As I layed on the floor, my hands subconsciously wrapped around my belly. Though Nolan had forbidden me from keeping the baby, I couldn't make up my mind aborting it.

I knew deep down Nolan loved kids. He had once shared his dream of a home filled with children’s laughter.

I was so disappointed when I came to hear that my body was not fit for conceiving a child. The sadness was not for myself, but for Nolan.

I didn't want him to hold back his happiness just for the sake of my health. So, I decided to keep the child for him, no matter what happened to me in return. I just wanted to give Nolan the happiness he deserved.

Now that I thought about it, I only found myself foolish. I was risking my life to give Nolan what he didn't even care.

Yes, he loved kids and would care about them, but only those who belonged to Mia, even if they were of someone else's, not his.

“Nolan…” I whispered in a low voice, “It turns out you are no better than my foster father, the man I had been running from throughout these years…”

“Bella…” Nolan whispered, his voice laced with panic and anxiety as he found me lying almost unconscious outside Doctor William’s cabin.

He rushed on my side and immediately grabbed me in his arms. He picked me up and brought me inside.

“Why did you walk yourself here? Why didn't you call me? I would have carried you, darling.” Nolan said as he rubbed the palm of my hands and legs.

“You have lost so much blood, Bella. You shouldn't exhaust yourself while walking, okay? Let me help you with everything.” he said, his voice so gentle and so caring.

It was the usual love and care he used to give me after sucking my blood like a vampire. Earlier, I would go crazy thinking how much he loved me to even carry me to the washroom and help me clean.

Only did I know that those love and care he provided me with was only the investment he was making to reap the benefits for his sweetheart.

He was only milking me for all I have worthed.

“You are sweating, Bella. Is everything okay?” Nolan asked, his voice laced with genuine care.

“Perhaps I’m not, Nolan.” I said, “But, do you care?”

“Of course, I care.” Nolan said immediately, “Why wouldn't I? Your health means everything to me, Bella.”

Yes, you are right! My health means everything to you. But, It's because you need my blood for your sweetheart, Mia. If anything happens to me, how would you keep your darling alive?

“Why do you ask such a question all of a sudden, Bella? Is anything wrong?” Nolan asked hesitantly, his eyes scanning mine.

Everything is wrong ever since I saw your true face, Nolan. Our marriage, the child I have kept for you by risking my life, everything turned out to be a wrong decision.

“Why are you not saying anything, Bella?” He asked, his hands abruptly reaching out to my forehead to check if I was okay. The action, the care seemed so genuine that I could never doubt his intentions.

But, now that I had seen him inside out, I felt only disgusted by his touch. I brushed his hands off my face and said,

“I’m just tired, Nolan. I’m feeling very weak and vulnerable after draining out the blood from my body.” I said in a weak voice, “Can I skip purifying my blood next month? I can bear any risk than feeling this vulnerable all the time?”

Nolan's eyes widened in terror. He immediately refused while saying, “Are you kidding with me? I have checked your medical report, Bella. It's worse than earlier. With this body condition, even if you are ready to take the risk, I don't!”

“If you don't believe me, ask Doctor William. You need to purify your blood two times a month from now.” Nolan said, his voice sounding so confident that even William was taken aback.

How could a person lie with this perfection?

I turned to look at William as I asked in a low voice, “Is Nolan saying right, Doctor? Can't I skip the next round?”

I saw William chewing his lower lips while clenching his fists. Even he was pitying on me as he shot a helpless glance at Nolan, wanting him to stop torturing me like this.

But, the only thing Nolan cared about was Mia and her child. He shoot a meaningful glance at William, saying, “Why are you silent, William? Tell Bella what you told me. She needs to purify her blood two times a month, doesn't she?”

In the end, William gave up. He turned to me and said, his voice laced with guilt and regret, “Nolan is right, Bella. You can't skip the process.”

I forced a smile on my face as I replied, “It seems like I don't have any option left.”

I turned to Nolan and as I said, “I’m ready, Nolan.”

My voice was indifferent but his mind was so much filled with Mia's concern that he didn't notice the changes in my tone or expression.

As if a heavy burden was left from his chest with my acceptance, he sighed in relief and gently stroked my hair, saying, “Don't be scared, Bella. I’ll be there to accompany you during all these processes and to support you when you are vulnerable.”

I curled my lips but I couldn't smile. I just nodded my head, not letting him know how double standard he was sounding to me.

I then tried to get up from my chair as I said, “I want to go home. The smell of the hospital makes me puke.”

But, before I could stand on my legs, they trembled and I stumbled on my slippers, almost causing me a fall.

Nolan held me on time and made me sit before he said in a disappointed tone, “I told you not to move. Why are you exhausting yourself like this? I’m here for you, Bella. I can carry you to-”

His words hung in the air as his phone rang, interrupting our conversation. In normal circumstances, he wouldn't pick up any call while he was taking care of me.

But, this time his eyes shined brightly as he read the name on his phone’s screen. He excused himself and went out to talk.

After he returned, he had a unique spark on his face and a smile on his lips that I never saw before.

Why do I feel he was blushing?

But, the worst part of it was, I never saw him blushing before.

He came up to me and said, “Bella, I got some urgent work. I need to leave right now. Can you go home by yourself?”

I stared at him in a daze for a while before I nodded my head in agreement.

Wasn't he promising me to carry me home just to not make me exhausted? Now, all of a sudden he wanted me to go home all by myself while I was barely managing to stand up on my feet?

He smiled on me as he bent down to kiss my forehead, a usual gesture to show how much he cared for me. But, before he could kiss, his phone vibrated and his head remained stuck in the middle.

