Chapter 4

The moment I heard the word “fiancé,” I instinctively thought she was messing with me. A look of shock crossed my face.

Before I could refuse, she pulled out her phone and typed out her contact number.

“You don’t have to answer me right away. Take your time and think about it. This is my private number. If you’ve changed your mind or run into any trouble you can’t handle, call me anytime.”

I memorized the number.

Just then, her attending physician arrived to take her for another round of examinations, leaving me alone in the hospital room. My thoughts were a complete mess as I walked out into the hallway, and that was when I ran into Sean.

The second he saw me, he raised an eyebrow smugly.

“What are you doing here, William? Oh, right. I almost forgot. Mom and Dad kicked you out. Are you working as a carer now?”

I said nothing, but the head nurse standing behind him immediately rushed to flatter him. “Yes, Mr. Sean. William was newly hired today.”

I turned to leave, but Sean suddenly grabbed my wrist. Then, he raised his left hand and deliberately showed off the diamond ring on his ring finger.

“Look, William. Juniper personally bought this for me at a Sotheby’s auction. It’s called ‘Heart of Eternity.’ She said my heartbeat is her forever.”

I stared at him expressionlessly. I couldn’t bother to respond. However, Sean’s expression darkened. He leaned closer and spoke in a low voice that only the two of us could hear.

“William, stop acting like you’re better than me. You’re nothing more than a blood donor for me now—a walking blood bag. Do you really think you can escape?”

Before I could answer, Sean caught sight of Juniper walking toward us from the end of the hallway. In an instant, his expression changed. With a sharp smack, he slapped himself across the face before he staggered backward, clutching his chest as if he could barely breathe.

“William… I know you hate me… but how could you hit me? You even called me an adulterer… I… my chest hurts so much. I can’t breathe…”

Juniper rushed over immediately and caught Sean before he collapsed. Without asking a single question, she turned toward me with furious eyes.

“William, do you have a death wish?”

I opened my mouth to explain, only to realize there was no point. To Juniper, Sean’s words were the absolute truth. She would never listen to me or believe me.

She immediately turned toward the head nurse and ordered, “Prepare the phlebotomy equipment immediately. Mr. Sean is in critical condition. His brother, William, will provide a blood transfusion backup right now.”

Seeing the rage on Juniper’s face, the head nurse didn’t dare hesitate for even a second.

“Yes, Ms. Juniper! I’ll get to it immediately! What are you standing around for, William? Come and prep for the blood draw now!”

In the face of overwhelming power, I couldn’t defend myself. I was nothing more than livestock waiting to be slaughtered. Once again, the despair from my previous life swallowed me whole…

No! I couldn’t go through that nightmare again.

Instinctively, I took a step back and tried to run, but Juniper grabbed my wrist before I could escape. Her grip was terrifyingly strong.

“William, I’ve warned you to behave yourself. Just be a good little blood bag and stop pulling these disgusting stunts.”

Two large bodyguards immediately seized my arms from both sides and started dragging me away. I struggled desperately. As a man, I couldn’t accept this kind of humiliation. And in that moment of desperation, Cleo’s aloof face suddenly flashed through my mind.

As we passed the emergency stairwell, I slammed my elbow into the guard on my right. He groaned in pain and loosened his grip. While the other guard got distracted for just a second, I drove my fist straight into his face. The moment I broke free, I sprinted into the stairwell.

Behind me, Juniper’s furious voice rang out. “Tell the men downstairs to stop him!”

That meant escaping through the hospital entrance was impossible. So, the second I got to the second floor, I dashed down the hallway. That entire wing was filled with patient wards. Inside were only hospital beds and bedside cabinets, with nowhere to hide.

Meanwhile, the sounds of people chasing me were getting closer and closer. With no other choice, I slipped into a half-open janitor’s closet and locked the door behind me. Then, I pulled out my phone and called Cleo. She answered almost instantly.

“Hello?”

“Miss Cleo…” I lowered my voice and pressed my ear against the door, listening to what was going on outside.

“I’ll do it. I’ll marry you. Please save me…”

There was a burst of noise on the other end of the line, but immediately after, Sophia answered, “Send me your location. Hide somewhere safe. I’m coming right now.”

I finally let out a breath of relief and realized the hallway outside had suddenly gone quiet. I took a few steps backward, planning to find something to use as cover. Yet, in the very next second, the door was kicked open with a bag, and Juniper’s furious, twisted face appeared in front of me.

“I see you’ve gotten bold enough to run now, huh?”