Love Won't Overstay Its Welcome

In the third year of her marriage to Anthony Lancaster, Simone Nolan is still the envy of every woman in Avenport. "Mr. Lancaster treats Mrs. Lancaster so well! Last time, she just coughed once, and he immediately gave her a full physical." "She married the nation's most authoritative doctor, after all. May I be this blissful in my next life!" Simone smiles, long used to the nurses' chatter. She's about to push the door open when she hears an argument inside. She falters. "Mr. Lancaster, are we still going to terminate Mrs. Lancaster's pregnancy later? This is already the third time!" "I've already told you that whenever Simone gets pregnant, an abortion has to be performed, no matter how many times." Anthony's cool voice pierces Simone's ears. Her face instantly becomes ashen. "But why? She has always wanted to have your children." Anthony's tone is icily sharp. "It's because of that surgery three years ago. I removed one of Simone's kidneys and gave it to Winona." Chapter 1 It was the third year of Simone Nolan's marriage to Anthony Lancaster. Even after three years, she was still the envy of every woman in Avenport. "Mr. Lancaster is so good to Mrs. Lancaster! He immediately ran a full-body checkup on her when she just coughed once." "She did marry the country's best doctor, after all. I wish I'll be as lucky as she is in my next life!" Simone smiled. She'd grown used to hearing the nurses say these things. She was about to go see Anthony for her routine prenatal exam when a heated argument from the room made her falter. "Mr. Lancaster, are you sure you want to terminate Mrs. Lancaster's pregnancy later? This will be the third time!" "I've told you this—no matter how many times it happens, Simone's pregnancies must be terminated." Anthony's indifferent voice seemed to pierce Simone's eardrums. The color drained from her face; she could hardly believe what she'd heard. "Why? She's always wanted to have your children." His assistant, Calvin Moss, sounded agitated. Anthony fell silent for a while. When he spoke again, his voice was icy. "It's because I removed one of her kidneys and gave it to Winona in that surgery three years ago. She can't ever have children in this lifetime, or she and the baby will die together." Simone's mind went blank at his words. All that remained in her ears was a piercing ring. She staggered backward and accidentally bumped into a vase by the door. It made a clear sound. Anthony's sharp gaze cut toward the doorway. "Who's out there?" Calvin stepped out to check, but he saw no one. "There's nobody outside, sir. Probably a stray cat." … Simone had no idea how she had left Lancaster Hospital. She stumbled along the street, and her world spun as she heaved with dry retches. "Anthony Lancaster, so you really do love Winona Stone…" She slid to her knees and thought of the first time she'd met Anthony. Four years ago, Simone's parents died in a car accident. She'd gone from being one of Avenport's pampered heiresses to an unwanted orphan. She and her sister, Thalia Nolan, had no choice but to rely on each other. She started drinking day and night, landing herself in the hospital every few days. By the third time, the frosty attending physician took off his mask and frowned at her. He said, "There are plenty of ways to blow off steam when you're unhappy, Simone. There's no need to torture your body like this." That was the first time she saw Anthony's face. He was so handsome that he'd stolen her breath. He took her bungee jumping, skiing, drag racing, and rock climbing. They did every extreme sport she'd never dared to imagine. At last, with every scream and release, she felt her withered heart come alive again. At the same time, Simone fell madly and irrevocably in love with Anthony. She began to pursue him boldly and fervently. She'd always had men eating out of her hand and was known as the woman of every Avenport man's dreams, yet that didn't seem to apply to Anthony. When she leaned against a supercar in a red dress and tossed her hair with sultry flair, he walked right past without so much as a glance. When she faked a stomachache and blocked him at his door, he simply called a driver to take her to the hospital. When she brought painstakingly prepared home-cooked meals to the hospital, he only gave her burned hand a cool glance. "There's an ointment for burns in the drawer. I'm busy, so don't come again." The repeated rejections had thoroughly deflated Simone's confidence… until she ran into Anthony at a banquet once. He'd been under the influence of a powerful aphrodisiac. He was usually aloof and cold, but his face had been flushed with desire then. He'd kissed her without rhyme or reason. That night, Simone shed all her armor and willingly became Anthony's antidote. After that, she started believing that Anthony loved her. But the following day, when Winona rushed into their room in a panic and saw the disarray, she immediately ran off