Chapter 5

The sharp smell of disinfectant filled the air.

Gia slowly opened her eyes.

The suffocating feeling lingered, so she instinctively clutched her throat, breaking into a harsh cough.

"Relax," hushed a female doctor. She helped Gia sit up and carefully gave her a glass of water. "Do you feel any better?" she asked.

Gia, though pale, nodded.

"You developed complications from food poisoning. I've looked at your past records, and your body has always been weak. This time, it's caused irreversible damage…" she explained

Gia listened quietly, emotionlessly.

She had been a premature baby, so she was frail from birth. Lucas used to care for her with meticulous attention in the past. He made sure she took her medicine, never let her drink too much coffee, and constantly bought tonics for her.

All that, and he had poisoned her.

Pain and hatred twisted in her chest. She only managed to nod like a robot, and she did not even realize when the doctor left.

A single tear slid down her cheek, then they kept coming. She tried to wipe them away, but the more she wiped, the more tears there were.

It was not because of his betrayal, but because of how she foolishly trusted. She had died once, but she still held onto a sliver of hope for the man.

That fragile hope only brought deeper wounds.

The door creaked open. Lucas walked in, his shirt wrinkled and dark circles under his eyes.

The moment their gazes met, he hurried forward and reached for her hand, only for her to pull away.

He froze for a second, then grabbed her hand anyway. His voice was trembling as he said, "Gia… Are you still unwell? I… I must've been insane to do that to you!"

Tearing up, he said hoarsely, "When I saw Cecelia lying in the emergency room, I panicked. I couldn't believe you'd actually do something like that… That's why I lost control. It was what you did that scared me…"

"It wasn't me," said Gia raspily.

He looked like he was in pain for a moment, but it was clear he still did not believe her.

Gia let out a bitter laugh. 'Of course,' she thought.

Overwhelming fatigue washed over her, and she lost the will to speak.

"You really went too far this time. Cecelia is pregnant. You can't do that no matter what," muttered Lucas.

Gia cut him off. "Do you love her?" she asked.

Lucas jerked his head up. "What? No! Of course not! She's just a childhood friend, I only pitied her," he retorted.

'All lies,' she thought.

Fighting back tears, she whispered, "Let's get a divorce."

The hospital room fell into a dreadful silence. His expression shifted from shock, to anger, to twisted rage, before finally settling into a dark scowl.

"No. I won't agree," he said.

Gia gripped the blanket tightly.

His furious voice erupted before she could respond.

"Do you seriously want a divorce? I told you there's nothing between us! Why are you still jealous? We're married! Half of your company belongs to me if we get a divorce! Would you throw away everything you worked so hard for?" he yelled.

Dread spread through her body. He was threatening her with her career.

However, that was exactly what had happened in her past life. He had given half of her company to his illegitimate child.

"Gia, I love you," he said.

Lucas suddenly leaned down, pulling her into his arms. His tone was soft and earnest as he said, "I can't live without you. Please, don't make me angry anymore."

His lips pressed against her forehead. Her body stiffened.

That kiss once gave her comfort, but no more. It only made her sick.

"Lucas… My stomach hurts again…" said Cecelia. Her weak voice drifted from outside the door.

Lucas immediately got up and strode toward the door. He turned to look at Gia before he opened the door and said, "Get some rest. Don't dwell on nonsense. I'll come tomorrow to bring you home."

The door shut, and Gia shuddered.

She felt like the man who had once been her gentle companion was secretly a demon.

She reached under her pillow and pulled out her phone with her trembling fingers. A single unread message glowed on the screen–it was from her private attorney.

[Ms. Rowan, the last batch of assets has been transferred to the offshore account, but the company's equity changes still require your signature]

Gia let out a long sigh, then replied [Okay.] with shaking hands.

Her body was weaker than ever, but she told herself that was the price of having a second chance in life.

She would never go back again.