Chapter 3

Catherine scoffed and walked over, picking up a syringe to prepare the medication. "It's just medicine," she grumbled. "You're not going to die. You just want Cillian's sympathy, don't you? "Don't forget he promised to marry me first before marrying you!" Seething, she grabbed Tania's hand right in front of Cillian, attempting to inject the solution into her veins. Tania, having just undergone surgery, was too weak to resist. Her throat wound was swollen, leaving her unable to speak. All she could do was violently shake her head and stare at Cillian with a pleading look in her eyes. Cillian hesitated for a moment, then nudged Catherine's hand away. "Cathy, not today," he gently said. "Let her rest for a day." But even this small request made Catherine feel wronged. Her eyes instantly reddened. "Cillian, are you serious? I already let her have you. Now I just want her to suffer a little! "Or do you think I'm in your way? Fine. I'll leave and disappear forever. Will that make you happy?" She stomped her foot in anger and tried to run, but Cillian held her back. Then, the two of them held each other–Cillian soothing the crying Catherine, looking ever so intimate. On the outside, Tania stood frozen. But on the inside, her heart sank. As expected, it hadn't taken long for Cillian to relent. He turned to her and said, "Cathy's still young, so give her a break, will you? Don't worry. I'll use enough anesthesia so you won't suffer." Despair filled Tania as she watched Cillian stick the syringe into her arm. The effects of the solution kicked in sooner than the pills. Within moments, she was overwhelmed with unbearable itchiness. Her throat became so swollen that it felt hard to breathe, and she struggled through the pain, scratching at her bandages until red streaks appeared across her wounds. Before losing consciousness, she heard Cillian's voice. "Feeling better now?" he asked. His lilt was soft and gentle, yet the indulgent tone wasn't meant for her. … This time, Tania spent three days in the ICU. When she regained consciousness, Cillian was hunched over her bedside, sound asleep. He was holding her fingers in one hand and holding a bag of macarons in the other. A sudden warmth surged through her chest. But why? She was supposed to feel nothing at all. Back then, her appetite had been poor after surgery. So, Cillian had scoured the city, buying all sorts of snacks to fill the room. In the end, she would only eat these macarons. Ever since then, after every surgery, Cillian would cross half the city to get them and stay by her side until she woke up. The memory of these sweet gestures made Tania's eyes sting. But before she could dwell on it any longer, Cillian's phone lit up with a voice message from Catherine. A distinct notification sound chimed along with the message, and Cillian snapped awake. "Cillian, the macarons are great, but the taste isn't quite right. Buy the factory so they can make them sweeter next time. Love you!" Immediately, Cillian released Tania's hand to reply to Catherine's message. "Sure." That simple response shattered the nostalgia Tania was feeling. She closed her eyes, a tear sliding down her temple and disappearing under her neck. "Tania, you're awake. How do you feel?" Cillian finally noticed her and asked. Then, he checked her vitals, took some wet wipes, and gently cleaned her up. He was the heir to the prestigious Gessner Group, yet he didn't mind caring for her like a servant. He had never complained, and over the past four years, he had been nothing but meticulous and patient. After cleaning Tania's body, he removed her socks and slowly massaged her feet. Being bedridden for three days had caused Tania's feet to be extremely swollen. Yet, under Cillian's practiced touch, sensation gradually returned to her feet. "Tania," Cillian finally said. "You're Cathy's sister-in-law. How can you pick a fight with her? "She's already upset that she can't be my wife, so just let her treat you however she wants. I promise I'll keep you safe." Tania gawked at him, feeling like her heart had been shattered into a million pieces. His touch was so gentle, yet his words cut through her like a blade. She had spent four years with this man, but did he truly love her? And if he did, why did he keep siding with Catherine by allowing her to suffer over and over again? Tania's lips trembled, but she couldn't speak. Taking her silence as agreement, Cillian turned to leave. No sooner had he left than did Catherine barge in. "You bitch!" she hissed. "You must be so proud that Cillian massaged your feet, aren't you?"