again. Her eyes were red. She ended up being abducted by a gang, violated, and left with a kidney disease. After the incident, Anthony spent an entire day and night smoking. He drank countless bottles of liquor, and his eyes were bloodshot. Simone was frantic. She couldn't read the emotions in his eyes, nor could she understand why Winona had reacted so fiercely. In the end, Anthony hadn't said anything. He'd simply taken Simone to city hall to register their marriage. At the wedding, she donned a wedding gown and made her way down the aisle to the man she loved. However, she was knocked down by a loosely hanging chandelier and rushed to the hospital. Before surgery, Anthony had solemnly made a promise to her. "Trust me, Simone. You'll be fine." He performed the operation himself, and it was a huge success. From then on, he treated her better and better. His care was meticulous and hands-on. But Simone's health had declined sharply. She'd gotten colds, coughs, and hives one after another. The once proud and vibrant heiress ended up bedridden year-round, even miscarrying one baby after another. "I'm sorry, Anthony. I'm so sorry." She repented over and over in Anthony's arms, and he comforted her again and again. His own eyes were red-rimmed. Simone had always thought her frailty was a lingering effect of the accident at the wedding. She would never have imagined that it was because Anthony had personally removed one of her kidneys and transplanted it to Winona. How much of the redness in his eyes was due to guilt, and how much of it was out of love? Simone no longer wanted to know. All she knew was that if she wasn't the person Anthony cared about most, then she would rather die than stay with him! She contacted a lawyer and had a divorce agreement drafted. Her gaze landed on the final line, which read, "The marriage is dissolved due to irreconcilable differences." Then, she signed her name, each stroke pressing deep into the page. She said softly, "Anthony Lancaster, this agreement is our final goodbye." Chapter 2 Simone went home to get Anthony to sign the divorce papers, only to find an ambulance parked outside. A visibly anxious maid cried, "Bad news, Mrs. Lancaster! Ms. Stone's kidney disease has suddenly worsened." Winona's face was bloodless, and she'd passed out on the stretcher. A second later, Anthony called. Simone hesitated for a beat before picking up. Over the phone, she heard him shouting commands in the distance. "Everyone, prep for a possible kidney transplant just in case we need it!" Then, he spoke directly into the phone. "Simone, there's a patient with the same rare blood type as you. She's in critical condition, so get to the hospital now!" The patient he meant was Winona. Simone felt like her heart had been wrung so tight that it had shattered. She was about to refuse when she heard a shout on the other end of the line. "Mr. Lancaster, we've found a new donor! It's a child who also has the same rare blood type!" Anthony fell silent. Then, as he strode out, he asked, "Is it a boy or a girl? How old?" "It's a nine-year-old girl named Thalia Nolan." Anthony stabbed at his phone, cutting the line abruptly. Simone felt like a bomb had detonated in her head. Thalia was her sister—her only family left in this world! She screamed into the dead line, "Anthony, stop! My sister can't donate—she has a blood coagulation disorder! Anthony Lancaster, stop!" But all that remained was the busy tone. Then, her phone rang again. This time, it was from the hospital. "Ms. Nolan, your sister was taken away by force! Her coagulation issue is so close to being fixed. What on earth is going on?" The doctor's urgent voice pierced Simone's ears until all that was left was roaring. Her hands shook as she called Anthony again and again. He declined each call. His text arrived a second later. "Quiet. I'm in surgery." Then, he blocked her. Those few words pushed Simone to the brink. She raced to the Lancaster family's private hospital in a frenzy, but she was still too late. By the time she arrived, the transplant was over. Thalia lay quietly on the operating table. Her blood was dripping and pooling into a slick red puddle beneath her. Simone staggered out to look for a doctor, only to be told that every doctor had already transferred with Winona. The nearest ambulance wouldn't arrive for 20 minutes. "Simone…" Thalia whispered. Her face was as white as snow. "Thalia! I'm here. I'm right here." Simone felt despair claw into her as she looked at the nonstop bleeding. Thalia flashed a strained smile. "Simone, are we going home… after I get my shots today?" Simone held her tightly, swallowing her sobs. "Yes, we are. Hang on for a bit longer, okay? Just hang on, and we can go home." Thalia's smile became a bit more relaxed, but her eyelids drooped. Simone almost gagged on her grief. "Hold on, Thalia! Don't sleep! Please!" The warmth in her arms kept ebbing away, shredding her heart inch by inch. By the time the ambulance