Chapter 4

Elara woke up in a hospital bed. Everything around her was white. She sat up and touched her side. When she realized the surgery hadn’t happened, she let out a big breath.

She was still alive and okay, but her life was still in someone else’s hands. Sooner or later, they’d take her kidney and give it to Tricia.

Thinking about her kid made her eyes go from sad to determined. She ripped out the IV in her hand and jumped out the window when no one was around.

Lucky for her, Tricia was scared of heights, so Elara’s room was on the ground floor.

Elara’s escape made the Cortez family super mad. Pio kicked a chair over. “That little brat! I told you being nice to her would backfire. I can’t believe she ran! She won’t get far before we catch her.”

Tricia looked shocked and buried her head in Wena’s arms. “It’s my fault. I made her leave. I shouldn’t have told the truth back then. None of this would’ve happened if I just kept quiet.”

Her words were carefully chosen, making her seem nice while also hinting that Elara was up to no good. Comparing the two of them made people side against Elara.

Tricia had planned a lot of tricks. Even though she was back with the Cortez family, people still called her Tricia. She said she was thankful to the Albert family for raising her, but really, she kept reminding the Cortez family that she was switched at birth and lost 19 years of her life, all because of Elara.

Her words worked. Pio’s eyes turned red as he stormed off. “I’m gonna find that little brat right now. If the hospital won’t do the surgery, I’ll find someone else who will. With enough cash, someone will do it.”

“Stop right there!” Mr. Pablo slammed the table. “Look at you. All you think about are shady, illegal things. Are you a criminal?”

Mr. Pablo didn’t hit him, but his words were harsh. Pio wanted to argue but held back.

“Luka, Pio is being rash. She probably hasn’t gone far since she has no plan. Go find out where she went. Once you find her, make sure she gets enough rest so she’s healthy enough for the surgery,” Mr. Pablo said to Luka, while Pio silently fumed.

“I…” Luka thought about the thin, weak Elara, hesitating.

“Luka, don’t forget why she got in that car crash in the first place,” Pio said coldly, noticing Luka’s hesitation.

“I get it.” Luka glanced at Tricia, who was pretending to be upset, and left the room.

Even though Tricia was crying in Wena’s arms, she watched Luka closely. She dug her nails into her palms in anger.

“Dad, how could you let Luka go? Have you forgotten what happened before? I didn’t mean to do it, but it’s clear Elara hates me. If she complains to Luka, he might not want to marry me!”

Pio spoke first, “As if he’d dare. Don’t worry. Elara has already made Luka a joke in the upper-class circles. No one would believe him. Plus, with her kid still around, Elara won’t try anything crazy.”

Hearing that, Tricia finally smiled.

‘Curse that brat and her mom. If it weren’t for them, I would’ve had everything, and Luka would’ve been mine. Since Elara took everything from me, there’s no way I’ll let her get away with it.’ Five years had passed, but the hate she felt only got stronger each day.

Tricia promised she’d make Elara suffer a terrible end!

Elara left the hospital and ran until she reached a remote area. She had no money, so she kept moving on sheer willpower.

Elara didn’t know how long she had been walking before she found herself in a rundown neighborhood on the edge of Kalibo. There weren’t many people around. Trash was everywhere, and the walls were covered in grime. Only a few small houses were still standing.

“Elara!” A voice called out from a run down house.