Chapter 21

Within moments, Aurelie was dragged in, restrained by two soldiers. She glared at Linus spitefully. "So you're the rich man Lilian found. She must have a pretty good eye to bag a man as powerful as you. Tell me, what exactly is so great about Lilian that all the good men fall for her?" Linus clasped his hands, then cracked his knuckles. "Send her in for the blood transfusion!" Aurelie began struggling frantically. "What do you mean, a blood transfusion? I won't do it! I'll never give Lilian any of my blood! I'm not going to save her life. "She knows what she did. She deserves to die. She took everything away from me, and this is her payback!" Fixing a dark gaze on Aurelie, Linus grabbed her by the collar. Without much effort, he hoisted her up, then dropped her hard onto the floor. Aurelie hit the floor with a heavy thud, her mouth silently gaping open. Looking down at Aurelie's limp body, Linus then turned his gaze toward the nurse. "Start the transfusion." Eugene watc

Chapter 22

Lilian woke up around noon the next day. Feebly opening her eyes, she saw Linus sitting by her bed, his eyes bloodshot. A warm feeling swelled in her chest. Every time she had been sick before, she would open her eyes to an empty room. Eugene would find countless excuses to leave. Not once had he stayed in the hospital around the clock for her. "Does it hurt anywhere?" Linus asked.When he saw Lilian open her eyes, the weight in his chest lifted. Without hesitation, he held Lilian's hand. "You almost scared me to death, I thought…" Lilian looked at Linus apologetically, her voice weak. "I'm sorry for all the trouble." Linus' expression sank. "Since I've taken you under my wing, we're family now. There's no such thing as 'trouble' between us. I'll get the doctor to come and see you." No sooner had Linus said that, Halle, who had been standing at the door, immediately called the doctor. After the doctor's careful examination, he nodded at Linus deferentially. "Ms. Gurw

Chapter 23

Eugene signed his name reluctantly on the divorce agreement. He gave Lilian a lingering look. "Lilian, I'm planning to go to the Northwest Deserts after this. I'm afraid I won't be able to see you again once I go. I'd prepared a lot of things to say to you when I came today, but I don't feel like saying them now." He sighed. "I know that you'll be better off once I leave. I'm the one who can't leave you behind. I thought you were the one chasing after my station, but now I realize that I'm the one who was never worthy of you."So that was why he'd kept testing her, hurting her. He was just sorry to see her go. Eugene was about to say more, but Lilian frowned. "Get him out. My head hurts." The soldiers didn't hesitate and hauled Eugene out. Lilian stood by the window by herself for a long time. Linus spread his coat over her back in concern. "You're still recovering. Don't catch a cold." Lilian pulled the coat closer around herself. "Thank you, Mr. Gurwick." Linus lowered

Chapter 24

Eugene stared at Gideon. "The Northwest Deserts? But Chief Merrick, didn't you say that I could come back to work after a six-month suspension and demotion? Why am I being sent there?" His words to Lilian in the hospital had been a mere pretense to get her sympathy. He had hoped that she would take pity on him and give him another chance. He had never thought that his careless words were about to come true. He didn't want to go to the Northwest Deserts. Never mind how tough the region was, there would be no one to take care of his mother at home. Gideon sighed resignedly. "Frankly, I didn't want you to leave, either. You're the only doctor here who's capable of performing major surgery. But there isn't much we can do. The higher-ups have given their orders. You've been stationed in the Northwest Deserts indefinitely." He sighed again. "This time, you should be prepared to never return." Eugene fell to his knees at those words. The higher-ups?It was Linus Gurwick, wasn't

Chapter 25

After four years, Lilian finally completed her studies in college. Just as she was about to submit an application form in support of going to the Northwest Deserts, Linus stopped her. He stared at Lilian with a look of betrayal. "Lilian, I know you can sense what I feel for you. Why must you push me away again and again like this? I'd told you that you can still fulfil your ambitions without going to the Northwest Deserts. Why must you go somewhere so far away? Is it because…" Linus signed in resignation, swallowing back the rest of his sentence. Lilian brought the form closer to Linus's face. "I'm handing this in for a classmate."Seeing another person's name on the form, Linus breathed a relieved sigh. Ever since he'd heard that Lilian had been asking around about the Northwest Deserts, he hadn't been able to sleep well. He'd sent people to keep an eye on her. Today, when he'd heard that she was about to hand in the form, he made his way there first thing in the morning.

Chapter 26

Two years later, the first medical research institute in Andelang City began its operations. Lilian became its youngest attending physician.In April of the same year, she was accepted to graduate school. To celebrate her admission, Linus had arranged a family dinner. This time, he was planning to propose to Lilian. Lilian walked out of the medical institute, exhausted. She fell straight into Linus' arms.Linus hugged her anxiously, a tinge of jealousy in his voice. "You've already given all your time to your work. Are you going to keep leaving me at home all by myself like that?"Lilian wrapped her arms around Linus' waist and pulled him closer. "My career's just starting to take off," she said playfully. "You have to understand. And with the family dinner tonight in mind, I'd left work early today, hadn't I?"Linus sighed helplessly, "I don't think I can stand you like this. If you're going to be like this when it comes to things in our bedroom…" Lilian immediately covere