Early the next morning,Leon appeared at by Julianne's door.It was rare for him to come so early.There were dark circles under his eyes,as if he hadn’t slept all night.

“Jullie,”he walked to her bed.“I had checked the security cameras related to the incident yesterday.It was true that Silvie spilled the soup herself.I’ve already told her not to trouble you again.”

Julianne looked calm.She only frowned slightly.“You don’t need to tell me that.I’m not interested.”

“I know you’re still angry,”Leon didn’t hear the distance in her voice.He thought she was just upset about yesterday.

He pulled a chair over and sat down beside her.“Today I’m not going anywhere.I’ll stay here with you.”

“I said I don’t need you.”Julianne lowered her head and looked at her phone,clearly impatient.

Yet,Leon acted as if he didn’t hear her and stayed seated.

An awkward silence filled the room.So,he tried to find something to say.“You’re still weak.Do you want to sleep more?I asked the nurse to make some soup for you.”

Julianne didn’t respond.She didn’t even look at him.

Leon felt uncomfortable,but he still forced himself to continue.“I’ve told the staff at Blue Tech about your condition.No one will disturb you these days.What do you want to eat?I’ll have someone buy it.”

“No need.”Still just two cold words.

Leon’s eyes fell on the necklace around Julianne’s neck.It's black paint shone coldly in the morning light.Without thinking,he reached out to touch it.

Julianne suddenly raised her hand and slapped his away.The movement wasn’t strong,but it was full of disgust.

“You think you deserve to touch it?”Her voice was icy.

Leon’s hand froze in the air.It felt like something stabbed his heart.He had never seen Julianne look at him like this before.There was no love.No sadness.Only pure hatred and disgust,as if he were some dirty trash.

After the pain,irritation rose in his heart.He frowned and spoke in anger,“Julianne,how long are you going to keep this up?It was just one child.We can have another in the future.Silvie is terminally ill.She doesn’t have much time left.Can’t you be more understanding for her?”

Julianne acted as if she hadn’t heard him.She didn’t even bother to look at him.To her,his words were only ridiculous and cruel.

Seeing her ignore him,Leon felt even angrier,but he couldn’t just let it out.After a moment of silence,he softened his tone.

“Silvie will have her final full checkup tonight.The doctors want to see if her condition has gotten worse.They said if it’s bad,she might only have a few days left.Jullie,don’t fight with her anymore.It’s not worth it.”

Julianne’s fingers suddenly froze.A strong sense of unease rose in her heart.

Leon stayed in the hospital all day.Sometimes he tried to talk.Sometimes he just sat and watched her.

Julianne completely ignored him.Suddenly,in the evening,Leon’s phone suddenly rang.

After he hung up,his face changed.His lips trembled slightly.He looked at Julianne with a complicated and struggling expression.

“Jullie…”he said with difficulty,his voice full of hesitation.“The test results are out.Silvie’s condition has a chance now.If she gets a suitable kidney transplant,she can live.”

Julianne’s heart sank.Her unease reached its peak.

Leon took a deep breath,as if making a huge decision.“The doctors said that matching kidney donors are extremely rare.And right now,the only person who matches Silvie…”

He paused.

“…is you.”

Julianne’s mind went blank.She understood what Leon meant.

“Don’t even think about it.I will never give Silvana my kidney.Leon,get out!I don’t want to see you again!”

Seeing her red eyes,Leon felt a moment of pain in his heart.However,he still continued.

“Jullie,listen to me.I treated Silvana well before because she was dying.Now,as long as she gets a kidney,everything can end.Think about it again,just for our future.”

As soon as he finished speaking,Julianne threw her cup on the floor.“Get out!”

Only then did Leon finally leave the room.

Julianne felt frozen.She deeply regretted why she had chosen such man to marry back then.Now his husband wanted her to give up a kidney for another woman.

That made her scared to stay around in the hospital.So that night,she packed her things and left quietly without telling anyone.Only after she walked out of the hospital did she feel slightly safe.She took a taxi and planned to go home first.

Eventually the ride home caused her sleepiness.She soon closed her eyes.

***

In her half-dream,she returned to the scene of falling from the building.Silvana used her as a cushion and wanted her to die.Leon just watched from upstairs and never held anyone responsible.

The feeling of despair was so real that Julianne opened her eyes.To her surprise,she found herself in a strange place.

The taxi driver was gone.The person in the front seat had changed.It was Leon.He looked at her coldly.

“I knew you would run,Jullie.You’re so selfish.It seems I have to keep an eye on you.

