Chapter 3

Sara POV

After kneeling in the rain for four hours, my vision went black and I collapsed.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my room at the Knight residence. The housekeeper sat by the bed. Seeing me wake, she quickly brought water to my lips.

"Mr. Knight said to confine you for seven days. I think that's actually good. Look how much weight you've lost these past few days. Stay here and rest. I'll feed you until you're nice and plump."

I knew she felt sorry for me, but I couldn't help asking.

"Lucas, he..."

The housekeeper hesitated but spoke under my insistent gaze.

"Mr. Knight said Miss Rivers was traumatized. He took her to the Maldives to relax."

"Mr. Knight also said that if he didn't punish you, the Rivers family's anger isn't something an orphan like you could bear. He's saving you."

An ugly laugh escaped my throat, but tears wouldn't stop sliding from the corners of my eyes.

If he'd always loved Meredith, why did he treat me so well?

It wasn't that I couldn't bear the Rivers family's anger. Clearly, he just wasn't willing to protect me anymore.

For the next seven days, I stayed in my room without saying a word.

Besides eating and sleeping, I packed my belongings. In five years, this room held too many memories of Lucas and me.

The plushie we won at the amusement park on our first visit, the necklace Lucas made for me by hand, photos from our travels around the world...

I asked the housekeeper to sell the expensive bags and luxury goods. I donated useful things to charity and threw away the rest.

When I walked out of the room, it had returned to its original state.

"Miss Sara, hasn't your condition been very poor recently? When the mother is extremely sad, the fetus will choose to stop developing. You must have a dilation and curettage procedure immediately."

Holding the doctor's report, I walked into the operating room.

My tears had long since run dry.

Without my knowledge, the child had already chosen not to be born into this world.

Maybe this was for the best. In the next life, she could go to a happy family.

I walked slowly into the Knight residence. The silent cramping in my lower abdomen reminded me of what I'd lost.

In the living room, Lucas held Meredith while watching a movie. Seeing me enter, they stood up unhurriedly.

"Miss Sara is back."

Meredith's eyes curved as she smiled in greeting.

I had no mood to deal with them and walked straight past.

"Sara, don't act like a child. Meredith is greeting you."

Lucas looked displeased, but seeing me, he couldn't help softening his tone.

"Sara, what's wrong with you..."

Before he could finish, Meredith interrupted.

"Miss Sara went to a bar, didn't she? Linda said she saw you there. I didn't believe it."

Lucas's expression hardened.

"Sara, if you want to stay in the Knight family, behave yourself."

"Meredith shares your major. She just returned from abroad and needs a paper to establish herself in the family. Give Meredith your research paper on pancreatic cancer drugs."

"Consider it your apology for being rude to her at the party."

I looked at Lucas in disbelief.

"Just how grave was my crime? I knelt in the rain for four hours, and Miss Rivers still hasn't forgiven me?"

"Sara, you really need to fix that temper. Meredith didn't hold it against you because of me. If it were anyone else, it wouldn't have been just four hours of kneeling."

I opened my mouth but said nothing in the end. I was tired and didn't want to argue anymore.

"Fine."

Not expecting me to be so cooperative, Lucas froze, then smiled.

"You've really grown up. Now I can relax as your big brother."

In this relationship, I never had a choice.

"Miss Sara, I'll compensate you. Here's a card with five million dollars. Take it."

Meredith placed a black card in my palm.

Seeing me accept the card, Meredith's lips curved.

"To avoid future academic disputes, I need Miss Sara to sign an agreement acknowledging that all your previous research plagiarized my experimental results."

I looked up at Meredith, feeling ice cold all over. Meredith was making sure I could never raise my head in the medical field again!

I turned to look at Lucas.

"Did you agree to this too?"

Meredith turned and threw herself into Lucas's arms.

"Lucas, if I don't show medical talent, the Rivers family won't acknowledge me as their daughter. Sara is gifted. With support from both our families, she can achieve other results quickly."

I watched him look at me with a somewhat pleading expression.

I said nothing, just stared straight at Lucas.

The three of us were at a standstill for a long time. Finally, Lucas raised his hand to signal the housekeeper forward.

"I'm sorry. I'll compensate you."

With that, Lucas had the housekeeper forcibly press my hand down to stamp the document.

I collapsed helplessly on the ground, watching their departing backs. I don't know how much time passed before the housekeeper dragged me to the stables.

"Miss Sara, the master has decreed that from now on, you'll live in the stables."