. You have two choices. Either you prove my kids are alive, or I'll die with Liliane!" Despite her thin arms, Esther's strength surprised everyone as she held Liliane, taking her to the balcony. "Bradley, the countdown begins. Ten, nine, eight, seven..." Bradley never imagined the once bright and dazzling Esther turning into a complete lunatic. "Let go now, and I'll forget it. Otherwise..." The night breeze blew on Esther's hair as her gaze remained resolute and ruthless. "Brad, save Felix," Liliane tearfully pleaded. Bradley was furious as he turned to Cole. "Cole, give me the b*stards' photo." Cole quickly handed him a photo. The thin photo was clamped between Bradley's long fingers as he coldly said, "They'll be buried with Felix if anything happens to him." Esther's gaze landed on the twin girls in the photo. Their eyes looked so much like hers. She finally believed her children with Bradley were still alive. Bradley looked at the delighted Esther coldly and said sternly, "Sign these two contracts if you want the photo." "I'll sign them!" Esther pushed Liliane away without hesitation. Cole passed the divorce papers and agreement to give up her shares to Esther, but she didn't even glance at the content. She signed her name where required. "Can I have the photo now?" Bradley spoke aloofly, "I can, but I want you to swear." "I swear," Esther quickly replied after seeing the photo. "If you break our deal, you'll never see your kids." Esther put three fingers by her temple and swore, "If I, Esther Quill, don't give Felix my bone marrow, I'll never see my kids again." Bradley threw the photo onto the floor and took Liliane out of the room. "Keep an eye on her 24/7!" "Yes, Mr. Warner," the bodyguards responded in unison. Esther quickly caught the photo and held it tightly. In the photo were twin girls with short hair, both wearing the same new floral dress and sweetly smiling for the camera. Esther was engrossed as she studied their faces. The girls resembled her—fair with dark hair and sweet dimples when they smiled. "Babies, it's Mommy. "Babies, we'll meet very soon." Esther held the photo close and kissed the children in it. Her tears fell as her heart clenched. "Babies, my babies." She couldn't tell how long she cried before falling asleep, still holding the only photo she had tightly. As Esther slept deeply, the door to her room opened, and a cute head emerged cautiously.