Chapter 5

"Evelyn!"

Darkness completely engulfed my vision.

I don't know how long it took before I finally managed to open my eyes.

A warm hand immediately grasped mine.

Only then did I realize I was still alive.

"Evelyn, you're awake? Are you feeling any discomfort?"

Mother's voice was hoarse, her eyes red and swollen.

I wanted to tell her I was fine.

But my throat was so dry I couldn't make a sound.

Mother's tears fell on my face.

"The doctor said if you had been ten minutes later..."

She choked up, unable to continue.

I opened my mouth, my throat burning with pain.

I barely managed to squeeze out a faint whisper.

"Mom..."

"I'm here."

She forced a smile.

"You were severely asphyxiated, almost didn't make it. Thankfully I arrived in time..."

Seeing the new streaks of white in mother's hair, my eyes welled up.

I always said I was grown up, didn't want to be controlled too much.

Yet I still made mother worry about me.

"I'm sorry..." I couldn't stop the tears.

"Silly child, no need to apologize."

Mother gently wiped away my tears, her expression suddenly turning cold. "The one who should apologize was never you."

The doctor came in to check on me.

Said my blood oxygen levels had stabilized, I could be moved to a regular ward in a few days.

After the doctor left, mother's expression turned serious.

Her tone was calm but carried an undeniable force.

"I won't let them get away with this."

I was stunned.

Mother took out her phone and played a surveillance video.

It was footage from the private room.

Clearly recording Adrian and Zoey's actions.

Zoey snatched my emergency inhaler, stomping on the medication with a sneer;

Adrian prevented me from saving myself, watching coldly;

And the jeering from those men...

Every detail was captured clearly.

Mother put away her phone.

"Don't worry, I've hired the best lawyer. Zoey's actions constitute attempted murder, the police have filed a case."

"She will face the harshest punishment."

My fingers trembled slightly under the blanket.

"What about Adrian and the others..." I asked softly.

Mother's expression darkened further.

"Don't worry, those people won't escape either. They prevented you from saving yourself, even if they were deceived they still bear legal responsibility."

I nodded, finally feeling at ease.

I had been worried they might escape punishment by claiming ignorance.

I fell asleep again.

When I woke up in the evening, I idly browsed social media.

Saw the posts from Adrian's so-called "bros."

On the day of the incident they were still posting "Adrian's a real man," "Princess is such a good actress..."

All those posts were now deleted.

Some accounts had even been deactivated.

The next day there was a knock on the hospital room door.

The police came to take my statement.

I briefly explained what had happened.

"Officer, no matter what they say, I won't be issuing any letter of forgiveness."

"Understood."

The officer gave some instructions and left.

Soon after, my phone rang. It was Adrian calling.

I didn't want to answer.

But I was curious how he would plead.

To my surprise, Adrian's attitude was still haughty.

"Evelyn, what's your problem? You're fine, why call the police?"

"Do you know your mother brought the police here? Zoey was terrified, she's still being investigated at the station!"