Loved Too Late

On New Year's Eve, Facebook blew up. The reason was that Bennett Miles, the golden boy of Crestmoor’s elite, posted an update. In the photo, a shy young woman hid her face as she leaned against his shoulder while he grinned. His eyes were full of affection and mischief. His caption read, "What do I do? Looks like I'm officially taken." Friends in his circle flooded the comment section with congratulations. The real frenzy began when Bennett announced that the first 10,000 followers to like, share, and comment on the post would each receive a gold bar. The internet went wild with envy and curiosity. Everyone scrambled to find out more about the woman in the picture. Then, someone claiming to have inside information started a livestream. "Stop guessing. Her name is Kara Sierra. You know Sierra Hall at Crestmoor College? That building was named after her! "Two years ago, she had kidney failure. Bennett personally donated one of his own kidneys to save her!" Chapter 1 "If Bennett hadn’t pulled the whole damsel-in-distress act by soaking in the lake for three hours in the dead of winter, Kara still wouldn’t have agreed to make it official. He was so happy that he started handing out money left and right!" Netizens all agreed that Kara was one lucky woman to be adored so completely by Crestmoor’s golden boy, and to have him so devoted to her. At tonight's gala, Bennett had stayed in the artificial lake for three whole hours just to prove a point. Finally, Kara caved and agreed to make their relationship public. Overjoyed, Bennett had picked her up and spun her in circles. He even teared up. "Kara finally agreed to make it official! I’m the luckiest guy alive!" Crestmoor’s most rebellious heir was grinning like a lovesick kid. This was until Bennett’s friends dragged him off to get changed, while Kara went to find him some cold medicine. That’s when she stumbled upon an old phone. It was filled with videos. All of them were self-recorded messages from Bennett. The first one was from eight years ago. In the video, a younger Bennett stared into the camera. He seemed grief-stricken, and his eyes were bloodshot. He was trying to hide his pain, but it bled through every word. "Natalie, I found the girl. The one who stole your heart. Why? You’re dead, and you weren’t even allowed to rest in peace. Why does she get to live with your heart beating inside her? She’s still out there, happy and alive. I hate her. She’s a thief. I swear, I’ll make her life a living hell." The second, third, and fourth videos were all the same. Bennett spilled his love for Natalie Johnson while drowning in hatred for Kara. The sheer depth of his hatred, his grief, and his obsession felt like it was seeping through the screen. Sierra sat frozen, unable to reconcile the Bennett she knew with the man in these videos. Her hands trembled as she continued watching. In the 14th video, he said, "Natalie, everyone thinks I’m in love with Kara. You’re not jealous, are you? I just wanted to keep a part of you with me. Don’t worry. I’ll never love her. I just want to watch her fall for me like a fool. It’s hilarious." In the 15th video, he said, "Natalie, I slept with her. I was thinking of you the entire time. I thought of your face and your name, and I felt your heart beating along with mine. It was perfect." The screen went dark. Kara lifted her hand to her cheek only to find it wet with tears. She was an orphan, and she had grown up in a foster home. Born with a congenital heart defect, she had spent her entire life being cast aside and pitied. Things only changed after she met Bennett. Bennett had stood in freezing temperatures to buy her favorite crab croquettes even when it left his ears frostbitten. He had flown halfway across the world through a raging storm just because he was worried she’d be scared of the thunder at night. He had even shielded her with his own body during an earthquake, taking a terrible wound. She had fallen for him over his genuine display of affection. Chapter 2 Kara thought she had met her soulmate, but it turned out that the girl who had donated her heart to her when she had a heart attack was the one Bennett truly loved. It explained why he always liked to feel her heartbeat. She thought it was just a kink he liked, but it turned out that Bennett was actually thinking of another woman. Kara wiped away her tears and shakily stood up. She wanted to find Bennett and confront him. She made her way up the spiral staircase. Just as she was about to enter the bedroom, she heard his friends talking inside. "Bennett, you're not really going through with this, are you? Don't forget our original goal. Kara took Natalie’s heart, and she should pay the price! Just playing with her feelings would be too