He glanced at his phone’s screen and a familiar smile appeared on his lips, a smile that I saw only once in these two years of our wedding.

This time, I noticed the name on his phone. It was only one letter ‘M’ followed by a heart emoji.

I didn't need to think much about who the person was.

One text from Mia could make him ignore me completely yet he claimed I was important to him. I laughed inside in irony on his lavish claims.

With that, Nolan turned to leave, his hands moving on his phone, probably texting something to Mia. He didn't have time to tell me when he would return or how I was supposed to leave for home since he had driven me to the hospital.

William, who had been observing us all this time, walked up to me as soon as Nolan left and asked politely, “Bella, do you want me to drop you at your home?”

“No thanks,” I declined, “I can manage myself.”

“But-” William wanted to say something but as if something was stopping him, he swallowed his words and watched me dragging my weak body out of his cabin.

I booked a cab for myself and arrived at the apartment, Nolan and I lived after our wedding. It was a home, filled with the memories of our happy days, each wall filled with the photo frames that captured us while enjoying our days.

One by one, I took off all the frames and threw them away. The laughter in those pictures was only teasing me and mocking me for making such a fool of myself.

After I was done with destroying all the memories with Nolan, I walked up to his study room.

I always knew there was something off about the wardrobe I saw in his study room, but never bothered myself checking them before.

However, this time I walked into his study room and opened the wardrobe there. A study room didn't need a wardrobe yet Nolan kept this one there locked with a digital lock.

As expected, it opened with Mia’s blood group as passcode, which happened to be my blood group as well.

The wardrobe had nothing special in it, just old clothes and some random files but what caught my eyes was the secret door opening to another room.

As soon as I walked into the secret room, my eyes opened up wide in terror and shock. I wish I had never unlocked the door.

It wasn't just a room but a small blood bank. There were cabinets filled with the bottle of blood, each one of them containing my blood.

He labelled them with the dates he filled them with my blood.

My legs trembled as I walked closer to the rack holding the bottles of blood. My hands were shivering as I hesitantly picked one out of them to read the date mentioned on it.

I felt a chill run down my spine as I held the bottle of blood, staring at the date labeled on it. It was from a time when I had been out with friends, completely unaware that Nolan had been secretly taking my blood.

I only remembered I had lost my consciousness for no reason and when I opened my eyes, I was feeling weak and dizzy. It turned out, it was Nolan’s scheme to steal the blood from my body.

My mind reeled as I looked around the room, taking in the sheer number of bottles filled with my blood. What was Nolan planning to do with all of this? Mia didn't need all of them. Why must he go so overboard to build a whole blood bank in his home?

I felt a wave of fear wash over me as I realized the extent of Nolan's obsession. What kind of person does this? What kind of monster collects someone's blood in such quantities?

I clenched my fists angrily, my mind filled with anger and disgust towards the person I had only love in my heart.

At one moment, I wanted to destroy all the blood he had stored for his sweetheart, but at the other moment, I felt hesitant to waste a single drop out of it.

Those were my blood that I had built in my body. My mother had died because my father couldn't arrange the blood for her on time.

My heart and mind got divided into two and I could not decide. In the end, I left the room cold and terrific as I walked out.

Nolan didn't return the whole night. Next morning he only left me a message.

[Sorry, Got some urgent work and couldn't inform you on time. I’m on a business trip, Bella and won't be returning before two weeks.]

[These two weeks, take good care of yourself. Don't forget you are going to lose blood after fifteen days. So, eat well, Bella.]

I laughed in sarcasm, seeing how he forgot to inform me about his departure but always remembered the date of sucking blood from my body.

I wonder if having a vampire husband would have been a worse fate for me or having Nolan.

I knew I had to get out of there, to escape from Nolan's grasp. But, I had someone in my belly to look after. I had to think about it as well.

My baby was innocent. I couldn't discard it just because his father didn't want it.

“Don't worry, baby! Your mama is alive and she won't let anything happen to you.” I said to my baby.

As long as I don't lose my blood, my baby would be safe in my womb. I could conceive it and bring it to the world.

This was the only good news I got in the last two days. Since I didn't have any disease Nolan scared me with, I didn't need to worry about my child’s safety.

I just needed to not let Nolan steal my blood anymore. With that thought, I began packing my luggage as I planned to leave before Nolan's return.

I knew I had to act fast, to get out of there before it was too late.

While I was packing my luggage, I received a call from my maternity center. They had to tell me something and asked me to visit the centre.

“Okay, Doctor. I’ll be right there in a few minutes.” I said as I hung up the call.

I drove the car to the maternity centre, my mind wondering what could have gone wrong with my report that the Doctor called me instantly. My heart was racing while I was waiting for the elevator to open.

However, my mouth hung open in shock as soon as the elevator opened, making me freeze in my position.

My gaze fell on a couple, interlocked in a passionate kiss.

They were Nolan and Mia, kissing each other fearlessly.

As soon as the elevator stopped and they parted their lips, their eyes fell on me. Mia’s expression was unreadable, but Nolan appeared to be in a deep shock, his eyes resembling guilt and the fear of being caught.

“Bella, is it you?” Mia was the first one to break the silence between us, “What are you doing in the maternity centre?”

Mia’s words pulled Nolan back to his senses. He immediately walked out of the elevator. He reached out to hold my hands, saying, “Bella, it's not what it seems like. Let me explain to you.”

“There is nothing to explain, Nolan.” I said, my voice firm, “Let me ease your heart, Nolan. Whatever you two were doing inside, I just don't care.”

Nolan was taken aback with my response. He hadn't seen it coming. However, I turned to leave, leaving Nolan and Mia in a daze.