Chapter 127: Hospital Fights

I understood why Camilla chose a hospital under the Hale Group.She had worked there for years. Too many favors were owed to her name. In a place like that, a report could be shaped as easily as clay.

At barely two months along, there were no obvious signs yet. No curve. No glow. Just faint sickness and a carefully timed weakness. Enough to sell the lie.

Yenik didn’t love her. Anyone with instincts could feel that. But hunger for status can drown out common sense. His elders valued heirs more than loyalty, and he knew it. With two older brothers and a sister standing above him, this was his chance to climb. First child. First claim. First bite at power.

So he fell for it.

Once he believed she carried his future, his entire posture changed. His shoulders straightened. His voice grew louder. His hand stayed firmly at her waist, as if staking ground.

Camilla knew how to use that. Soft looks. Lowered lashes. A fragile smile. She’d been doing this her whole life.

The Hudson family saw none of it. To them, she looked clean. Harmless. Almost pitiful. If things turned ugly, I was sure she’d find a way to pin the blame on me.

Today, her body looked weak. Morning sickness hit hardest around this time. Yenik rushed her in, blind to everything else.

He didn’t expect Lincy.

Before anyone could react, Lincy’s hand came down hard across Camilla’s face.

The sound echoed.

I had waited for this. Last time it was dark, and I missed half the show. Now, under bright lights, every crack showed clearly.

I quickly guided my mom aside and sat her down. Whatever happened next wasn’t for her to stand through.

Camilla could have dodged it. Easily. Lincy had shouted before swinging. Anyone alert would’ve moved.

But Camilla stayed still.

She wanted the hit.

She wanted Yenik to see her as weak. Cornered. Wronged.

I’d fallen for that trick before. Retreat to advance. Old habit.

She looked up with trembling eyes.

"M–Ms. Ashbourne... why did you hit me?"

Pure innocence. Perfect performance.

Men always fell for it. Julian had. Now it was Yenik’s turn.

Before this, Yenik used to cling to Lincy, chasing approval, chasing scraps. But now? Now he had something to protect. Something that depended on him.

When Lincy raised her hand again, Yenik stepped in front of Camilla without thinking.

"Lincy, what are you doing?" he snapped.

Lincy’s eyes filled with tears. "Then what are you doing here?"

I saw the woman beside Grant stiffen. Her face darkened. This wasn’t how she wanted things to play out. Public scenes damaged standing. A smart woman would pull back.

But Lincy was already too deep.

Monica Carroll rushed forward. "Enough, Lincy. You broke up with him. Why are you still causing trouble?"

Lincy ignored her. She grabbed Yenik’s sleeve, fingers digging in.

"Tell me. Why are you here?"

"I’ll explain later," Yenik said through clenched teeth. "Too many people are watching."

One arm stayed around Camilla’s waist. The other was trapped in Lincy’s grip.

They stood right outside the ultrasound room.

People slowed as they passed. Stared. Judged.

Yenik felt it. He always cared about how he was seen. He liked keeping women in the dark, not fighting them under bright lights.

He had never loved Lincy. He only kept her close so he wouldn’t be alone. So he had options.

Lincy had completely lost control.

Through tears, she clung to Yenik’s sleeve and begged, "How could you do this to me? You promised you’d never leave me. I gave you everything. I even paid for every place we stayed."

The air around us felt tight, heavy with emotion and humiliation.

Grant finally snapped. His voice cut through the hallway like a command no one dared ignore.

"Lincy, have you embarrassed us enough? Go home. Now."

He looked furious. Not just angry ashamed.

Lincy turned to him in desperation. "Dad, I can’t live without Yenik. Please. Let him work at our company. I’ll pretend nothing happened. I don’t care about Camilla. I just can’t watch him choose someone else."

The words barely left her mouth before Grant’s face darkened.

"You foolish girl," he shouted. His patience shattered.

She was asking him to hand power real power to Yenik. Even I hadn’t expected her to be this blind.

I had thought Lincy might at least be useful. A distraction. A weapon against Camilla.

But she was no match. Camilla played this game with calm hands and a steady smile. Lincy wouldn’t survive a single round.

Grant stepped forward and struck Lincy across the face.

The sound echoed.

So this was how even a favored child fell once she crossed the line.

Monica rushed forward. "Honey, she didn’t mean it "

Grant silenced her with a cold glance. "Is this how you raised her? Take her away. I don’t want to see her humiliating this family again."

Just then, my mom’s name was called from the exam room.

I’d seen enough.

I guided Lena away, my hand steady on her arm. As we walked, I felt eyes following us. Camilla noticed me then. She saw who I was with. She stayed quiet.

Monica dragged Lincy off, still crying.

Yenik tried to fix the mess. "Mr. Ashbourne, I can explain "

"Stay away from my daughter," Grant said lowly. The warning carried weight. "If I ever hear you’re still contacting her, you’ll regret it."

Then he walked off, following my mom.

Only Camilla and Yenik were left.

Yenik touched her hand. "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine," she said softly.

"You two look close," I said lightly.

Camilla smiled, shy and gentle. "We’ve spent more time together lately. He’s been very kind to me."

"That’s good," I replied, keeping my distance.

"Yenik, I need to speak with Mrs. Hale," someone called. " Camilla, wait in the car."

She nodded sweetly and left.

The moment she was gone, Yenik’s posture changed. Confidence returned. Pride flared.

"She’s pregnant," he said, smug.

"Oh?" I replied. "So?"

"I succeeded on the first try," he sneered. "You could’ve had that future. Instead, you bonded yourself to someone broken. Someone who can’t give you what a real woman should have."

I stared at him, stunned by his logic.

Then I smiled.

"I guess I do regret it," I said calmly.

His face lit up. "I knew it."

I leaned in just enough for him to hear.

"I regret ever thinking you were worth choosing. You mistake chance for strength, and noise for power. Trust me you’re nothing special."

The satisfaction drained from his face.