finally arrived, Thalia's body was already cold. "Ms. Nolan, I'm sorry for your loss." A doctor sighed. Simone sat numbly in the pool of blood as a tidal wave of grief crashed over her, crushing her throat. Her only family in this world was gone. She gathered Thalia's body and stumbled toward the exit like a walking corpse. As she turned the corner, she saw Anthony's car. She heard a heated argument inside. "Mr. Lancaster, you knew we couldn't operate without fully evaluating Thalia Nolan! She's Mrs. Lancaster's sister!" "I know!" Anthony's voice was clipped and anxious. "But Winona couldn't wait. She would've died if we'd dragged things out any longer! You know it wasn't easy to find another match for her blood type. Simone turned out fine, and Thalia will be, too!" Calvin sighed and asked, "Did you approach Mrs. Lancaster back then partly because of her blood type?" Silence enveloped the car. Simone pursed her lips, waiting for Anthony's answer. "Maybe," he said coolly. It tore Simone's heart to pieces. She smiled bleakly, feeling like a piece of her soul had been carved out. The salvation she'd once believed in had only ever been a transaction with a price tag. A strange discomfort pricked at Anthony after he spoke. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "Simone has always said that the wedding we never finished was her biggest regret. I'll give her a grand one in three days to make up for it; I'll treat her well from now on. "As for Thalia's kidney… Don't tell Simone yet. That way, she can focus on the wedding. The new supplements from overseas that just arrived are best for strengthening the body. Send them to her. I'll come up with new prescriptions." "Yes, sir." The car sped off. Its exhaust made Simone's eyes sting and turn bloodshot. She retched again. Calvin called her. She picked up. "Mrs. Lancaster, Mr. Lancaster said there are some supplements that you need to sign for. Is it convenient for you to head home now? He also said he'll take you to try on wedding dresses and diamond rings tomorrow. He's already booked your favorite designer." Simone parted her lips as her tears fell without her permission. She wanted to tell Calvin that she didn't need any of these things anymore. She wanted to tell Anthony that her precious Thalia was dead, as was the Simone who'd loved him. He'd killed them himself. Chapter 3 Simone didn't go home. Instead, she rushed to Elvane overnight with Thalia's body to get an official assessment of the cause of death. Anthony was untouchable in Avenport. She couldn't do anything to him there, but she would still fight to get justice for Thalia. "Ms. Nolan, doing business with our boss comes with a price." "Name your price. I'll pay up." Simone was still stunningly beautiful, but a pair of sunglasses hid her swollen eyes. "We don't want money. Our boss wants you, Ms. Nolan." The person across from her slid a marriage contract across the table. Simone's back went rigid, and her nails dug into her palms. She'd heard that Elvane's most elite scion was a vicious, cruel, and impotent man who was terminally ill. He was hunting for a bride to turn things around. After a long moment, she said faintly, "Alright. I'll do it." She'd lost everything, and she now only had one wish—to lay Thalia to rest in peace. Marrying this elite scion wouldn't make her lose anything, would it? She wasn't scared of that. "We'll need three days to prepare. The boss will personally go to Avenport to deal with this, then bring you back to Elvane." Simone nodded. Her throat was raw as she said, "I understand. I'll get Anthony to sign the divorce papers as soon as possible." Three days. Anthony had set their wedding for three days from now, too. Simone quickly signed the marriage contract. Her hair fell forward, shadowing the flash of sorrow at the corner of her mouth. … Anthony didn't come home that night. When he finally returned the next day, he held Winona in his arms. She'd just had surgery, and she was leaning heavily against his shoulder. Her face was pale. Her eyes were full of longing as she looked at him. She didn't look like his sister-in-law at all. She looked much more like his bride. Simone stood barefoot on the cold floor as she cradled her cat, Button. She listened to Anthony meticulously give the butler, Greg Smith, various instructions. "Redo the house to match Winona's tastes. I'm going to care for her myself." "Yes, sir." "Winona likes white rugs, so replace this warm-toned one. She's allergic to roses; make sure there's not a single petal in this house! She's just had surgery, so she needs to stay in the warmest room with the best sunlight." Silence descended upon the villa as soon as the words were out of Anthony's mouth. Everyone turned to look at Simone. They all knew that she loved roses, that sunlit room, and playing with Button on that warm-toned carpet. She lowered her gaze as she stroked Button's ear. She didn't even look up. Anthony seemed to realize something