Chapter 3 I Owe You for What Happened Before

The loud crash startled the people inside. Cecilia flinched and yanked her hand back immediately. She shrank into the blankets, her already pale face turning even paler. Sean turned around and saw Annie standing emotionlessly at the doorway, with Suzanna simmering in fury beside her. His gentle expression froze for a moment as something uneasy flickered across his face. He quickly turned back, patting Cecilia's hand and murmuring words of comfort. He then got up and walked out of the ward with calm, controlled steps. "Do you have any shame, Sean?" Suzanna exploded. "You're a doctor with a fiancee, yet you're openly getting handsy with a patient! Where's your professionalism and dignity?" Sean frowned, but his eyes never left Annie. His tone was cold when he said, "This is between Annie and me. An outsider like you has no right to interfere." He paused, then looked directly at Annie. "Come to my office. We need to talk." She suppressed the wave of nausea rising in her chest and nodded expressionlessly. Now that Sean's mask was ripped off in this lifetime, Annie wanted to hear how he planned to justify himself. She gave Suzanna a look and signalled her to wait outside. She then followed him to the chief's office. … Sean gestured for Annie to sit. He even handed her a cup of warm water out of habit. Then, he sat across from her and got straight to the point. "Let's end the engagement. Cecilia is my first love, and the only woman I've ever loved. "The reason I got engaged to you in the first place was because your bone marrow matches hers. I needed you close, so that you'd be available to provide help whenever Cecilia needed it." A cold smirk appeared on Annie's face when she heard Sean's words. "You've kept me deceived with such an elaborate scheme for so long, so why stop now? Did you find someone new and more suitable for the bone marrow donation?" Her attitude clearly surprised him. He looked up and took a closer look at the woman before him. She seemed familiar yet foreign at the same time. Knowing Annie, she should've been shocked and found it hard to accept the truth, or broke down hysterically and demanded answers. Judging from her reaction now, something was clearly amiss. The moment their eyes met, a thought struck Sean hard. Could Annie have been reincarnated too? A mix of emotions flickered in his gaze as he recalled the two years they've been together, and their unborn child that was miscarried due to her emotional distress. Sean sighed before softening his tone. "Yes. I've already contacted a volunteer in the neighboring city who's willing to donate bone marrow. The match was good. "I'm telling you the truth now because I don't want to deceive you anymore. I don't want to drag you into this any further. What I am doing now is ultimately for your own good. I hope you can start a new life." Annie was enraged by Sean's hypocrisy. "You're truly the most shameless man I've ever met, Sean! You think by proclaiming that she's your true love, it would give you the right to sacrifice and trample another innocent person? "You dragged me into hell just to keep your first love alive. You don't deserve to be a doctor, let alone a man!" Sean looked at her cheeks, flushed from anger, and merely assumed she was throwing a tantrum over being deceived. Using a tone that was almost indulgent, he said, "I owe you for what happened before. But now that everything has restarted, there's no need to cling to what happened back then. Right now, I hope you can let go. Ending things peacefully is the best for both of us." Annie shot to her feet, grabbed the cup of warm water from the table, and flung it straight to Sean's face. "End things peacefully? Dream on!" Every lie she'd swallowed would never be forgiven so easily. Droplets of water slid down Sean's face. Annie's voice turned icy. "Let me tell you this, Sean. Just looking at you for even one more second makes my skin crawl." Sean squeezed his eyes shut from the splash. A flicker of irritation flashed across his gaze when he reopened them, but it was quickly replaced by his usual composure. He took a tissue from the table and slowly wiped his face. His tone remained condescending as he said, "Acting on impulse solves nothing. I'm aware of your family's situation. It'd be hard for you to convince your grandmother if you suddenly call off the engagement." Then, with an almost magnanimous tone, he continued, "Considering our two years together, I can be generous. I won't announce the breakup for now. We can maintain the appearance of an engaged couple for a while, just to help you deal with your family."