**Phoenix of Revenge**

**1.3 The Painful Awakening**

The hospital corridor was dimly lit, the white walls reflecting cold light. Amelia's footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, making her feel even more isolated. She clutched her bag tightly against her chest, her fingers gripping the strap so hard that her fingertips had turned white. The overwhelming guilt and fear that had plagued her since the company meeting had become even heavier at this moment.

She had practically fled from the conference room. The confrontation with Jason and Lily had left her suffocated. Although she had exposed their conspiracy, she didn’t feel the relief of victory. Instead, her heart felt even heavier, as if she were sinking into an endless abyss.

Every time she stood in the hospital corridors, that sense of powerlessness became even more apparent. Her father was still lying in the hospital bed, and there was nothing she could do. The strong man she had always relied on no longer had the strength to speak. Worse still, she knew she couldn’t let her father know about the company’s issues, as it would only worsen his condition.

**“Everything is falling apart…”** Amelia whispered to herself, her pace gradually slowing. She stood in front of her father’s hospital room, peering through the small window. Her father lay beneath the white sheets, seemingly consumed by the sterile, white world. His chest rose and fell weakly, his face etched with fatigue and pain.

Amelia took a deep breath, forcing herself to compose her emotions. She didn’t want her father to see her vulnerable. She closed her eyes tightly, then pushed open the door to the hospital room.

---

The room was quiet, with only the soft beeping of the machines echoing, marking the passage of time. Her father lay there peacefully, his eyes half-closed, his face pale, causing Amelia’s heart to ache. She walked over to his bedside, gently sitting down and taking his hand. The hand that had once been so strong was now thin and cold.

**“Dad, I’m here,”** Amelia’s voice trembled slightly, but she tried to keep calm, afraid that her emotions would affect him.

Her father’s eyes fluttered open, and when he saw his daughter, a faint, weak smile appeared on his lips. That smile was filled with infinite warmth and care, but also deep exhaustion.

“You... came back...” His voice was hoarse and frail, almost breaking Amelia’s heart.

**“Yes, Dad, I’m back,”** Amelia responded softly, trying to comfort her father with a light tone, but she knew there was a barely detectable tremble in her voice.

“How... is the company?” Her father asked with difficulty, his words still filled with concern for the company and the family.

Hearing him mention the company, Amelia’s heart tightened, as if an invisible string had snapped. She didn’t want her father to know about the pain she was enduring or the terrifying betrayal she had uncovered. But her father’s care and expectations weighed heavily on her, suffocating her.

**“Everything is fine, Dad. You don’t need to worry,”** she swallowed the bitterness in her heart and softly replied, forcing a smile. She didn’t dare tell him about Jason and Lily’s betrayal or the turmoil within the company. She knew her father couldn’t bear such a blow.

Her father remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly using what little strength he had to think. Then he gently nodded, his eyes showing fatigue. **“You... are strong, Amelia. You will... protect the family... I believe in you...”**

Amelia’s heart sank, and tears nearly welled up in her eyes. She gripped her father’s hand tightly, trying to remain calm, but the pain inside her had become unbearable. Her father’s trust and expectations felt like knives cutting into her heart, filling her with helplessness and guilt.

**“Dad...”** she choked, not knowing what to say. She wanted to tell him that she would do well, that she would fulfill his expectations, but reality kept pulling her back into a pit of despair.

Her father’s hand trembled slightly as he raised it weakly, gently placing it on the back of Amelia’s hand. His voice, though faint, held a profound meaning, **“Don’t... be too hard on yourself... Sometimes... you need to rely on others...”**

Amelia could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears finally spilled from her eyes as she looked down at her father’s hand, feeling herself on the verge of collapse. She had always pretended to be strong, but in front of her father, all her defenses crumbled. She felt she could no longer bear her father’s expectations or the overwhelming pressure.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. **“Dad, I will. I’ll protect our family. I promise you...”**

Her father said nothing more, closing his eyes as if all his strength had been spent. The room fell silent again, with only the soft beeping of the machines filling the air. Amelia sat quietly at his bedside, her tears flowing silently, her heart filled with pain, guilt, and remorse.

---

The night deepened, and the sky outside the window was dotted with stars, but Amelia’s world remained in darkness. She stood by the hospital window, looking out at the distant nightscape, feeling nothing but the crushing weight of responsibility and indescribable sorrow.

**“What should I do...”** she whispered to herself, her voice filled with confusion. She felt as though she was trapped in a never-ending cycle of pain and darkness. Jason and Lily’s betrayal, the crisis within the company, her father’s illness—all these burdens weighed heavily on her, making it hard to breathe.

She thought of her past self, the innocent, hopeful Amelia, filled with dreams and aspirations. Back then, she never imagined she would find herself in such a desperate situation, betrayed by those she trusted most and forced to carry the weight of the entire family.

But this was her reality now, and she had no choice. She had to become stronger, more resolute, not just for her father, but for herself.

**“I can’t let them win,”** Amelia told herself silently, clenching her fists, determination slowly returning to her eyes. She had to completely destroy Jason and Lily’s conspiracy and take back everything that belonged to her. She could no longer sit idly by, nor could she keep avoiding the truth. Her father didn’t have much time, and neither did she.

---

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the hospital window, bringing a faint warmth to the room. Amelia hadn’t slept all night. Her eyes were swollen from crying, but her gaze was firm and calm. She knew that today would mark a turning point. She was no longer the girl crushed by betrayal, but a warrior ready to face revenge and challenges head-on.

She walked out of the hospital with steady steps. The air outside was crisp and cold, and the sunlight on her face gave her a faint glimmer of hope. She had to pick herself up and keep moving forward, because she knew that fate wouldn’t hand her victory easily, but she wouldn’t retreat so easily either.

Amelia took a deep breath, her mind already planning her next move. Jason and Lily knew about her actions by now, and they would undoubtedly double their efforts to destroy her. But she was no longer afraid. She had her father’s trust and enough reasons to fight on.

Amelia returned to the villa, ready to gather some important documents and prepare for the upcoming battle. However, she hadn’t realized that Jason and Lily had already sensed her plan of retaliation. They were no longer satisfied with just fighting for control of the company—they were planning to make a move on her life. The rain began to fall again, and the atmosphere outside the villa grew dark and ominous. Unbeknownst to Amelia, she was walking into a deadly trap.