and frowned at her. "Simone, Winona's just had surgery. You should be considerate of her." Simone finally looked up, and her lips curved up mockingly. "If I object, would it stop you? How many of my things have you taken to give to her by now?" Her tone was cool, but the hand hidden in her sleeve wouldn't stop shaking. Anthony had already taken her and Thalia's kidneys to give to Winona, hadn't he? Had her refusal ever mattered? Winona's face became even paler. She bit her lip and tugged Anthony's sleeve. "Anthony, since Simone doesn't want me here, I should leave." "Simone Nolan!" Anthony's expression went cold at once. He shot her a warning look. "Don't push it." His words made Simone's shoulders tremble. So, a person really could be so partial to someone else. He'd given Simone's health, her right to have kids, and his love to Winona. Even so, it wasn't enough for him. "Fine. Give her everything." Simone turned and walked away before her tears fell. If this love wasn't meant to be hers, then she didn't want it anymore. … Simone stayed in the pet room with Button. It was the only place where she could stay in that sprawling villa. She vaguely heard Winona's voice. "Anthony, is Simone upset? Maybe you should go comfort her." Anthony said coolly, "Leave her be. She's spoiled, so a little hardship will help wear her temper down." Simone clutched a small box in her hands and bit her lip hard. Inside was Thalia's ashes. "Don't cry, Simone. I'll protect you when I grow up!" Simone remembered Thalia waving a magic wand around while clad in a hospital gown. "Alright, I'll wait. The doctor said you'll be all cured soon. When that day comes, I'll take you to a theme park, okay?" "Okay!" Thalia's laughter still echoed in Simone's ears, yet in the blink of an eye, she lay in that tiny box, saying nothing at all. Simone hugged her knees and curled up in a corner. She sobbed so hard that she couldn't breathe. Outside the room, Anthony kept getting things for Winona to celebrate her discharge from the hospital. Their laughter rang out in waves, so lively that they seemed to be in a different world. … When night fell, Anthony finally returned to the master bedroom. Simone sat by the bed. There was a pot of cold tea at her elbow. It gave off a slightly bitter scent that filled the room. He looked at her, abruptly struck by how much weight she'd lost. Her already slender wrists looked so thin now that they were mere skin and bones. It was almost as if she would vanish at any second. "Simone, why aren't you asleep yet?" He softened his tone and pulled her into his arms. "Don't be upset about what happened today. My brother, Andrew, died young, leaving Winona on her own. She's so frail, too. "I'm thinking about throwing her a birthday party tomorrow. Why don't you help me plan it? You know what young women like yourself like best." Anthony looked at Simone. His voice was brimming with excitement and joy. Simone felt like something was lodged in her throat. She asked softly, "Do you remember what day tomorrow is?" He frowned. "No. What?" The color drained from her face, but she forced a smile. "It's nothing." Tomorrow was her parents' death anniversary. Ever since they got married, Anthony had accompanied her on visits to the cemetery each year to pay her respects. To spare her feelings, he never did anything celebratory on that day. He would just quietly stay by her side. But now, he'd forgotten. The man who'd once loved and protected her now only had eyes for Winona. Simone drew a long breath, suppressed her raging emotions, and took out the divorce agreement. She covered the top half, leaving only the signature line visible as she slid it to Anthony. He frowned. "What's this?" Before she could answer, there came a commotion outside the door. "Mr. Lancaster, something's wrong! Ms. Stone has collapsed from poisoning!" Anthony's face instantly turned ashen. He strode out of the bedroom, crying, "Winona, what happened?" Simone was stunned. As she rose to follow, Anthony suddenly turned back, making her jump. He shoved the door open and snapped, "What did you put in that cake you made, Simone? Winona passed out after eating it!" He spotted the box by Simone's pillow and sneered. "How dare you poison the cake!" She was dumbstruck. "I didn't! You don't believe me?" His eyes were bloodshot as he jabbed a finger at Winona's bluish face and the white foam at her lips. He roared, "How am I supposed to believe you? Wasn't hurting her once enough for you?" He didn't wait for Simone to explain. He snatched the box from the bed and hurled it out the window. "Filth." "No!" Simone screamed and lunged for it, but all she saw was the box opening in midair. The ashes burst forth and scattered like snowflakes. They got swept away by a gust of wind until nothing remained. She could almost hear the cracking of her heart as it smashed into thousands of pieces. Nothing could put it back together again. Chapter 4 In a ward on the third floor