Chapter 9
Bella let out a sharp cry.[]
“No! You can’t!“]
My father turned to her, suspicion clouding his features.[]
She realized her mistake too late, forcing an awkward smile.[]
“Dad, you’re just exhausted. Being tired isn’t the same as being poisoned.“[]
“If you rest more, you’ll feel better!“]
Before my father could hesitate, I cut in.[]
“It’s just a quick search–what’s the big deal?“[]
“Bella, why are you so nervous? What exactly are you trying to hide?“]
She opened her mouth to protest, but my father’s expression had already darkened.[]
“Dr. Jason,” he ordered, “bring me the pillow.“]
Half an hour later.]]
Dr. Jason stood before my father, holding the pillow in his hands.[]
“Mr. Preston,” he said grimly, “the problem is the pillow. It contains a high concentration of hallucinogenic herbs–something Western medicine wouldn’t easily detect.[]
“But… you’ve been exposed to it for so long… treating it won’t be easy.“[]
I gasped in shock.
“Bella, how could you poison the pillow?“]
She shook her head frantically. “No! No, I didn’t!“]]
“It was you! You did this to yourself!“[]
I replied calmly, “But you sewed this pillow by hand. It would be easy to check if anyone had tampered with it after the fact.“[]
My father carefully inspected the pillow.
There were no signs that it had been opened and altered.[]
His eyes darkened with fury.[]
“I’ve been lenient with you for the sake of your mother. I thought you were pure and kind, but I never imagined you’d be
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so vicious! You even dared to poison your own father!“[]
She burst into tears.[]
“Dad, I didn’t mean to hurt you! I just–I just–this pillow was meant for Valeriel She was the one who gave it to you!”
I let out a cold laugh.[]
“Oh? So you did intend to harm me?”
“Even if poisoning Dad wasn’t your original plan, you had countless opportunities to take the pillow away. You could have warned him to stop using it.“[]
“But you didn’t.“]
“You wanted him to continue inhaling the poison, didn’t you?“]]
“Why? So once he dies, you can smoothly inherit the estate?“]
That final remark broke my father.[]
He slapped Bella across the face, his voice trembling with rage.[]
“Get out! I never want to see you again!“]]
“My money–not a single cent will go to you!“]]
Bella clutched her face, screaming.[]
“Don’t forget–my mother died giving birth to me!“]]
“If not for you, I wouldn’t have been a bastard child! I wouldn’t have had to live my whole life in the shadows!“]
“You have no right to throw me out!“]
My father struck her again, his voice roaring through the house.[]
“If I had known your mother would give birth to you, I wouldn’t have mourned her death for a single second!“]
Bella suddenly started laughing, her voice sharp and cruel.[]
“I’m the only one who knows the exact formula of the poison.“[]
“Without me, you won’t get the antidote!“]
“If you don’t give me my inheritance, you can wait for your death!“[]
My father hesitated.[]
Seeing his moment of weakness, I gently suggested.]
“Dad, maybe you should just apologize to Bella and ask for the antidote.“]
Cunil Could YourLove Me Now?
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Apologize?
A father, begging the daughter who tried to kill him?
And in front of his other daughter?]
A man already on the brink of madness could never accept that.[]
His face twisted into something dark and terrifying as he glared at Bella.[]
“Let’s see who lasts longer-“]
“Me or you starving to death on the streets!“]]
There was no need to wait.]]
That very night, I saw her make a hurried phone call before sneaking out.]
An hour later, the friend I had planted beside Damon sent me a video.[]
It showed Bella clinging to Damon, her voice pleading, “Brother, I was so scared earlier–that’s why I threw the blame on you.“[]
“I didn’t answer your calls for the past few days because things at home were too chaotic. I was afraid Dad would find out and get angry.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to share Preston Corporation’s shares with you, but now that that old bastard won’t leave me any inheritance…“]
Damon sneered, reassuring her.]
“We were both played by that bitch Valerie. How could I blame you?“]
“If it weren’t for her, my mother wouldn’t have been kicked out with nothing. She wouldn’t have had to use her shares in the Harley Corporation to force me into marrying that 200–pound pig from the Hope family.“]
“Don’t worry. Once we secure backing from the Harley and Hope families, taking her down will be easy.“[]
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