Betty's POV

My ears rang. Esther was screaming somewhere behind me. Where am I? I tried to gather my thoughts as I stumbled toward a glass table, the back of my head burning with pain.

“Bertha, please…” Esther’s voice broke. In my hazy vision, she was crawling toward me, tears streaking her face.

I braced myself against the table, then grabbed the nearest thing, a wine bottle from the ice bucket. Instinct took over, and he swung it at him. The bottle cracked against the bastard's head. He staggered, clutching his head.

He hadn’t expected me to fight back. Even dazed, I knew we were still in danger. "Esther," I hissed, grabbing my head, then stumbled towards her. My legs gave out and I fell hard onto the floor..

He groaned, struggling to stand up. "Stand up, let's leave." I urgently said, then yanked her off the floor, barely holding us steady.

"Get back here, Esther," he barked at us, struggling to catch up. I managed to drag us to the hallway. Esther clutched my arm. Her body was still trembling. "Don't." She could barely say. My heart squeezed. What did that bastard do to her?

My legs wobbled up the stairs. He was gaining on us. We were almost there, just a little bit more, once we were with the crowd. We would be safe.

My heart thundered, and the walls felt like they would collapse on us any moment. "Do you think you can easily escape?" His voice boomed right behind me.

I jerked, trying to break free, my legs twisted and tripped down the stairs with Esther. Our screams pierced through the walls, swallowed by the loud music.

There was a victorious smirk on his face like he had won. Esther screamed as she fell before me. I shut my eyes, waiting for the pain....

My body stopped halfway, caught in a pair of warm arms. My heart was still hammering, I managed to look up, his sharp chiselled jaw came into sight and those pairs of emerald eyes... cold like ice.

He wasn't staring at me, his gaze was settled on the culprit at the top of the stairs. "Esther!!!!" A voice akin to my mother's voice shrieked. Still dazed, I managed to glance in Esther's direction. She was curled up at the foot of the stairs. Mum was hugging her body crying desperately as blurry men rushed towards the scene.

"You certainly have changed..." I heard Ivan sneer before it finally went all black.

********

Beep,

Beep,

The beeping sounds of the machine stirred me awake. I groaned, my brows furrowed as my blue eyes fluttered open..

I blinked a couple of times. The white curtains flapped with the bright, blinding lights, which made me hiss.

'Where am I?' I wondered, struggling to sit up. My neck ached at the slightest movement.

"You are finally awake," a soft voice startled me. I froze then glanced at the lady in a white robe. "Doc," I mumbled, recognising my personal doctor.

Her face was ever hard. "Welcome back ." She said while checking my condition.

If she were here, it meant mum had indeed arrived on time. A knot found between my brows. If my memories were clear Ivan was also there. What was he doing there?

She ran a detailed check on me, noting down everything. “You’re lucky,” she said briskly. “A couple of painkillers and you’ll be fine.”

She then sighed. "Hopefully, the stress won't affect your underlying health condition."

A cold lump formed in my throat.

She met my eyes. “Are you sure I shouldn’t call Dr Kyle?” she asked quietly.

The last thing I wanted was Kyle knowing, because if he knew Mum would know too. “No,” I breathed, cutting her off. “I’m fine. How is Esther?”

The doctor’s face softened a fraction. “She woke before you. She’s in the next room with your mother. Her injuries were worse than yours.” She left a prescription on the table and left the room.

A nurse popped her head in. “I’ll tell your mother you’re awake. She’s been worried.” The door clicked shut.

I sat on the bed for a while just staring at the window, lost in thought, as the event of yesterday filled my mind.

There was never a chance between Kyle and me. I glanced at the side table, then grabbed a bottle of pills left there. After gulping it down. I reached out to drop the bottle, a loud cry from the next room made my hand freeze midway.

' That is Esther's voice. Why is she crying?' I asked myself. Curious, I slowly got off the bed careful about my slight movement since my entire body hurts.

My footsteps were unsteady but I managed to get off the bed and walk to the next room. Esther's wails grew louder.

From the door, I could see Esther wailing desperately. "Mum I can't. I can't do it." She cried, clinging to mum. Although mum was her late father's sister, we were raised practically like siblings.

Kyle was also in the room, dark circles hidden under his eyes. He must have been awake all night. I guess my little incident interrupted his engagement party.

"I'm sorry dear, my hands are tied." Mother tried to placate her. My frown deepened as I tried to figure out the situation. "Maybe I will try to speak to him. He might listen." Kyle tried to meditate.

Mum opposed the idea immediately. Her head shook dismissively. "You have already done enough dear. You left your engagement party to help. Heaven must have been upset..."

Esther clutched Mum's arm, her eyes were pleading. "Let him help, I would rather die..."

"Esther!" Mum snapped. She pitifully bowed her head, still sobbing. Mum then glanced at Kyle, "Thank you, but this is a family matter. Besides, Esther should learn to take responsibility for her actions." She rejected. My curiosity was piqued trying to figure out what the fuss was about.

I stumbled into the room, and they didn't notice me at first, too drawn in the moment until I spoke.

"What's going on?" I asked. Mum glanced at me with a worried expression while Esther's sobs grew more desperate, staring at me, her eyes literally saying Big sis, come and save me.

"Bertha," Kyle acknowledged me. I nodded then glanced at Mum.

Mum sighed, "It's nothing, Bertha. I will be in your room soon, sorry for keeping you waiting." She said apologetically. From her gaze, I knew she was ready to hide whatever this was.

Esther's head bobbed up, her gaze was frantic. "She is lying. They want to force me to marry that monster." She cried out.

"Monster." I blurted. Mum's face scrunched up; she looked like she wanted to hit Esther, but held herself.

"He is not a monster and I am sure we can find a solution," Kyle interjected. My stomach churned and I marched inside.

"Who is she getting married to?" My gaze locked on Mum, not ready for her excuses. Esther immediately grabbed my hand, her hold was trembling.

"Bertha, please save me. I can't get married to Ivan." She spilt it before Mum could stop her. My gut knotted.

"How is that possible? How can you let that happen?" I held Esther protectively, wondering why Mother would even consider letting Esther marry someone like Ivan. Putting away the fact that he was a horrible person, I never told Mum about the bullying.

Ivan's family, although on the surface were regular old money, everyone in high society knew the Orlov family had deep ties in the underworld. Mum, of all people should know what that means since she married out of her family with a similar background.

.

Esther leaned on my chest and continued crying pitifully while I hugged her. Her actions agitated Mum. "I think I will take my leave now." Kyle excused himself sensing the room.

As soon as the door clicked, Mum burst out. "Bertha, stop protecting her, she has to take responsibility."

My frown deepened, and Esther broke the hug and then bowed her head repentantly. "I am sorry but I just can't."

Her act wasn't working on Mum. "You should have thought about the consequences when you agreed to let your boyfriend use you as collateral for a loan. Of all people, why did you go to the Orlov family?"

"You refused to give us the money.." Esther barked at Mum,

"Because I knew your dumb boyfriend deal wouldn't work and I guess I was right. Now you either have to pay the money or marry Ivan. The family business is currently shaking....I can't take out such an amount."

My brain tried to catch up. Esther’s face crumpled. In desperation, she reached for a pair of bandage scissors on the table and pressed the tips to her throat.

“Would you prefer I die?” she whispered, voice shaking. “I can’t marry Ivan. Please don’t make me.

I moved fast, arms wrapping around her, the scissors clattering to the floor. “No,” I said, voice raw. “You will not do that. Not on my watch.”

Mum’s face looked both furious and terrified. “ I will marry Ivan.” The room fell silent. Even I didn't believe my words.