of Lancaster Hospital, Anthony wiped the sweat from Winona's brow and tucked her in. "Thank goodness she only had heart palpitations. Nothing major happened." Simone stood dumbly by the bed, clutching an empty box with both hands. She was like a lifeless puppet. When Anthony turned and saw her like that, his heart ached, and his throat tightened. He pressed his lips together and pulled her into his arms. Her usually bright and lively eyes had lost all their color and gone dull. He said, "I'm sorry, Simone. I was wrong to blame you. The cake was fine." He rested his chin on top of her head, gently stroking her back over and over. That was when he noticed that she was trembling. She was still clutching the box tightly. "Simone, what's wrong? What was in the box?" Anthony bent down gently to meet her lowered gaze. Then, he flinched at the redness in them. He finally realized something was wrong, and panic crept in. "Are you feeling sick? I'll go get a stethoscope." He hurried out, leaving only Simone and Winona in the room. Winona opened her eyes and sat up in bed. A sharp smile cut across her face. She didn't look sick at all. She sneered. "Why are you like a piece of gum, Simone? Why is it impossible to shake you off? Haven't you noticed that I just need to put on a simple act each time to make you end up beaten so badly that you can't get up?" She leaned in and whispered in Simone's ear, "For example, that baseless abduction back then." Simone saw the smugness in her eyes and asked hoarsely, "Did you stage the abduction?" "Uh-huh. And that little incident at your wedding? That was me, too." Winona smirked. "Anthony is mine. Since you dared to steal him from me, consider this a lesson for you and your sister. I hope you both enjoyed it." Shock and rage crashed over Simone. She saw red, and she slapped Winona hard across the face. "Enjoy it? I hope you enjoy this slap, then!" She'd put all her strength into it, so Winona's cheek turned red and swelled in an instant. "How dare you hit me, you wretch! Aren't you afraid Anthony will punish you?" Winona screeched. Simone stiffened for a beat at Anthony's name. Then, she curled her lip. "You're right. He won't help me, which is why I'll settle my own scores!" She raised both hands and landed two more sharp slaps on Winona's face. Winona shrieked in pain. She was about to strike back when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Her gaze turned vicious in an instant. "Wanna make a bet, Simone? Anthony will always choose me." With that, she clamped onto Simone and dragged her along as she hurled herself out the window. Outside, a thicket bristled with sharp, thorny bushes. Winona sounded like she was about to cry as she screamed, "Anthony, help me! Simone wants to kill me!" Anthony shot to the window like an arrow. His eyes bulged as he watched the two women fall together. Calvin rushed up behind him, shouting, "Mr. Lancaster, there's only time to save one person. Choose now!" Anthony's gaze locked onto Simone. But a second later, he reached out and grabbed Winona's arm, hauling her into the safety of his embrace. He held her tightly, relieved that she'd escaped harm. "Thank goodness, Winona. Thank goodness you're safe." She curled up in his arms tearfully, but the smug smile at the corner of her lips pierced Simone's eyes. She mouthed to Simone, "Gum." In that instant, Simone's blood ran cold, and her limbs went numb. Her heart ached so badly that it went numb. She shut her eyes in despair, feeling her body fall into the thorny bushes below. It turned out that Anthony had truly never loved her at all. She landed with a loud bang. … Simone had a long, long dream. In it, she was brought back to that torrential night four years ago—the night that turned out to be a nightmare. She stood barefoot in a pool of blood. Her hands were shaking as she called for an ambulance. The call was answered by a man whose voice was deep and steady. "Hello? Please tell me what happened." Simone fought to keep her voice level. "We crashed on the Seavern Bridge. My mom and dad are both unconscious. Please hurry! Please, I'm begging you!" The doctor on the other end quickly rattled off a series of first-aid steps for her to follow. "Hang in there, miss! We're on our way!" The ambulance soon arrived, and that same doctor came with it. He stayed calm, directing the rescue with precise, swift measures. This time, in the dream, Simone finally saw the doctor's face clearly. It was Anthony. So, he was the one who'd tried to save her parents back then. Under the crushing weight of the trauma, Simone's brain had blurred the memory as a defensive measure. It explained why she'd felt an inexplicable peace and reliance on Anthony when meeting him again. He had been her lifeline in a huge crisis, leading her out of the shadow of her parents' fatal crash. He had painted a vivid streak of color across her gray world. But in the next breath, she was pinned to a cold operating table. Anthony