Chapter 5

At this moment, Vivian tried to grab me.

I shook her off violently.

"Get lost!"

"With me gone, it'll be easier for you to take my place."

Vivian staggered back with the force, her eyes instantly red and looking very wronged.

"Miss Anderson, I know you didn't mean it..."

Without thinking, Ethan supported her and frowned as he scolded me.

"Lana Anderson, don't go too far!"

This act of protection completely severed my last thread of hope.

I looked at the security guards, my tone numb.

"If you're going to imprison me, hurry up."

"Don't waste my time."

After being brought back to the villa, I walked into the bedroom myself, locked the door, and refused to see anyone.

Unfortunately, my documents and phone were confiscated.

I became an isolated island, able only to bite my lip hard in the deep of night to keep tears from falling.

Whenever I remembered my mother's warnings, I felt I deserved this fate.

One morning, Vivian's delicate laughter drifted up from downstairs.

I watched coldly from the balcony as they walked side by side.

I don't know what she said, but Ethan lowered his head with a gentle smile.

The necklace at his neck was inadvertently revealed.

My hands hanging by my legs trembled.

I remembered something.

"Ethan, man, you're really twisted."

"To save Vivian, you could pretend for so many years."

Marcus Wright's voice came from the phone.

He was Ethan's best friend.

Who would have thought—

"What Ethan has is deep devotion, okay?"

"If it weren't for me, how could he have possibly taken that car for that bitch!"

"If I hadn't gotten sick and needed her bone marrow, Ethan and I wouldn't have wasted all these years!"

Ethan didn't speak, but it seemed like a tacit acknowledgment.

Just two short sentences, and I pieced together the truth.

All his deep affection was just for my bone marrow.

What he cared about was always me as Vivian's donor.

This realization completely shattered me.

I finally remembered why I felt Vivian looked familiar when I first saw her.

When Ethan was in a coma, his mother took me to pray at churches.

A priest told us that great merit was needed to save him.

Right then, the hospital called to say my bone marrow matched a patient.

For that slim hope, I resolutely donated my bone marrow.

Three days later, Ethan woke up.

At the time, I thanked the heavens and didn't notice that during his recovery, Ethan would always smile at a fellow patient.

Looking back now, that person was Vivian.

"You married her out of guilt back then."

"Now it's exposed and she wants a divorce."

"Wouldn't it be better to part on good terms?"

Marcus asked my question.

My heart instantly lifted.

Unfortunately, Ethan didn't answer.

Vivian's harsh mocking laughter answered for me.

"Of course it's because of me."

"This illness could relapse anytime."

"Naturally, it's better to keep her as a blood bag!"

As she spoke, Vivian changed her tone and acted cute with Ethan.

"Ethan, her wanting a divorce now isn't really working out."

"Women need to be coaxed."

"Vivian, don't push your luck after getting a good deal!"

"Exactly."

"If you weren't so arrogant, she'd still be in the dark."

"How would she be demanding a divorce!"

Loud laughter rang out.

My already hollow heart no longer felt pain.

What truly sent me into the abyss was what Vivian said next.

"If she really divorces, how can I torture her?"

"How can I avenge my mother?!"

Who was Vivian's mother?

What deep grudge existed between us that made her hate me so much?

Unfortunately, they quickly changed the topic.

This question remained tightly wound around my heart, keeping me awake at night.

From that day on, Ethan changed his approach.

Every day when he came home, he'd knock on the door.

His tone shifted from initially forceful to pleading.

"Lana, let's open the door and talk."

Knowing he was just putting on an act, I never responded.

I just stared at the night sky, calculating how to escape.

He cared so much about Vivian that he'd set up such an elaborate scheme for her.

The villa's security was impenetrable.

Breaking out by force was impossible.

I could only wait for him to let his guard down.

On the fourth night, shortly after he knocked, there was commotion downstairs, followed by the sound of a car engine.

I lifted the curtain and saw his car drive away.

Half the guards at the entrance were also gone, and security had noticeably loosened.

I held my breath and tiptoed out of the bedroom, pressing against the wall toward the servants' passage.

Ethan had once mentioned there was a back door there that many people didn't know about.

Just as I was about to reach the passage, Vivian's delicate laugh came from behind.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I froze completely.

Turning around, I saw her with servants, smiling triumphantly.

So today's opportunity was just a game Vivian had designed to toy with me.

In desperation, I rushed forward and grabbed her, gripping a candlestick I'd taken, pressing the sharp end against her face.

"Don't come any closer!"

"Come closer and I'll kill her!"

Blood immediately seeped out.

No one dared move.

I took the chance to retreat.

But before I could exit the passage, sharp pain struck the back of my head.

My vision went black, and I lost consciousness completely.

When I woke again, a suffocating sensation came over me.

I saw Ethan with bloodshot eyes, gripping my collar tightly.

"Where's Vivian?"

"Where did you take Vivian?!"

I was stunned.

Vivian was gone?

Seeing me dazed, the enraged Ethan just waved his hand and shoved me down.

"Talk!"

"Or I'll make you pay with your life!"

"I don't know!"

Intense pain struck.

I coughed up blood, reaching out my hand, but I couldn't stop his movements.

My hair was violently yanked, my head slammed against the wall.

Blood immediately streamed down my forehead.