Chapter 70
“Where is that witch? I’ll kill her! I’ll kill her! It’s all her fault p>
Anna’s voice echoed through the hospital hallway like a thunderclap. She was throwing everything her hands could reach–flowers, trays, even a nurse’s clipboard. Nurses and doctors rushed around her, trying to calm her down, but she was too strong for them.
Sia and Mia were there, doing their best to hold her back, but Anna’s rage was wild. Her strength, even in that madness, was frightening.
Alfred Wyndham sat quietly on a bench a few feet away, his cane resting between his knees. He didn’t move or say a word. The old man looked almost too calm for the chaos around him, his eyes lost somewhere deep in thought.
John looked too tired, and pissed.
Isla’s hand flew to her mouth. She froze in shock at the sight of her mother–in–law. “Oh my God… it’s true,” she whispered. “She’s lost her mind. But why? What happened to her p>
The questions rang in her chest as she watched Anna screaming and fighting against the nurses.
Then, Anna’s eyes caught Isla. Everything stopped for a heartbeat.
Her expression twisted, wild and hateful. Before anyone could react, Anna broke free from the nurses and charged toward Isla.
“She’s here! The witch is here!” she shouted, her voice raw with fury.
John tried to stop her, but it was too late.
Gasps rippled through the hallway. Everyone stared, frozen. Isla didn’t even move–her feet were rooted to the floor, her eyes wide in fear.
But before Anna could reach her, Gabriel stepped forward. In one fast move, he blocked his mother’s path and caught her in his arms. Without hesitation, he lifted her up and carried her away, his jaw clenched tight, and his face didn’t give anything away.
The doctors and nurses hurried after him, grateful that someone had finally gotten control of the situation. So was John as he followed closely behind Gabriel.
The hallway fell into a heavy silence. Isla stood there, trembling, her thoughts spinning. She couldn’t even hear the others calling her name. Everything around her felt distant, like she was trapped underwater.
Ben, Peter, and Landon moved closer to her, each one of them placed a hand on her shoulders at different moments, trying to ground her. But Isla didn’t react. Her eyes were blank.
Then–slap!
The sharp sound cut through the silence in the hallway. Sofie’s hand had connected with Isla’s cheek.
Everyone gasped.
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“What are you doing?” Alfred Wyndham’s voice boomed. His voice was deep and commanding. He had seen it clearly and couldn’t believe what he just witnessed.
Even Ben and Peter stared at Sofie. They were shocked. But Sofie didn’t flinch. Her eyes were serious.
“She was slipping into a panic attack,” Sofie said quickly, her voice shaking a little. “If I hadn’t done that, she would’ve collapsed. I’ve seen it happen before p>
All eyes turned to Isla. She was breathing heavily now, her chest rising and falling fast. Tears streamed down her face, but she wasn’t sobbing–she was trying to breathe.
Betsy took a step forward. She looked worried. “A panic attack? I didn’t even know she had that. We were in college together. Since when?” ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ.net
“I didn’t know either,” Sofie said softly. “I just found out this morning. It scared me too p>
Alfred rose from the bench and walked toward Isla. His old face was calm and kind. He reached out and brushed his thumb gently across her cheek, wiping her tears.
“My dear,” he said warmly, “you’re stronger than this. Don’t let anyone break you down. Come, sit with me p>
Isla hesitated but nodded. She felt her legs going weak. But Alfred guided her back to the bench and helped her sit beside him. His voice was tender, fatherly, the kind of comfort she actually needed right now.
While Alfred was attending to Isla, making sure she was ok. Peter stood a few steps away, watching them. Something inside him stirred.
The tenderness in Alfred’s tone reminded him of his own grandmother–the woman who had raised him, the one who always spoke with that same soft authority to him.
‘She used to talk to me that way,‘ he thought.
He looked away, his gaze shifting to Ben and Betsy. They stood close together, Betsy’s head resting against Ben’s chest while his arm wrapped protectively around her waist. They looked lost in their own quiet world.
Peter’s eyes lingered on them, curious. When did those two get this close? he wondered.
Then his gaze drifted again–to Sofie. She stood alone against the wall, her arms wrapped around herself, her expression tense. She looked so small and fragile the way she stood.
He didn’t even understand why he was drawn to her. Peter Wyndham–the cold, untouchable billionaire–had spent his entire life building walls. Business had always been his only language.
He didn’t chase women. He didn’t even have time for them. His life was measured in contracts, boardrooms, and profit margins.
But since his grandmother had fallen ill, her words haunted him.
“Peter, get a wife. Have children before I die. I want to see your children while I’m still here p>
And now, in this chaos, in this hospital filled with pain, secrets, and broken emotions–he looked at Sofie and thought… maybe this is it.
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Maybe this moment, however strange, was his sign.
He knew it might look crazy to everyone around him. Maybe it was crazy. But he didn’t care.
For once in his life, Peter wanted something that had nothing to do with money or power.
He wanted this one woman.
And before anyone could stop him, before he could even think twice–he moved.
One step. Two steps.
Then, in front of everyone, he stopped right before Sofie.
She looked up, startled. Her heart began to beat with fear. “What does he want again?” She thought.
The hallway filled with gasps once again. Not because of Anna, but because the cold billionaire… had gone mad.
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Crown Imagination Author
Hi, beautiful people! I’d love to hear your thoughts – please leave some comments and let me know what you think p>
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Florence
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.