donned a mask and raised a scalpel. His eyes gleamed icily behind his glasses. He was ready to cut her open alive. "No, don't! Anthony, it's me, Simone! Please don't!" Simone screamed and struggled, calling his name over and over. The only response she got was the sickening scrape as the scalpel sliced into flesh. "This is the debt you owe, Simone." With those words, the blade sank into her. Blood splattered onto the hem of Anthony's pristine clothes, but he didn't even flinch. He held up a fresh, warm kidney in his hand. It was her left kidney. Simone screamed and jolted awake, staring straight into a pair of familiar eyes. Chapter 5 Anthony's eyes were bloodshot, and there were bruises underneath them. He looked like he'd kept watch over Simone for a long time. "Simone, you're awake!" He grabbed her hand excitedly. She flinched instinctively and yanked her hand back. She stared at him coldly. His smile froze, and he felt like someone had gripped his heart and squeezed. He pressed his lips together. "Simone, with how things were, I could only save the person closest to me. And besides, you did push Winona out…" Simone's bloodless lips trembled as she stared at him in disbelief. "I didn't push her! She grabbed me and threw herself out the window!" Anthony looked at her as disappointment clouded his eyes. "Simone, I always thought you were kind. I never imagined you'd lie through your teeth like this. I'm honestly heartbroken." She opened her mouth but couldn't force out a single word. Tears pooled in her eyes, stubbornly refusing to fall. "Don't act like you're the victim here. The palm prints on Winona's face are proof!" he growled. Simone shut her eyes and turned her face away as her tears spilled, soaking the pillow. Her voice shook as she asked, "Would you believe me if I told you that Winona's abduction back then isn't what you think it is?" The room fell briefly silent. Anthony sighed. "Don't do this, Simone." Simone's clenched fists suddenly loosened weakly. She laughed so hard that her body trembled, then asked softly, "Did you ever love me, Anthony? Even just a bit." He furrowed his brows as he stroked her back, soothing her. "I love you, Simone. Of course, I do. Stop crying, okay? It'll be our third wedding anniversary in two days. Let's have another ceremony then, alright?" He pressed his lips to her forehead, then to her reddened eyes. "I'll marry you again. Once Winona is better, I'll send her back to Lancaster Manor. We'll go back to how things used to be." Simone lay on the hospital bed while staring blankly at the ceiling. From the moment Anthony dug out her kidney with his own hands three years ago, there was no going back. … Anthony didn't leave to attend Winona's birthday party, maybe because he was worried about Simone. He stayed at the hospital, never leaving her side. He fed her water and medicine, tending to her bit by bit. He told her funny stories from the various hospital departments, making the young nurses laugh until they doubled over. He made her restorative herbal broths, even testing them on himself, just to get the effects just right. He checked her medical records over and over, terrified he might miss the slightest change. Simone overheard the nurses chatting outside her room. "Which god do you think I should worship to snag a man as perfect as Dr. Lancaster?" "Dream on. Handsome guys always go with beautiful women. Dr. Lancaster's significant other has to be a knockout like Mrs. Lancaster." Another curse cut in, "But Mrs. Lancaster is so cold to him. Did they get into a fight?" "It's nothing to worry about. Whenever Mrs. Lancaster gets mad, Dr. Lancaster cheers her up in no time. Just wait—I bet the silent treatment will end by tomorrow morning." "I say tonight. They always kiss and make up so quickly!" Their chatter carried into the room. Anthony chuckled and feigned anger. "What are you all babbling about? I'll have the department head dock your pay if you disturb my wife!" In the past, Simone would blush at moments like this. This time, she simply drank her water quietly, not even glancing up. A strange feeling rose in Anthony's chest. Simone seemed different. "Sign here. I found a place I like in the south of the city." She took out the divorce agreement again. Before Anthony could take a closer look, his phone rang. Winona's name flashed across his screen, and he frowned, losing all focus on the document. He quickly signed and left the room to take the call in the hallway. Simone took back the divorce agreement. She let out a long, steady breath as she stared at his bold signature. Finally, she was free. She pulled out her phone and texted that mysterious number. "It's done." A reply came almost instantly. "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning." She locked her phone, feeling settled at long last. Out in the hall, whatever Winona said made Anthony's expression shift drastically. He refused loudly at first, then closed his eyes in agony as she broke down in sobs. "Fine, I'll do it. But this is the last time." … That night, Simone suddenly felt stabbing cramps in her lower abdomen. At first, she could bear it. Then, the pain grew stronger. