Chapter 4

Ophelia’s POV

In the end, everyone present was evacuated.

The wounds on my body hadn’t even been treated yet when I was sent to Conrad’s office.

Perhaps because I was blind, a photo of him and Estelle intimately hugging each other was openly sitting on his desk.

Under the sunlight, his eyes looked incomparably gentle.

I pretended nothing was wrong and withdrew my gaze, but waves of stabbing pain surged in my chest.

After his secretary left, he finally looked at me.

With just one glance, a trace of heartache appeared in his eyes.

“Why didn’t they treat your wounds?”

He softened his voice, reached out carefully, wanting to touch my wounds, but I subtly avoided him.

Conrad’s fingers curled slightly, and he explained gently, “About what just happened, don’t be upset. Estelle has been in the R&D department for so many years, it hasn’t been easy for her. The upcoming fragrance project also has to rely on her. I had no choice but to say that. When all these matters are over, I’ll announce our relationship. Okay?”

His voice was the same as always, but my throat felt as if it were stuffed with cotton.

Looking at his face, I said softly, “Conrad, do you still remember what you said when I handed the first fragrance to you?”

He frowned. After a moment, he answered, “Of course, I remember. It’s just that recently, it’s not very convenient for the company. There were also many things that happened in the R&D department today. For your own good, you shouldn’t come here for now. When everything settles down, I’ll give your position back.”

My face turned pale inch by inch. Even though I had intended to resign today, after he chose to abandon me without hesitation, I still felt as if I had been pierced through by knives and swords.

More than ten years of feelings were like rotten flesh on a wound—even knowing long ago that it should be cut away, it still hurt unbearably.

And Conrad had long since forgotten what he said to me back then.

When I handed the first fragrance to him, he had once promised that no matter what, the credit would always be mine.

He would not sell any patent related to my fragrances.

But from the moment Estelle entered the company, every one of my fragrances was written with her name on it.

The man who once loved me and protected me had long since changed his heart.

I took a deep breath, pressed down the surging emotions, and handed the resignation agreement to him.

He frowned as he took it. “Is this about the fragrance again? This part of the work—for now, just hand it over to Estelle.”

Before I could answer, a burst of noise suddenly came from outside the door.

“Sir, something’s wrong! Miss Estelle has been taken away!”

Conrad’s face turned pale. He turned and was about to run out of the office.

I grabbed his hand tightly and said expressionlessly, “Sign it first.”

He glared at me, seemingly not expecting me to do this.

But his men at the door were urging him urgently. In the end, he only looked at me with disappointment, quickly signed his name, and left.

I carefully put away the resignation agreement. Just as I was about to leave, Conrad, who had suddenly turned back, grabbed my wrist.

Dragging me outside, he questioned me, “Ophelia! What exactly are you trying to do? The people from the R&D department said that after Estelle left with a guy, she didn’t come back—and that guy gave away your name!”

I said in shock, “It wasn’t me! I didn’t!”

His eyes were bloodshot. “That guy used your name. You and Estelle just had a conflict. If it wasn’t you, then who was it? Who would go to such lengths to frame a blind woman like you?!”

After saying that, without waiting for me to explain, he shoved me hard to the floor.

“If you have any complaints, you can come to me directly. Why did you have to go after Estelle?!”

I fell heavily to the floor again—this time my belly slammed into the floor.

In just an instant, I felt pain coming from my abdomen.

I screamed and shakily reached out my hand. “Conrad, take me to the hospital! My belly hurts so much!”

When he saw the blood flowing out from beneath me, his expression finally panicked, and he hurriedly picked me up.

At that moment, the secretary rushed in with a phone that was still on a call.

“Sir, Miss Estelle’s location has been found, but the kidnapper demands that Ma’am Ophelia go there before he’ll release Miss Estelle…”

The secretary hesitated, then, under Conrad’s blood-red stare, blurted everything out in one breath.

“He said that it was Ma’am Ophelia who gave him the money. Only if she says it in person will he release Miss Estelle…”

When he heard this, Conrad’s face completely darkened, and the look in his eyes when he turned to me became incomparably cold.

The secretary continued speaking.

“And sir… Miss Estelle’s not in a good condition right now. Because of excessive fright, she’s developed respiratory spasms. We’ve arranged for a doctor to go over, but the kidnapper has refused to let her receive treatment. If this continues, I’m afraid…”

Hearing this, Conrad finally made up his mind.

He changed direction, dragging me toward the parking lot while telling the secretary to send over the location.

Enduring the pain in my belly, I said in panic, “Conrad, where are you taking me? I told you, I didn’t hire that kidnapper. Hurry and take me to the hospital—at least for the sake of the baby!”

I almost wailed in a pleading voice.

But he turned a deaf ear, only pressing harder on the accelerator.

Along the way, I kept begging, explaining, even cursing him, but he ignored me the entire time.

I could only watch helplessly as the life of the baby in my womb slipped away.

When we arrived at the abandoned factory, Conrad anxiously dragged me out of the car.

Inside the factory, the kidnapper was holding a knife to Estelle’s neck. She was breathing rapidly, her face full of terror.

A trace of heartache instantly surfaced in Conrad’s eyes, and his gaze toward the kidnapper was cold.

“I’ve already brought the person. You can release Estelle now, right?”

The kidnapper sneered. “How do I know you’ll keep your word? How about this—you put that woman inside the factory, and I’ll have a good talk with her. Don’t worry, in three minutes, I’ll exchange Estelle back to you.”

Conrad’s brows knitted tightly.

He grabbed my hand, his grip trembling. I clutched my belly and struggled desperately.

This kidnapper was not someone I had hired, yet now, I was being asked to enter the factory. I feared this was all Estelle’s plan.

Once I went in, my chances of survival would be slim.

Thinking of this, I struggled even harder.