easy for her." "Didn't Natalie freeze her eggs back then? I think Kara should be the one to carry a child for you and Natalie, so she can atone for her sins!" "That's a good idea. That way, Bennett can still have an heir with Natalie. Then, once the kid’s born, he can toss Kara aside." Kara froze, her blood turning cold as she listened to their laughter and taunts. She shivered and felt the chill go deep into her bones. Yet deep inside, there was still a flicker of hope. She waited for Bennett’s response. After a while, his voice could be heard. “Be careful. Don’t let Kara hear about this. I’m just enjoying the feeling of Natalie’s heart beating for me. As for surrogacy, that’s a good idea. It’s what she owes Natalie!” The others burst into laughter. Kara felt as though she had fallen into a pit. Through the door crack, she saw Bennett’s face flickering in and out of view. It was as if she had never known him at all. Her sharp nails dug into her palms, but she couldn’t even feel the pain. Kara left the villa. She felt lost and broken. It was raining outside. The rain soaked her dress, and her hair clung to her forehead and face. She walked aimlessly, like a wandering soul, until the sudden sound of her phone ringing startled her. It was Bennett calling. She hung up again and again, and when she hung up for the 108th time, she received a message from the orphanage director, Marilyn Carter. “Kara, remember that overseas businessman I told you about? He’s sent someone to inquire again. He said that if you agree, he’ll immediately transfer a mansion worth over 100 million to you, and the wedding gift is still up for discussion. Will you agree? Let me know what you think.” The rainwater made her phone screen wet, and Kara’s frozen fingers tightly gripped the phone. She returned Marilyn's call. “Marilyn, I agree to the marriage proposal you mentioned." “Alright then! I’ll have him contact you.” Kara lowered her eyes, concealing the emotions in them, and forced a smile. “Okay. Once I finish up things here, I’ll go overseas with him.” She ended the call with a bitter smile. Bennett, the powerful man in Crestmoor, controlled everything in the country. As long as she stayed here, she would never escape his grasp. So, she decided to marry abroad. From now on, they would be apart and never meet again. Chapter 3 After making the decision, Kara felt all her strength leave her, and she collapsed heavily onto the ground. She splashed water everywhere. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hospital. "Kara, you're finally awake! Do you know how scared I was?" Bennett exclaimed, pulling her into his arms as if he were trying to merge her into his very being. He only released her when she was nearly suffocating. His eyes were red with worry. "What happened? Why didn't you answer my calls? If it wasn't for our phones being linked for location tracking, I wouldn't even know what happened to you!" Bennett, usually rebellious, showed unusually deep concern. So now he was worried? What would his reaction be if he found out she was marrying someone else? Kara wearily withdrew her hand and smiled faintly, though her face was a bit pale. "You called me? I didn’t notice. I went out to buy medicine since there wasn’t any at home. I might have put my phone on silent." "You two really are something! "On New Year's Eve, when you went missing, Bennett almost called the police. He gathered our friends and drove around Crestmoor all night looking for you. If they hadn’t found you, he probably would have done something drastic! "Knowing about your heart condition, he even booked an entire floor in the hospital and summoned the top cardiologist with a helicopter to treat you. You had a fever for three days, and he didn’t sleep for those three days. He stayed by your side the entire time!" If this had been in the past, Kara would've been touched and would've cupped Bennett’s face, urging him to get some rest. But now, Kara merely asked listlessly, "It was just a little rain. Was it really necessary to call in a cardiologist?" "Ahem–" Several of Bennett's friends exchanged glances and then quickly left to give them space. Bennett called the doctor, and after a thorough check-up on Kara’s condition and confirming there were no issues, he finally let out a sigh of relief. After the doctor left, Bennett hastily took out two capsules from a medicine bottle. "Kara, take these heart supplements. They’ll help protect your heart. You haven’t taken them for the last few days since you were unconscious. You can't skip them now." The two capsules lay silently in Bennett's palm. What was once sweet now felt like poison. Kara’s eyes reddened. "I don’t want to take them now." "You have to. I know your condition better than anyone. You’ve