Chapter 3

Over the next few days, Marco kept moving back and forth between the two hospital rooms, never neglecting either side.

Right before I was discharged, Lina came to see me. Her usual sweet, innocent look was gone. Instead, her smile was filled with pure malice.

“Aurora, you sure can take it. You actually managed to stay calm, even after witnessing my wedding to Marco. Marco doesn’t love you anymore. Do you really think you can keep holding onto that spot? Since you refuse to face reality, let me help you.”

After saying that, Lina pulled out a block of C4 explosives and planted it in the corner of the room. I stared at her in shock, but she just gave a sly little grin.

“Relax, it won’t kill you. I just want you to see who Marco chooses to save when both of us are in danger.”

A deafening blast shook the entire floor. Both Lina and I were crushed under the debris. A steel rod pierced straight through my shoulder, and blood gushed out instantly. My vision started to blur.

Right before I completely blacked out, I saw Marco rushing in desperately. I forced out the last bit of strength I had and called for him.

“Marco… I’m here…”

However, Marco ran right past me. He went straight to Lina, lifting the giant slab of concrete off her and pulling her into his arms with trembling hands.

“Lina, don’t be scared. I’m here.”

Then, he carried her out without even looking back. He didn’t even tell his men to continue searching for me.

I lay there in the rubble as tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. This was my hospital room. Did he not know I was inside?

When I woke up again, I was already back home.

Marco immediately grabbed my hand, his voice shaking. “Aurora, you’re finally awake. If anything had happened to you, I would’ve blown up the entire hospital.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I quietly pulled my hand out of his.

“You’re mad I saved Lina first, isn’t that it?” Marco hesitated. “I… swear I didn’t know you were in the room. And besides, Lina is young. Saving her was my responsibility as an adult. But Aurora, if something ever happened to you, I’d follow you into death.”

He grasped my hand again, ready to continue his confession, when a glass cup shattered at the doorway. Lina stood there with a look of wounded innocence, broken shards at her feet.

Marco’s face instantly went pale. Before he could explain, Lina covered her face and ran off in tears.

Under my cold gaze, I watched him force himself not to chase after her.

“She’s just being childish. Ignore her. You’re the one who matters most.”

For the next few days, Marco barely left my side, taking care of everything personally. However, one week later, news broke that Lina had gone missing. The gentle front he maintained for a week collapsed in an instant. He summoned the entire family, activated every connection he had, and launched a full-scale search for Lina.

Within a single day, they found her. Lina threw herself into Marco’s arms the moment she was rescued, and when she saw me, her face twisted into fear.

“Aurora, I’m sorry! I’ll stay far away from your husband from now on. Please don’t lock me up in the punishment room again!”

It was the first time she called Marco my husband.

Marco’s presence turned terrifying. His cold gaze shot toward me like a knife.

“Aurora, jealousy has limits! Lina is just a child! The punishment room is for traitors and enemies! She was electrocuted and whipped in there… Do you have any idea she almost died?”

He didn’t even ask me what happened. He just decided I was guilty. If this were the past, I would’ve broken down and begged him to trust me. Now, my voice was calm.

“It wasn’t me. Believe it or don’t. I’m tired. I need to rest.”

I lay back down and turned my back to him.

Seeing my expression, Marco realized he had wrongly accused me. However, before he could speak, Lina grabbed him and sobbed uncontrollably.

“Marco, don’t go! I’m so scared. They called me a whore. They said they’d rip my skin off so I’d never seduce another man again.”

Marco immediately soothed her, distress written all over his face. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to look, listen, or think. It didn’t matter anymore, because tomorrow, I would be gone.

With Marco, there was nothing left to say except goodbye.