The assistant exined through her tears.


    "She brought this on herself. It would''ve served her right if she''d died," Lucien Miller said, his voice thick with unshed tears. Though his words were harsh, his eyes were red and brimming.


    Yvonne had just returned from speaking with the doctor and heard his bitter words as she entered the room.


    She let out a cold scoff. "You''re right, it does serve her right," she said, her voice dripping with irony. “Pushing herself into an abyss, all for a man."


    Lucien looked up, his expression confused. "What are you talking about?"


    "You''ve had it easy, haven''t you? The sky could fall, and you''d have a woman there to hold it up for you," Yvonne said sharply. "Where do you think the money for your surgery came from?"


    "Marina told me shended an endorsement deal," Lucien stammered. "She said the fee was just enough to cover the costs."


    "So you needed money for surgery, and just by coincidence, Marinanded a deal for the exact amount you needed? What, are you the universe''s favorite son or something?" Yvonne''sugh was humorless. "She couldn''t bear to watch you die, so she epted George''s terms. You were the one who pushed her into that abyss. Anyone in the world can judge her, but you don''t have that right."


    Lucien stared at her, his mind reeling. He slowly sank to his knees, utterly devastated.


    Just then, a soft moan came from the bed. Marina''s eyes fluttered open.


    She stared nkly at the ceiling, still disoriented, muttering to herself. “It''s so dirty..... so dirty... I can''t get clean..."


    Her mind was still trapped in the moments before her attempt. She had been in the shower, scrubbing her skin untikit was raw, but she still felt filthy a stain that could never be washed away. Life had seemed meaningless. Death felt like the only way to be clean again.


    “Marina, you''re awake! You''re finally awake,” Lucien cried, rushing to her side and


    pulling her into a gentle embrace. "Does your wrist hurt?"


    Seeing him, Marina''s senses returned. “Lucien, you''re here," she sobbed. “You finally came to see me."


    "Marina, I''m so sorry," he whispered,


    holding her tight. "It''s my fault. If hadn''t gotten sick..." The two of them clung to each other, their tears mingling


    Yvonne quietly slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.


    "How is she? Is she awake?" Sandra asked, having just returned from paying the hospital bill.


    “She just woke up. Her fiancé is with her. Let''s not disturb them," Yvonne said. Sandra nodded and nced at her watch. "It''s gettingte. I''ll drive you home.”


    "Okay,” Yvonne agreed, and they left the hospital together.


    Back at the Spencer estate, Yvonne showered and got into bed, but sleep wouldn''te. If George wasn''t brought to justice, there was no telling how many other innocent women ike Making would suffer They had done nothing wrong. The one who deserved to be punished was George.


    She tossed and turned all night and was finally drifting off when her phone rang, jarring her awake.