The Detour of Our Marriage

Gia Rowan was diagnosed with a terminal illness in the second year after the death of her husband. She prepared to donate everything she had built to charity, but the will of her late husband shattered her world. Her late husband had left everything he owned to his twenty-eight-year-old illegitimate son, including half of her company. She and her husband remained childless for thirty years. The mother mentioned in his will was not her, but it was Cecelia Warren instead. Betrayal struck her, and in the haze of despair, she lost consciousness. She opened her eyes again to find herself back in the third year of her marriage. With the truth in hand, she had a new chance to choose differently. Chapter 1 Gia Rowan did three things after calming herself and sorting things out. Firstly, she transferred the company assets, leaving nothing she had earned through her hard work. Secondly, she filed for divorce. Thirdly, she went to find Cecelia Warren, who was pregnant. Cecelia still had that gentle and timid look. Her eyes instantly filled with tears when she saw Gia. "Gia, please don't drive me away. My husband ran off with the money. My child and I have nowhere to go… Please…" sobbed Cecelia. Gia smirked mockingly. She had believed those lies in her past life. Back then, she felt sorry for Cecelia and agreed to let her stay. She never expected that the father of Cecilia's child would turn out to be Lucas Isles! She knew Cecelia and Lucas had been childhood sweethearts, but she trusted Lucas wholeheartedly. Gia and Lucas became neighbors when she was 15. Blushingly coming bearing flowers, the young Lucas had asked, "Can I be your friend?" He shielded her from a thug's knife in a small alley when she was 18. Though covered with blood, he rasped, "Gia, I'm going to die… but I love you, and I'm willing to die for you." He showed her his vasectomy report when they got married at 25. He gently kissed her face, and said, "Gia, you aren't healthy. I don't want you to suffer through childbirth. Let it just be the two of us for the rest of our lives." He had given her all his love for years, until she was deeply attached. Knowing he was passionate about research, she started a business to support the family, and became a rising star in the industry in only three years. She never expected that all her hard work would be for his illegitimate child. Gia looked at the pathetic woman in front of her. She laughed coldly. "I haven't seen your husband in two years. How did you have an eight-month pregnancy?" Cecelia froze, and her gaze frantically roamed. She stammered, "He… He came back before…" An urgent voice could be heard before she could finish. "Gia…" Lucas strode over, he looked upset. He suddenly yanked Gia toward him, his breath uneven. He asked, "Why are you bothering Cecelia again? I told you that Cecelia has a hard life. When will you stop getting jealous over little things?" Gia felt a sharp pain in her chest, and her eyes began to burn. This was the same old story in her past life. Whenever Cecelia was around, Lucas always saw Gia as the jealous bully. Cecelia? She was always the fragile victim. Sure enough, the moment Cecelia saw Lucas, she sobbed and cried, "I'm sorry, I have nowhere to go. Please don't drive me away." His expression instantly changed. He said, "Gia, you used to be so kind. When did you become like this? If you don't want Cecelia to stay, then I'll have to take her away." He pushed Gia aside as he spoke, then he gently helped Cecelia to get up. Gia stumbled into the wall because she was caught off guard. She bit her lip, refusing to make a sound, but her eyes still burned at the sight before her. The man glanced at her, as if noticing something was wrong. "Gia… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you," he apologized. His voice softened as he said, "Stop giving me a hard time over the little things. Learn to be more generous, okay?" Gia closed her eyes in pain. 'Is welcoming the mistress and illegitimate child into my home what he called being generous?' she thought. She had been foolish her whole life. She would never make the same mistake again. She would not allow anything to go wrong with the asset transfer and the divorce! Chapter 2 "Lucas… My stomach hurts…" whimpered Cecelia. She suddenly bent over with a whimper, and her face turned pale. Lucas's expression instantly changed. He ignored Gia and rushed back to Cecelia. He held her anxiously and asked, "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?" His voice trembled with worry, and his hands were shaking. The sight felt like a sharp knife stabbing into her heart. Gia once believed this heartfelt concern of his was reserved only for herself. She had been naive. She was never the only one. "I'll take you to the hospital," he said. Without giving Gia a second glance, Lucas swept Cecelia up into his arms and carried her out. Gia