Chapter 1034



With sheer effort, Belinda forced her eyes open. And the moment she did, her pupils constricted in shock at the scene before her.

There was a person standing beside Belinda’s bed. At that moment, the figure loomed over her, both hands clamped tightly around her throat, suffocating her.

“Mom… Mom…” Belinda gasped, desperately fighting against the unyielding grip, trying to pry Holley’s hands from her neck.

However, since she had taken sleeping pills earlier, her body felt heavy and weak. She was utterly drained of strength, and despite her frantic efforts, she could not loosen Holley’s hold.

Holley’s eyes were wide open, but they were vacant. With fierce determination, she tightened her grasp around Belinda’s throat, gritting her teeth as she muttered, “No one is permitted to harm my daughter! Anyone who dares to hurt my daughter must die! I will kill you!”

“Ugh… Mom, wake up… Please…” Belinda feebly tapped at Holley’s hands, pleading in hoarse whispers, desperately trying to snap Holley out of her trance.

But instead of stopping, Holley only tightened her grip.

Belinda’s face was turning pale. “I can’t… breathe…” A suffocating pressure crushed her lungs. No! She had to do something—anything! If she didn’t act now, Holley would strangle her to death!

Summoning every ounce of her fading strength, Belinda abandoned her futile attempts to pry Holley’s hands away. Instead, she raised a trembling hand, preparing to slap Holley in a desperate bid to wake her.

But just as her fingers neared Holley’s face, Holley moved.

Coincidentally, Belinda had already put force behind her movement, and her nails raked across Holley’s cheek, leaving behind scratches. The sharp sting sent a shockwave through Holley’s body, jolting her back to reality.

When Holley saw the scene before her, she was utterly shocked. With a shrill scream, she jerked back and abruptly released her grip. Yet, her first instinct wasn’t to check on Belinda. Instead, she clutched at her face. “My face! It hurts!”

Belinda coughed violently, gasping for air. At that moment, nothing felt more invaluable than the ability to breathe freely.

Holley’s panicked expression shifted as she finally realized what had just transpired. Her eyes widened in worry as she took in Belinda’s fragile state. Tears welled in her eyes as she said, “I didn’t mean to do that! I swear! I don’t even know how this happened—I must have been sleepwalking again! Belinda, are you okay? I am so sorry…”

Her voice trembled with guilt and distress, and tears streamed down her face freely.

Belinda continued coughing. She was in no state to respond. Her body felt weak, her mind reeling. The weight on her chest hadn’t lifted completely.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed.

“Oh my God! What happened? Miss Wright, are you alright?” Margie burst into the room, her face a mask of panic and concern after she saw Belinda in such a state.

Belinda weakly lifted a trembling hand, trying to reassure her. “I am fine…”

But despite her words of assurance, the violent coughing betrayed the truth of her condition.

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