The sharp smell of disinfectant pulled me back to consciousness.
I opened my eyes to a stark white ceiling, machines beeping steadily beside me.
Sable’s voice was the first thing I heard. “You’ve got some nerve. Can’t believe those fishermer actually managed to pull you out alive.”
Turning my head, I saw her standing by the bed, her usual sweet act long gone. Instead, she reached out and gripped my throat, squeezing hard.
“Why won’t you just die, Andrea?! If you were dead, I could finally be Mrs. Blackthorne.”
“Can’t you see it? Vincent doesn’t love you. You’re like a stray dog clinging to a marriage you stole. Pathetic.”
“It only took one word from me for him to abandon you on that island, knowing you’re terrified of water. Do you still not get who he truly cares about?”
Her grip tightened. She wasn’t bluffing–she fully intended to choke me to death.
I couldn’t breathe. My instincts kicked in and I struggled to fight her off.
The next moment, she suddenly let go, her body stumbling backward. She knocked into a medical tray, sending instruments clattering. A sharp pair of scissors sliced across her hand, leaving a bloody gash.
Sable let out a high–pitched scream. “Andrea, why did you push me?!”
Before I could even react, Vincent walked in.
Tears welled up in Sable’s eyes immediately. “Vincent… I was just checking on Andrea and she-‘
She didn’t even need to finish. The implication hung in the air like poison.
Vincent didn’t even bother asking for my side of the story. His mouth opened, ready to lash into
- ne.
But when he noticed how pale I looked, for once, he held his tongue. Instead, he scooped up the
leeding Sable and rushed her out of the room.
Ten minutes later, he stormed back in, face like thunder. Without a word, he yanked me off the ›ed.
stumbled. “Let go! What do you want?!”
Sable’s condition worsened because of you. She’s bleeding heavily. You share a blood type ‘ou’re giving her a transfusion.” His voice was low, cold.
froze. I had never once heard of any chronic illness she had. And after barely surviving that ightmare on Emerald Island, my body could hardly handle anything more.
struggled desperately. “I’m not doing it! Let me go!”
Vincent gripped my wrist even tighter. “You don’t get a say.”
le shoved me toward the doctors.
One of them hesitated. “But she is severely weak after everything she’s been through. Forcing a ransfusion now could cause irreversible harm.”
hat’s Your 100th Mistress Time
Vincent’s face was ice. “Sable’s life comes first. Do it.”
The needle pierced my skin. My blood drained quickly, leaving my entire body aching, especially my lower abdomen.
Something warm trickled beneath me. Sticky, Hot,
It wasn’t my period,
A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I clutched my stomach as pain overtook me and then everything went black,
When I woke up again, the doctor was sitting beside me with a solemn expression.
“Miss Leighton… I’m sorry. After the trauma your body’s been through… you lost the baby.”
I froze. “The baby?”
He nodded. “You were only about a month along. With your anemia and the great number blood loss… it couldn’t survive.”
placed my hand over my stomach, unable to say a word.
The tiny life I hadn’t even known was there–gone.
Maybe this was fate.
Outside, loud booms suddenly filled the air, followed by a chain of explosive bursts.
Fireworks. Giant ones, painting the daytime sky with brilliant color, dazzling even in broad daylight.
A group of young nurses crowded by the window, chatting excitedly.
Did you hear? The CEO of Blackthorne threw this fireworks show to celebrate his wife’s regnancy. So romantic.”
Ugh, if I had a husband like that, I could die happy.”
He’s planning a huge party next week too, I heard. Whoever that Mrs. Blackthorne is so lucky!”
f I weren’t Mrs. Blackthorne myself, I probably would’ve swooned over such a grand romantic jesture too.
But unfortunately, I am her.
My mind drifted back to a year ago,
hapter 4