been out in the rain, had a fever, and if your emotions get too stirred up, your heart won’t be able to take it! You have to take them. I’ll feed them to you." Before she could say anything else, Bennett decisively placed the capsules in his mouth, then cupped her head with his hands and kissed her forcefully. He was domineering, pushing her to swallow the capsules, and only then did he release her. "Babe, you’re the best." Kara struggled to suppress the lump in her throat. Was that 'babe' meant for her or was it meant for Natalie? It turned out that many things had been apparent even eight years ago. Bennett had fallen in love with her at first sight. From that moment on, he had been by her side, following her like a shadow. Every morning, after breakfast, he would make sure she took two capsules for her heart. He insisted on supervising her to sleep before 10 o'clock every night, warning her not to stay up late or it might cause heart issues. To take care of her, Bennett even got a nutritionist certification, fearing the high-fat and high-salt meals at the cafeteria would add extra stress to her heart. It turned out that all of that wasn’t for her. It was because of the heart that was beating inside her. "Kara, why is your face so pale? Is your heart bothering you? I see your heart rate is rising! What kind of incompetent doctors have you been seeing? I’m going to get them!" The heart monitor emitted a series of beeps, and Bennett’s expression changed. He rushed out like a gust of wind. Kara looked down and saw the heart monitor on her finger. She endured the aching feeling in her heart as she removed the device, tossing it away like she was discarding the past and all the love that had once filled her. Three days later, Kara was discharged. Bennett organized a gathering to help her shake off the bad energy, and just like after their public announcement, he couldn’t wait to introduce Kara to the people in his social circle. Kara didn’t want to go, but she couldn’t resist Bennett’s pleading. Anyway, she was about to leave soon. She wanted to see what Bennett could come up with next. "Oh, are you Bennett's future wife? You're truly beautiful. No wonder Bennett is keeping such a close eye on you. We’re playing truth or dare. Care to join?" As soon as Kara arrived, a woman with long, wavy hair pulled her inside. Kara instinctively turned to look at Bennett, who furrowed his brows slightly. "Kara’s heart is weak. Take it easy–" "We know, Bennett. This is the first time we’ve seen you so concerned about someone besides my sister. Too bad my sister passed away when she was only fifteen. She was hit by an overloaded truck, and there wasn’t even a complete body left." The woman, Vanessa Johnson, pretended to wipe away a tear, not caring that the entire room had gone quiet. She pulled Kara into a booth. However, Kara couldn’t stop hearing Vanessa’s words echo in her ears. She didn’t even know what the game was anymore until Vanessa nudged her shoulder. Kara clearly heard her ask, "Bennett, you lost this round! Let’s have a truth question. Is your true love here with us today?" Chapter 4 Kara instinctively looked at Bennett. His face was shrouded in the amber glow of the light, making it hard to see his expression. Someone in the know nudged Vanessa and whispered, "Vanessa, don't stir up trouble. Bennett just made his relationship official. Of course, he loves his girlfriend. There's no doubt about it!" "This question is pointless. Let's move on to the next round!" Someone urged them to continue. Kara tuned out their banter, keeping her eyes fixed on Bennett. It felt like an eternity had passed before he let out a soft chuckle, picked up his glass, and downed his drink in one go. "What a ridiculous question. I can't even be bothered to answer it. I'll take the dare." Kara was speechless. Although she had braced herself, she still felt a chill down her spine. She made an excuse and left for the restroom. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she noticed how pale her face was. Her eyes were tinged with redness as if she had suffered a great grievance. She lowered her gaze, forcing herself to swallow the bitter ache rising in her heart. Just as she turned to leave, someone blocked her way. Vanessa leaned leisurely against the restroom door, a cigarette between her fingers, and smirked. "So, you're the woman Bennett chased for eight years? Kara, right? I heard you had heart surgery eight years ago. The heart beating inside you belongs to my sister. Did you know that? "Do you really think you've turned into some kind of Cinderella? If not for my sister's heart, he wouldn't even look at you. You're nothing more than a vessel." Vanessa flicked the ash from her cigarette. Her tone was laced with