Chapter 9 Let Me Go!

• Ding dong! The doorbell echoed through the hallway as a pale hand pressed down on it.
• Moments later, a woman with a striking resemblance to Carolina opened the door.
• This woman was Carolina's second sister, Valerie.
• Seeing who was at the door, Valerie's expression twisted in annoyance. "Why do you come? Huh, such bad luck!" She made a move to shut the door immediately.
• "Valerie ... please, I'm begging you!" Carolina's knees crashed against the marble steps as she knelt, clutching the hem of her sister's trousers in desperation. "Viviana ... she's dying!"
• Valerie jumped at Carolina's plea, but her shock quickly turned to scorn. "Shut up, you pathetic b*tch! I won't help you, even if you beg me. If I do, the old geezers in the family will kill me!"
• Carolina's face grew even paler at those words. A bitter smile tugged at her lips as she lifted her head, trying to blink away the tears threatening to spill.
• Valerie glanced at her sister's pitiful state, a twisted sense of satisfaction stirring within her.
• She had always been jealous of Carolina, ever since they were little. Carolina had always been the best and the most beautiful of the three sisters. It was something that had gnawed at Valerie for years.
• Unexpectedly, Carolina had been duped by some random man five years ago. She got pregnant and decided to break ties with the family for that child. Since then, the beloved princess of the prestigious Fisher family has fallen to the status of a poor woman living in a lower-class neighborhood.
• How foolish!
• Now, the daughter she had sacrificed everything for is on the brink of death.
• Valerie smiled with a cold expression. "There's no point in asking me. Call Dad and admit your mistake. Otherwise, no one can help you!"
• Bang!
• The door slammed shut, leaving Carolina alone in the cold.
• Carolina sat desolately on the ground, tears finally breaking free as her body shook with sobs. After what felt like an eternity, she wiped her face dry and pulled out her phone, dialing a number with trembling fingers.
• The phone rang twice before an old, gravelly voice answered, "Carolina?"
• Carolina exhaled deeply, her voice cold and detached. "It's me, Dad. I need—"
• She didn't even get to finish her sentence before her father cut in. "I know what you want. You need money to save your daughter, don't you? Fine. But on one condition: you return home, undergo training, and marry the eldest son of the Atkinsons."
• The eldest son of the Atkinsons ... that disgusting man?! Dad wanted me to marry him!
• Carolina shut her eyes in despair. In her mind, she could see Viviana's charming, playful, and adorable face flashing before her.
• Then, almost as suddenly, Zachary's face appeared in her thoughts. A bitter smile formed on her lips as she opened her eyes. "Alright."
• ...
• A torrential downpour swept through the city last night, leaving Bilchester shrouded in a misty gloom the following morning.
• On the top floor of the Roham Hotel, Zachary spent the entire night awake. Dark circles shadowed his eyes as he stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, silently observing the enigmatic city below.
• Behind him, his subordinate, shadowguard, entered the room without a sound and saluted respectfully.
• Zachary knew who came without turning around and asked calmly, "What is it?"
• shadowguard approached Zachary, his voice low as he reported the latest news from Ninth Base. "Holy Sovereign, they've found a matching liver for the Princess!"
• Zachary spun around abruptly, hope surging through him. My daughter is saved!
• However, the next words out of shadowguard's mouth made his heart sink. "The matching liver ... it's Madam's."
• Carolina ...
• The news from yesterday night replayed in Zachary's mind, stirring a complex mix of emotions. But he quickly pushed them aside, picking up his phone and contacting Carolina's number.
• The line was connected, and Carolina's voice came through, as cold and distant as ever. "Who is this?"
• "It's me. We need to talk," Zachary replied.
• "Fine, I have something to discuss too. Where are you?" Carolina responded without hesitation.
• "The cafe downstairs at the Roham Hotel," Zachary told her.
• Carolina ended the call with a decisive click.
• Zachary gazed at his phone for three seconds before standing up and heading out the door.
• Twenty minutes later, Zachary spotted Carolina. She looked worn out, and there was a bandage wrapped around her knee.
• "Sit down. I want to tell you about Viviana's—" Zachary began.
• But Carolina cut him off, pushing a bank card across the table with icy indifference. "Take Viviana and leave Bilchester City."
• Zachary furrowed his eyebrows, his eyes flicking at the card. "What's this?"
• "There's 1.5 million on it. After covering Viviana's medical expenses, the rest should be enough for you two to live a quiet life in a small city." Carolina's gaze was steady as she locked eyes with Zachary. "You owe me this, Zachary. Take good care of Viviana. She's my most precious treasure. If you dare to mistreat her, I won't forgive you."
• "What are you talking about?" Zachary's frown deepened.
• Carolina's voice quivered slightly, but she took a deep breath. When she spoke again, her tone softened. "I'm entrusting Viviana to you. Protect her well. As soon as she recovers, leave Bilchester immediately."
• With that, Carolina stood, ready to leave. But Zachary's hand shot out, grasping her wrist. "What do you mean? Are you abandoning Viviana?"
• "Why do you need to know so much? Just take care of her. She's your responsibility too!" Carolina's voice was cold as she tried to pull her hand free.
• Her wrist was so small, and Zachary didn't dare to hold it too tightly, but it was enough to keep her from breaking away.
• "Let me go!" Carolina glared at him, anger flashing in her eyes.
• "Let her go," a male voice commanded from behind Carolina. The man's gaze was icy as he stared down at Zachary.
• Years of battlefield experience had honed Zachary's instincts, and he could feel the murderous intent radiating from this man. The man wanted to kill him.
• Yet Zachary didn't let her go.
• Carolina, however, struggled more fiercely when she saw the man. Finally, she wrenched her hand free and walked silently toward him.
• Zachary's fingers clenched into a fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
• Does Carolina abandon Viviana because of this man?