A Heart Taken in Vain

When I came back to my senses, I threw myself at Ruby. I would've torn her apart if I could.

How dare she? How dare she try and harm my daughter?

However, every punch I swung passed through her, as harmless as air.

I looked over at Charles, pleading silently in my heart, "Please don't agree to this. I know you love her. I'll let you be with her. We can get a divorce!

"I don't want anything from you. I just want Charlotte to be alive and healthy! Didn't you say that as a doctor, you were willing to sacrifice everything to dedicate yourself to saving your patients? You can't betray your oath!"

Charles didn't hear my pleas at all.

In despair, I watched him nod lightly, his face pale. "I'll do it."

At the moment he agreed, I saw Xavier, who was supposed to be unconscious on the bed, open his eyes. He exchanged a look of triumph with Ruby.

No matter how much I screamed and broke down in hysterics, Charles still made his way to Charlotte's room.

I was crying on the inside as I clung on to my last hope.

I hoped that he would recognize his own daughter.

Even if he didn't love me and didn't care for our marriage or the oath he'd made as a doctor, he must still care for Charlotte.

Charlotte was wearing the bunny nightdress he'd given her last year, the very last piece of clothing he'd bought for her.

Kids her age grew up fast. The dress was a little short on her, but she hadn't wanted to change out of it.

Ever since Ruby and Xavier appeared in our lives, they'd taken away all of Charles' attention. He'd never bought Charlotte anything since then.

Charlotte loved that nightdress. She would wear it right out of the laundry, every single day without fail.

My heart was pounding. I hoped he would recognise the dress.

However, when he stopped in front of her bed, he just glanced at the dirty, bloodstained dress in disgust. He picked it up and threw it into the trashcan.

"That nightdress is so old. Why hasn't her family gotten her a new one? What kind of parents does she have?" he said, frowning.

Then, he told the nurses to leave, telling them that he would examine the patient alone.

"Don't go! Please stay!" I cried out silently, reaching out to grab at one of the nurses' sleeves, but it was futile. The door closed with a click.

My heart trembled. I watched as Charles went over to the bed and took down the IV bag. He took out another bag and peeled the label off it.

Lowering his head, he looked at Charlotte.

As if sensing his gaze, Charlotte opened her eyes. Half-hidden amongst the bandages, her eyes lit up in recognition.

I knew she could see her father.

Charles' hand trembled, but he quickly regained his composure. He looked down at Charlotte, reluctance flickering in his eyes for a moment.

In the end, he just said, "Don't blame me."

I felt as if I were being strangled. I couldn't breathe.

He hadn't recognised Charlotte. He hadn't recognised his own daughter, his flesh and blood!

Charlotte had no idea what was happening. She thought Charles was forgiving her. Her eyes curved in a smile as her lips moved slightly.

I understood what she was trying to say.

"Daddy, you're a hero," she said. "You're here to save me."

Under her hopeful and joyous gaze, Charles switched out the IV drip without hesitation. I let out a silent wail, pain tearing through my heart.

To ensure that no one discovered the switch, Charles stayed in the room the entire time.

The cold poison flowed into Charlotte's veins through the needle. She was trembling in pain, but Charles just stared at her coldly, waiting for her to stop breathing.