Chapter 553

Annabelle stood on the windowsill, her legs trembling violently.

Her fingers clung to the window frame like a lifeline. She didn't even dare to glance down.

"Jump! Why hesitate now?"

Emily Zade strode forward in sharp heels, flanked by black-suited bodyguards. The crisp click of her stilettos echoed through the hallway.

Annabelle's face drained of color.

"You..." Her lips quivered. "How dare you say that? This is incitement to suicide!"

Emily's lips curled into a frosty smile.

"Miss Taylor, the Taylors raised you for twenty years. They funded your overseas education, clothed you in luxury. And how did you repay them? By nearly burning their biological daughter alive. Now you're causing a scene at the hospital?"

Whispers rippled through the gathered crowd.

Annabelle's cheeks burned crimson.

"That was all Evelyn's—"

"Her what?" Emily cut in sharply. "She almost died because of you! The Taylers showed mercy by not sending you to prison. And now you're harassing your adoptive mother on her deathbed?"

Inside the hospital room, Anthony Taylor supported his swaying wife Teresa, his expression stormy.

"Emily," he said wearily, "did Alexander authorize this?"

"Yes, Mr. Taylor."

"Then proceed as he instructed." Anthony closed his eyes briefly. "We... sever all ties with her."

Panic flashed across Annabelle's face.

"Dad! Mom! You'd really watch me die?"

Teresa suddenly hurled a glass of water at her.

"Did you think about Evelyn dying when you pushed her into that fire?"

Shards of glass exploded at Annabelle's feet. She shrieked and stumbled backward.

Emily gave a subtle nod.

Two bodyguards immediately seized Annabelle's arms.

"Let me go!" She thrashed wildly. "Alexander loves me! If you dare touch me—"

A sharp chop to her neck.

Annabelle went limp in the bodyguard's arms.

On the phone, Alexander's voice was glacial. "Handled?"

"Knocked out." Emily glanced at the unconscious figure being loaded into a car. "She was pulling Mrs. Taylor's hair. We had no choice."

Alexander's eyes darkened.

"Proceed as planned."

The black sedan pulled away from the hospital, heading for the outskirts.

Annabelle woke to the jolting motion.

"Where is this?" She clawed at the window in terror. "Where are you taking me?"

Emily didn't look up from her phone. "To your final destination."

Annabelle's entire body shook. Suddenly she gasped. "Lydia knows I came to the hospital! She'll call the police when I disappear!"

Silence filled the car.

Finally, Emily lifted her head and gestured to a bodyguard.

"Too noisy."

A chloroform-soaked cloth clamped over Annabelle's mouth and nose.

She fought desperately, her nails leaving white scratches on the leather seats.

"Lyd...ia..."

As consciousness faded, she heard Emily tell the driver:

"Step on it. We're behind schedule."