"You unfilial child!" Robert barked, striking her across the cheek. "I am your father and you have no right to disobey me, do you hear me?" He spat all over her face, grabbing her chin with so much force that she thought he was going to punch her.


    Without waiting for her answer, Robert struck her across the cheek the second time. She fell on the floor as her blood painted her lips, her cheeks bleeding.


    Michelle smiled, hiding her conflicting emotions. She was overjoyed to see Anastasia being treated like a dog, but a flicker of annoyance lingered. It irked her how things seemed to be going so well for Anastasia that day.


    First, she had <i>bribed</i> the staff into swapping their IDs, ensuring she married Xavier, the man she was supposed to be with. And now, their grandparents had died, leaving everything they owned to Anastasia. Michelle was angry at how unfairly things had turned out in Anastasia''s favor.


    Robert pulled Anastasia''s hair and forced her to stand up. "Are you going to sign the property papers?" He questioned her again and she shook her head.


    "No," she mumbled.


    This was the first time after a long time since Ana had disobeyed him. He couldn''t fathom why she was suddenly disobeying at a time like this. His parents have always been richer than him.


    It was their wealth that made their family part of the influential people in their city, Radiantia.


    He had always anticipated the day his parents would pass away, imagining the moment thewyer would call his name, announcing that he had received the majority of their wealth.


    But the reality was far more cruel. He didn''t receive even a percent of their estate; everything was left to his unfilial daughter, Anastasia.


    Without further warning, Robert dropped Ana to the ground. He pulled off his belt and whipped it across her body, eliciting a sharp yelp of pain from her.


    As if that wasn''t enough, he started kicking her all over, intending to inflict unbearable pain on her so that she could choose to sign the papers. But Ana was extremely stubborn at that moment.


    Amelia, with her daughter, didn''t want Robert to be the only one having the fun so they joined. They loved how they kicked Ana as if she was a ser ball.


    "You think you are stubborn, aren''t you? Let''s see how much pain you can endure," Robert said.


    All of a sudden, they saw blood pool under Anastasia''s dress. It was so shocking that they backed away a little.


    "Why is she suddenly bleeding?" Michelle asked no one in particr. She looked at Anastasia who had already passed out.


    "Call the guards, we need to take her to the hospital. She''d better not die yet when she hasn''t signed the property papers."


    Robert''s bodyguards immediately rushed in when they heard their names being called.


    "Take her to the booth of the car, I don''t want her dirty blood staining my fancy car seat. We are taking her to the hospital," he ordered and they immediately did as they were instructed.


    —


    When they arrived at the hospital, Anastasia was immediately rushed in for treatment. Robert followed closely, his face a mask of cold determination.


    He grabbed the doctor by the arm, his grip firm and unyielding.


    "Listen carefully," he said, his voice low and threatening. "I only need her fingers to be moving. That''s all that matters."


    The doctor looked at him, conflicted but unable to defy the urgent demand. Reluctantly, he nodded, and Robert stepped back, watching as they wheeled Anastasia away, his mind already calcting his next move.


    "When is she going to be awake?" Robert asked as soon as the doctor came out of the hospital room.


    "She should be awake in about two hours," he replied. "But why does her body seem like she got beaten up? Did something happen to her?" He asked, wanting to know more about his patient.


    "She was robbed and that was how we found her, doc," Robert lied. He couldn''t tell the doctor exactly what had happened.


    "I hope my sister will be alright," Michelle said, forcing a tear out of her eyes. Amelia hugged her as they sobbed together.


    "I see. Well, I''m sorry for the loss of your grandchild because unfortunately, the patient had a miscarriage." The doctor dropped the bomb which had the trio nce at each other in bewilderment.


    "I''m sorry but I don''t think I heard that well," said Amelia. "Please can you repeat that?" she requested, waiting for the doctor.


    "The patient was pregnant and she had lost her baby, she had a miscarriage," the doctor repeated.