Chapter 46

Susan Thompson's knife trembled slightly as its tip pressed against Nicole Capra's chest.

She never wanted it to come to this.

Nicole's eyelashes fluttered. A calculated glint flashed through her eyes. She could have dodged, but deliberately leaned into the blade.

"Sister, have you gone mad?" Nicole's voice quivered, but when she met Susan's gaze, the corners of her lips curled into an almost imperceptible smirk.

Susan's grip on the knife tightened.

Andrew Lucas's footsteps echoed from the staircase, each step pounding against Susan's heart.

"Susan, let go." His voice was colder than the winter outside.

The blade left a red mark on Nicole's pale skin, drawing beads of blood.

"One million," Susan stared straight into Andrew's eyes, "or I'll kill her right now."

Nicole suddenly convulsed violently, tears streaming like broken pearls. "Andrew, save me... She hates me—"

"Shut up!" Susan snapped. "Nicole, haven't you acted enough?"

Andrew's expression darkened instantly. He strode forward and kicked the knife from Susan's hand.

The blade grazed Susan's wrist, blood dripping onto the expensive carpet.

Susan stared blankly at her own blood, then suddenly laughed.

That smile made Andrew's chest tighten.

"Andrew..." Susan's voice was barely a whisper. "I'll give you my life. Just save Daniel, please."

A sharp pain shot through her stomach. Cold sweat drenched her back. Trembling fingers fumbled for a pill bottle, shaking out several white tablets.

Andrew's gaze fixed on the bottle, his brow furrowing.

"More acting?" He sneered. "Susan, your life is worthless."

The housekeeper and servants dragged Susan out roughly, throwing her into the snow.

Curled up in the snow, blood trickled continuously from Susan's lips, staining the white ground beneath her.

She struggled to stand, swaying unsteadily forward. Each step felt like walking on knives.

Nicole's flirtatious laughter and Andrew's deep responses carried from the distance.

Susan finally collapsed to her knees in the snow, tears mixing with blood.

"Daniel... What should Mommy do...?"

Inside the villa, Andrew stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the staggering figure in the snow.

Nicole wrapped her arms around him from behind, her red lips brushing his ear. "Andrew, let me stay tonight, okay?"

Andrew didn't answer.

All he could see were Susan's desperate eyes.