When Dad and I Are Both Branded as Cheaters

Dylan Ashford looked Gregory over anxiously from head to toe and relaxed only after confirming he wasn't hurt.

Gregory waited until Dylan was finished, then let out a grunt. "A daughter-in-law really isn't as reliable as a son. I called Emily a long time ago, but she still hasn't arrived."

Dylan shrugged. "Dad, Emily is still stuck in a meeting. She was worried about you being here alone, so she asked me to come ahead of her. She'll be here soon."

Their casual conversation hit me like a knife to the chest. Emily really had cheated on me.

Dad gripped my hand, his voice thick with regret. "Elias, this is my fault. I misjudged her. I should have picked someone better for you."

I shook my head hard and squeezed his hand back. Then, looking at Leonard, I pleaded, "Leonard, let me take my dad out of here first."

Just as Leonard was about to speak, Dylan shoved him aside and began punching and kicking me. "You shameless piece of trash! How dare you steal my wife! I'm going to beat you to death today!"

Dad threw himself in front of me, shielding me with the last of his strength. "Elias, this is all my fault. If I hadn't been so stubborn about coming to a hospital, you wouldn't be going through any of this."

My eyes stung with guilt.

The Keller family was in a unique situation. Although Dad had an arranged marriage to Mom, he always preferred to maintain a low profile. I had originally arranged a private consultation with ten foreign specialists, but Dad wasn't comfortable with that kind of treatment. He insisted on being treated like any other patient.

Even so, I had acted on my own selfish motives. I thought the checkup would be more thorough at our own hospital, so I brought him here. It was clearly my fault. I should have just taken him to a regular hospital instead.

The situation spiraled into chaos. Dad's bleeding worsened until his lips turned pale. Fearing that he might actually die, the onlookers hurriedly pulled Dylan away.

At that moment, Emily arrived. She leaned into Dylan's arms, holding him gently. "You must be tired from hitting him. Does your hand hurt?"

Dylan kept a straight face. "It's nothing compared to the heartache I'm feeling. I didn't even know my wife had been involved with another man."

Emily met my eyes for a moment as if I were a complete stranger, then cupped Dylan's face and pressed her cheek to his, kissing him. "Darling, that's not true at all. I swear, you're the only one I've ever loved."

I bit my lower lip hard, trying to suppress the bitter ache in my chest.

I looked over at Dad. He was on the verge of passing out. "Someone, please help my dad! He's not going to make it!"

Emily looked at me with clear disgust. "No one is allowed to help him. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility. Those who do wrong must face the consequences."

I yelled in a rage, "Emily, this is my dad—your father-in-law! He treated you like his own daughter. How can you say something like that?"

Gregory was furious. "Emily, tell him who your actual father-in-law is!"

Emily hesitated for only a second before staring at Dad and me with a sneer. "My father-in-law is perfectly healthy. Who do you think you are, cursing him like that? Your own dad is dying, so now you're trying to latch onto me to squeeze money out of us, aren't you?"

Dad had been holding on by sheer will, but hearing her words, he lost all hope. He spat out a mouthful of blood and lost consciousness.

I dropped to my knees in a panic. "Please, if you don't save my dad now, it'll be too late!"

A flash of satisfaction crossed Gregory's eyes, and his expression turned vicious. "I want him dead. I'd like to see who dares to treat him."

The next second, a commanding voice rang out from the entrance.

"Who dares refuse to treat my husband?"