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.

Nolan chased after me and held my hands, stopping me from moving, “Hold on, Bella.”

“What do you mean by you don't care?” He asked, his voice shaking and his eyes reflecting guilt and regret, “At least give me a chance to explain.”

He kinda forgot that he had told me that he was out on a business trip, yet he was bringing Mia for a prenatal check up, kissing him passionately in public, and was expecting me to give him a chance to explain.

“Go on, Nolan. I’m listening.” I said, my voice cold and distant.

“Mia… she just landed in our city and needed someone to help her find a suitable maternal hospital for her pregnancy checkup.”

“As her old friend, I volunteered to help her. But, the elevator… it suddenly stuck in the middle and she was suffocating. She is pregnant, Bella. I was just trying to help her.”

He said, his voice as confident as ever while lying straight to my face.

“Okay, Nolan. I believe you.” I said and turned to leave. I didn't want to see them right now and disturb my mood. I had more important things to concern about. I needed to see my doctor as soon as possible.

But, Nolan came in my way as he asked, his voice laced with confusion, “Bella, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be resting at home?”

I smiled sweetly, enjoying the fact that he was oblivious to my pregnancy.

"Just a routine check-up, Nolan," I replied, my voice light and casual. "Nothing to worry about."

Nolan's expression didn't change, but I could sense a flicker of curiosity behind his eyes. He didn't push the issue further, instead, he nodded and said, "Alright, be careful."

I walked past him, leaving him standing there with Mia. But suddenly I heard him calling out for me as he rushed up to catch up with me.

“Bella, I’m done with Mia's checkup. Let me accompany you to see the doctor, okay?” He said, his face showing expressions as if he was doing a huge favor on me despite the fact that he wouldn't have look at me if Mia’s checkup wasn't over.

Nolan had no idea about my pregnancy, and I was determined to keep it that way for now. So, I couldn't let him accompany me to see the doctor.

But, before I could refuse him, I heard a loud scream coming from behind.

It was Mia.

Nolan instantly turned back. His face turned pale as he saw Mia lying on the floor, holding her belly and crying in pain.

He instantly rushed to help her get up while I remained still on my place, watching them from afar.

“Mia…” Nolan whispered, his voice laced with worry and concern, and his expressions extremely painful.

“How did you fall?” He asked, “What were you doing here? Didn't I ask you to sit there and wait for me?”

“I-I thought Bella was mad at you because of me.” Mia stuttered, appearing to be in extreme pain, “I wanted to come and explain her, Nolan. In hurry, I twisted my ankle and fell.”

“My baby… It wouldn't affect my baby, right Nolan?” She asked, trying to grab Nolan's attention as he frowned seeing the blood seeping off his forehead.

“Oh my God! You are losing blood, Mia…” Nolan yelled, “How could you be this careless! You know how rare your blood is.”

He immediately picked Mia in his arms, saying, “Let me take you to see the doctor.”

“Nolan… I-I’m feeling very weak. I-I think I have lost too much blood and need it immediately or else my baby would be in danger.” Mia said with feign innocence.

Nolan chuckled. He stared into her eyes and said, “Don't worry, Mia. I’ll arrange them in just few minutes. Let me go home and do something about it.”

“No, please…” she held his hands tightly, “I’m scared, Nolan. I can't stay without you and I don't think my baby cab wait that much.”

“What a coincidence, Bella is right here and she has the same blood group as me. How about you ask her to donate some to me?” She asked, turning to look up at me with a grinning smirk at her face.

Nolan turned to me, as if wanting to explain something but appeared to be loss at words. I smiled ironically and made it easier to him as I said, “Take it! As much as you want.”

“Thanks, Bella.” He said, “You are really kind and thoughtful.”

***

After what seemed like eternity, I opened my eyes in the hospital ward, all alone. Nolan had left with Mia after taking my blood as much as they wanted.

There was a report lying next to my bedside table. I picked it up and read them.

I got miscarried, reason loss of blood.

Someone pushed open the door. It was my Doctor. She sighed watching me read my medical report.

“Can I help you with something?” She asked, her voice hoarse.

“Yes, doctor.” I said, “Can you find me a good lawyer? I want to divorce my husband.”