Falling For The True Heiress

~~~~~ Amelia POV ~~~~~

I stepped into the corridor, my mind still replaying everything the doctor had said.

Stable... for now.

The words refused to leave my head. I barely noticed where I was going until a familiar figure caught my eye.

Someone was leaning against the handrail, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone.

The moment she looked up, a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Over here."

I blinked. How did she know I was over here?

I thought she was still with Mr. Clifford.

"How did you know I’d be around this side?" I asked as I walked toward her.

She smiled without saying anything. Instead,, she slipped her phone into her pocket, reached for my wrist, and gently pulled me into a hug.

"What’s wrong, Lia?" she whispered near my ear.

I closed my eyes. "My dad..." I muttered, almost in a whisper.

"I think someone is behind my dad’s accident."

She immediately pulled away and looked at me. "Seriously?" she asked, frowning.

I nodded before looking away.

"Was that why you threw—"

"Yes." The answer left my lips before she could finish the question.

"I don’t trust anything that comes from outside anymore."

She stared at me for a few seconds. Then she lifted a hand and gently brushed my hair back before resting it against the back of my head.

"It’s okay," she said softly.

"We’ll figure this out together."

I looked up at her and nodded.

"So," she said softly, intertwining her fingers with mine, "let’s go back."

Without waiting for an answer, she started walking, gently leading me down the quiet corridor.

I found myself watching her from the side.

Even after everything that had happened today...

She hadn’t left my side once.

A small smile tugged at my lips.

"Cam."

She turned her head slightly.

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

She smiled, the kind that always managed to make me feel a little lighter.

"No," she said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you for letting me be here for you."

My smile lingered. Neither of us spoke after that. We walked together until we reached Dad’s room.

The moment the door came into view, my steps slowed.

The smile faded from my face. I stood there, staring at the closed door. The image of Dad lying unconscious that I’d been trying to push to the back of my mind came rushing back.

For a moment, I couldn’t bring myself to move. Camila stopped beside me. She didn’t rush me. She didn’t say anything.

She only stayed there, her hand still wrapped around mine.

I lowered my head and drew in a long, shaky breath. Then another.

When I finally opened my eyes again, I looked back at the door..

"Let’s go," I said quietly, gathering the courage to see Dad’s condition again.

Camila gave me a small nod and tightened her grip on my hand before reaching for the doorknob with her other hand. Then she slowly pushed the door open.

I stepped into the room behind Camila. The familiar beeping of the heart monitor greeted me before anyone else did.

Beep...

Beep...

Beep...

My gaze drifted to Dad. He looked exactly the same as when I’d left.

The only reassurance that he was still with us came from the green line dancing steadily across the monitor.

Mom had fallen asleep beside him. She was leaning against the edge of the bed, her head resting near his arm. Even in her sleep, her fingers remained loosely entwined with his, as though shewerere afraid he might disappear if she let go.

My chest tightened. She must have cried herself to sleep.

"Amelia."

I looked up. Sylvia had already stood and was walking toward me.

Across the room, Daniela was curled up on the sofa, fast asleep, one arm tucked beneath her head.

Mr. Clifford sat beside her with his arms folded across his chest. His eyes were closed.

The room had been so quiet that Sylvia’s voice was enough to wake the others.

Mom stirred first. She blinked slowly, lifting her head from the bedside as though she’d forgotten where she was for a moment.

Daniela shifted on the sofa, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before looking toward the door.

"Amelia... are you alright?" Sylvia asked, her eyebrows furrowing with worry.

I looked at hernodded,ed, and gave her a small smile. I walked past her and stopped beside Mom.

She looked exhausted. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and her head kept drooping as she fought off sleep.

I gently took her hand in mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze before looking at Mr. Clifford.

"Mr. Clifford."

He immediately straightened. "Yes, Miss?"

"Please take mommom home to freshup," I said.

He glanced at Stella, waiting for her response. Mom immediately shook her head.