let out a bitter laugh when the door closed. "I've been delusional all this time…" she murmured. She wondered why she had turned a blind eye in her past life. Three hours later, Lucas returned with Cecelia still in his arms. The moment they stepped into the living room, he spoke firmly, "She needs to rest for a few days. It's settled–she'll stay here." Gia paused for only a moment before replying calmly, "Alright." Her voice and expression were apathetic. He seemed surprised she agreed so easily. His face softened after a brief look of disbelief. He said, "Cecelia's been through a lot, and she's pregnant now. She has nowhere else to go. I know you've always been kind–" "Pick any room you want. I'm heading back to mine," interrupted Gia. She turned before he could finish and walked away without hesitation. She did not want to listen to his guilt-tripping. It sounded like praises, but they were accusations of her being immature and unkind. That night, Gia took the divorce papers she had prepared and knocked on the door of his study. He sat deeply focused in front of his laptop and had a few books in front of him. One glance was all it took for Gia to see that the books were pregnancy nutrition guides. Her fingers trembled slightly. "What is it?" he asked without looking up. She bit her lip and handed over the documents. She demanded, "Sign it. It's for the company's filing, and it needs the signature of a family member." Lucas barely glanced at it before signing, then he stood up quickly. He said, "Done. I need to make dinner for Cecelia. Her diet needs special care, so from now on, I'll cook for her myself." Gia looked at the papers and asked quietly, "When did you learn to cook?" Lucas had never lifted a finger at home in her past life. Obsessed with his research and busy at the lab, she had always felt sorry for him and cooked every meal herself. Lucas hesitated and replied, "I recently learned… Cecelia's in a special stage in life, and as her friend, I should take care of her." "Is that so?" asked Gia. She did not look at him, but her voice was soft like a whisper as she said, "We've been married for three years, and you've never cooked for me." Yes. He had never cooked for her. She believed his career came first back then and never asked for more. However, the comparison was glaring. He simply had not wanted to make an effort for her. Lucas froze, and he was about to say something, but Gia walked away with the papers. A faint aroma drifted through the air. She stood by the window in her room unmovingly. She carefully put away the divorce papers. She only needed to wait. Once the asset transfers were complete and the mandatory waiting period passed, she could leave for good. The silk tree they had planted together outside on their wedding day had grown thick and lush. She remembered a long time ago when Lucas knelt beneath it and held up a ring, his eyes full of devotion. "Gia, I want to spend a lifetime with you, and even in death, I will never betray you," he had promised. Her phone vibrated. It was a message from her lawyer. [Ms. Rowan, eighty percent of the assets have been transferred. The rest will be handled before the divorce process begins.] [Gia: Okay.] She then deleted the conversation. She slipped the wedding ring off her finger and placed it in the bottom drawer of her vanity. She heard the sound of laughter and cheerful voices coming from outside. She closed her eyes, caught between the weight of her past life and the sting of the present, until a single tear slipped free. Some mistakes, she thought, were only worth making once in a lifetime. Chapter 3 Gia had a long dream where she was back to when she was 18. She was cornered in a narrow alley by a gang of thugs, and Lucas charged in without a second thought. He shielded her when one of the thugs thrust a knife toward her. The thugs scattered in fear. She clung to him, his body covered in blood. Tears streamed down her face. He gently wiped her tears with a bloodstained hand and said, "Gia, it… breaks my heart to see you cry." He was clearly in pain, but somehow, his smile was blissful. He confessed, "Gia, I never dared to say this before, but… I like you. I like you so much that I'd die for you." The blurry dream wavered. His face then twisted and became cruel. He yelled angrily, "I'm in love with Cecelia now! You took what's hers, so why don't you just die?" She jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat. The bedroom was pitch dark. She breathed hard, forcing herself to calm down, until faint sounds coming from outside broke the silence. It was the muffled noise of someone retching, mixed with a low, soothing voice of a man. Gia got out of bed as if drawn by an unseen force, and she quietly opened the door to peek. A door stood half-open down the hallway, and Cecelia could be heard sobbing. "I feel awful…" she sobbed. "Hold on a little longer. Have some