Chapter 312 She Is My Younger Sister

Chapter 312 She Is My Younger Sister

The moment I pushed open the hospital room door, the scene in front of me made me freeze mid-step.

Alice was holding a bowl of porridge, spoon-feeding Michael with tender care.

What caught me off guard was that ever since Michael had tried to win me back, he'd been careful not to flaunt their relationship in front of me anymore.

But now, he was letting Alice be here openly. There wasn't a trace of the guilt I used to see in his eyes—only ice-cold indifference.

Suddenly, I understood. This wedding wasn't about his obsession with our marriage anymore, nor was it about winning me back. He thought William and I had conspired against him, so now he wanted to trap me by his side. This was his way of punishing me—and punishing William, too.

I swallowed the surge of emotions rising in my chest and turned to Michael. "Ask her to leave first. I need to talk to you."

Michael's lips curled into a mocking sneer. "Alice isn't an outsider. You two are going to spend the rest of your lives together. If you're this hostile toward her now, how are we supposed to make this work?"

My brows knitted together. So I'd guessed right—Michael was doing this on purpose.

At that moment, Alice set down the bowl and walked toward me slowly, her face a picture of wounded humility. "Ms. Thomas, I've already talked to Michael. From now on, I'll stay quietly by his side—just the woman behind him. I won't interfere with your life. You can pretend I don't exist, okay? I really can't live without him. Even if I have no title, no status, I'm willing to accept it."

The second she finished speaking, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Alice recoiled in shock, clutching her cheek. For a split second, a flash of venom flickered deep in her eyes.

I offered a faint smile. "So basically, you're just a glorified side piece hiding in the shadows? If you're happy being a secret, then deal with the shame. Consider yourself lucky this isn't the old days. If it were, you'd be bowing to me every morning just to serve me a cup of coffee."

Alice's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She whipped around to look at Michael, her gaze full of wounded pleading.

Michael's expression darkened. After a long pause, he finally said to Alice, "You should go."

Alice clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. She shot me one last venomous glare before reluctantly walking out.

Once she was gone, I turned back to Michael. "This whole charade is pointless. You're just wasting resources and time. Even if the wedding actually happens, no law says we can't get divorced afterward. Besides, I'm not going through with this wedding."

Michael clenched his fists, and the IV line swayed with the movement.

His eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse and laced with crazed obsession. "If I can't have you? Then William sure as hell won't either! He took everything from me—even my last shred of dignity! I don't care about anything anymore. I just want to see him suffer. I want to watch him lose what he cares about most!"

His words dripped with poison. Before I could respond, he continued, "Oh, and you don't know this yet, do you? Imogen's not doing well. She's given up on treatment."

My whole body went rigid. My heart clenched painfully.

Michael's lips twisted into a sneer. "And it's all because of you! If you hadn't insisted on tangling yourself up with William, making Imogen worry herself sick, why would she give up on treatment? If you have any conscience left, you'll cut ties with William right now and come back to me."

So that's why William left without a word that day.

When I didn't answer, Michael's expression turned even more sinister. "If you insist on being stubborn, fine. I don't mind dragging William down with me. Go ahead and expose my affair with Alice. We've already been dragged through the mud—what's a little more dirt?"

His voice dropped lower, darker, like a madman teetering on the edge of a cliff. Every word was a threat. "Don't forget—when you and William put on that little act, Phoenix staked her entire reputation on it. Once people find out it was all a lie, do you think they'll let the esteemed Ms. Phoenix off the hook? The Brown family's reputation will be destroyed. William will be ruined. Do you really think Phoenix can handle the kind of vicious things people will say online? They won't hold back."

I stared at him, my whole body going cold. The man in front of me was a stranger.

I shook my head, my voice trembling despite my efforts to control it. "Michael, you've lost your mind. You're completely insane."

Michael slammed his fist against the bed, his eyes blazing with hatred. He ground out through clenched teeth, "Then you and William drove me to it! You two did God knows what behind my back. You helped him scheme against me over and over. You know exactly what you did! So fine, Evelyn—from now on, it's war. Unless you want to drag the Brown family down with you. Drag William down with you. We can all go to hell together! My reputation's already trashed. Making Phoenix and William go down with me? Sounds like a pretty good deal!"

What we didn't know was that outside the door, Verity was watching everything unfold, her eyes cold.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, and a dull ache throbbed in her chest.

The woman being cornered by Michael—that was her sister. They shared the same mother.

How could she not feel heartbroken?

Verity listened to the conversation inside, her blood boiling.

She couldn't hold back any longer. Her hand was already on the door handle.

But just then, Hannah grabbed her wrist tightly.

Before Verity could react, Hannah forcibly pulled her out of the hospital and shoved her into a car parked by the curb.

The moment the car door slammed shut, Hannah's expression turned severe. "Charles went through hell to get you out of there. He didn't do it so you could be reckless! What good does it do anyone—you, me, or Charles's plan—if you blow up at Michael now?"

Verity's chest heaved as she struggled to control her anger. "But that's my sister! I can't just stand by and watch that lunatic torture her!"

Hannah's tone was reproachful, but her eyes were sharp as knives. "You promised me. You said you'd use Michael's love and guilt to help Charles get rid of this obstacle. Now isn't the time for you to show your face. Charles saved your life. Revenge is the only thing you should be focused on! Have you forgotten who killed your mother? If you show up now, what punishment will Michael face? None."

Verity's fingers curled into fists, her voice choked with tears. "But Evelyn..."

"If you want to save Evelyn, there are ways." Hannah cut her off. "But not by charging in recklessly. Your mother didn't die for nothing. Evelyn hasn't suffered for nothing. But all of this requires you to stay calm and stick to the plan."

Verity knew Hannah was right. She also knew Hannah wanted to use her to help her own son.

But this mother and son had pulled her out of the cage Michael had trapped her in.

Just then, Hannah's phone rang.

When she answered, her expression softened instantly, her tone turning motherly and warm. "Charles, I just took Verity out for some fresh air. I can't keep her cooped up at home forever—what if she goes stir-crazy?"

Charles's displeased voice came through the line. "Mom, don't take her out wandering around. I don't want Michael finding out she's still alive."