Chapter 4: Chapter 4

289 words

<html><head></head><body>The rattling engine of the old Santana made Evelyn Roland's temples throb. She massaged her aching forehead and turned to the window. A road sign pointed unmistakably toward the capital. "Dominic Laurent." Her voice was ice. "Jiangshui Village is south." The man behind the wheel stiffened. "Well..." He forced a laugh. "The Roland family moved to the capital years ago." Evelyn's eyes narrowed, her knuckles cracking ominously. "Over a decade ago," Dominic added hastily. "Better opportunities there..." She scoffed and pulled out her phone to check the route. The car lurched violently. Evelyn's knees slammed into the dashboard.  "What was that?" Dominic already had his seatbelt off, eyes gleaming. "A damsel in distress!" An Audi sat half-ditched in a roadside gully. A pale woman leaned against the trunk, sweat beading on her forehead. Evelyn's pupils contracted. "Get my bag!" she barked.  Before Dominic could react, she was at the woman's side, fingers on her wrist. "Three months pregnant. Threatened miscarriage." The woman's legs buckled. "Save my baby..." "Lie down." Evelyn unfurled her needle case. Silver flashed above the woman's abdomen. Ten minutes later, the pallor faded.  "Call me next time." Evelyn scribbled a number. "I charge for this." Sirens wailed in the distance. Dominic sidled up. "I didn't know you could—" A roar of engines cut him off. A silver Pagani blocked their path. The door swung open. A man's voice was dangerously calm. "Where are you taking my sister?"  When their eyes met, Evelyn's heart skipped. "I'm your second brother," he said. —— In a hospital room, Olivia Valdemar traced the edges of the note. Her phone rang. "Sis! Are you okay?" "Thanks to a young miracle worker," she said softly. "You must meet her when you return."  </body></html>