Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Sylvia sat there quietly, her whole body feeling like it had fallen into an ice cave, a bone-deep chill seeping through every part of her.
The sunlight outside the window was clearly so bright, yet shining on her, she couldn't feel a trace of warmth.
She had originally thought that no matter how cold and heartless Lucas was toward her, he would at least have the rationality of a businessman.
But now, she completely understood.
To protect Lynn, Lucas had completely abandoned all his principles. He not only allowed Lynn to humiliate her at the party, but was even willing to use the entire power of the Smith Group to clear away anyone and anything that made Lynn unhappy.
And Sylvia, along with the struggling Spencer Family behind her, were Lucas's offering of loyalty to Lynn.
Sylvia didn't know how she made it back to the Smith Manor.
The night was dark as ink, cold wind beating against the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The villa was so quiet that only the monotonous ticking of the wall clock remained.
She left only one dim wall lamp on, sitting quietly on the cold leather sofa in the living room, like a sculpture that had lost all life.
Her mind was full of those screenshots Xanthe had sent - Lucas, for Lynn's sake, willing to use the Smith Group's massive resources to push the Spencer Family to the brink.
This undisguised favoritism and cruelty tore apart the last bit of dignity she had left.
After who knows how long, the sound of the password lock finally came from the entrance.
Lucas pushed the door open, bringing with him the smell of alcohol and the chill of late autumn.
He casually tossed his suit jacket on the entrance cabinet, loosening his tie as he walked toward the living room.
When he saw Sylvia hidden in the shadows, his steps paused slightly.
"Why do you have to destroy the Spencer Group completely?" Sylvia supported herself at the waist, slowly and with difficulty standing up.
Her clear, cold eyes stared hard at the man before her, her voice somewhat hoarse from prolonged silence.
Lucas paused, then let out a light snort.
He walked to the bar, poured himself a glass of ice water, tilted his head back to take a sip, his tone casual yet revealing a condescending cruelty: "I thought you could hold out longer. What, Edward couldn't save the Spencer Family?"
"Lucas!" Sylvia raised her voice, her chest heaving violently, her nails digging deep into her palms. "Wasn't it enough for Lynn to humiliate me at the party? You still have to use the Smith Group's core resources to attack Bluewater Capital for her? What did the Spencer Group ever do to you that you'd take my father's life's work to please a homewrecker?!"
"Shut up!" Lucas suddenly slammed the glass heavily on the bar, making a sharp, piercing sound.
He strode up to Sylvia, his tall frame carrying strong oppressive force, his eyes frighteningly dark: "Sylvia, watch your words. You were the one who teamed up with Amelia to block the Powell Family's project, then paraded around the party with Edward. What I'm doing is just teaching you what rules mean. Since you won't behave, don't blame me for putting the Spencer Family in its place and teaching you a lesson."
Sylvia looked at the man before her in disbelief.
So in his mind, all her attempts to save herself, her efforts and compromises, were just unreasonable behavior.
He didn't even bother to investigate, directly pinning all the blame on her, just to defend Lynn.
"Teach me rules..." Sylvia laughed bitterly in anger, her eyes red, yet stubbornly refusing to shed a single tear. "For Lynn, you don't even care about your reputation anymore. Lucas, you really disgust me."
The word "disgust" enraged Lucas.
He grabbed Sylvia's chin, with force almost enough to crush her jawbone, warning through gritted teeth: "Say that again! You better behave yourself and stop pulling those shameful tricks, otherwise, the Spencer Family will only die a worse death!"
With that, he roughly let go.
Sylvia's body was already heavy with pregnancy. Pulled by his rough force, she lost her balance and fell heavily back onto the sofa.
Almost instantly, a tearing pain spread from deep in her abdomen, like a blade twisting inside.
"Ugh..." Sylvia let out a painful groan, her whole body instantly curling up.
She clutched her protruding belly tightly with both hands, cold sweat pouring out like a waterfall, instantly soaking the hair on her forehead.
The enormous falling sensation made even breathing difficult, as if something was desperately falling downward, her pelvis feeling like it was about to split open.
Queenie, startled by the arguing and running out from the maid's room, turned pale with fright at the scene.
She frantically ran to the landline phone, fumbling to call for emergency help.
But when she saw Lucas's dark and violent face, she was so scared her hands trembled, frozen in place, not daring to take another step forward.
Lucas looked at Sylvia's pale face and painful convulsions, his deep pupils suddenly contracting.
A flash of panic crossed his heart. He instinctively took out his phone, swiping the screen to dial emergency services.
However, Sylvia on the sofa bit her pale lips hard, enduring the waves of pain that almost tore her apart, and pulled out her own phone from her loose pocket.
She didn't spare Lucas even a pleading look. With trembling, pale fingers, she dialed emergency services herself.
"Hello... Emerald City luxury villa district, Area A, Building 8... pregnant woman, signs of premature labor, hurry..."
Her voice was barely a whisper, yet she gave the address exceptionally clearly.
After hanging up, she collapsed on the sofa like a broken doll, gasping for breath in large gulps.
Lucas's hand holding his phone froze in mid-air, his heart feeling like something had stabbed it hard, painfully suffocating.
She would rather struggle to make the call herself than ask him for help.
The ambulance siren soon pierced through the silence of the villa district.
Medical personnel rushed in with a stretcher, quickly carrying Sylvia away.
Lucas stood in the center of the living room, watching that pale figure disappear into the night, his feet feeling like they were filled with lead - he didn't take a single step to follow.
Outside the hospital emergency room, the corridor lights were harsh and white.
After emergency treatment by the doctors, Sylvia's condition finally stabilized, and she was moved to a private room.
"Fortunately, she was brought in time. The baby is temporarily saved, but the mother's emotional fluctuations were too severe, and given how far along she is, there are signs of premature labor. She must be hospitalized for complete bed rest and observation, and absolutely cannot be subjected to any more stress." The doctor removed his mask, his expression serious as he gave instructions.
At the end of the corridor, Lucas's phone vibrated.
He answered, and Cleo's voice, suppressing fury, immediately came through: "What the hell are you doing?! I heard Sylvia was taken away by ambulance in the middle of the night! Lucas, I'm warning you, if anything happens to my great-grandchild, I'm holding you responsible!"