CHAPTER 133: IT WAS HER

Inside the restroom, Charles stood frozen, eyes wide with horror as he stared at the woman lying motionless on the floor.

She was dressed casually, but a dark pool of blood was rapidly spreading beneath her.

"Charles!"

Sophia didn’t even hesitate—she rushed straight into the men’s room and pulled her son into her arms.

"Are you hurt? Talk to me, sweetheart!"

Charles trembled, clutching her tightly.

Lucas frowned, already pulling out his phone to call the police.

Angela, quick and composed, opened her camera to record everything as evidence.

"M-Mommy... I’m scared..."

Tears welled up in Charles’s eyes.

"It’s okay, baby. Don’t be afraid," Sophia whispered, holding him close.

Then her gaze fell on the woman lying on the floor. Something about her seemed familiar.

She carefully leaned forward, turning the woman’s body just enough to see her face—and froze.

"Riley?!"

"Lucas!" she called sharply. "It’s Riley—hurry, we need to get her to a hospital!"

Before Lucas could even react, Sophia had already lifted Riley onto her back and was running out of the restroom.

...

At the hospital.

"The patient’s suffered a miscarriage," the doctor said grimly. "The baby couldn’t be saved."

Sophia’s eyes darkened. "When will she wake up?"

"Could be an hour. Could be a day."

Sophia nodded solemnly, watching as the doctor left.

Riley lay pale and unconscious, a bandage wrapped around her head, her lips drained of color.

"Who would do this to her?" Sophia murmured, brows knitting in suspicion.

Lucas, now back from giving his statement, joined her. "They’re reviewing the park footage, but that restroom’s a blind spot. There’s no camera coverage."

"Then we’ll have to wait for her to wake up," he added quietly.

Sophia shook her head. "Something doesn’t add up. Riley isn’t the type to go to an amusement park—so why was she even there? And look at the wound on her head—it’s from a blunt object. Someone must’ve hit her unexpectedly, maybe in a panic."

Lucas gently rested a hand on her head. "Don’t worry. I’ve already called her parents—they’re on their way."

...

A short while later, three figures hurried into the hospital room.

Leading them was an elderly man, his cane striking the floor in fury.

"Who did this?" he roared. "Who hurt my granddaughter?!"

Beside him stood a refined-looking middle-aged woman—Riley’s mother—her hands trembling as she caressed her daughter’s pale face.

And behind them, tall and imposing, was Riley’s father, his expression grave.

"Mr. Hilton," the old man said, looking at Lucas, "could we speak in private?"

Lucas shook his head. "No need. I’ll say it here—it’s simple. My son found Riley in the restroom at the amusement park. She was already unconscious. We’ve filed a report—it’s in the police’s hands now. But she—"

Sophia discreetly nudged his arm, stopping him mid-sentence.

He quickly corrected himself. "But the doctor says she could wake up within an hour... or it might take a full day. Now that you’re here, we’ll head back."

He turned to leave, but the old man stopped him.

"Please, Mr. Hilton. If Riley wakes up, I’m sure she’d want you to be here."

Sophia could immediately tell—the man didn’t want Lucas to leave because he wanted Riley to wake up and see him first.

But before she could say anything, Lucas spoke up on his own.

"My wife is the one who saved her," he said firmly.

The old man’s gaze finally shifted toward Sophia. His anger softened, replaced by genuine gratitude.

"So you’re Miss Morgan," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Thank you—for saving my granddaughter’s life."

Riley’s grandfather was a reasonable man.

Even though he knew there was some complicated history between them, he wasn’t the type to expose it—especially not now, when Sophia was the one who had just saved his granddaughter’s life.

"There’s no need to thank us," Sophia said softly. "But I don’t think her condition is very stable yet. Once she wakes up, please let us know, alright?"

It was already past midnight.

By the time Riley regained consciousness, it would likely be well into the early morning.

And since she wasn’t the one responsible for what happened, there was no point in Sophia staying behind in the hospital.

"Thank you, thank you both!" the old man said, bowing slightly. "Mr. Hilton, Miss Morgan, please go home. I’ll contact you as soon as Riley wakes up."

Lucas nodded, gently taking Sophia’s hand as they turned to leave—

But suddenly, from behind them, came a faint voice.

"...Lucas."

Everyone froze.

Riley had opened her eyes—and the first name she uttered was his.

Lucas’s brows drew together. He turned back toward the bed.

"Riley! Thank God!" her father blurted out, rushing forward. "You scared us half to death—your mother, your grandfather—do you have any idea how worried we’ve been?"

Riley’s parents hovered over her, their faces tight with panic and confusion.

She was their only daughter, well-behaved and gentle—how could something like this have happened to her so suddenly?

"Riley, tell us the truth," her father demanded. "Why were you even at the amusement park? What happened to your head?"

But Riley’s eyes weren’t on them.

They were locked—intently—on Sophia.

"Dad, Mom, Grandpa..." she said quietly, her voice weak but steady. "Can you all give me a minute alone? I want to talk to Sophia. Just her."

Sophia blinked, startled.

She wants to talk to me?

Still, one by one, Riley’s family members obeyed her request and stepped out of the room.

Within moments, only the two women remained.

Sophia approached the bedside. "What is it you want to tell me?"

Riley’s lips trembled. "So... everything you said was true."

Her eyes filled instantly with tears.

Sophia grabbed a tissue and sat beside her, gently wiping them away.

"You mean—about your senior?"

Riley nodded, voice breaking. "The baby I was carrying—it was his. He drugged me without my knowledge... and when I woke up, I thought the man that night was Lucas."

"Riley..."

"I’m so sorry, Sophia," she whispered hoarsely. "I’ve always resented you because I thought he was supposed to be mine. But now I realize..."

Sophia’s tone was calm, but her gaze was sharp. "So it was him, wasn’t it? He attacked you after you confronted him—and then ran."

Riley’s eyes went vacant. Her throat moved, but no words came out. She seemed to be choking on her own grief.

Sophia hesitated, then said quietly, "I’m sorry to tell you this, but... the baby didn’t make it."

Riley’s pupils dilated.

"What... what did you say?" she stammered. "It’s gone?"

"Yes," Sophia said softly. "When I found you, you had already miscarried. By the time we got you here, it was too late to save the child. The police have opened an investigation—once you’re ready, you just need to tell them who did this to you."

But Riley didn’t seem to hear the last part.

Her voice broke into a whisper, as if she were talking to herself.

"Gone... everything’s gone..."

Then she covered her face with both hands and began to sob uncontrollably.

After what felt like an eternity, her crying slowed. Her voice was hoarse, bitterly hollow.

"Maybe it’s better this way," she murmured. "That child should never have existed. I never imagined... that the man I trusted—my own senior—would betray me like that. And I blamed the wrong person all along."

Sophia leaned closer, her voice firm but gentle. "Tell me everything, Riley. What exactly happened?"

Riley bit down on her lower lip, trembling—and finally began to speak.