Chapter 1

Cassandra

In this room, I can feel an overwhelming emptiness. Lying here, unable to move, but I can weakly see the woman beside me.

This keeps stirring my already unstable emotions.

"It’s too dangerous for the donor to give 600cc at a time. Her condition could worsen and lead to death."

Death?

My heart started racing instantly, yet I couldn’t move my body at all.

A desperate hope kept rising within me, that Sebastian would stop this.

But then, I heard his cold response. "Then let her."

My body jolted. Sebastian’s voice.

“Are you insane? She’s your wife!” The doctor sounded horrified.

Sebastian's tone didn't change. "So what? It's her duty to stay alive for Isabella.

Give her glucose when she’s about to collapse."

Ah… What was I expecting from him?

I lay there, my head throbbing, my vision growing weaker. But I could still see beside me—a beautiful woman with a pale face, lying motionless. Next to her was Sebastian, holding her hand gently, his eyes filled with endless worry.

He loved her. And I was his wife.

I was only here because I had the same rare blood type. I was a blood bag. A way for Isabella to live.

For some reason, that realization made me sad. I felt so lonely, yet I couldn’t say a word. In the end, I simply let things happen, hoping that somehow, I would be okay.

I tried to sit up, but my limbs felt like lead. I looked down at my arm, at the fresh, purple bruise on my skin.

"Don't move," Sebastian's voice said, without even turning to me. "If you want to recover faster, stay put."

I didn't listen to him. My voice was weak, but my resolve was firm. "Why? So I can be ready for the next donation?"

He didn't answer, but I saw his knuckles tighten as he held Isabella's hand.

I pushed myself off the bed, one shaky step at a time. I clung to the wall, stumbling out of that room. I couldn't stay there, watching him love another woman.

That woman had never woken up from her coma state. She should be deeply grateful to me for overcoming my fear of needles just so she could still be alive today.

I let out a breath. My body was weak after donating 600cc of blood for her. This was the side effect.

With slow, unsteady steps, I made my way out of that place and finally arrived at a house that felt empty.

For once, I felt relieved to be alone.

I let out a breathy sigh and adjusted myself into a comfortable position before completely drifting off on the sofa. I was sleeping when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket.

Still half-asleep, I tried to take it out without opening my eyes, but it got tangled with the fabric of my clothes.

After finally managing to retrieve it, my eyes still closed, I glanced at the screen. Sebastian was not the type to call me. He had always said he didn’t want to waste his time.

Despite being husband and wife, we didn’t share a close relationship. Not in the way a married couple should.

I opened his message.

I’m not coming home.

I stared at it for a moment before replying briefly.

Okay.

Our messages were always brief and to the point. Nothing that resembled a conversation between husband and wife.

Of course, I knew why. Because he never loved me. Becoming his wife was nothing more than a twist of fate.

Three years ago, he was supposed to marry Isabella... .the woman he loved. We’d all known each other since we were young. But tragedy struck just days before their wedding. A car accident left Isabella in a coma.

Politicians and business tycoons from all over the country were already arriving to attend the wedding of the Monclaire family's son. The Monclaires had immense pride, and if this wedding didn’t happen, it would be a huge disgrace for them.

The Monclaire family came to mine and told me that I had to marry Sebastian. In return, they would support the Bellamy family.

Do you know what I felt when that offer came?

It felt like fireworks exploded in my chest.

I was ecstatic, something I shouldn’t have felt, considering the circumstances. Feeling joy at Isabella’s misfortune was morally wrong.

I gave up everything… All the achievements I had in law, with people saying I had a bright future. I left it all behind.

Loving Sebastian since childhood made me believe it was a miracle. The happiness I felt was completely different from what Sebastian felt.

His love was never mine to have.

He loved Isabella.

On our wedding day, his words stabbed through my heart like a blade, and I could never forget them.

“Since you dared to marry me, you'd better not expect any love from me.”

His voice was deep and quiet, yet cold enough to pierce straight through my bones.

Sebastian spoke to me firmly, as a condition of our marriage, I had to keep donating my blood to Isabella regularly. That woman suffered from severe anemia due to prolonged bed rest.

But there was still a sliver of hope within me. That one day, he would finally see me. So I never stopped trying. Until at last, breakfast was ready. I heard the sound of footsteps, making the corners of my lips lift slightly. 

I knew his schedule by heart, he always came home briefly at this time every day.

He’s back. But he didn't even spare me a glance, walking straight past me and into the bedroom.  

A few moments later, he came out in a freshly changed suit. His steps came to a halt as he glanced at the neatly arranged food on the dining table.

“I’ve told you so many times, I don’t need you to cook for me. Are you a maid?”

The words that came out of his mouth were the same as always, cruel and cold.

He never appreciated what I did.

His deadly demeanor made me lower my gaze.

“Isabella’s condition is improving. I won’t be coming back to stay for many nights. Don’t bother me with your annoying complaints.”

And with that, he left.

The ringing of my phone pulls me out of my thoughts. The name flashing on the screen makes my body feel heavier.

I hate answering it because I already know what’s coming, but ignoring it would only make things worse.

“Mother—”

“Cassandra, you need to come home.”

Her voice is commanding, cold as always, and without another word, she hangs up.

She doesn’t care to hear my voice or ask about my well-being.

I shuffle into the Bellamy household, my family’s home, and I’m met with an unwelcome reception. The head butler greets me with a cold expression, as if silently accusing me of being a burden to the Bellamy family. But once I reach the living room, the coldness feels even more suffocating.

My stepmother stands there, her sharp gaze fixed on me. She’s filled with the usual emotions, always acting as though she holds power over everyone.

“Are you going to keep acting like this? You can’t get pregnant and you don’t even show yourself as a useful woman.”

My stepmother walks toward me, as if she’s ready to shove me. The feeling of anger burns through my entire body, leaving me speechless.

“You’re going to ruin everything! Do you really think you can stay as Sebastian’s wife without a child?” She raises both her eyebrows and laughs.

How could I have a child with Sebastian when he’s never even touched me?

My mother’s expression darkened. She clicked her tongue as she looked at me with contempt. “Use your brain. No matter what, you have to get pregnant with Sebastian’s child. If this marriage falls apart, you’ll destroy your own family.”

“I want a divorce from Sebastian." I finally spoke, my voice weary with exhaustion.

“Divorce? Are you crazy? You wanted to marry him so badly! Now you want to ruin our family?”

Even love can be worn down by time and back then, I was so tired of how he treated me.

“Mom, I want to think about myself… I was so naïve before.”

With a long, tired sigh, my mother held my hand. This time, she looked at me with the same softness she always used when she wanted something.

“Sandra, you can’t do this. Your brother has to inherit the company… you can’t keep being selfish and ruin his future.”

She looked into my eyes. “But if you have Sebastian’s child, maybe I’ll agree to the divorce.”

After everything that happened at home, I finally called Sebastian once I stepped out. I walked out the door and into the cold rain.

“Sebastian…”

I paused slightly, clenching my hand.

“What is it? Can’t you just stop bothering me?”

To me, his voice sounded so harsh. it gave me the courage to speak.

“My mother hopes that we could… have a child.”

There was only a few seconds of silence, but it was enough to chill me to the bone.

“A child? With you?” he scoffed cruelly. “Keep dreaming. That will never happen.”