Alexander Valentine stood at the corner of the hospital hallway, dialing Natalie Sullivan's number.

"Natalie, Sophia was in a car accident. She's hospitalized." His voice was low and heavy.

The sound of shattering glass came through the phone.

"When did this happen?" Natalie's voice instantly rose.

"I don't know the details. You should go see her."

After hanging up, Alexander stared blankly out the window. Sophia's gentle eyes always reminded him of his mother in her youth. This inexplicable connection made him care for her despite himself.

Natalie burst into the hospital room, her hair disheveled from running.

She immediately noticed Sophia's pale face.

"Sophia!" She threw herself at the bedside, her voice trembling.

Sophia's eyelashes fluttered weakly, like an injured butterfly.

Natalie's hand hovered midair, afraid to touch her. "The baby... is it...?"

Sophia closed her eyes as a single tear fell. "Gone."

Natalie's world collapsed.

Her fingers clenched the bedsheet until her knuckles turned white. "Who did this?"

"The police say it was an accident." Sophia gave a bitter smile. "But the timing is too convenient."

Natalie shot to her feet, eyes blazing. "Where's Isabella?"

"Emergency ward," Alexander's voice came from the doorway. "She's in critical condition too."

Natalie suddenly laughed—a sharp, brittle sound. "Karma!"

She turned to storm out.

Sophia grabbed her wrist. "Don't do anything reckless."

"Don't worry." Natalie wiped her tears. "I just want to see if she's dead yet."

In the emergency ward hallway, Theodore Valentine and Victoria Windsor waited anxiously.

Natalie charged toward them like a whirlwind and kicked the operating room door.

"Have you lost your mind?" Theodore blocked her.

"My nephew is dead!" Natalie screamed. "Why does she get to live?"

Victoria avoided her gaze. "Calm down—"

"You did this!" Natalie suddenly pointed at her. "You and Isabella planned this!"

Victoria's face drained of color. "That's absurd!"

Natalie lunged forward and slapped her across the face.

The sharp crack of the slap echoed down the hallway.

"Enough!" Victor Sullivan arrived in haste.

Ignoring him, Natalie grabbed a syringe from a nearby nurse's cart and stabbed it toward Victoria.

The needle grazed Victoria's arm, drawing blood.

"You've gone too far!" Victor raised his hand to strike.

Alexander stepped in, shielding Natalie.

"She deserves it!" Natalie sobbed. "My nephew is gone!"

Just then, a janitor pushed a medical waste bin past them.

A dangerous glint flashed in Natalie's eyes.

With lightning speed, she shoved Victoria headfirst into the bin.

Victoria's scream was muffled by garbage.

"That's biohazard waste!" the janitor cried.

Natalie smirked. "From AIDS patients?"

Victoria froze, her face turning ashen.