Chapter 4

Tears and cold rain fell on the screen of Margot's phone.

She waited in the rain for a long time, but not a single available cab passed by. In the end, she had no choice but to take off her aching heels and walk barefoot toward Tristan's mansion.

The rain was so heavy that she could barely see where she was going. She hadn't gone far when a pair of blinding headlights suddenly swept toward her, followed by the screech of brakes.

The impact sent her flying. A searing wave of pain tore through her body before darkness swallowed her whole.

When she came to, she was lying on a cold operating table. The surgical lights above her were so bright that she could barely open her eyes.

As her consciousness flickered, she heard a doctor speak urgently nearby. "Have you called her emergency contact?"

The nurse sounded helpless. "There was only one number saved in her phone. I called, but he said he was too busy to come. When I told him she was in critical condition after a car accident, he... he said she brought it on herself and deserved the lesson. Then he hung up. I haven't been able to reach him since."

"Is there anyone else we can contact?" the doctor asked.

The nurse replied, "No... It seems he's the only person she has."

Lying on the operating table, Margot felt a hurt so devastating that no anesthetic could have numbed it. Even with her life hanging in the balance, Tristan couldn't be bothered to show up and sign the consent forms.

The doctor sighed. "Forget it. Let's get on with the surgery. Saving her life comes first."

As the anesthetic entered her bloodstream, Margot's consciousness slowly faded into a haze.

Her thoughts drifted back three years earlier, when Tristan had first taken her in.

Back then, she had been utterly bewildered by the modern world. She had no idea how to turn on the lights. She fumbled along the wall, then muttered, "Where are the candleholders?"

The first time she saw hot water pouring from a showerhead, she shrieked and stumbled backward, nearly falling. When she first encountered the little black box called a smartphone, she'd been completely baffled, not even knowing how to answer a call.

Every time, Tristan had patiently taught her the same things over and over again.

He never made fun of her clumsiness. Whenever she made a fool of herself, he would simply lean against a doorframe or the sofa, a faint, indulgent smile playing on his lips. In his low, husky voice, he would say, "Come here, silly girl. Let me show you."

Then there had been their first night together.

She'd come from the conservative era, where she'd known little about intimacy between men and women and had been both curious and afraid.

But Tristan had kissed her forehead and gently coaxed her, soothing her fears. When she'd finally lost herself in the moment and completely surrendered to him, he'd nipped her earlobe and whispered hoarsely, "Margot, my princess, you're finally mine."

She'd been swept up in all the tenderness he showed her, believing it was love, that fate had carried her across a thousand years to find him.

As it turned out, it had all been a lie.

It felt as though countless tiny needles were piercing her heart again and again. Even through the haze of anesthesia, the pain was so unbearable that her body curled in on itself.

The moment Nina returned, every illusion had shattered, leaving Margot's heart broken beyond repair.

After what felt like an eternity, the surgery was finally over.

When Margot woke up again, she found herself lying in a quiet hospital room, her body wrapped in bandages. Even the slightest movement sent sharp pain shooting through her.

The door opened quietly. Nina walked in, pulling Tristan behind her.

"Margot, you're awake," she said, her face full of concern. "I already scolded Tristan. He was wrong to treat you like that. You wouldn't have been hit by that car if it weren't for him."

She nudged Tristan gently. "Go on, apologize to Margot."

Tristan stood rooted to the spot, his face blank.

Nina's face grew stern. "Tristie, do you remember what I told you? If you don't apologize, I'm never speaking to you again."

The threat struck home. The powerful, arrogant heir to the Boyle family, who bowed to no one, gave in. He walked a few steps toward Margot and looked at her. His voice was flat. "I'm sorry."

Before Margot could respond, he continued, his tone firm and threatening. "But Nina is the most important person in my life. Don't throw another tantrum and embarrass her like that again. Otherwise, being left out in the rain will be the least of your problems next time."

The most important person... He'd admitted it himself.

Margot closed her eyes. Her heart hurt so much that she'd grown numb.

Seeing that things had calmed down, Nina took out an insulated container. "Margot, I made you some soup. You should have some. It'll help you recover."

Margot glanced at the soup and immediately spotted several ingredients floating in it that she was allergic to.

She shook her head weakly. "Thank you, but I don't want any."

Tristan's expression darkened. Thinking she was deliberately making things difficult again, he snapped, "Margot, Nina went to all this trouble to make you soup. Don't be so ungrateful!"

Margot lifted her pale face and looked at him. Her voice trembled with despair. "There are... shrimp and mushrooms in it. I'm severely allergic to both! Just two weeks ago, you explicitly warned the house staff never to bring those two ingredients into the house."

Tristan froze. Shock and embarrassment crossed his face.

Nina quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "It's my fault. I should've checked what Margot couldn't eat. Don't worry about the soup. I'll go out and get you something else."

With that, she got up and left the room. Only Margot and Tristan remained in the room.

Tristan pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone softening slightly. "I didn't forget on purpose. I just thought you were throwing another tantrum to embarrass Nina. She really is very important to me."

Margot looked at him, her voice barely a whisper. "How important?"

Tristan didn't hesitate for a second. His answer was firm and absolute. "I'd give up my life for her."