On New Year's Eve, Gerald's childhood friend ran me over, causing severe bleeding. I suffered from a blood clotting disorder and I didn't call Gerald for help in time.

Instead, I used all my strength to pull the pregnant heiress of a billionaire family, Alma Barren, out of the wreckage car and tended to my injuries in silence.

Why? Because in my previous life, when Gerald arrived at the scene, his first priority was saving his childhood friend, Joanne Clooney.

He said, "Eleanor, do you really think I'm stupid? Claiming to be pregnant to trick me? Don't forget, I'm an emergency doctor. Your blood loss is nothing compared to Joanne's. For years, I've put up with you, but don't push me too far!"

In the end, I and my child perished in the raging fire due to delayed rescue.

When I opened my eyes again, it was to see Joanne's ruthless glare through the windshield as she slammed her foot on the accelerator. She said, "Do you think you're worthy of carrying Gerald's child?"

***

The collision force swept through my body like a tidal wave.

The memories of being burned alive flashed vividly before my eyes and I clutched my belly in terror as pain shot through me.

Enduring the agony, I managed to exit the vehicle and dragged Alma, who was stuck under her seat, out of the car with great effort.

Her face turned pale as she stared at her bloodstained coat, "Eleanor, please … save my child …"

Biting down on my tongue to stay conscious, I reassured her, "Don't worry, Miss Barren. I've learned some emergency care methods." I retrieved a first-aid kit from the car just as the sound of an approaching ambulance reached us.

To my surprise, the first person out of the ambulance was Gerald. It seems that, just like in my previous life, Joanne had called him in advance.

Seeing his familiar face stirred the painful memory of him walking away with Joanne as I burned to death. My stomach tensed in response. The cold wind cut into my skin like blades, intensifying the pain.

"Mr. Riverton! Eleanor is over here!" Gerald's apprentice hurried toward me with a stretcher.

Gerald's face darkened with fury as he glared at me, "Joanne was right, it was you!"

Just like in the previous life. He didn't know right from wrong and insisted that I had caused the accident on purpose. He also used all the emergency equipment on Joanne without caring about my safety.

This time, I didn't beg him to hear my side of the story. Instead, I grabbed Alma's phone, called her emergency contact and continued to perform first aid on both of us.

Since Alma's pregnancy began, her family had arranged a birthing team to be on standby 24/7. I just needed to hold on for another ten minutes until they arrived.

But as I treated the wounds, the movement pulled at my injuries, causing the bleeding to worsen.

Gerald's apprentice grew concerned, panting as he said, "Mr. Riverton, your wife seems to be pregnant and her bleeding is unusually severe!"

However, the other paramedics who had worked with Gerald longer sneered, "Eleanor, your preparations this time are impressive, you even managed to fool the newbie! Let's go, ignore her. She hogs public resources just to get Mr. Riverton's attention. This is her third stunt this week. Does she think the hospital was built for her?"

Even though I had anticipated such ridicule, my heart still tightened at their words. I knew Gerald didn't care about me, but I hadn't expected even his colleagues to treat me this way.

Thankfully, Alma, who had just regained consciousness, hadn't heard their mocking remarks. Through the crowd, she shouted to Gerald that I was pregnant and begged him to save me and my child.

I turned to look at Alma, tears welling up in my eyes. Even though she herself was at risk of losing her child, she chose to give up her own rescue opportunity for me.

In my previous life, Gerald's delay in initiating rescue caused Alma to perish alongside me in the fiery inferno. The guilt of it weighed heavily on my heart.

I pressed on with treating Alma's injuries and deliberately informed the paramedics of her identity, hoping they would allocate some rescue resources to her, out of respect for the Barren Family.

But all I got in return was scornful laughter, "Eleanor, impressive! You are roping in so many people to act for you, even bringing in the heiress of the Barren Family. Must've cost you a fortune!"

Gerald didn't believe me either. With a look of contempt, he said, "First, you wanted me to accompany you to the Barren Family's New Year dinner. Now, you're claiming to have been in the same car as Barren Family's heiress."

"Eleanor, do you ever tell the truth? And didn't we agree after marriage that there wouldn't be children? How could you possibly be pregnant?" After finishing his rant, he led the paramedics to tend to Joanne, who only had minor scrapes.

Finally, I understood why Gerald had been so adamant about not wanting children after our marriage. As if sensing my emotions, my belly tightened and I felt a slight fetal movement.

The blood flowing from my body intensified, quickly staining my legs and pooling beneath me.

Alma desperately called for help, but I stopped her. There was no point in asking Gerald.

The Barren Family was the wealthiest in Jade Harbour City, a level far beyond my reach. However, three years ago, my brother had donated his kidney to Alma's father on his deathbed.

From that moment on, the Barren Family invited me to their home every New Year. If Gerald had joined me just once, he would've realized I'd never lied to him.

But he didn't. After my brother's passing, he took Joanne back to the Riverton Family house every year for the New Year reunion. And I, his so-called wife, could only watch their cheerful family celebrations through Joanne's social media posts.