warm water. Pregnancy is supposed to be like this. You'll feel much better in a few weeks," he said, his voice full of tenderness and concern. Gia felt heartbroken. She took a few unsteady steps forward like a puppet, and she saw everything inside the room. Cecelia rested in his arms, his hand gently stroking her back while the other held a cup of water. They leaned into each other like a married couple. "Lucas, will you tell me a story? Like you used to when we were kids…" she said. His expression visibly softened. His fingers brushed through her hair, and his voice was warm. "Once upon a time…" he began. The room seemed to spin around Gia. She placed a hand over her mouth to stop any sound from escaping. She remembered a time when she too had leaned against his chest like that. His expression had been gentle then as well, but his words were different. He had said, "Don't start this again. I still have experimental data to analyze tomorrow." She never heard him finish a story. "You're so good to me, Lucas," she said sweetly. Then, she suddenly tilted her head up and kissed him. Lucas went rigid at first, but he did not push her away. He said in a raspy voice, "Don't, you need to take care of yourself right now…" However, his hand pressed firmly against the back of her head, pulling her into a passionate kiss. The sound of it was breathless and intimate; it filled the air as their figures melted together. Gia fled. She stumbled back into her bedroom, leaning against the door before sinking to the floor. Tears had blurred her vision. A wave of nausea hit her hard, and she rushed to the bathroom, retching until her body shook. It was so disgusting to her, and she was more heartbroken than before. She did not know how much time had passed before she emerged. Her legs were numb, each step feeling like it landed on pins. She opened a drawer and pulled out a heavy photo album. Every page was filled with pictures of her and Lucas. Each one with his gaze fixed on her affectionately made her heartbroken. The affection in his eyes had never been fake, but it had never been hers alone. She cut every photo to pieces with a pair of scissors before she threw them into the trash. She carried the garbage bag downstairs at dawn, only to find Lucas busy in the kitchen. "Up so early?" he asked. His gaze flicked to the bag in her hand, and he continued to ask, "What's that?" "Trash," she replied. Her voice was steady as she brushed past him. He did not press her for answers. He plated the breakfast he had been preparing and set it on the table. He said without turning around, "Cecelia's stomach has been acting up. I made her something easy to digest. I didn't have time to make yours, so you'll have to sort breakfast out yourself." Her steps faltered. She felt her chest tighten, making it hard to breathe. She replied calmly after pausing for a moment, "If I go out alone…" The sound of something crashing cut her off. It was followed by a pained moan, "Lucas…" His face changed instantly. He dropped everything and rushed toward her. He yelled, "Cecelia? What's wrong?" Cecelia clutched her throat as if she could not breathe, her face pale and strained. Lucas panicked. He swept her into his arms without a second thought and headed for the door. Gia barely had time to react, so she was still standing there. He shouted furiously, "Move!" He promptly shoved her out of the way. A cabinet crashed to the floor, its contents spilling everywhere, striking her painfully. She felt a sharp sting on her forehead as something warm and sticky slid down the side of her face. However, Lucas had left, and he never once looked back. Chapter 4 Gia lay on the floor for a long time before slowly getting up. She endured the pain and carefully dabbed medicine on her swollen forehead. The wound had started to swell, but she forced herself not to let the tears fall. Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from downstairs. "Gia!" Lucas yelled. His voice was meaner than she had ever heard before. He rushed to grab her wrist as soon as she stepped out of her room. His eyes were bloodshot, the veins bulged on his forehead, and his breath came fast and heavy. "Did you prepare the ingredients in the fridge?!" he snapped. He glared at Gia like she was his worst enemy. Pain shot through her wrist, but she could not break free. She yelled, "Let go of me! What are you talking about?!" He raised his voice, "Don't play dumb! Cecelia almost died! She got food poisoning! The nitrite levels in those dishes were ten times over the limit! That could only have been deliberate!" Gia was shocked. Lucas never cooked before last night, so of course she was the one who had prepared the ingredients. However, what he said made no sense to her. "When did you become so vicious? You wanted to hurt Cecelia just because I cared about her? Do you realize you almost killed two lives?" he yelled. His gaze