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her whole body felt torn apart. As her consciousness started fading, she reached out and shook Anthony, who was dozing with his head propped up by her bed. "Anthony…" He snapped awake, gripping her hand in a panic. "What's wrong, Simone?" "My stomach hurts… My baby!" She bit her lip hard, and the color drained completely from her delicate, pretty face. Her vision tunneled and went black. Just before she lost consciousness, she saw Anthony hold her hand tightly. His eyes were dark with something unfathomable. He murmured, "It'll be okay, Simone. Everything will be okay." Simone didn't know how much time had passed. It felt like she was back on that cold operating table with a sudden emptiness yawning inside her. A machine's beeping cut through the air. "Dr. Lancaster, we've removed the placenta from Mrs. Lancaster. It's intact." "Send it back to the villa immediately!" Chapter 6 When Simone woke up, the hospital room was empty, save for herself. It was bright outside, and the sunlight filtered in. However, she only felt a bone-deep chill. The sentence she'd heard on the operating table last night kept echoing like a curse, stabbing straight into her heart. "Mrs. Lancaster, you're awake. Mr. Lancaster told me to take good care of you." Simone pushed away the nurse's hand and ignored her attempts to stop her. She staggered out of Lancaster Hospital. She walked and coughed the whole way. The cold wind made her lips crack until they bled. She didn't know how long she had walked, but she finally made it back to the Lancaster residence. Somehow, she'd lost a shoe along the way and hadn't even noticed. She rushed straight inside to see a scene that made her feel like she'd been slapped. Winona was nestled in Anthony's arms in the warm, sunlit room. He fed her medicine one spoonful at a time. She stuck out her tongue and whined cutely, "It's so bitter, Anthony." He seemed to smile and shake his head. Then, he put the bowl down, picked up a piece of candy, and placed it in her hand. "Just one more sip, okay?" Winona pouted, refusing to listen. Anthony's voice dropped low. "Weren't you the one who said that using a freshly extracted placenta in this herbal tincture would be the fastest way to cure post-op complications? Hurry up and finish it." She smiled. "Will you agree with everything I say, Anthony?" Simone didn't hear Anthony's answer. It was like her soul had been yanked out of her body. A hot mouthful of blood burst from her lips and splattered across the floor. Her placenta—her baby's placenta—had been removed to be put into a herbal tincture for Winona! This was the final straw for Simone, and she snapped. Anthony had removed the placenta himself, just like her kidney and Thalia's kidney. All the good things Anthony had done for her were for Winona's sake. Simone clutched Button tightly and dragged her broken body out of the Lancaster residence, wanting to get to the police station to lodge a report. However, she was too weak after her miscarriage, and the shock she'd suffered was too great. Blood began to trickle down her legs. It left a horrifying trail, starting from the villa's front door and snaking all the way down the path. She wore a white hospital gown. Her face was ashen and almost translucent. It was as if the villa behind her had sucked out every drop of her life. She used to be a rose that once blazed crimson, but she'd been reduced to nothing but a single withered stem. Just then, the thrum of helicopter blades cut through the air. Simone looked up and saw a familiar face. He was Elvane's most elite scion? She reached out with the last of her strength. The man caught her hand, steady and sure. "Help me avenge my child and Thalia!" Hatred and anger flared in Simone's eyes. "I want him to pay. A life for a life!" "I will." … Anthony came out of Winona's room with an empty bowl. He quickly called the hospital and asked, "Is Simone awake? Is she feeling any discomfort?" "Mr. Lancaster, Mrs. Lancaster ran out on her own!" "What?" Anthony's voice dropped low. Then, he stared in shock at the large, winding swaths of blood on the ground. Whose blood was it? His face drained of color as an intense sense of unease exploded in his chest. Just then, Calvin rushed in, looking more panicked than Anthony had ever seen him. "What's wrong?" He heard how hoarse he sounded. Calvin could barely catch his breath from how hard he'd been running. Before he could say anything, his knees buckled, and he fell to the floor. Then, he wheezed, "It's Thalia! She—" "What about her?" Anthony grabbed his shoulders and roared, "Hurry up and tell me!" Calvin clenched his jaw and shouted, "Thalia died ages ago! This just arrived at the company from a law firm—a divorce decree."