Chapter 4 Malnourished

• "Holy Sovereign! Our car's this way!" A subordinate who had followed Zachary rushed over when he saw Holy Sovereign stumbling out of the room, panic written all over his face.
• Outside the kindergarten, a sleek black Maybach was parked and ready. The subordinate quickly opened the car door for Zachary, who carefully cradled his daughter as he got inside. "To the nearest hospital, now! As fast as you can!" Zachary yelled at the driver.
• "Yes, sir!" The driver, hearing Zachary' furious tone, didn't dare hesitate. They sped off toward the hospital with a heavy foot on the gas.
• The driver exchanged a shocked look in the rearview mirror with Zachary' subordinate. They were both stunned.
• Zachary, a man feared by countless powerful figures, a man who ruled the battlefield with ruthless coldness, was now frantic over a little girl.
• Zachary stood outside the emergency room doors at Bilchester Hospital, helpless as the doctors worked on Viviana inside.
• "She'll be okay. She has to be okay." Zachary paced back and forth, muttering under his breath.
• "Viviana! How is she?!" A frantic voice suddenly called out.
• Zachary looked up to see Carolina stumbling toward the emergency room.
• "Holy Sovereign, we brought Madam here to treat her injuries. But as soon as she heard Miss. Cooke was also sent to the hospital, she came running," the woman following behind Carolina reported to Zachary.
• The red light above the emergency room door remained on, and Carolina felt as if all the strength had drained from her body. The world seemed to spin around her.
• "Carolina!" Zachary rushed over to catch her before she collapsed.
• Leaning against his chest, Carolina's breath came in short gasps and her heart pounded wildly. Clinging to a sliver of hope, she whispered, "Is Viviana…?"
• She couldn't bring herself to finish the question.
• "No! When I got there, Viviana was still unharmed!" Zachary spoke rapidly.
• Carolina let out a long breath of relief.
• Holding her close, Zachary gently stroked her hair. "Viviana's going to be fine, trust me."
• Carolina looked up at the face she had both longed for and resented for more than five years. Time seemed to have left Zachary untouched. He looked exactly as he had when he left.
• His eyes were full of determination as if his words alone could change reality. But Zachary didn't know about the other illness their daughter was suffering from.
• Zachary had no idea how Carolina had struggled to raise their daughter alone, how she'd discovered Viviana's illness, or how she had been drowning in debt from medical bills, even turning to loan sharks out of sheer desperation.
• If only Zachary had returned just a little sooner.
• Carolina's hands clutched tightly at Zachary' coat, and for the first time, the strong facade she had maintained finally crumbled. Tears slipped down her face, no matter how hard she tried to hold them back.
• "Why did you come back so late?" Carolina shoved him away, covering her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle her sobs.
• Zachary stared at the woman he loved so deeply, her anguished cries echoing in his mind like thunder. His heart ached with regret. "I'm sorry. I was too late."
• "What's the point of being sorry now? You disappeared for all those years. I'd already considered you dead!" Carolina wiped her tears away, forcing herself to put on a cold, indifferent expression to hide her vulnerability.
• "Carolina, I know you hate me. But please, give me a chance. I'll take care of you and our daughter. From now on, no one will ever hurt you two again." Zachary' voice was firm.
• Avoiding his gaze, Carolina fell silent.
• After what felt like an eternity, the light above the emergency room finally turned green.
• The doctor emerged and asked, "Who here is family?"
• Zachary rushed forward. "I am! I'm her father!"
• Carolina followed close behind, her eyes fixed on the emergency room doors.
• Soon, the doors opened. "Viviana's family! Viviana's family!" the nurse called out.
• "I'm here!" Carolina dashed forward like a bolt of lightning.
• "What's your relationship to the patient?"
• "I'm her mother."
• The doctor glanced at the couple in front of him, his tone cold as he said, "Her vitals are unstable. You need to sign the consent form for surgery."
• "Doctor, what's wrong with Viviana? Is there anything else going on with her?" Zachary asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
• The doctor's face showed signs of impatience. "She's severely malnourished, has multiple injuries, and there's a tumor in her abdomen. Have either of you even bothered to act like responsible parents? Aren't you worried someone might report you to Child Protective Services?"
• Boom!
• Zachary' mind went blank.
• How could this be happening? Viviana was only four years old. What had she been through?