mockery. "Oh, and do you remember that guy back in senior year who hid behind the door to scare you? Do you know what happened to him in the end?" Vanessa smiled. Kara's face turned even paler. Back in her senior year, a boy had played a prank on her by jumping out from behind a door to startle her. Bennett had stormed forward in a rage, throwing punch after punch at the guy until he fell to his knees and begged for mercy. He was nearly dying. Later, Kara heard that the same guy had been robbed and stabbed more than a dozen times. Kara felt ice-cold blood rush through her veins. "That robbery… Bennett arranged it?" "A vessel should know its place. Your only job is to keep my sister's heart healthy. Stay out of everything else." Vanessa tilted her head back and laughed. When Kara returned to the room, the game of truth or dare was still ongoing. This time, Bennett lost again. The question was 'Do you love your current girlfriend?' Standing just outside the door, Kara clearly heard Bennett scoff. "Love Kara? She's just a vessel. How could I possibly love her? Stop asking stupid questions." "Hahaha, of course! Bennett's photo album is still filled with pictures of Natalie. He spends every night on his secret Facebook account reminiscing about her. A guy like him? How could he ever fall for someone else? Hey, wanna bet? I'll mess with Kara a little, and I guarantee Bennett won't even object!" "Really? I thought after chasing her for eight years, he might've developed some feelings." Vanessa returned at the perfect moment. Just as Kara was about to turn and leave, Vanessa shoved her forward, forcing her back into the room. The next round began. This time, Kara lost. One of Bennett's close friends poured out 88 shots and grinned. "Well, looks like you have no choice but to take the dare! Either drink all 88 shots, or do 10 push-ups!" "Only ten? That shouldn't be too hard, right? You should pick the push-ups, Kara. I heard you're allergic to alcohol." Kara stared at the shots lined up on the table. Her throat clenched. She lifted her head and looked at Bennett. "Bennett, should I drink or do push-ups?" Kara had been allergic to alcohol from a young age. Drinking would make her break out in painful red rashes all over her body, but doing push-ups would mean putting strain on her heart. She left the choice to Bennett. He picked up a shot glass, brought it to her, and spoke in that same gentle tone. "Babe, be good. You have a heart condition. Even one push-up could make you unwell. Drink these, and I'll take you straight to a doctor." "Okay, I get it." Kara let out a small, bitter laugh. She tilted her head back and tried to hold back her tears. But they fell anyway, slipping down her cheeks and mixing with the harsh burn of the alcohol. It tasted salty and bitter all at once. She kept drinking, glass after glass. By the time she was almost done, red rashes covered her arms, itching and stinging unbearably. And still, she kept going. She didn't stop until Bennett cursed under his breath and snatched the glass from her. He scooped her up in his arms. "All you do is drink. Why don't you just drink yourself to death? Somebody get the family doctor, now! "And bring her heart medication! Kara's upset. Her heart might act up!" Seeing how worried he seemed, Kara finally closed her eyes. A vessel should indeed know its place. Chapter 5 Kara was allergic to alcohol. She broke out in a widespread rash. The doctor prescribed eczema medication, but it seemed to have side effects on her heart. "Kara, it's just some itching. If you just bear with it, it'll pass. "If it leaves scars, I'll find the best plastic surgeon in the country to treat you! "We can't take any chances if this medicine possibly has side effects. Your heart has been through surgery. I can't even begin to imagine losing you if something happens!" Inside the villa, Kara looked up at the man keeping watch beside her. His eyes were filled with concern and love, yet his words only made her heart grow colder. It was summer, yet she felt ice-cold. There was a chill that seeped into her bones. "Bennett, the doctor said the side effects are so rare that maybe one in a thousand people would experience them. "I can't even sleep from the itching. Are you sure you won't let me take it?" Her throat felt dry when she spoke. "Kara–" Pain flickered across Bennett's face. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he quickly pulled out a bottle of sleeping pills from the drawer and eagerly poured out a few. "Take this. These sleeping pills were prescribed by our family doctor. They have no side effects. If you take them, you'll be able to sleep." Afraid that Kara would insist on taking the eczema medication, he swiftly stuffed the bottle into his pocket. Just then, his phone rang. Anxiously, he rushed out to take the call. It was as if staying even a second longer would give Kara the chance to ask for the medicine again. Kara's hand was suspended in midair. There were more than ten sleeping pills on her palm. If she took them all, it would likely be a fatal dose. She turned away. Her tears silently soaked into the pillow. At that moment, a call came in from abroad. She absent-mindedly picked it up. "Hello? Who is this?" "Miss Sierra, hello. I heard from Miss Carter that you've agreed to the marriage. I'm calling to inform you that the wedding will be held as soon as possible. Are you okay with that?" Kara suddenly recalled that she had agreed to Marilyn's request. She forced a smile. "I'm fine with that. But there's something I'd like to ask you for help with." "I'm at your service." "I don't want a wedding gift worth billions or a villa. Instead, I'd like you to help me fake an accident. On the day I head to Solaria, I plan to take the Odyssey Cruise. Could you fabricate news that I accidentally fell overboard?" There was a brief silence on the other end before they quickly agreed. "Understood, Miss Sierra. I'm looking forward to our wedding." Kara politely ended the call. The moment she hung up, Bennett rushed in with an anxious look on his face. Visibly tense, he sat by the bed. "Kara, I just heard you mention a wedding. Who's getting married?" "Just a friend," Kara brushed him off. Fortunately, Bennett didn't press further. For the next few days, he seemed unusually busy. He always left home early and returned late. Kara wasn't idle either. Unable to sleep at night due to the itching, she spent her time researching immigration policies. At dawn, she went to the immigration office to complete the necessary paperwork. Once everything was settled, she returned home and slowly began packing her belongings. Eight years wasn't a short period of time. Over the years, Bennett had written her a love letter every week, filling an entire bookshelf. She gathered them all, placed them in a fire basin, and burned them. Bennett had a diary filled with notes about her preferences. The first page stated that she had a heart condition and needed special care, followed by a list of precautions. Things that had once felt like love now felt like a sharp blade, cutting her open and leaving her bleeding. The second page noted her alcohol allergy, warning that she must never drink. Yet, hadn't she downed those 88 glasses of alcohol under his watchful eyes? The fiery taste had burned straight into her heart. – Kara hugged her knees, crouching on the floor as she watched the flames consume the letters and diary. Bennett rushed home just in time to witness this scene. Panicked, he pulled off his jacket and frantically tried to smother the fire, completely disregarding the risk of burns as he pulled the diary from the flames. Ash scattered everywhere, some landing on the back of Kara's hand, scalding her and making her inhale sharply. "Kara, didn't I tell you not to touch anything in that room? If anything happens to this diary, I'll make you pa–" Bennett caught himself before finishing the words' pay for it'. He had noticed that the diary was still signed with 'Kara' on the cover. After sighing in relief, he finally realized that she had been burned. He frowned. "How could you be so careless? There's burn ointment in the drawer. Go take care of it yourself." With that, he strode upstairs without looking back. There was a locked room on the third floor of the villa, a place where Bennett never allowed anyone near. Now, as if desperate to prove something, he unlocked the door in a hurry. He was so preoccupied that he didn't even notice Kara following silently behind him. At the corner of the hallway, Kara caught sight of the room's interior. Her eyes widened in shock. The walls were covered with photos of a couple. Beneath a cherry blossom tree in spring, amidst golden wheat fields in summer, on a bed of red maple leaves in autumn, and beside a snow-covered road in winter. These were places she and Bennett had once traveled together, and they included every photo they had ever taken. Her face had been replaced in all of them. All of them had been altered with AI, swapping her out for an unfamiliar woman. That had to be Natalie's face. Kara's heart clenched. A suffocating pain jabbed at her heart like a thousand needles. Even the burn on her hand seemed insignificant in comparison. Clutching her aching heart, she found herself unable to breathe or even utter a single word. Chapter 6 Kara clutched her heart in pain. She slowly crouched down and curled into a ball. When Bennett stepped out and saw this, he was terrified. Rushing over, he scooped Kara up in his arms. He looked