At our son's second birthday party, an innocent mistake turned into a nightmare; he unknowingly drank an entire glass of liquor. By the time we realized, it was too late. His tiny body was convulsed from alcohol poisoning.

Felix Young shattered in an instant. He clutched our son, his hands trembling as he bolted for the hospital, his voice hoarse from screaming for help. The moment they wheeled our child into the emergency room, he collapsed at the door, sobbing and begging the doctors to save him.

But fate was merciless. Our son survived, but the damage was irreversible; he was left mentally impaired.

On my way to the hospital, I never made it. A brutal car accident nearly took my life. I barely survived.

Half a year later, I stumbled upon a conversation outside the study. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the words sliced through me like a blade.

"President Young, you’re truly ruthless. You even had the heart to harm your son. When you ordered me to force liquor down his throat that day, I almost couldn’t do it."

"And Adeline Green… she’s already suffered enough, yet you still arranged that car accident to get her heart for Gianna."

"Artificial hearts only last five years. Are you willing to let her spend the rest of her life trapped in endless surgeries?"

Felix’s voice was hoarse but unshaken. "I had no choice. Gianna risked her life, knowing her condition, to give birth to my child. I can’t give her a proper title, so the least I can do is make sure her son becomes the family's sole heir."

"As for Adeline and the boy… I’ll take care of them for the rest of their lives. That way, they’ll never be a threat to Gianna and her child."

So that was it.

My son, my flesh and blood, was nothing more than a pawn, discarded without hesitation.

And I was nothing more than a sacrifice for his love.

Fine. If that was what he wanted, I’d grant his wish. I’d disappear completely.

——

A trace of pity laced the assistant’s voice when he spoke again. "Adeline’s body is already on the verge of collapse. Why are you still coaxing her into donating blood for Gianna?"

A heavy silence followed before Felix let out a weary sigh. "I don’t want to, but Gianna's condition hasn't improved even after getting a new heart. She told me her doctor said her heart isn’t getting enough blood flow… maybe receiving Adeline’s blood will help."

Tears blurred my vision, hot and unrelenting. My mind reeled back to the day he had gently taken my hand; his voice laced with concern as he suggested taking me to the hospital for a blood donation.

Ever since my heart transplant, I had been plagued with dizzy spells, my body frail, my nights filled with the taste of iron as I coughed up blood. I had hesitated. I didn't dare agree too quickly.

But he had pleaded so sweetly, whispering that it was for our son to bring him blessings.

He knew my heart too well, knew exactly how to pull my strings and weave his lies so seamlessly that I had believed him.

Now, I finally understood.

There were no blessings, no prayers.

I was nothing more than a walking blood supply for the woman he truly loved.

I pressed my hands over my mouth, stifling the sobs that threatened to break free.

I no longer had a heart, yet the pain was unbearable.

The bird’s nest soup bowl slipped from my trembling hands, crashing to the floor. Porcelain shattered into countless shards, scattering across the cold tiles.

Glass fragments pierced my bare feet, sending sharp stings through my skin. But that pain was nothing compared to the agony ripping through my chest.

Footsteps sounded from inside the study.

Panic clawed at me, but I forced myself to move. Clutching my chest, I stumbled back to my room.

My gaze fell upon my son’s sleeping face, his small chest rising and falling in peaceful slumber. My emotions crumbled and my vision blurred with unshed tears.

He had only just learned to call for his father, his soft, innocent voice filled with trust.

And yet, Felix had destroyed his mind.

The thought of him spending the rest of his life trapped in a haze of confusion shattered me.

Ever since the accident, I had drowned in guilt, blaming myself for failing to protect him. But I had never imagined… never once suspected… that the man I loved had been the one to harm him.

Felix. My husband. The father of my child.

He had done this just to clear the path for another woman.

My baby was so young, so helpless. How could he be so cruel?

The love I had cherished, the love I had clung to, had been nothing but a cruel joke.

