Before Zoe had time to think, the guards dragged her to the hospital.

Alder stood in the hallway with a dark and cold expression. "Elara needs a transfusion, and you're the only blood match."

Her heart clenched slightly, and she remained silent.

"Name your price. I'll pay anything, as long as you donate your blood," he said flatly and threw a signed check at her.

When she didn't move, he wrote another one with a larger amount and slapped it across her face. "Is this enough?"

Still, she said nothing. He grew increasingly irritable and kept increasing the amount, flinging check after check at her.

Finally, Zoe said in a barely audible voice, "I don't want money. I just hope you'll agree to my one request."

He frowned. "What is it?"

Lifting her head, she looked straight into his eyes and announced, "I want to leave the Holts. Once I'm gone, I want you to never look for me again."

H

The operating room's lights at the end of the hallway glowed stubbornly.

Alder's knuckles were pressed tight against the cold walls as he listened to his heart pounding in his ears. He had no idea where the restlessness came from, but it felt like something important was slipping through his fingers.

He'd rubbed the cigarette pack in his pocket so many times that its metal case had crumpled slightly. It was only when the third cigarette rolled out that he realized his fingertips were trembling.

As a flame flickered to life, the sharp sting of nicotine in his lungs made him frown.

Suddenly, a memory struck him out of nowhere. His fingers, holding a cigarette, froze under a lady's annoyed glare.

She wore a white dress. There was a smudge of cream on the ends of her hair, as if she'd just exited a bakery. 

"You're smoking again, Alder!" Her voice was laced with both frustration and co

The next three days were a living hell for Zoe. She knew Elara asked for her company just to torment her more conveniently. 

Under the scorching sun, she was made to run back and forth between dozens of pastry shops. At the jewelry store, she was ordered to hold up jewelry cases weighing over ten pounds for hours on end. Her arms shook from exhaustion, but Elara wouldn't let her rest.

The worst of it was when Elara "accidentally" spilled scalding coffee on her barely-healed back. Fresh blood immediately soaked through her dressings.

Zoe endured it all in silence and reminded herself that she would be leaving in no time—until that day at the bridal boutique.

"My legs are so sore from trying on dresses for so long. Massage them." Elara frowned as she pointed at Zoe.

Zoe had barely approached when Elara kicked her to the ground and stomped on her hand. The pain shot straight to her heart as she screamed. One by one, Elara's heels ground into her knuckles. The agony blurred her vision, and cold sweat drenched her back.

Yet, Elara smiled sweetly. "It hurts, doesn't it? Well, I find it pretty satisfying."

Just as Zoe was about to pass out from the pain, the boutique door swung open.

"Elara," Alder called out as he stood at the entrance. No one knew how long he'd been there, but he'd seen everything.

Elara's expression shifted immediately as she rushed into his arms and hurriedly explained, "Alder, don't misunderstand! I got mad because she placed a thumbtack in my shoe—"

"You don't have to explain," he said, cutting her off. His gaze swept indifferently over Zoe's bleeding hand. "She's just a maid. You're the Holts' future lady, so handle her however you like."

He lowered his head and kissed Elara's hair. "Your feelings are all I care about."

Elara beamed in delight. "Wait a bit. Let me try on the dress for you."

After she disappeared into the fitting room, Zoe struggled to sit up when a loud bang came from nearby.

"Oh, no! Ms. Vance fell down the stairs!" a shop assistant screamed.

Alder's expression fell. He rushed over and scooped up Elara, who was now covered in blood. As he hurried past Zoe, he didn't even bother to spare her a single glance.

As Zoe watched him leave, an old memory resurfaced in her mind for some reason. Back then, even if she'd just nicked a finger, he would hold her hand in panic before disinfecting and bandaging her wounds with care.

Now, even if her fingers were crushed and bloody, he wouldn't even bat an eye. Her heart throbbed as if it'd been torn open, but the pain was so numb now that it barely registered.

Suddenly, her phone rang. Zoe reached out with trembling, bloodied hands and tapped on the answer button.

"Ms. Holt, your documents for leaving Cerulea are ready. You can come collect them now."

In that moment, tears nearly spilled from her eyes. She could finally leave!

She immediately grabbed a cab and rushed to pick up her passport and ticket, not even bothering to treat her injuries.

As long as she left Cerulea, everything would be over.

Zoe packed up and got ready to leave the Holt residence. But before she could exit the house, a group of guards barged in and grabbed her shoulders.

Were they Alder's men? Why was he sending people after her?

Her heart leapt to her throat. Could it be that he'd regained his memories?

Before Zoe had time to think, the guards dragged her to the hospital.

Alder stood in the hallway with a dark and cold expression. "Elara needs a transfusion, and you're the only blood match."

Her heart clenched slightly, and she remained silent.

"Name your price. I'll pay anything, as long as you donate your blood," he said flatly and threw a signed check at her.

When she didn't move, he wrote another one with a larger amount and slapped it across her face. "Is this enough?"

Still, she said nothing. He grew increasingly irritable and kept increasing the amount, flinging check after check at her.

Finally, Zoe said in a barely audible voice, "I don't want money. I just hope you'll agree to my one request."

He frowned. "What is it?"

Lifting her head, she looked straight into his eyes and announced, "I want to leave the Holts. Once I'm gone, I want you to never look for me again."

He let out a mocking laugh, as if he'd just heard the most ridiculous thing. "You can leave anytime y

Chapter 9