"No, honey." She gently squeezed my hand. "I want to stay with yodad."d." Her gaze drifted back to Dad’s unconscious form.

I tightened my hold on her hand and smiled sadly.

"Mom..."

"If Dad wakes up and sees you like this..."

"He won’t be happy."

She slowly looked back at me. I tilted my head slightly and gave her a small encouraging nod.

"You’ve been here the whole time."

"You need to shower, eat something, and get a little rest."

"I’ll stay with him."

She stared at me for several long seconds before finally sighing.

"...Alright."

Relief flickered across my face.

I bent down and picked up her phone from the bedside table and placed it gently in her hand. She quietly accepted it with a tired smile.

I looked around the room. "Where’s Mrs. Chloe?" I asked.

Mom slipped the phone into her handbag.

"She went home to make dinner."

I nodded slowly.

Mr. Clifford stepped forward, picked up Mom’s handbag and the car keys, then stood beside her.

"Mrs. Winston," he said respectfully. "Shall we?"

Mom nodded. Before leaving, she reached out and brushed Dad’s hair away from his forehead with trembling fingers.

"I’ll be back soon," she whispered.

"Let’s go."

Then she turned and slowly walked toward the door with Mr. Clifford beside her.

"Mr Clifford," I called.

Both of them stopped and turned around.

"Yes, Miss?"

I looked at Mom before meeting his eyes again.

"Please..."

"Take good care of mommom for me."

"My Mom..." I smiled faintly. "...is my greatest weakness."

"And please call me when you get home..."

Mr. Clifford nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Miss."

Only after the door closed behind them did I finally allow myself to breathe.

Now...

It was my turn to protect what was left of my family.

I turned back to Dad and lowered myself into the chair beside his bed. I took his hand gently in both of mine.

It was still cold. I held it a little tighter, as if my warmth alone could wake him.

Sylvia walked over and stopped beside me. She gently stroked my hair while her gaze remained fixed on Dad.

The room fell silent. Only the steady rhythm of the heart monitor echoed through the air.

I looked down at Dad’s hand. A faint smile touched my lips.

"Dad," I whispered. "I’ll protect you."

"No matter who did this, I’ll find them."

"I promise."

I slowly lifted my head and looked toward the doorway. Camila was still standing there, quietly watching us.

"Cam," I called.

She met my eyes. "Take Daniela home."

"You both need to freshen up too."

Camila gave a small nod before turning to Daniela. "Come on."

Daniela walked over to me instead. She crouched beside my chair and gently squeezed my hand.

"I’ll be back soon," she said softly.

I smiled and gave her a small nod. "I know."

She smiled back before standing up. Then she walked over to Camila and the two of them quietly left the room together.

Once the door clicked shut, the room became silent again.

Only Sylvia, Dad...

and I remained.

The silence didn’t last long. A soft knock sounded at the door before it slowly opened.

Both Sylvia and I looked up.

A man dressed in a tailored black suit stepped inside. Several files were tucked neatly beneath one arm, while a slim leather briefcase hung from the other hand.

He closed the door quietly behind him before making his way toward us.

When he stopped in front of me, he bowed his head respectfully.

"Miss."

I recognized him immediately. He was one of Dad’s senior legal advisers.

I gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

"What is it?" I asked, looking at the expression on his face.

The man hesitated for a brief moment before speaking.

"Miss... the chairmanman instructed me to come here today."

He tightened his grip on the files in his hand. "None of us knew this accident would happen."

I slowly straightened in my seat. "What is it?"

He opened the briefcase and carefully pulled out a neatly arranged stack of documents.

"Before the accident, the chairmanman gave me instructions to begin the legal transfer of forty percent of his company shares..."

He looked directly at me. "...to you."

For a moment, I simply stared at him. I was sure I’d heard him wrong.

My brows knitted together.

"...What?"

He remained calm. "The chairmanman has decided to legally transfer forty percent of his shares into your name."

My eyes widened.

"What did you just say?"

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