Chapter 3 The Price of Blood

My mother had prepared a full table of Madeline's favorite dishes to celebrate her pregnancy.

Madeline covered her nose and complained that she had no appetite. Winston immediately suggested sending the caregiver who looked after me to cook for her instead.

The corner of Madeline's lips curved upward as she pointed at me. "Don't bother. Madison doesn't look very happy. I wouldn't want you two arguing because of me."

My mother shot me a sharp glare and snapped, "You're not pregnant, and you can handle yourself just fine. So, why can't you take care of yourself? You've always been a selfish brat, always complaining when I ask you to do anything."

She had given birth to me only to use my umbilical cord blood to treat my sister. In her eyes, I was nothing more than a medical resource for Madeline. Therefore, what right did I have to defy her? None.

I didn't want to argue. So, I set down my cutlery and went to the bedroom I used to have, hoping to calm down. Instead, I found it had been turned into a storage room.

My tears suddenly spilled over. I wiped them away clumsily.

"Are you upset with Winston?" Madeline followed me, sounding insufferably smug. In fact, she sounded like a matriarch lecturing her husband's mistress. "It looks like you still don't know your place. Winston and I have shared years of history. That's not something you can intrude on."

I sneered. "Then, why didn't you marry him?"

Her smile deepened, dark and satisfied. "What you can't have is always the most precious. I want him to keep thinking of me, to be my lifelong support."

I fell silent, my gaze drifting to her belly. My hand unconsciously reached out to touch it.

Madeline's smile deepened. She leaned close and whispered into my ear, "Jealous? It's too bad you'll never have children again. Your uterus is mine now.

"I heard not having a uterus is a miserable life to have. You'll be on hormone pills with awful side effects for the rest of your life. When I told Winston that, he was terrified I'd suffer. He immediately offered to rectify the situation.

"That's why he married you. It was to placate you. Oh, and he said my health has always been fragile. You had to be kept in good condition, just in case. You should be thanking me. Your only value is being my medical resource. No one in this world has ever loved you."

My fingers dug into my flesh as I raised my hand to slap her. Just then, the door was shoved open.

Winston stood there, fury written all over his face. He rushed forward and grabbed my wrist hard. "What are you doing? How could you hit your sister?"

I sneered. "What's this? Are you feeling sorry for her? If you care so much, why don't you marry her and put her on a pedestal instead?"

I had never spoken to him so sharply. He froze before parting his lips to respond.

Suddenly, Madeline clutched her stomach and cried out in pain, "Please don't fight because of me. This is all my fault. I made Madison unhappy. I deserve her anger. I don't want a caregiver anymore. Madison, please don't hit me again."

Winston's expression darkened instantly. He turned to me and said coldly, "Madison, apologize."

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails nearly broke my skin. I fought the tremor running through my body.

"You want me to apologize? Winston, do you even know what just happened?"

"That's enough!" He cut me off. "Madison, you've really disappointed me. When did you become like this? Madeline is your sister. You have no right to lay a hand on her, even if you're jealous."

He didn't spare me another glance. He bent down, scooped Madeline into his arms, and sauntered away.

I saw Madeline bury her face in his shoulder, wearing the triumphant smile of a victor as she shot me a smug look.

Sadly for her, she could no longer hurt me.

I would never care about this man again.

…

I took a cab home to pack my things, only to receive a sudden WhatsApp message from Winston.

'Madeline is very upset. I'll give you one more chance. Apologize to her by tonight. Don't make me send someone to get you.'

His tone was absolute. To him, it was clear that there was no doubt that I was guilty.

He even reminded me to buy a gift for Madeline as an apology.

What he didn't know was that I had already packed my things.

I took a cab straight to the airport.

On the way, I sent him one last WhatsApp message. 'Fine. I'll send a big gift.'

After that, I pulled out my SIM card, snapped it in half, rolled down the window, and tossed it out. I watched as everything scattered into the wind.

Early the next morning, an express package was delivered to the CEO's office at Holt Group.

Winston opened it. A single, flimsy sheet of paper slipped out.

He glanced at it once, and his face was instantly drained of color. His hands shook as he blindly reached for his phone and dialed a number.

Alas, no one picked up the phone.