Evelyn noticed Sophia's trembling.
She immediately grasped Sophia's hand.
William steadied Sophia's shoulders.
Sophia looked at William.
Then she pointed at Evelyn.
Her lips moved slightly.
William leaned in urgently.
Sophia's voice was faint. "William... Evelyn..."
William's face paled. "Did she upset you?"
Sophia suddenly coughed up blood.
Her body went limp.
Her eyes closed.
She lost consciousness completely.
William gasped.
He scooped Sophia into his arms.
"Call an ambulance!"
Nancy frantically dialed emergency services.
William laid Sophia gently on the sofa.
His hand trembled as he checked her breathing.
He sighed with relief at her faint breath.
He whispered into her ear.
"Sophia, don't scare me like this."
"If you go, I won't stay either."
Isabella frowned deeply.
Julian anxiously looked toward the door.
Linda stood in the corner.
Her gaze dark and fixed on Sophia.
She took a quiet step forward.
"Is the mistress... dying?"
William spun around.
He slapped her hard across the face.
Linda stumbled and fell.
"Silence! If anything happens to Sophia, you'll pay with your life!"
Linda covered her cheek, not daring to speak.
Isabella moved to intervene.
But William's furious glare stopped her.
William turned his rage on Evelyn.
"You curse! How many times must I tell you to stay away from the Ashcroft house!"
"Every time you come, Sophia's condition worsens!"
"Are you determined to kill her?"
Evelyn lowered her head.
Her hands clenched into tight fists.
Ryan spoke up reluctantly.
"Mr. Ashcroft, Miss Evelyn did nothing wrong tonight."
William scoffed.
"Her very existence is the mistake!"
"If not for her, would Linda have entered this house?"
"That scheming woman trapped me. I will never acknowledge it!"
"Evelyn, your birth is the original sin!"
His words cut into Evelyn's heart like knives.
Linda's curses echoed in her ears.
"Worthless girl! If not for you, I'd never have stayed in the Ashcroft house!"
"Your existence is William's greatest shame!"
Evelyn covered her ears.
A splitting headache pounded.
The wail of an ambulance grew closer.
Evelyn followed the crowd outside.
William climbed into the ambulance.
She tried to follow.
But he shoved her back violently.
The ambulance doors slammed shut.
Isabella stood before her.
Her eyes venomous.
"Evelyn, did you hear what my father said?"
"Stay away from my mother! Never show your face here again!"
Isabella and Julian drove away.
Marcus shot Evelyn a glare.
He said nothing.
Then drove off after them.
Ryan watched Evelyn's devastated expression.
A car screeched to a halt.
Alexander rushed out.
He wrapped his arm around Evelyn's shoulders.
"Get in the car."
Evelyn followed numbly.
The car sped away.
Alexander glanced at her.
The girl's silence broke his heart.
Evelyn looked up suddenly.
"Sophia won't die, right?"
Her hands were ice cold.
Alexander held them tightly.
"No. She will be fine."
Outside the hospital ER.
William stared at the operating room doors, his face ashen.
After what felt like an eternity.
The surgery lights turned off.
The doctor emerged.