genuinely anxious and distressed. "Kara, is it your heart again? The doctor said you can't get too worked up!" "B-Bennett, my medicine. It's in my pocket," Kara gasped. Bennett quickly carried her to the bedroom, carefully laying her on the bed before fishing out her heart medication from her pocket. Only after she had stabilized did he realize that he was drenched in cold sweat. Under his care, Kara's heart condition hadn't flared up for almost four years. But this time– A dreadful realization struck Bennett. His throat went dry, and it took him a while to find his voice. "Kara, did you see anything in the room on the third floor just now?" "Do you mean the secret room?" Kara smiled bitterly. Back when they first started dating, everyone had told her that Bennett had a secret room where he kept something very important to him. She hadn't looked into it at the time. Now she finally understood. The thing hidden in that room was the person he cherished the most. Under Bennett's searching gaze, Kara shook her head. "I didn't see anything. I collapsed before I could." Bennett let out a long sigh as if he had narrowly avoided disaster. He hurriedly picked up the phone to call the family doctor, completely missing the moment when the last trace of hope faded from Kara's eyes. Kara's heart condition was a chronic illness. It couldn't be cured, only managed. The doctor prescribed alternative medicine, and for the next week, Bennett personally took care of everything. He stayed in the kitchen for hours each day, carefully brewing the medicine before feeding it to Kara, spoon by spoon. "Kara, this medicine is too bitter. I bought your favorite chestnut cake to help with the taste." Bennett's voice was filled with affection. Kara smiled a little. The chestnut cakes from the north side of the city were always in high demand. To get a box, one had to line up at 3 o'clock in the morning. He had put in the effort. If she hadn't uncovered the truth, she might have really believed he loved her deeply. Even during their afternoon naps, he would hold her hand tightly. Kara looked around at the wall of dolls that covered an entire side of the bedroom. She felt a deep bitterness in her heart. She loved claw machines, so Bennett had scoured the entire city for the latest ones, helping her win over ten thousand plushies. In the center of them, two porcelain dolls stood side by side. Kara fetched a small stool. She climbed onto it to reach the two porcelain dolls. "Kara, why didn't you call me when you woke up? If you wanted these dolls, you could've just told me. It's too high up. What if you fell? That would break my heart!" A large hand suddenly reached over her head. Bennett asked in a curious tone, "What do you want these dolls for?" "Nothing. They just looked a little dusty, and I wanted to wipe them clean." "The maids can take care of that–" Before Bennett could finish his sentence, his phone rang. He picked it up, and his expression instantly changed. "How could you be so careless? I'll be right there!" Through the phone, Kara clearly heard the voice on the other end. It was Vanessa's, and she was choked with tears. Bennett hesitated. "Kara, a friend of mine is in trouble–" "Go ahead," Kara said flatly. Her indifference made Bennett feel inexplicably irritated. But the voice on the other end was pressing him, and he didn't have time to explain. "Wait for me at home. I'll be back as soon as I can." He hastily handed the dolls to Kara before turning to leave. In his rush, the dolls grazed Kara's fingers before slipping from her grasp. They shattered against the floor. Amidst the shards of porcelain, a folded piece of paper tumbled out. "Natalie, my one and only love. I will always be your knight in shining armor." A jagged shard cut across Kara's hand, but she didn't feel the pain. Her phone screen kept lighting up with Vanessa's messages. "See? Didn't I tell you? The reason he loves winning plushies with you is that my sister loved claw machines too! Kara, you're just a stand-in. "Guess what I told him over the phone? I said my sister's grave had some issues, and Bennett rushed off in a panic. Hahaha. "Oh, by the way, doesn't Bennett have a secret room full of my sister's things? The password is her birthday! You should check it out. You'll be in for a surprise." Images of countless AI-generated face swaps flashed through Kara's mind. Her insides twisted like they were being wrung dry. She stood at the door of the secret room, lifted her hand, but let it fall again. She would be leaving soon. Who Bennett loved no longer had anything to do with her. Chapter 7 For three days and nights, Kara's messages were completely ignored. On the first day, Vanessa sent her a photo of a distant figure. "Stop waiting. Bennett