was cold and unfamiliar. His sudden accusations made her head spin. She staggered and hoarsely replied, "Calm down. Why would I poison anyone? I prepared the ingredients for myself…" "For yourself?" asked Lucas. He clearly did not believe her. He gave a harsh laugh, yanked her by the arm, and dragged her downstairs. He yelled, "Fine, then eat it right now!" He dragged her into the living room. The breakfast was still sitting on the table, and he picked it up. "Eat it if it isn't poisoned!" he yelled. Her heart turned cold, disbelief washed over her. She thought it was ridiculous that he would think she had poisoned Cecelia. She desperately struggled and said, "You're insane… Do you seriously think I'd kill someone, Lucas Isles?!" "Who else could it be?" he asked. He grabbed her chin, and looked at her with a terrifying dark expression. He said, "The dosage was clearly intentional. There are only three of us in the house. Are you suggesting Cecelia poisoned herself if it wasn't you?" He forced her mouth open and shoved a spoonful of food in her mouth. She fought with tears streaming down her face. However, he acted like a man possessed and stuffed another spoonful of food. "Didn't you say it wasn't poisoned? Then eat!" He was like an animal who lost his mind, his red eyes flashed with cruelty. "Prove your innocence!" he yelled. Gia was forced to swallow spoonfuls of food because she was pressed against the table. Spoonful after spoonful, until all the food was gone. The nausea rose violently, and she bent over and gagged, but nothing came out. Then, a burning pain flared in her stomach. She stumbled, was unable to steady herself, and collapsed to the floor. Her breathing grew rapid, her vision blurred, and a shrill ringing filled her ears. She whimpered in agony. 'It hurts so much,' thought Gia. "Lucas…" she gasped, instinctively reaching toward him for help. However, he only stood there, watching as she writhed in pain. Her breath grew shallow, foam gathered at her lips, and her struggling slowed. He finally crouched down, his voice distant and chilling, "Hurts, doesn't it? That's what Cecelia went through." Gia could barely hear him anymore. She curled up and wept in silence as her consciousness faded. 'Am I going to die like this? Am I going to die earlier and more tragic than in my past life?' she thought. That was the first time she tasted a meal made by Lucas across two lifetimes. She could not believe that it was under those circumstances. That was worse than death to her. She saw him call the ambulance through hazy vision. He said, "Don't worry, I only wanted to teach you a lesson. I won't let you die… You did something wrong, so you deserve punishment, don't you think?" Gia coughed up blood, and a bitter laugh rose in her chest. 'Yes, I was wrong. My mistake was falling in love with a human scum. Wrong enough that I had to pay for it in two lifetimes,' she thought. The wails of sirens drew closer as darkness closed in on her. Chapter 5 The sharp smell of disinfectant filled the air. Gia slowly opened her eyes. The suffocating feeling lingered, so she instinctively clutched her throat, breaking into a harsh cough. "Relax," hushed a female doctor. She helped Gia sit up and carefully gave her a glass of water. "Do you feel any better?" she asked. Gia, though pale, nodded. "You developed complications from food poisoning. I've looked at your past records, and your body has always been weak. This time, it's caused irreversible damage…" she explained Gia listened quietly, emotionlessly. She had been a premature baby, so she was frail from birth. Lucas used to care for her with meticulous attention in the past. He made sure she took her medicine, never let her drink too much coffee, and constantly bought tonics for her. All that, and he had poisoned her. Pain and hatred twisted in her chest. She only managed to nod like a robot, and she did not even realize when the doctor left. A single tear slid down her cheek, then they kept coming. She tried to wipe them away, but the more she wiped, the more tears there were. It was not because of his betrayal, but because of how she foolishly trusted. She had died once, but she still held onto a sliver of hope for the man. That fragile hope only brought deeper wounds. The door creaked open. Lucas walked in, his shirt wrinkled and dark circles under his eyes. The moment their gazes met, he hurried forward and reached for her hand, only for her to pull away. He froze for a second, then grabbed her hand anyway. His voice was trembling as he said, "Gia… Are you still unwell? I… I must've been insane to do that to you!" Tearing up, he said hoarsely, "When I saw Cecelia lying in the emergency room, I panicked. I couldn't believe you'd actually do something like that… That's why I lost control. It was what you did that scared me…" "It wasn't me," said Gia raspily. He looked like he was in pain for a moment, but it was clear he still did not believe her. Gia let out a bitter laugh. 