Chapter 20 Aidan and my father looked at me with unreadable expressions . } " Susan , who are you meeting in seven days ? " From the look on their faces , I realized they hadn't heard everything clearly . As their earlier words echoed in my mind , the pain I'd been struggling to suppress now swept through my entire body . " Noticing my pained expression , Aidan abandoned his earlier questioning and hurriedly helped me sit up . " Did the pain from your wounds wake you ? Don't worry , I've been right here with you . It's all our fault for not saving you sooner . " His eyes reddened as he shouted toward the door , " Why aren't you in here yet ? Didn't I tell you to prepare painkillers ? Why aren't they working ? " My father , heartbroken , sat by my bedside , holding my hand as tears streamed down uncontrollably . His expression darkened as he gritted his teeth . " Susan , rest assured . I won't let those who hurt you get away with it ! Even if it means going to prison , I'll make sure they suffer ! " After that , he gently stroked my head , his eyes brimming with love . Then , he spoke again . " Susan , your brother has already arranged for the world's best doctors to come . They'll arrive tomorrow morning . These quacks at the hospital aren't fit to treat you ! " " Don't worry , even if it means sacrificing the entire Sherman Family , I will cure you and ensure you live a carefree life . " } I stared numbly at the pain etched on my father's and brother's faces . If they truly loved me , how could they have done those things to me ? The doctor clearly said my fertility could be preserved , but they insisted on delaying . [ The thought made me laugh bitterly as I stared straight at my father . " Dad , will I really get better ? Why won't you let the doctors here operate on me first ? " " Susan , you will definitely get better . How could these quacks possibly treat you ? I feared they'd only worsen your injuries by touching your wounds . " He lowered his eyes , hiding the expression in them . Of course , he knew that if my wounds weren't treated until tomorrow , not even the best doctors in the world would be able to save me . To ensure his illegitimate daughte promised to love me forever - had bo that same illegitimate daughter . " marry my fiancé , my father - who had once stayed by my side as I grew up and me . And my own brother , whom I had grown up with , had also abandoned me for Realizing this , I looked at the two people in front of me with bitter sorrow and said nothing more . When my expression cut into their hearts like blades , they unable to restrain themselves and reached out to me as if to soothe my scars . Unfortunately , their hands stopped as the phone rang . " Dad , I've tried on several wedding dresses and still can't decide . Can you and Aidan come help me choose ? " Sally's coquettish voice rang out from the other end . " Even though my father covered the phone in time , I could still hear it clearly because of the distance . Those men exchanged glances , studying my expression . When they saw I remained utterly calm , they breathed a sigh of relief . " At that moment , the doctor came to treat my wounds and said with pity , " Miss Susan , please bear with it , this might sting . " } A moment later , searing pain from the wound surged through my body . The anesthesia did not affect me whatsoever ; I could feel every bit of the pain with excruciating clarity . And all of it had been inflicted by the very people closest to me . " I gritted my teeth and dug my nails into my palms until they bled . Aidan's eyes reddened as he watched what was happening . My father , pretending he couldn't bear it , turned and left with the phone in his hand . Soon after , my brother also turned his head away and walked out of the room . Their expressions of heartbreak were so convincing , but I knew what they were really doing . " Sure enough , ten minutes later , Sally sent me a video . In it , my father beamed as he helped her into her wedding gown , completely disregarding his role as an elder . Meanwhile , Aidan was fastening a dark green necklace around her neck . " My eyes widened in disbelief . That necklace was my mother's keepsake ! " I wanted to rush over right then and snatch my mother's necklace back , but what followed in the video only deepened my hatred . # " Dad , Susan is so badly injured . She has surgery tomorrow . Why don't you stay with her ? As for my wedding , it's fine if you can't make it . I can manage alone . I just wonder if the Ladner Family will accept me . " N Sally , dressed in her wedding gown , looked desolate as she spoke . Of course , Aidan and my father immediately began to comfort her . % " Don't worry , Susan can manage alone . We'd just be waiting outside during her surgery anyway . It's better to attend your wedding ," my brother stammered nervously . 2/2 8.7 % P My father's face darkened as he solemnly promised , " Be at ease , I'll be there tomorrow to support you . This is your most important day . Even if Susan finds out , she'll understand . " } A flicker of secret delight crossed Sally's eyes at their assurances . Then , they began discussing every detail of the upcoming wedding . Those ceremonies , those gifts , those surprises , all things they had once promised to me . " Yet here I was , lying alone in agony on the hospital bed , while they gave everything meant for me to Sally . I clenched my fists and began to pick apart my feelings for my family , piece by piece . After Sally went in to change into her wedding gown , my brother hesitated before speaking , " Dad , Susan's condition is so critical now . Should we still release those videos from the scene tomorrow ? I fear she might not be able to handle it . " My father paused for a moment , his gaze shifting toward Sally in the dressing room . At that time , his resolve suddenly hardened . " Release them ! Not just online , show them at Sally's wedding ceremony . Only then can I completely crush the Ladners ' ambitions . " " With that , he pulled out his phone again . " I'll ensure the doctors treat Susan properly . You must keep this news hidden , at least for the next few days . She mustn't know , nor must she disrupt Sally's wedding . " Aidan nodded with unwavering resolve at his order . I replayed the video ten times over , then lay back on the bed in a daze . The kindness that my father and brother had shown me before was genuine . Now , they were truly giving all of that kindness to Sally , while I had become the enemy standing in the way of her happiness .