Meanwhile, Damien was still at the hospital with Serena.

In truth, Serena had never been in a car accident at all. She had staged the whole thing just to wring blood out of Avery. But Damien didn't know a thing.

Suddenly, a wave of unease went through Damien, like something had slipped out of his control.

Then, he thought of Avery and suddenly realized their fifth anniversary was the next day.

He planned to expose her "scandal" with Julian and drive them both out of the family.

For some reason, just thinking about it left him restless and on edge.

"Dami," Serena called softly, the way she always did when they were alone, "what are you thinking about?"

Damien snapped back and gave her a faint smile. "Nothing. Just thinking about work."

"Oh," she said. "I feel a lot better. I want to check out and go shopping. Will you take me?"

"Sure. I'll have them handle the paperwork."

Even t

By coincidence, the jewelry store was right there in the mall.

Minutes later, he walked in with Serena.

The moment the manager spotted Damien, he hurried over, presenting a dazzling sapphire ring with both hands. "Mr. Whitlow, we engraved your wedding date inside, just as you requested."

A smile tugged at Damien's lips as he nodded. "Wrap it up."

Serena couldn't take her eyes off the ring, deaf to everything the manager was saying.

"It's gorgeous!" she exclaimed, assuming it was for her. "No need to wrap it. Put it on me!"

With that, she raised her hand, reaching eagerly for the ring.

The manager hesitated, rubbing his nose awkwardly. "Miss..."

"Serena," Damien said evenly, "this ring is for Avery. Pick a different one."

Then, he took the ring, snapped a photo, and sent it to Avery.

"Do you like it? This is your anniversary gift. It goes with your bracelet."

Serena's hand froz

Avery snapped, "Damien, are you insane? I'm pregnant, and I'm severely anemic!"

The nurse was taken aback. "Mr. Whitlow, anemic patients can't donate blood, especially not a pregnant woman..."

Damien frowned. "If she donates anyway, what will happen?"

"It could be life-threatening."

Damien hesitated. On the bed, Serena fluttered her eyes open and whispered, "Damien, how could you ask Avery to help me? She's pregnant. What if it hurts the baby?"

Avery shot Serena a cold glance, her body shaking uncontrollably with anger. "Serena, you're fine, aren't you? You staged this just to toy with me!"

She should have realized sooner. Thomas had RH-negative blood. If Serena were truly in danger, there were plenty of other options before her.

Avery got up, but Damien grabbed her again.

"Avery, Serena's your sister. You can't just stand by," he said, then turned to the nurse. "Draw her blood now! If something happens to Serena, you'll answer for it!"

Damien was one of the big shots in Goldville. No one dared to cross him. The nurse swallowed hard, picked up the needle, and slid it into Avery's vein.

Avery fought and spat with gritted teeth, "You're a bastard, Damien!"

His eyes flickered, and his grip loosened, but Serena's soft sobs filled the room. "Let her go, Damien. If that's the only way, then let me die..."

Damien's memory flashed back. If not for Serena, he would have been dead years ago.

His voice turned cold as he warned, "Move again, and your grandma will pay the price!"

Avery stared at him in disbelief, then slowly went still.

She would remember this. She would make him wish he were dead!

Ten minutes later, the draw was done. The second the needle came out, Avery blacked out.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in a hospital bed. The nurse told her she had been unconscious for a full day and night.

Her limbs felt like lead, and she barely had the strength to speak.

Seeing this, the nurse rushed out and came back with food.

"Thank you," Avery said weakly.

"You're welcome," the nurse replied. Then, she muttered under her breath, "I don't know what's wrong with Mr. Whitlow. He left his pregnant wife here alone and went to sit with another woman..."

Avery kept eating quietly, as if deaf to it all. She knew Damien was with Serena, but it no longer mattered.

To him, her life had never been worth much.

Once she was able to stand, Avery signed herself out and took a cab home. She packed up her personal things and had them sent to the condominium in her name.

Then, she carried every couple's item from the past five years, including the wedding photos, into the yard and set them on fire.

Smoke curled into the afternoon sky as Damien walked in. "Avery, what are you burning?"

"Trash," she said without looking up.

"Then toss it. Why burn it?" he asked, frowning.

Once it was burned, it would be gone for good.

Avery didn't bother to answer him.

Damien thought she hadn't heard him and was about to ask again, but then suddenly thought of something.

"Serena's gotten much better. She asked me to thank you. And... Are you okay? Why did you leave the hospital so quickly?"

Avery'd had enough. She turned to go, but Damien caught her wrist again.

"I get that you're angry, but it was an emergency. I had no choice but to ask you to help Serena."

With that, he pulled a diamond necklace from his pocket. "This is my apology. Do you like it?"

First came the stick, then the carrot. Such a low tactic.

Avery snatched the necklace and hurled it to the ground.

Damien said through clenched teeth, "I paid 200 million at auction for that necklace, yet you didn't even look at it!"

"It sounds like my blood was pricey too. Still, it was cheaper than Serena's life in your book."

After saying that, she headed upstairs.

Damien started to follow her, but his phone rang. It was from Serena.

"When are you coming back to the hospital? I miss you," she said.

"Right now."

Not long after Damien left for the hospital, Julian called Avery. "I'm here. Are you ready to go?"

Avery walked to the window and saw Julian leaning against a Bugatti Veyron, smoking.

Sunlight filtered through the branches, pouring over him like gold and outlining his silhouette.

"Yeah," she said. "I'm coming down. Wait for me."

After hanging up, she walked out without looking back.

Meanwhile, Damien was still at the hospital with Serena.

In truth, Serena had never been in a car accident at all. She had staged the whole thing just to wring blood out of Avery. But Damien didn't know a thing.

Suddenly, a wave of unease went through Damien, like something had slipped out of his control.

Then, he thought of Avery and suddenly realized their fifth anniversary was the next day.

He planned to expose her "scandal" with Julian and drive them both out of the family.

For some reason, just thinking about it left him restless and on edge.

"Dami," Serena called softly, the way she always did when they were alone, "what are you thinking about?"

Damien snapped back and gave her a faint smile. "Nothing. Just thinking about work."

"Oh," she said. "I feel a lot better. I want to check out and go shopping. Will you take me?"

"Sure. I'll have them handle the paperwork."

Even though his tone was gentle, Serena could tell that his mind was elsewhere. But she didn't think much 

Chapter 9