Chapter 2

"How can that be?" I asked mockingly. "You should have more confidence in yourself. I asked the bodyguards to give you a check-up just now. You're very tough. You just have to close your eyes. It'll all be over soon."

I was just about to start the blood collection device when the lights in the room suddenly went out.

A loud bang cut through the air the next second.

Melanie burst into the operating room, her high heels clacking loudly against the floor. Her eyes flashed red the moment she saw Zack. She hurried over to him, exclaiming, "How did you end up in this state, Zack?"

I couldn't help myself and let out a mocking laugh when I saw her hold Zack's hand with a heartbroken and teary expression.

Melanie had severe germophobia.

On a whim, she decided that she wanted to raise a few cats and dogs. Not only did she not take care of them herself, but she also demanded that the house had to be completely free of fur.

Whenever I used the toilet, she would ask a maid to clean it three times. The eating utensils I used would also be thrown away, even though I had only used them once, just because she complained she could still smell my saliva on them.

However, at that moment, Melanie seemed completely unbothered by the fact that Zack was covered in snot and tears. She even used her tailored dress, which cost more than a few thousand dollars, to clean him up.

It was obvious that she was quite fond of Zack.

Sensing my gaze on her, Melanie suppressed her hatred and bit her lip until she broke skin.

"You were too impulsive this time, Clive," she snapped. "Zack's the company's lucky star. It'll definitely be affected since he's so gravely wounded. Release him right now and send him to a hospital for treatment!"

In the face of Melanie's criticisms, I couldn't help but feel how absurd the entire situation was. It seemed that the unconditional support I had given the Perry family over the last five years had given her the wrong idea.

She wrongly assumed that the company's success was thanks to her and Zack's efforts, forgetting that she was nothing more than a pawn that her family used to secure a marriage alliance with me. Or more accurately, she was just a discarded pawn.

Five years ago, the Perry family lost their leader after Melanie's father got into an accident. She was too inexperienced to take up her father's mantle, which resulted in her being treated as a puppet by her relatives in their struggle for power.

Perhaps Melanie had forgotten how pathetic she had been when she begged me for help five years ago.

Coincidentally, I needed the Perry family's resources to enter the military medical care industry at the time. Thus, I entered into a marriage of convenience with Melanie and helped her build up her family, which in turn allowed her to take charge of the Perry family without issue.

I never would have thought that she would repay my kindness in this way. I shot a frosty smile at Melanie.

"I supported you five years ago. Naturally, I can support someone else five years later. Don't forget that you're not the only one in the Perry family.

"I'll give you ten minutes. Either you personally draw Zack's blood, or I'll inform the Perries that they're going to get a new head of the family."

Realizing that he was stuck in a highly disadvantageous position, a hint of resentment flickered across Zack's eyes.

A few seconds later, he shed a few crocodile tears and mumbled, "I'm scared of pain, Mel…"

A pained look appeared in Melanie's eyes. She was just about to try reasoning with me again when I interrupted her after looking at the time.

"Nine more minutes. I'll draw an extra 1000cc of blood for every minute that passes. The choice is yours."

After hesitating for a brief moment, Melanie had no choice but to do as I said.

Zack's face was as white as a sheet five minutes later. He couldn't even keep himself upright without someone else supporting him.

Melanie looked at him with a heartbroken expression. She then glared at me and gritted out, "You've already punished Zack. Are you satisfied now?"

I scoffed. "Punishment? I was simply retrieving the blood that he took from Cindy just now. His punishment only starts now. Fire him this instant and inform the industry that he has been blacklisted. The Perries will be getting a new head of the family if I hear any news about him in the future."

Melanie was briefly stunned before she clenched her fists and exclaimed, "I can't do that! Your demands are too much! Firing Zack is one thing, but you're going to corner him into a dead end if you blacklist him. He's still so young!"

I simply tapped my cigarette, letting the ash flutter to the floor.