is personally relocating my sister's grave. It's a perfect burial site. Beautiful, isn't it?" On the second day, Vanessa shared a Facebook account with her. It was Bennett's private account. It was filled with thousands of messages, every single one pouring out his grief and longing for Natalie. The content was dense and overwhelming, and it cut Kara like a knife. On the third day, one of Bennett's friends suddenly messaged her. "Kara, you need to get to the hospital right away! Bennett got into a fight this afternoon. It was one against eight guys. He's badly injured and has been calling your name the whole time." Kara's heart sank. They had been together for eight years. She couldn't just stand by and do nothing. When she arrived at the hospital, she overheard a nurse sighing in the hallway. "Bennett really is something. I heard that when his first love got into a car accident, he stayed by her corpse for over 70 hours. He even insisted on dying with her. It took everything to talk him out of it, and now he's fighting over a grave?" "Kara, you're finally here! Bennett, he–" Kara trembled. A bitter taste filled her throat. Just then, a nurse rushed out anxiously. "The patient is losing too much blood! We're out of his blood type in the bank. Who here has type A blood? We need a donor immediately!" Kara stepped forward. "I do." Inside the blood collection room, the nurse looked at Kara's increasingly pale face and felt a pang of sympathy. "Miss, you've already given two pints. If we take any more, you'll be in danger–" "It's fine. Keep going." As the third needle pierced her skin, Kara's mind started drifting. Through the haze, she caught a glimpse of a figure passing quickly outside the room. "Michel, the woman Bennett arranged to be the surrogate for my sister is in the blood collection room right now. Just go in and check her. He's taken care of everything else." "Bennett is quite clever. Afraid his girlfriend wouldn't agree to be a surrogate, so he faked an injury to trick her into coming to the hospital!" Kara could clearly hear them mocking her. For a moment, her mind went blank. Then the door swung open, and Vanessa entered. She was practically glowing with excitement, and she had a foreign doctor in tow. "Kara, you really are a fool, huh? Rushing to donate blood for Bennett like this. What a shame. It was all just a setup!" Kara watched Vanessa talk animatedly, but her vision was growing blurry. She couldn't help but think back to their first meeting. Bennett had casually slung his backpack onto the desk beside her, pulled out a chair, and said, "Kara, right? From now on, I'll be your deskmate. I'll take care of you." Time had flown. But all along, the person he truly wanted to protect was never her. Bennett was strong, and thanks to timely medical care, he recovered well. The moment he woke up, the first thing he did was look for his phone. His friends immediately pressed him back down. "Bennett! Just stay put. If they hadn't gotten you here in time, you might've bled out and met the Grim Reaper already!" "Move. Give me my phone." "Bennett–" His friend hesitated. Bennett's patience ran thin. Feeling exhausted, he rubbed his temples. "I left in a hurry and didn't explain things to Kara. I've been gone for so long. She must be worried." His friends chuckled dryly. "Man, you really are a romantic. Don't tell me you've actually fallen for Kara." "I–" Bennett's throat clenched. For the first time, he didn't know how to answer. Whenever he thought of Natalie's gentle expression, he always felt suffocated. In the past, he had never dared to confront this question. But now, having brushed against death, his mind had never felt clearer. Determination settled in his eyes as he slowly spoke. "Actually, all these years–" Before he could finish, the door was suddenly pushed open. "Bennett! Michel just finished Kara's examination. Her body is in perfect condition. As soon as we get my sister's frozen eggs, we can proceed with the implantation this week! My sister's last wish is finally coming true!" Bennett's words were cut off abruptly. He was momentarily dazed. "What examination?" "Oh, come on, don't pretend, Bennett! Didn't you fake getting injured just to lure Kara here for the surrogacy check-up? Remember how my sister's biggest regret was not being able to marry and have kids with you? Well, now her wish is finally coming true!" His friends all cheered for him. Their excitement drowned out the words he had been about to say. A violent storm raged in Bennett's eyes. His voice turned ice-cold. "Shut up. All of you." Chapter 8 By the time Kara woke up, the examination was already over. She couldn't even be bothered to confront Bennett and went home alone. Soon, everything would come to an end. By