A ridiculous, unforgivable joke.

I lifted my gaze and met Felix’s eyes.

Terror flickered within them. Yet he still wore that same gentle smile, as if clinging to the illusion that I remained oblivious.

His voice wavered. "Adeline… were you just outside my study?"

I didn’t bother hiding my wounds.

Instead, I smiled. Calmly. Coldly.

"You’ve been working so hard taking care of our son lately," I said softly. "I made you some bird’s nest soup."

My lips curved as I glanced at the shattered pieces on the floor.

"But I was clumsy and dropped the bowl. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I stayed quiet."

He let out a quiet sigh of relief before pulling me into his embrace.

"Silly girl, how did you hurt yourself like this? My heart aches for you."

His voice dripped with tenderness as he cradled my foot, his gaze filled with what seemed like genuine distress. A perfect performance. If I hadn't known the truth, I might have believed it.

But I knew better.

His heart had long belonged to someone else. My child and I are nothing more than roadblocks in his grand pursuit of love.

I said nothing, watching silently as he rummaged through the first-aid kit. His fingers worked carefully, applying medicine to my wounds with a gentleness that once would have soothed me. Now, it only made my skin crawl.

When he finished tending to my injuries, he took my hand, his voice soft as ever.

"Adeline, we should go to the hospital to donate blood."

The words sent a shiver through me. My body tensed instinctively, my fingers curling away from his touch.

"Felix… I've been vomiting blood these past few days," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please… don’t force me."

For the briefest moment, hesitation flickered across his face. But before he could respond, his phone rang.

He turned away from me, answering without a second thought.

From the other end came a frail, tearful voice, Gianna Mitchell’s voice.

"Felix… my chest hurts so much… The doctor said I need a blood transfusion immediately. When will you be here?"

When he hung up, a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes. Without hesitation, he swept me into his arms.

"Adeline, be good. If you're scared, I'll stay with you while they draw your blood."

His words carried the illusion of comfort, but no warmth was behind them.

I stopped struggling, letting despair sink its claws into me. My lashes fluttered shut as exhaustion dragged me under.

He shoved me into the car, speeding toward the hospital with ruthless urgency. The ride was brutal; every jolt rattled my frail body, making my vision blur. By the time we reached the blood collection room, my stomach twisted violently. A sharp pain seared through me and I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Felix gently wiped the corner of my lips, but his touch was mechanical, devoid of true concern. Then, without a word, he pressed me down onto the chair. A silent command passed from his eyes to the doctor.

The cold sting of the needle pierced my skin. Instinctively, my fingers curled around his sleeve, desperate for an anchor against the searing agony spreading through my chest.

I wanted to beg, to speak, but my voice was gone.

Just as the world began to slip away, I heard the doctor’s urgent voice, filled with concern.

"Mr. Young, your wife is already in a fragile state. If she donates too much blood, she won’t survive!"

Felix’s expression turned to ice, his gaze sharp and merciless as it landed on me.

"Enough. Give Gianna however much she needs!"

"If it's not enough, bring the child here too. No matter what it takes, I won't let anything happen to Gianna."

A chilling numbness spread through my body. The last of my warmth drained away, leaving nothing behind.

To him, my life and my children meant nothing compared to his precious Gianna.

A bitter smile ghosted my lips before darkness pulled me under.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in a stark hospital ward. The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to the air, but it wasn’t nearly as suffocating as the man beside me.

Felix’s eyes were red-rimmed, brimming with worry. The moment I stirred, tears spilled down his face as if he had been waiting for this moment to break.

"Adeline, the doctor said you fainted from excessive blood loss." His voice trembled. "Thank God you’re okay. I was terrified you wouldn’t wake up!"

He pulled me into his arms, his sobs thick with emotion.

But I felt nothing. No warmth. No comfort. Only disgust.

He had nearly drained me dry, yet he still dared to act like he cared.