'Of course,' she thought. Overwhelming fatigue washed over her, and she lost the will to speak. "You really went too far this time. Cecelia is pregnant. You can't do that no matter what," muttered Lucas. Gia cut him off. "Do you love her?" she asked. Lucas jerked his head up. "What? No! Of course not! She's just a childhood friend, I only pitied her," he retorted. 'All lies,' she thought. Fighting back tears, she whispered, "Let's get a divorce." The hospital room fell into a dreadful silence. His expression shifted from shock, to anger, to twisted rage, before finally settling into a dark scowl. "No. I won't agree," he said. Gia gripped the blanket tightly. His furious voice erupted before she could respond. "Do you seriously want a divorce? I told you there's nothing between us! Why are you still jealous? We're married! Half of your company belongs to me if we get a divorce! Would you throw away everything you worked so hard for?" he yelled. Dread spread through her body. He was threatening her with her career. However, that was exactly what had happened in her past life. He had given half of her company to his illegitimate child. "Gia, I love you," he said. Lucas suddenly leaned down, pulling her into his arms. His tone was soft and earnest as he said, "I can't live without you. Please, don't make me angry anymore." His lips pressed against her forehead. Her body stiffened. That kiss once gave her comfort, but no more. It only made her sick. "Lucas… My stomach hurts again…" said Cecelia. Her weak voice drifted from outside the door. Lucas immediately got up and strode toward the door. He turned to look at Gia before he opened the door and said, "Get some rest. Don't dwell on nonsense. I'll come tomorrow to bring you home." The door shut, and Gia shuddered. She felt like the man who had once been her gentle companion was secretly a demon. She reached under her pillow and pulled out her phone with her trembling fingers. A single unread message glowed on the screen–it was from her private attorney. [Ms. Rowan, the last batch of assets has been transferred to the offshore account, but the company's equity changes still require your signature] Gia let out a long sigh, then replied [Okay.] with shaking hands. Her body was weaker than ever, but she told herself that was the price of having a second chance in life. She would never go back again. Chapter 6 The hospital recommended that Gia stay for further observation, but she did not want to see Lucas again, so she checked out of the hospital. She was still weak, but she did not dare waste time. She rushed to sort things out and had documents sent from her private investigator. Gia opened them and saw Cecilia's prenatal reports inside. The DNA results showed a 99 percent match. Lucas was indeed the father of the unborn child. Her expression barely changed. She had suspected it, and the evidence only confirmed it. She called someone and instructed, "Suspend all funding and investments for Lucas's lab next month." At that moment, the doorbell rang. Gia frowned, and on the monitor she saw his parents, Linda Hoffman and Shane Isles–and they did not look happy. Gia took a deep breath before she opened the door. "What took you so long?" scolded Linda as she shoved her way inside, her judgemental gaze fixed on Gia. "I heard you were in the hospital? You do look a bit worn out," she said. Gia said nothing, and Linda did not seem to care. She pulled out several bags and began rummaging through them. "I found more remedies for infertility, and this time, I'll make sure you drink them every day," she said. "You've been married for three years and still have no child. Our family's reputation must be a laughing stock for other people!" she exclaimed. She laid out bundles of dark and powdery medicine. The pungent smell filled the room, and Gia frowned. "I won't drink it," she said. "How dare you?" snapped Shane. "How can a woman not give birth to a son? I asked an old doctor for help. You're rich anyway; give me a hundred thousand so I can send him a gift." Gia let out a cold laugh. 'The topic of children was only an excuse. The real reason was for the money,' mused Gia. "What are you laughing at? You're nothing but a useless hen that can't lay eggs, and you still dare to laugh!" yelled Linda. "Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?" Lucas could be heard from the doorway. He walked in quickly and gave Gia a reassuring look. "I've told you so many times that Gia's health and career come first. Why are you pushing her to have a baby again?" he asked. Shane grew furious and said, "Our bloodline ends if she doesn't bear a child. It'll be so embarrassing for the family!" Lucas suddenly said, "Don't worry, I have a plan." Everyone turned to look at him. Lucas held Gia by the hand and spoke gently, "Gia, since we don't have a child, why don't we take Cecelia's baby as our godchild? Wouldn't that be good? Think about it. My parents would have a grandchild, and when that child grows up, he could help you manage the company. Isn't that the best of both worlds?" Gia froze. Had she misheard him or something? 