With an expression devoid of warmth, Gerald stared at me and Alma before speaking, "I said I was taking Joanne home for New Year's. Was that enough for you to justify ramming your car into hers?"

"I'm telling you, Eleanor, if anything happens to Joanne, I won't spare either of you!" He picked up Joanne and climbed into the ambulance, urging the driver to hurry to the hospital.

Just like my previous life, he didn't spare me a single glance as he left decisively.

The snowflakes falling from the sky landed on my hand, the icy chill seeping through my skin, numbing my body and heart.

As expected, regardless of the situation, Gerald's first choice was always Joanne.

"My God, her water broke! She's going into labor!" Someone in the crowd exclaimed in shock. Only then did I notice Alma's water had indeed broken.

Swallowing my sorrow, I knelt to support her neck and reassured her, "Miss Barren, I've studied midwifery during my hospital internship. If you trust me, I …"

Alma's pale face turned to me, pleading, "Save … my baby ..."

A sudden loud noise drew everyone's attention as gasoline began leaking from the wrecked car. Flames erupted from the back seat, casting an ominous glow in everyone's eyes.

The crowd scattered in panic, "The car's about to explode! Run! Get out of here! Don't just stand there watching, you'll be blown to bits!"

Alma trembled in fear but forcefully pushed me away, "Forget me, Eleanor. Go … just go!"

Dizzy from blood loss due to my coagulation disorder, my body felt weak. I pinched my thigh hard to steady myself temporarily and used all my strength to help Alma to her feet. Together, we staggered toward the nearby woods.

We had barely moved ten meters when a deafening explosion shook the air. The explosion's shockwave flung both of us half a meter away, landing hard on the frozen ground.

I hunched over, shielding Alma tightly with my body as I took out the emergency kit to help deliver her baby.

Kindhearted bystanders took off their padded coats, laying them on the snow as makeshift bedding and forming a human wall around us to shield us from the cold and the onlookers.

I lost track of time, but eventually, the sound of a baby crying filled the air. As cheers erupted around me, my vision went black and I collapsed onto the frostbitten grass.

Excited voices rang out, "She gave birth, it's a baby girl!"

"Oh my God, look at that woman's back, it's completely burnt from the fire. All the skin is gone."

"She's pregnant too! Looks like she's about four or five months along!"

Alma was sobbing uncontrollably, her voice choked with emotion, "Last time, your brother saved my father's life. And now, you've risked your life to save me and my child. Eleanor, how can Barren Family ever repay such a massive debt of gratitude?"

As the Barren Family's ambulance sped toward us, my strength finally gave out and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I found myself in a VIP ward arranged by Alma.

The nurse changing my dressing informed me that the hospital had used up to 5,500 milliliters of blood to save me, dragging me back from death's door and managing to save my unborn child.

She comforted me, explaining that Alma was undergoing a full-body examination at the postpartum care center but would come to visit once she was finished.

Her eyes reddened with indignation as she asked, "Miss White, the ambulance arrived within five minutes. How could your injuries be so severe?"

"How did those paramedics ignore such massive blood loss? I'll report this to the director immediately. It's a disgrace to our hospital to have emergency responders like them!"

Hearing her words, an ache rose in my heart. Even a stranger like her, someone I'd only just met, was showing me genuine concern. Yet the man I shared my bed with could only mock me and accuse me of faking everything.

I pressed my lips together, they tasted bitter.

Seeing I wasn't responding, the nurse's expression was filled with sympathy. She promised not to let me down, reassuring me that she'd take good care of both me and my baby.

Her words brought a surge of warmth to my otherwise frozen heart. After the nurse left, I picked up my phone, preparing to contact a divorce lawyer.

Before I could make the call, the door to my hospital room swung open. Joanne entered with Gerald's arm around her. Her lowered eyes looked on the verge of tears as she said pitifully, "Eleanor, I know you don't like me, but why did you have to take my hospital room?"

Gerald immediately shielded her protectively, his cold eyes filled with anguish for her. His voice, commanding and icy, stabbed into my ears, "Eleanor, I don't have time to humor your theatrics. If it weren't for Joanne's kindness, you'd probably already be in jail. Hurry up and check yourself out of the hospital, give the room to Joanne."

Joanne's eyes brightened briefly, though she feigned selflessness and said generously, "Gerald, please don't argue with Eleanor because of me. I'll just go stay in an eight-person ward downstairs. It's okay, I can rest just fine.

She continued, "And don't hold it against Eleanor. If she really insists on involving the police, I'm willing to admit I'm at fault for the accident. I'll be fine, truly."

Gerald's frown deepened and his gaze grew colder, "Joanne, why are you always so kindhearted? Don't you realize Eleanor exploits this about you, bullying you time and again?"

"Eleanor, I'm warning you, if you don't discharge yourself today, we're getting a divorce!" This wasn't the first time Gerald had threatened me with divorce.

In my past life, I would have caved. I'd have listened to him and obediently made room for Joanne.

But now, I met his gaze steadily, unwavering and without any trace of emotion, "Fine, Gerald, let's divorce."

The room fell into a heavy silence. You could've heard a pin drop.