Morning sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains.

Sophia Laurent stepped into the hospital elevator, clutching a thermal lunchbox.

Inside were ginseng chicken soup and light side dishes prepared by Maggie Clementson.

Outside the ICU, Alexander Valentine dozed on a bench.

Dark circles shadowed his eyes. His brows remained furrowed even in sleep.

Sophia sat down quietly beside him.

"Brother! How's Dad?" A shrill voice shattered the hallway's silence.

Alexander jolted awake.

Isabella Valentine rushed over in stilettos, cradling an ostentatious bouquet of lilies.

"Why are you here?" Alexander's voice turned glacial.

"To see Dad, of course." Isabella batted her lashes in feigned innocence.

"Hammer Ulrich is your father." Alexander stood, towering over her. "You're not welcome here."

Before Isabella could retort, a crisp voice interjected: "Well, if it isn't Miss Valentine? Vanished like a scared rabbit when he needed a liver donor, now playing the devoted daughter?"

Natalie Sullivan approached with a food container, winking at Sophia.

Alexander's expression softened instantly. "I told you to rest at home."

"Didn't want you starving." Natalie shook the container. "Seems your sister and I had the same idea."

Sophia smiled. "Let him eat what you brought."

Natalie scooped up a spoonful of soup. "Open wide."

As Alexander reached for the spoon, his phone rang.

Business calls flooded in one after another.

He moved to the window to answer. Natalie tiptoed after him, determined to feed him.

"Dad! I'm here to see you!" Isabella suddenly shrieked toward the ICU. "Wake up!"

Sophia frowned. "Keep your voice down."

Isabella sneered. "You're the jinx! Ever since meeting you, Dad's suffered nonstop misfortunes!"

"Remove her." Ethan Sullivan's command cut through the corridor.

Two bodyguards seized Isabella's arms, dragging her away.

"Let me go! How dare you!" Her screams faded into the distance.

Underground parking garage.

The bodyguards delivered stinging slaps across Isabella's face.

Clutching her cheek, she returned to the old house left by Vincent Grandelle.

Victoria Windsor lounged on the sofa, exhaling cigarette smoke. "Well?"

"Still unconscious." Isabella ground her teeth. "All because of that bitch Sophia!"

Victoria blew a smoke ring. "Better if he dies. You'll inherit."

"Shut up!" Isabella slammed the bedroom door.

Lewd moans drifted from the master suite.

She hurled a pillow at the wall with a scream.

Trembling, she texted Adrian Sullivan—only to find herself blocked.

One week later.

Alexander called: "Father's awake. He wants to see you."

In the hospital room, Theodore Valentine lay beneath an oxygen mask, breaths shallow.

"Sophia..." He struggled to speak. "I was wrong..."

Sophia's expression remained impassive. "Vincent Laurent is my father."

"I checked..." Theodore gasped. "The IVF failed... If you'd just..."

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The heart monitor screeched an alarm.

Theodore's face turned ashen. His breathing grew ragged.

"Doctor! Now!" Alexander slammed the emergency call button.