After the surgery,I’ll let you go.”

A chill went through Julianne’s whole body.Without saying a word,she opened the door and ran in the opposite direction.She tried to call for help on her phone.

Before the she finish dialing,Leon caught up.He grabbed her phone and smashed it.“Jullie,be good.”

Leon and several bodyguards dragged Julianne into a villa.The walls were covered with Silvana’s photos.Julianne knew instantly that Leon bought the place for Silvana.

In the end,Julianne was locked in a room.To prevent her from harming herself,Leon tied her hands tightly.“Jullie,don’t blame me.I have no choice.I can’t just watch Silvana die.”

Julianne closed her eyes weakly.She had underestimated how shameless Leon could be.

At dinner time,Leon sent a maid to bring food.Julianne didn’t even look at it.In the end,the food got cold and was taken away.

“Ms.Cross,you didn’t eat anything.It’d be hard for us to explain this to Mr.Rockfell.”

“He doesn’t care whether I live or die.Don’t worry.”Julianne smiled bitterly.

If he really cared about her,he'd never tie her up and lock her in this basement.

***

The maid took the food and reported to Leon.“Ms.Cross didn’t eat anything.She said she has no appetite.”

During the time,Leon was discussing the surgery time.He soon paused.He knew Julianne was stubborn.

“Put the tray down,”he said.“I’ll go feed her myself.”

Leon took the food tray and went to the room where Julianne was locked.

“I’ve talked to the doctors.The kidney surgery will be in three days.If you don’t eat now,your body won’t have enough strength.Even if you hate me,you should think about yourself,right?”

Julianne looked at him with hatred.A smile slowly appeared on her lips.“That sounds nice,but aren’t you just afraid that if I die,there will be no one left to give your dear first love a kidney?Why pretend to care about me?”

In the past,no matter how angry Julianne was,she would never talk like this.That's why,Leon felt a little panic.He wanted to explain that his concern was real.But in the end,he gave up.

He grabbed Julianne’s chin and forced her mouth open.He then pushed the food into her mouth.“Jullie,be good.You’ll understand why I did this one day.”

Julianne was forced to eat in this humiliating way.Tears flowed down her face without control.She looked at Leon.Her eyes were empty and lifeless.

At that moment,Leon’s hand loosened unconsciously.Pity and guilt took over.

He stood up.“If you don’t want to eat,I’ll leave.I’m doing this for your health.”

The room was quiet again.Only Julianne was left.Even though it was late,she couldn’t fall asleep.

In seven days,her company was supposed to go public.It was also the day her divorce would be approved.But before that,she was locked here,waiting for a surgery she didn't even want or need.

Hatred filled Julianne’s heart.She told herself to remember this moment.When she took revenge on Leon and Silvana in the future,she wouldn't spare them at all.

After a while,Julianne got weaker and weaker.Finally,she fell asleep.

***

For the next two days,Leon didn’t appear again.

She only heard the maids whispering.“Mr.Rockfell’s favorite is still Ms.Blake.I heard she refused to sleep at the hospital,so he went to comfort her in person.”

“Ms.Cross on the other hand,got locked in that room.She’s just a spare body whose kidney is waiting to be taken for Ms.Blake.”

Julianne’s face slowly turned pale.

***

On the third day,Leon came back with several people behind him.

Julianne was secretly sent to a private hospital and pushed into the operating room for the kidney surgery.

“Jullie,I found the best doctors for you.Don’t worry.The surgery will be a success.After this,I’ll make it up to you.I won’t let you suffer again.”Leon promised in earnest.

Julianne ignored him and let the anesthesia needle go into her skin.When the medicine took effect,she only saw the doctor walking toward her with a scalpel.

“Accept your fate.”

These words appeared in her mind.She closed her eyes.She could still feel pain.In the darkness,it felt like she was lying on a chopping board,like a fish waiting to be killed,with no power to resist.

***

When she woke up again,her body felt terrible.She looked at the ugly scar on her stomach and clenched her fists.

Leon came to comfort her.“The surgery was successful.Rest for two more days and you’ll be fine.Thank you for your hard work,Jullie.”

Julianne turned her head away and avoided his touch.Her voice was very low,almost like a whisper.“I will never let you two go.”

Leon heard it,but thought she was just angry.So,he smiled.“Fine,you won’t let me go.Then we’ll be tied together for life.Even if we die,we’ll be a ghost couple.”

He had already decided.He would keep his promise and live properly for Julianne from now on.