10:00 AM sharp.

Jenna Roland had just finished packing up her street stall when her phone rang abruptly.

The name "Ethan Roscente" flashing on the screen made her eyebrows lift.

"Ethan?" She propped her chin on one hand, scanning the empty stall before her.

"We found her." His voice came through the receiver. "Under a bridge. Barely alive."

Her fingers twitched.

The words "barely alive" stabbed into her heart like a knife.

Almost too late.

"Who did this?" Her voice tightened.

"Yvonne Valois." A pause. "Lucien Valois's woman."

A chill crawled up Jenna's spine.

Broad daylight, and they dared to commit murder?

"Isn't she afraid of prison?" She clenched the phone.

"Mayor Valois is her shield." Ethan's冷笑 was icy. "That woman has powerful connections."

Cold sweat beaded on Jenna's forehead.

Thank God she'd listened to the Savigny sisters' warning.

"Sylvia needs to leave Los Angeles immediately." She lowered her voice.

"Agreed."

"Which hospital is your friend at? I want to thank them in person."

"Unnecessary." He rattled off the hospital address and hung up without ceremony.

Jenna immediately dialed Stella Laurent.

A sleepy mumble answered.

"We found your sister!" Jenna's voice was urgent. "At Los Angeles General Hospital!"

Stella's breathing hitched.

The call disconnected. Within seconds, Jenna heard frantic rustling—clothes being thrown on in panic.

One hour later.

Stella burst into the hospital room to find Sylvia Savigny asleep beneath an oxygen mask.

Her legs gave out. Only a hand clamped over her mouth stifled the scream.

Her sister's face was swollen beyond recognition.

Bandages wrapped her head. Bruises mottled her lips purple.

A cast suspended her left leg midair. An IV tube snaked into her right hand.

Tears splattered the linoleum.

The choked sobs woke the patient.

Sylvia pried open swollen eyelids with visible effort.