Chapter 5

When Luciana woke again, a faint scent of flowers drifted to her nose. Stephen sat by her bedside, eyes red, lashes lowered, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. "Lucy, you're awake… The doctor said the tendons in your wrist are damaged. There might be lasting effects, and you might never be able to hold a scalpel again…" The color drained from her face. She stiffly turned her head, lips parting. Never to hold a scalpel again? No way. Luciana painfully lifted her right hand, trying to form a fist, but the sharp pain in her wrist forced it to drop heavily. "I'm sorry…" Josephine said from the doorway. "I just didn't want to lose my late-grandma's bracelet… I never thought you'd get hurt…" "Lucy, stop hurting yourself, alright? From now on, I'll take care of you. Everything I have will be yours!" Stephen said, instinctively trying to brush away the tears sliding down her cheeks. Luciana turned away. Her eyes were cold and empty. "Stephen," she whispered. "Were you worried about the bracelet, or that the horse might have hurt her?" Stephen froze, his thin lips pressing tightly together. Without hesitation, he grabbed the fruit knife and sliced his wrist. "You don't trust me, do you? Here. We'll go through this together." Luciana didn't even glance in his direction. Her heart wouldn't beat for him anymore. In the days that followed, Stephen spared no effort to win her back. Knowing she hated the smell of disinfectant, he had maids bring fresh bouquets every day. He even calculated the coordinates outside her hospital window to set off fireworks in creative patterns for her. Even the nurses taking care of her couldn't help but speak well of him. "You have no idea how panicked Mr. Cooper was," one said. "He said he'd go with you if we couldn't save you." "Exactly," the other chimed in. "We're all so jealous. Everyone in Northton knows how devoted he is to you. Just two days ago, I heard that he has a surprise for you." Luciana's fingers twitched slightly. She could only pull a bitter smile before she opened the drawer and took out a backup phone. If he were truly devoted, he wouldn't transfer 143 thousand dollars to Josephine every time he set off fireworks for her, nor would he send flowers to her and order an identical one for Josephine. She kept a backup of all these records. As for the so-called surprise everyone else talked about, she no longer expected it. The days in the hospital flew by. In just ten more days, she would be able to leave Northton. A report arrived from Blake overseas, sent directly to the laptop in her study. She hurriedly completed the discharge procedures and stumbled back to the villa. Passing by the master bedroom, Luciana caught the sound of rhythmic moaning through the slightly ajar door. "They say the more pregnant you are, the more satisfying it is. Josie, I don't think I can have enough of you anymore." A tangle of black stockings lay crumpled on the carpet. Stephen's fingers traced under the skirt. Two bodies were intertwined, and Josephine repeatedly begged, collapsing into his embrace. "If she finds out the person riding the horse was Jordan, she'll definitely be upset! What should I do? I don't want to lose her, but I don't want to lose you either." Stephen lowered his body against hers, slowly removing her skirt. His voice was hoarse and sultry as he continued his motion. "I won't tell her… on one condition. You've got to satisfy me first." Luciana instantly covered her mouth. The air around her seemed to be sucked dry, and a sharp, stabbing pain pierced her chest. It turned out that her accident had been planned all along. Stephen had been protecting Josephine all this time! She staggered, clutching the wall for support. Her nails scraped against the surface with a harsh, grating sound, as she tried to escape. Accidentally, she knocked over a painting hanging at the edge of the wall. The noise alerted those in the bedroom. "Who's out there?"