Engaged to her, Bleeding for her Childhood Sweetheart

Adeline Shaw was my boss - we lived in completely different worlds. I only caught her attention because her childhood sweetheart needed a blood transfusion after a car accident, and I happened to be a match.After I saved Bryan Chancer's life that day, Adeline smiled at me softly for the first time. She asked what I wished for, and I told her I wanted to date her.Still woozy from the blood donation, I'd blurted out what was in my heart while looking at her face.After a few seconds of silence, she agreed. That relationship lasted three years.This year, the Shaw family started pressuring her about marriage. To get them off her back, Adeline agreed to get engaged to me.I knew it was just for show, but then Bryan had to collapse at the worst possible moment.I grabbed Adeline's arm. "Don't go. The hospital has doctors. What about our engagement party? You can't just leave!""Henry Scott, stop being so selfish," she snapped. "Being engaged to me is already more luck than you dese

I read these messages with a bitter smile, taking screenshots of everything. Maybe they'd come in handy someday. Then I blocked her without hesitation.But Adeline wouldn't give up so easily.The next day, I found her at my doorstep with Bryan beside her."What do you want?""Bryan wanted to thank you, so I brought him here. Henry, can't you just let this go?"I couldn't believe she could still say things like that. I laughed sarcastically. "What now? Should I bow down and thank him too?""Get out of here, Adeline. Don't make me call the cops again.""Henry!" Adeline snapped.Bryan stepped in. "Henry, don't be angry. I know you're upset about the engagement.""It's my fault, really. My health... anyway, if you're angry, just hit me instead."I could see the smug challenge in his eyes as he spoke.Without hesitation, I punched him right in the face!"Henry, have you lost your mind?" Adeline rushed to push me aside and help Bryan up."What's wrong? He told me to hit him. N

I shrugged. "Really? What a shame. I thought she truly loved you. Guess you got dumped after all!"His face turned sickly green. "You'll pay for this, Henry!"I shrugged again. "Whatever. You're always in and out of hospitals - do you think the Shaw family enjoys seeing you like this?""What would happen if this all came out? Would the Shaws have you killed?""Oh right, I almost forgot - I still have that police report. Want to go viral? I can make that happen!"Bryan's face turned even greener. True, he and Adeline were childhood sweethearts, but his family had fallen on hard times, and he'd gone abroad.I wasn't sure about his life overseas, but when he came back, somehow he reignited things with Adeline.She'd do anything for him after that.Adeline wasn't stupid - for her to act this way, Bryan must have something on her. But they'd never end up together.She'd gotten engaged to me instead of choosing him - proof that the Shaw family would never accept Bryan.I said all t

The elevator doors opened, and I yanked my hand free, heading straight to HR to submit my resignation.After taking so many days off, I didn't want to continue anyway. With the company in crisis, I wasn't the only one leaving.HR approved it quickly, but things stalled at Adeline's desk. I knew she was deliberately holding it up, but resignation only required notification - she couldn't force me to stay.I had nothing to hand over, so I just packed up my personal belongings and left.I cleared out everything from my office completely. Seeing this, Adeline dragged me into her office."Henry, you really have to resign right now?"I took a deep breath and smiled at her. "Don't push me. We both know what this is about. You're only holding onto me now because you want me as your shield.""Let's end this cleanly, Adeline. Just go public - you and Bryan are already like this anyway!""Why?" Adeline lost her composure. "Why can't you just stand firmly by my side? I told you, I don't wa

I was grateful for all the online support. After six months, the cottage renovation was complete, and I'd become a successful content creator with hundreds of thousands of followers.This new career path was working out - the video income was enough to live on.I hadn't seen Adeline for months, until she suddenly appeared after half a year.I'd turned the cottage into a vacation rental, and that day brought an unexpected guest.It was pouring outside. Looking at the gloomy rain, I sighed, figuring we wouldn't get many guests.Just then, someone rushed in. I hurried to greet them. "Welcome! Are you here for a room-"I stopped short - it was Adeline!She'd lost weight, cut her hair short, and had a new scar on her face.Her eyes welled up when she saw me. "Henry, I finally found you.""Why are you here? This isn't a shelter - you've got the wrong place!"I kept my face cold. Adeline froze, shaking her head. "No! That's not it!"Seeing her soaked and shivering in the rain, I co