the time Bennett returned, Kara was packing her suitcase. She didn't have much. Her stuff was just enough to fill a small luggage bag. Bennett rushed forward, gripping her hand excitedly, yet he didn't dare meet her eyes. "Kara, remember I mentioned that top cardiologist, Michel, a couple of years ago? I went on a business trip this week just to bring him here. I finally convinced him to come! "He's only staying in Crestmoor for two days. I'll take you to see him today so he can check your heart, okay?" Bennett sounded desperate. Kara studied him for a moment before responding, "Didn't you say a friend had an emergency? How did that turn into a business trip?" "I–" "Let's go. I only have four hours. Will that be enough?" Kara pretended not to notice the way Bennett's expression turned gloomy. She continued packing. Only then did Bennett realize how much emptier the room had become. He frowned. "Kara, why are you packing? And where are all your plush toys?" Kara stopped moving for a moment. "My best friend just went through a breakup and asked me to go on a trip abroad with her. You weren't home these past few days, so I didn't get a chance to tell you. The cruise leaves tonight, and I already bought the ticket. If we're going to the hospital, we need to leave now, or I won't make it in time." "Oh." So that's what it was. The unease in Bennett's heart was forcibly suppressed. With time running short, he didn't have the luxury to think about anything else. He grabbed Kara's hand and took her straight to the hospital. He even tossed her suitcase into the trunk just in case. Kara silently observed it all. The examination was soon completed. This time, she was here for the embryo transfer. Before the procedure, Michel walked in with the test results. The first thing he said was, "Hello, Miss Sierra." "Let's speak in your native language. She won't understand," Bennett interrupted hastily. As he spoke, he stole a quick glance at Kara. Seeing that she looked unaffected, he looked away. Michel nodded quickly. "Ah, of course, Mr. Miles. Miss Sierra's health has improved a lot under your care! She is now fully capable of carrying a child. However, pregnancy can be tough. Is she willing to go through with it?" "You don't need to worry about that. Just find an excuse to implant the embryo." Bennett spoke with a hint of indulgence in his tone. He even looked at Kara with affection. Kara found it laughable. She had already learned the foreign language three years ago. Bennett still thought his deception was flawless. Would he really feel no guilt, even when she was lying on the operating table? Kara bit her lip and turned to Bennett. "What are you two talking about? Is there something wrong with my health?" "No, nothing. Michel just mentioned a small issue with your heart. You'll need a minor procedure. It's only an hour-long surgery. Is that okay?" Bennett stroked her long hair intimately. Although Kara had expected this, she still felt a hollow ache in her heart. She smiled at him. "Will it be done in time? I have a ship to catch tonight." Bennett hesitated for a moment. Then, as if making some sort of decision, he gently patted her head. "Be good. After the surgery, I'll personally arrange a helicopter to take you there." With that, Michel's assistant led Kara away to be prepped for anesthesia. In the office, Bennett couldn't shake the image of Kara's eyes as she looked at him before leaving. Her gaze, clear and bright, was filled with deep grievance and fear. His unease grew stronger. Michel continued adjusting the implantation procedure on the computer, but Bennett only grew more irritable. When the operating room's red light flicked on, he finally snapped and kicked over a chair. "Stop! I've changed my mind. Cancel the surgery now!" Bennett bolted out and tried to stop the doors from closing. A few nurses attempted to hold him back, but he pushed past them. He flung open the operating room doors, only to find that the person on the hospital bed wasn't Kara. His heart dropped, and his roar nearly shook the entire hospital. "Where's Kara? Where did my girlfriend go?" "Please don't panic, Mr. Miles, Miss Sierra said she was in a hurry to catch her ship, so the surgery has been postponed," the assistant stammered. The man who had been on the verge of exploding suddenly went quiet. For some reason, he felt a hint of relief. He immediately reached for his phone, intending to call Kara, when a notification popped up at the top of his screen. "The Odyssey Cruise collided with reefs. Nearly 20 passengers fell overboard. The casualty list has been released–" Such bad luck! Bennett instinctively dismissed the alert. However, his finger froze mid-air. The casualty list was displayed. Kara was one of the deceased.