Chapter 179: What Should I Do

SEBASTIAN

I instantly pointed the gun at her face. Victoria took a step back, raising her hands in surrender.

“Don’t, Sebastian,” she pleaded. The bottle she was holding slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor.

“You dare try to get rid of my wife and kid, and you think I won’t?” I growled, taking another step forward.

I had just noticed the three guards I had arranged outside were shot dead—the ones meant to keep watch during the wedding.

I owed Nick more than I could say. Not only had he called the police, but he had also sent for guards far more capable than these men. If it had been only the police, they might not have been able to handle Victoria’s crew.

“Sebastian, you won’t dare, right?” Victoria said, taking another step back as I advanced.

I scoffed. “If you could, why can’t I?”

“Sebastian, this woman is a snake. A shameless whore,” Victoria said desperately. “She traps men with her body. She’ll ruin you and move on.”

My chest tightened. “How dare you call Alma a whore? At least she knows what she wants—not some confused woman who praises herself for fucking five unhealthy men.”

Victoria froze. Her mouth parted, but no words came out.

Suddenly, one of the police officers rushed over and grabbed her. “Let go of me!” she yelled, struggling wildly. I exhaled deeply and handed the gun to the officer. He took it, and they moved toward the others.

A sweeping wave of relief washed over me. I instantly turned to Alma. She cupped my face with trembling hands, her eyes filling with tears.

“Everything is over, Sebastian. Our problems are over,” she whispered.

I nodded.

“No, it’s not over. Alma, go to hell,” Victoria’s voice cut through the air.

Before I could process anything, a gunshot erupted. I instantly shielded Alma. A sharp, burning pain exploded in my stomach.

My entire body froze. The hall fell deadly silent.

“No! No, Sebastian—it wasn’t for you!” I could hear Victoria screaming.

Everything stood still. My body trembled.

“Sebastian, please… no, please…” Alma’s voice echoed, distant. Her hands were on me. The room spun. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor.

“Sebastian… Sebastian… Call the ambulance! Get the car ready!” Those were the last sounds I heard as the world faded around me.

ALMA

I paced restlessly in front of the operating room, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. I had cried until I had no tears left.

If anything happens to Sebastian, what am I going to do?

“Nina, you need to calm down,” Diana said gently, holding my arms and urging me to sit.

I followed her and settled beside her, but my body felt like it was on fire with anxiety. I tried to stand again, but she held me back.

We had both come in the ambulance. My father and the others were on their way.

What would become of me if anything happened to Sebastian?

The thought tightened painfully around my chest, forcing another sob out of me.

“Oh my goodness, Nina, it’s okay. Trust me, he’ll be fine,” Diana said, rubbing my back soothingly.

“It’s all my fault. Sebastian got shot because of me,” I cried harder.

“He did what any caring husband and father would do. He risked his life for his child. Do you know what would have happened to you and the baby if he hadn’t taken that bullet?” Diana said.

I froze and looked at her in disbelief. “What about him? Doesn’t he deserve to live?” I snapped.

She shook her head quickly. “Alma, you misunderstood. Of course he deserves to live.”

I sobbed harder, burying my face in my palms.

Everything was ruined. Our happiest day had been destroyed.

“Sebastian! Sebastian!” Mrs. Mendoza screamed, running toward us with Bianca. I got to my feet immediately.

“Where’s Sebastian?” Mrs. Mendoza demanded, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Alma, where is he? Is he okay?”

Lady Flores’s voice followed right behind.

I couldn’t hold back the sob that burst out as I pointed at the operating room.

Mrs. Mendoza and Bianca rushed toward it, their eyes blazing with blame and regret. Why can’t my happiness last?

I burst into another round of tears. Lady Flores instantly pulled me into her embrace, rubbing my back.

“It’s okay, dear. He’ll be fine. I promise you,” she whispered.

“Nina…” My father’s voice cut in as he walked in with Elijah and Nick.

I pulled away from Lady Flores and rushed to him, bursting into fresh tears. He wrapped me in a tight hug.

“Dad, Sebastian is hurt because of me. What should I do if anything happens to him? I don’t think I’ll survive it.”

“Stop talking like that. Nothing will happen to him,” my father said firmly.

“I knew it, Alma,” Bianca’s voice cut in as she marched toward me. “Ever since you came into Sebastian’s life, he’s been jumping from one problem to another. And finally, you’ve succeeded. You’ve finally killed him!”

“Sebastian is not dead!” my father, Diana, and Elijah snapped at her immediately.

Aunt Chloe walked in right then. “How is he?” she asked, fear written all over her face.

“He’s going to be fine,” my father told her, tapping her shoulder reassuringly. She turned to me and pulled me into a warm hug.

“Thank goodness you and the child are okay,” Aunt Chloe said calmly.

“Oh, really?” Mrs. Mendoza’s voice cut in bitterly as she approached. “Thank goodness she’s fine, but my son isn’t.”

“Stop acting childish, Teresa. You’re becoming annoying,” Lady Flores said.

“Really? Annoying?” Mrs. Mendoza shot back. “You think I’ll be like you—staying still after your son died because of you? Can’t you see what she’s doing to our sons, Naomi?”

Lady Flores stared at her blankly for a moment before sighing. “Control your tongue, Teresa. Don’t say something you won’t take back. Because I won’t forget it or dismiss it as words spoken in pain. I will take it as how you truly feel about me.”

Mrs. Mendoza swallowed hard and fell silent.

Just then, the operating room door opened, and Sebastian was wheeled out.

We all rushed forward.

“How is my husband, doctor?” I asked desperately.

“How is my son, Dr. Peter?” Mrs. Mendoza cut in, shoving me aside. I almost tripped but was caught by Nick.

I instantly pulled away from him, my skin crawling in disgust.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes, thanks.”

I moved to the other side of Sebastian.

“The operation was successful,” the doctor said. “We hope he wakes up. The bullet entered the abdomen, shattered part of the liver, tore through the small intestine, and damaged the colon.”

My entire body froze. Before I could process anything, everything faded to black. The only thing I remembered was a hand catching me as I fell.