Chapter 2

The intense pain made my entire body convulse.

I suddenly opened my eyes, my pupils unfocused.

Amelia immediately threw away the bloodstained scalpel and replaced it with an expression of extreme concern.

She picked up a cup of water and carefully brought it to my lips.

"Damien, don't be afraid. Did you have a nightmare?"

Her voice was so gentle, and her eyes were full of concern.

"Here, have some water. I'm here with you. No one can hurt you."

I turned my head away.

The water ran from the corner of my mouth and down my neck.

Amelia took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped it away.

"You just had a seizure. The nerves in both your legs have completely died. To save your life, the doctor had no choice but to perform a lumbar puncture."

Her eyes reddened, and her voice choked with emotion.

"It's all my fault for not taking better care of you. The doctor said you may never get out of bed again."

She took my hand and pressed it against her cheek.

"But it doesn't matter. Even if you become a cripple who can never leave his bed, you'll still be the only love of my life. I'll take care of you forever."

I looked at her affectionate face, and my stomach churned violently.

Instinctively, I flailed my arms and desperately shrank toward the edge of the bed.

I just wanted to get farther away from this poisonous woman.

Amelia's expression changed.

She lunged forward and tightly grabbed my shoulders.

"Damien! Stop moving! Your back is still bleeding!"

She was incredibly strong, her arms tightening around me.

The puncture wound in my back instantly tore open.

Warm blood flowed out and soaked through my hospital gown.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Damien! This is all my fault!"

Amelia buried her head in the crook of my neck, and hot tears fell onto my collarbone.

"I'm so afraid of losing you. You can hit me or yell at me if you want, but please don't hurt yourself."

She was practically kneeling beside the bed as she raised her right hand to swear an oath.

"I swear I'll never let you suffer even the slightest grievance again."

I stared at the ceiling.

Amazing.

This Oscar-worthy performance had fooled me for seven whole years.

I stopped struggling.

Tilting my head, I put on a dazed, foolish expression, raised a bloodstained finger, and pointed at my chest.

"It hurts... In my dream, Dad was crying... My sister's face was burned away by fire... They were calling for help... It hurts so much..."

Amelia's body suddenly stiffened.

A trace of panic flashed through her eyes, then she let out a long sigh of relief.

"It’s okay, Damien. Those were just dreams, the complete opposite of reality."

She stroked my hair, her tone gentle.

"Your dad retired to an island overseas. He spends his days fishing and enjoying the sun. Your sister is studying for exams at a boarding school. They're both doing very well.

"I'll protect you as if you were my own life. If anyone dares touch you, I'll kill them."

I fought back the urge to vomit and didn't pull away.

Amelia stood up and straightened her wrinkled collar.

"You're all alone and must be bored. How about I ask the nanny to bring Ben over to keep you company? You always liked children."

That was the illegitimate child she had with Liam Hill.

I can’t believe Amelia wanted to use the child of my enemy to replace my dead daughter.

Suddenly, I turned my head away and covered my eyes with both hands.

A sharp cry escaped my throat.

"No! Scared! Dizzy... Want to sleep!"

I buried my face in the blanket.

My body trembled uncontrollably.

A mocking smile curled at the corners of Amelia's lips.

"Damien, now that you're sick, you need to learn to rely on your wife more. Stop being so stubborn."

She let go and turned to leave the hospital room.

‘Amelia, you'd better not die too soon.’