Her hand slowly clenched tighter and tighter until shards of ss dug into her skin, with blood trickling down. She looked terrifying now. Blood was staining her legs, her palms, and even her neck.


    Whenever she felt the fog of unconsciousness creeping in, she''d squeeze the broken ss deliberately, forcing herself to stay awake. Nate figured she could only hold out for ten minutes tops, but a solid half-hour had passed, and there she was, standing firm as ever.


    ''Damn, how is she so tough!'' he thought, taking a deep breath before dialing Naomi''s number. "Naomi, your daughter''s really putting up a fight. What should I do? I''m worried it could get dangerous."


    He wasn''t shy about making the call right in front of ra. He wanted her to know Naomi was behind all of this. Meanwhile, Naomi was glued to Quinn''s bedside. Quinn had cried herself hoarse, thrown up several times, and was incredibly frail. Hearing about ra had Quinn on edge, swaying by the window. "Mom, I really can''t handle hearing about my sister. I just want it all to end."


    Naomi, panicking, instructed Nate, "Quinn''s in a bad way. As for ra, do whatever you need to. If she dies, she dies. I''ll act like she was never mine."


    She hung up quickly and grabbed Quinn''s wrist. "Quinn, don''t do anything rash. I''ve got Nate taking care of your sister. You wanted them married, right? It''ll happen soon."


    Quinn''s eyes sparkled with


    satisfaction, her dramatic ir had done the trick. Naomi sighed in relief, guiding her to sit on the bed. "Don''t worry about a thing. You bond with Simon is something Walter himself acknowledged."


    The mention of Walter inevitably brought Dn to Quinn''s mind. Her heart warmed as she remembered those early days with the Bradford family. She had attended a Ferguson family party and spotted Dn, the epitome of perfection.


    Back then, Dn had even tossed a few words her way, leaving her flustered and speechless. While she saw Simon as a prize to be imed, she also dreamed of a wless man like Dn falling for her. Even as he was confined to a wheelchair and no longer perfect, he remained just out of reach.


    With her wedding looming, she couldn''t help but ask about Dn. "Mom, has


    Grandpa Walter ever mentioned Dn''s ns for marriage?"


    Naomi knew Dn''s reputation well;


    everyone in town did. Even after


    vanishing for two years, he still graced the pages of internationaf business magazines. The Bradford family might approve of Simon, but Dn was untouchable.


    "I''m not sure, but over the years, he hasn''t been seen with any women. His business is none of ours, and you should steer clear of mentioning him. The Ferguson family already mes your sister for what happened to him."


    Quinn felt a smug satisfaction knowing the Ferguson family epted her but not ra. In a way, she''d already left ra in the dust.