Chapter 5

"Still wailing out there? Throw cold water on them to wake them up!"

Ethan's cold voice came through the yard's speaker system.

Moments later, two bodyguards appeared on the second-floor balcony.

A bucket of filthy ice water came crashing down from above, landing precisely on Eleanor and me.

*SPLASH.*

The ice water instantly washed away what little body heat we had left.

Eleanor's body convulsed violently once, then her head lolled to the side. She went completely still.

"Eleanor! Eleanor!"

I shook Eleanor frantically, but she kept her eyes closed. Even her faint breathing had disappeared.

Her heartbeat had stopped.

In that moment, something inside my brain snapped completely.

I suddenly stood up, grabbed a decorative brick from the snow, and smashed it against the smart lock beside the gate like a madwoman.

Sparks flew. The alarm blared through the night.

The bodyguards inside were startled and instinctively opened the door to stop me.

I seized the opportunity and rammed headfirst into the guard's chest, snatching his walkie-talkie and backup phone from his belt.

With trembling fingers, I dialed emergency services and screamed out the address.

"Someone come quick! The patient has no heartbeat! Hurry!"

Ten minutes later, an ambulance screeched to a stop in front of the villa.

The paramedic jumped out carrying a defibrillator.

"Where's the patient?"

I scrambled toward them and pointed at Eleanor in the snow.

"There! Please save her!"

The doctor was about to kneel down and check when the villa's front door opened again.

Ethan emerged with Melissa in his arms, his face dark with anger.

"Who gave you permission to come in here?"

Ethan strode forward and blocked the paramedic.

"Doctor, check Melissa's hand first. She just had a terrible shock, and her finger is bleeding. It needs immediate attention."

The doctor glanced at Melissa's finger with its cartoon bandage and looked utterly speechless.

"Sir, that elderly woman has gone into cardiac arrest. This is a life-or-death situation!"

Ethan snorted coldly and glanced dismissively at Eleanor.

"She's just a country old woman. If she dies, she dies. How precious can she be? I'm the CEO of Sterling Corporation. I'm ordering you to examine Melissa immediately!"

Just as the doctor stood torn and I prepared to fight Ethan with everything I had---

A deafening roar suddenly filled the night sky.

Three black helicopters bearing the Sterling family crest tore through the wind and snow, circling above the villa.

The powerful downdraft made the surrounding trees sway wildly.

Ethan froze, then his face lit up with delight.

He assumed this was the premium private medical service he'd booked earlier to impress Melissa.

"Melissa, look---the helicopter I called for you is here."

Ethan took Melissa's hand and walked smugly toward where the helicopters were landing.

Melissa was even more excited, her face flushed red. She shot me a haughty glance.

"Grace, see that? This is how the elite live. A nobody like you will never experience this in your lifetime."

The helicopter landed smoothly. The door opened.

A team of fully armed black-suited bodyguards and top medical experts in white coats filed out.

Ethan walked up obsequiously, pointing at Melissa.

"Thank you all for coming. The patient is---"

He didn't finish his sentence.

From Eleanor's inner clothing pocket, I pulled out the family signet ring that represented the absolute authority of the Sterling family matriarch.

I stood up and faced the helicopter's blinding searchlight, holding the ring up in front of Ethan's eyes.

"Ethan Sterling, open your damn eyes and look clearly at who you just kicked!"