'Does Lucas want to publicly make his illegitimate child their godson, let him manage my company? Am I a complete fool to him?' she thought. Anger and humiliation overwhelmed Gia as she shouted, "No!" Linda slapped her harshly. "How did our family end up with such a shameless daughter-in-law? Things are settled if Lucas has decided. Who are you to refuse?" she exclaimed. The slap was so harsh, Gia's head swung to the side. A burning pain spread across her cheek. "Mom!" Lucas stepped in front of Gia, but instead of protecting her, he gripped her tightly to stop her from striking back. He was afraid that Gia would fight back. "Alright, it's decided. Cecelia is pitiful. We should help a widow and her child. You're being unreasonable, Gia," said Lucas. Gia felt like her heart was shattering into pieces. The voices around her grew distant and fractured. "Anyway, the company is marital property. At least half of it is mine to decide. When Cecelia gives birth, I'll treat that child like my own. "Don't be stubborn, Gia. I'm a man, and I need someone to succeed. He's only a godson. You can understand that, can't you?" asked Lucas. His voice was fading to her. Suddenly, Gia tasted blood in her throat. Chapter 7 Gia could not remember how the commotion ended. Maybe she had fainted from weakness, because she was in her bedroom when she woke up again, and the room was dark. She forced herself up to eat something, but before she could recover, the door was kicked open. Lucas strode in, his chest heaving violently, his eyes on her carrying a trace of hatred. "What did you say to Cecelia?!" he hissed. The scene felt painfully familiar. The suffocating, nauseating feeling surged back at once. Her face turned pale, and she stumbled back a step. However, Lucas gave her no space to escape. He seized her wrist in a crushing grip, his voice roaring with fury. "Why would she cut her wrists and try to kill herself?! She almost… She almost…" he said. Gia forced herself to stay calm. She drew in a deep breath. "What does that have to do with me?" "Gia! Do you even have a heart?" he asked. Pain shot through her wrist, a cold bead of sweat sliding down her temple. Lucas shook her hard and yelled, "Why can't you accept Cecelia? She felt like a burden because of you, and that's why she tried to kill herself! What more do you want from her? She's only a helpless young girl!" Her vision went dark. She wanted to struggle and wanted to scream, but she could not say anything. She wanted to snap back at him. 'A helpless young girl? Do you mean the girl who is carrying your child?!' Somehow, she found it in her to scream, though hoarsely, "What does it have to do with me if she wants to die?" The slap came out of nowhere. Gia was knocked to the ground, her ears buzzing. Her face was burning with pain, and she looked like she was in disbelief. She could not believe that Lucas hit her. They had been together for decades, and he had not even spoken harshly to her in her past life. Lucas stared at his hands, he was also in shock. "Gia, I…" he trailed off. He clutched his head in pain. His voice broke as he said, "What you've done is no different from murder! I was so angry…" His bloodshot eyes glistened. Gritting his teeth, he dragged Gia out without giving her a choice. He hauled her downstairs, all the way to the basement. "If anything happens to Cecelia, I'll never forgive you," he said. With that, he shoved her inside, and the heavy door slammed shut. Darkness and dampness closed in, and Gia began to shake. "No… Don't…" begged Gia. She staggered to the door, pounding on it and screaming until her voice cracked. However, there was only silence from outside the door. Ever since years ago, when thugs had cornered her in a dark alley that night, she had carried a crippling fear of darkness. 'Lucas knew that. He knew…' thought Gia. She did not know how long she cried and screamed until she had no strength left. Her consciousness faded as she curled up on the floor. She did not know how much time had passed before someone dragged her away. Pain jolted her awake, and she found herself tied to a chair. She forced her eyes open through hazy vision, and she saw Lucas standing in front of her with a knife in his hand. He looked deranged as he muttered to himself, "Cecelia's still in emergency care. The doctor said it doesn't look good…" A shiver ran through Gia. Her voice cracked as she asked, "What are you trying to do?" His face looked twisted with pain and guilt. Suddenly, he lunged forward. His voice was choking with tears as he said, "Gia, my mom said there's a remedy. If I use the blood of the person Cecelia's been closest to, I can call her soul back…" Her eyes widened in horror. "Lucas Isles! Are you insane?!" she shrieked. 