Chapter 5

Cassandra

Once again, I told myself that I completely understood. After hearing that, I acted like a coward. My heart was pounding too fast, my body trembling, and my legs moved—stepping away as if putting distance would keep me safe. To me, it was better than hearing another painful sentence.

When I got home, my weak body collapsed onto the sofa. All my strength vanished, and a heavy sigh escaped from my lips. With a slight headache, I chose to rest right there.

By the time the sun had set, I woke up, my body still feeling uncomfortable. I managed to pull myself together and feel a little better, and just then, a message came through on my phone.

I opened it and read it, my eyes widening. A message from the woman who had been receiving my blood all this time.

Hi, I’m Isabella. I’ve finally regained consciousness, and thank you for taking care of William when I couldn’t. But now, you’re no longer needed. William only needs me.

Oh God. My heart felt like it was being crushed. Just reading that message made me feel utterly humiliated. I knew what my role had been all this time, but it didn’t stop the deep sadness from washing over me.

It’s like I really am… yeah, being connected to them never fails to make me feel worthless.

One more message came in—and it was a photo of Sebastian sleeping beside Isabella, holding her hand.

It was the gentlest and most peaceful expression I had ever seen on Sebastian’s face—an expression I would never see during our marriage, not when he was with me.

At last, the tears fell—unstoppable, flowing so heavily. They dropped onto the screen of my phone as my thoughts drifted away.

Ah, yes… I imagined them smiling together, holding hands. They would laugh, filled with happiness.

Meanwhile, I—the blood bag for Isabella—would leave like I never existed in their lives.

I would disappear quietly, just like always.

I always felt that crushing sense of worthlessness whenever I woke up alone, looked around me, and ended up going home by myself with a weak body.

I knew I needed a break from donating blood to Isabella. The doctor had said so, and I heard it!

But… what could I do?

Once again, just a blood bag.

My breath grew heavier, the crushing in my chest intensified as if something wanted to shatter my heart. Oh God… it hurts so much.

A sharp pain struck my stomach. I clutched my belly, trying to ease the pain—but it was useless. My body started trembling, cold sweat breaking out across my skin.

The child inside me was still so fragile… I didn’t want to lose it, not at all. So I had to call someone, quickly.

As I scrolled through my phone, Sebastian’s contact appeared.

What would he do if he knew I was in pain?

I had hoped that he would soon be by my side, worried. But I pushed that hope away. I knew how it would end—it was always the same. He wasn’t going to come.

A moment later, I called Dylan. The only person I could trust.

Dylan answered my call quickly. “Sandra, do you want to know about—”

“Dylan… my stomach… it hurts… so…”

The pain felt like it was slicing through my stomach from the inside. I couldn’t bear it anymore, and even before I finished speaking, I lost consciousness.

Slowly, I opened my eyes when I heard a faint beeping. As my vision gradually cleared, I saw Dylan in front of me.

“Sandra, you’re finally awake. Thank goodness.” He spoke in a heavy voice and then gently stroked my hand.

But I moved a bit abruptly and held my stomach. “My baby… is my baby okay?”

His expression hardened, and his eyes sharpened. “You’re still thinking about his child after everything he’s done to you?”

I saw his breathing was heavy, and even his touch on my hand was a bit rough.

Seeing him like this shocked me a little, because I knew Dylan as a gentle and warm man.

A second later, he lowered his head and took a deep breath.

He looked at me again. “The baby is fine. The doctor said you have severe gastritis. It’s all because you haven’t been taking care of yourself for years—you often skip meals, Sandra…”

Dylan’s voice was filled with frustration.

But I knew why I ended up like this. For three years of marriage, I was the only one waiting at the dining table. I cooked his favorite meals and carefully arranged them on the table.

But Sebastian never came. He never cared about what I did.

“Sandra, he never deserved you. You used to be so bright before marriage. You were brilliant and talented. And now that Sophia is awake, you don’t need to waste your time on him any longer.”

Those memories flooded my mind. Dylan was right—I used to draw so much attention, full of ambition.

I took a deep breath. “After the baby is born… I’ll leave.”

I needed time to prepare myself for everything… And then… the next day, I was discharged from the hospital, with Dylan accompanying me. He held my hand as I opened the car door.

“Sandra—”

“It’s okay. I’m fine now.” I smiled and gently let go of his hand. I had already taken up so much of his time and troubled him enough.

After getting out of the car, I slowly walked into the house. It was only a few steps in when I was met with a scene that made me freeze.

Right there in the kitchen, a place Sebastian would never set foot in. but this night, he was there, cooking dinner with his sleeves rolled up.

Wasn’t that such a beautiful sight?

My body moved on its own, and just as I was about to speak, a soft voice echoed.

“Oh, hi Casandra..”

I turned toward the source of the voice, and I felt my blood run cold. I saw a woman with long hair, a pale and delicate pretty face, sitting in a wheelchair.

She was smiling sweetly, but I could clearly see the sharp glint in her eyes, filled with unspoken conflict.

“Nice to meet you,” Isabella purred softly. “Didn’t expect you to already be Sebastian’s wife.”