'He's a research scientist! How could he believe in such superstition?!' she thought. However, the blade was pressed against her arm. He said, "I have no choice… I don't. The baby's stuck in delivery, and we're about to lose them both… I'll bleed with you! Cecelia and the baby can't die!" Gia had no time to react–a sharp pain ripped through her arm. Blood flowed and dripped into a bowl. Lucas slashed his own wrist, letting their blood mingle. "It'll be over soon…" he murmured. "It's not enough. I need more…" Her face turned deathly pale as her blood continued to ooze out, her head spinning as it prolonged. "You… You've gone insane. You're truly insane…" she muttered. Her breathing grew labored. She felt her life drained away, despair and bitter irony consumed her. 'Is it all because of this? For a superstition? Would he bleed me dry just to save Cecelia?' she thought. She used the last of her strength to whisper, "Lucas… I hate you…" Then, the darkness swallowed her whole. Chapter 8 Half-conscious, Gia heard the hurried footsteps of doctors and nurses. "The patient's blood type is rare, and we need to arrange a transfusion right now!" "We've found it. The patient donates blood regularly. The blood bank has her record. We can prioritize her supply!" What happened before she fainted kept flashing in her mind. Her heart had gone numb from the pain. She no longer recognized Lucas. He was no longer the calm, gentle professor she once knew. Fragments of her past life surfaced in the chaos. She had always believed her marriage was happy. Though there had been compromise and tolerance, her husband had seemed caring and considerate. She thought she had no reason to be dissatisfied. Looking back, however, she realized those moments were nothing but delusions. Gia had a high fever once and had called Lucas, but he said, "The experiment can't wait." She wondered if he was with Cecelia back then. She found a lipstick in his car once, and he said a colleague must have dropped it. How easily she had believed him. There were too many memories, and she dared not dwell on them. "The blood is ready. Begin the transfusion!" said a nurse. Her voice made Gia snap out of it. However, the ward door was forced open the next moment. "Wait! Don't give her the blood!" yelled Lucas. He rushed in, his face pale and eyes bloodshot. He continued, "Cecelia's life is no longer in danger, but she suddenly went into premature labor and suffered massive bleeding. The hospital's supply is running out, so this blood has to go to her first!" The doctor knew Lucas, and he disapprovingly retorted, "Mr. Isles, your wife is critically anemic. She could die!" "No!" Lucas suddenly lunged forward. He begged, "Gia, you can hold on, can't you? There are two lives at stake on Cecelia's side. Please, I'm begging you–give the blood to her, alright?" Gia could not believe that he broke down in tears as he spoke. She was stunned for a moment, having never seen him cry before. The only time he pleaded so desperately was when she collapsed from illness years ago, and he clutched her tightly, begging her not to die, and not to leave him. She thought she had no tears left for him, no pain left to feel. Her chest ached so badly at that moment; she felt like she was borderline suffocating. She thought to herself, 'Soon. Soon, I will be free.' Gia nodded calmly. "Fine. Give the blood to her," she said. Lucas froze, then his face lit up with relief. He snatched the blood bag and bolted from the room. Silence fell. The doctors exchanged helpless sighs. "Hurry up and see if we can requisition more blood!" Gia slowly closed her eyes and, to her own surprise, smiled. She had finally, completely given up. Her phone vibrated softly. She made the effort to pick it up and answered. "Ms. Rowan, all assets have been successfully transferred. The mandatory waiting period is over. The divorce has been finished," said the lawyer. The lawyer steadily continued, "Funding for Lucas's lab has been fully withdrawn, and as you requested, all the evidence is ready. You can file the lawsuit anytime." Gia let out a long sigh and smile. It was a genuine smile, too. She felt like she was finally free. Gia pulled out her IV drip after ending the call. "Ms. Rowan, you can't!" the nurse exclaimed. Gia pushed herself to her feet. Her steps wavered, but her body felt lighter than ever. "There's no need to stop me. It's alright," she said. "My life is mine to decide." She slipped on her coat and walked out without looking back. Lucas was still waiting anxiously outside the operating room at the end of the hallway, his voice tight with worry as he questioned the staff. However, Gia did not spare him a glance. She walked toward the elevator. The world was vast from then on, and she would never look back.