Chapter 2

There was no telling how much time had passed before Vivienne came to. A sharp pain shot up from her lower abdomen, and she couldn't help feeling as if something important were disappearing from her life. A coppery tang filled the air as Vivienne bled profusely. A sudden realization hit her, followed by insurmountable panic and unease. "The baby… My baby…" The first person she thought of calling in her moment of crisis was the one she loved most. It was a strenuous feat for her to crawl toward her fallen phone, lying a few feet away, and her hands shook as she dialed Sebastian's number. A steady, mechanical beeping greeted her. After waiting for what felt like a century, the call was finally answered. But before she could beg Sebastian for help, she heard breathy, female moans coming from the other end of the line. "Sebastian, I can't… I can't hold back anymore…" Vivienne's mind went blank as a sharp pain tore through her, threatening to drown her. All she heard was the sound of a woman moaning and panting, the amorous noises like a cursed chant. Sweat trickled into her eyes, stinging them. She teared up. She could no longer tell if the pain came from her body or her heart. Her vision grew black, and she fainted once more. … "The patient's losing a lot of blood! She needs a transfusion. Go to the blood bank now!" "The patient is RH negative, and the blood bank has a limited supply of that blood type to begin with. But a patient named Melanie Schafer already requested most of it. What do we do now? The remaining pints we have left aren't enough to save this patient!" "What do you mean someone else requested the blood? I had you place an order the moment this patient arrived. How could anyone have beaten us to it?" "Holt Group owns this hospital, and Ms. Melanie Schafer is rumored to be dating Sebastian Holt, the CEO. Who in their right mind would challenge her?" Someone sighed. "If only we'd put in the order sooner. I feel bad for this patient… Call her next of kin, and see if someone from her family can donate blood." "I'd do that, but she only has three contacts on her phone… None of them has the last name 'Moore.'" "Then, call the three contacts. We'll see how it goes from there." … The pungent scent of antiseptic filled Vivienne's nose. She slowly opened her eyes, her lashes fluttering. "Look who's waking up." A low, husky male voice rang out beside her. She lifted her head to see a familiar, warm, and handsome face. She froze, then asked in surprise, "Jason? What are you doing here?" Jason Lockhart gazed down at Vivienne's pale face and teased, "You walked away from a billion-dollar family business and the glamorous life of an heiress to pursue true love, and for what? To die on the operating table?" Vivienne fell silent. Jason was her biological older brother, though they had different last names because one had taken their father's and the other their mother's. She didn't know whether she had truly been on the brink of death. She might have blacked out, but she had been conscious enough to overhear the doctors talking. A sudden thought crossed her mind, and she turned to Jason. "Jason, is my baby okay?" Jason's eyes flickered. "You lost too much blood. It took a lot to save you. You… lost the baby." The blood drained from Vivienne's face as she instinctively touched her stomach. She felt as if her organs had been crushed together, the pain so overwhelming she could hardly function. "I lost the baby?" Tears streamed down her face as she muttered, "Maybe it's for the best… That way, the baby won't have to suffer through my loveless marriage." Jason was quiet for a few seconds. Then he said, "Come home, Vivienne. Mom and Dad have missed you all these years." Years ago, Vivienne had fallen out with her family just to be with Sebastian. She gave up her status as the heiress of Moore Corporation, insisting she wanted to marry Sebastian—to be his loyal, loving wife and the mother of his children. Unfortunately, not only had she failed to make him love her, but she had also endured hardship in the Holt family. Now, she had lost her baby and nearly lost her life. At that moment, it felt like a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over her, clearing her mind. What had she been hoping to get out of all these years of marriage to Sebastian? Had she hoped for him to openly cheat on her with his true love? Or for the rest of the Holt family to bully her and break her to their will? "I'm sorry, Jason." Vivienne's eyes were rimmed red. She regretted the decision she'd made out of stubbornness all those years ago. Jason, however, smiled. "It's not too late to turn back." Vivienne found out from Jason that the housekeeper had discovered her unconscious and had her sent to the hospital. If she'd been found any later, she might have died. … A week later, Vivienne was discharged. She'd asked Jason to draw up her divorce papers. She did not ask for any part of Sebastian's fortune. The Moore family was wealthy to begin with, and Jason was even more so. What they had far exceeded the money she could have gotten from her divorce with Sebastian. While Jason left to prepare the divorce papers, Vivienne packed her belongings and headed downstairs. Just then, a soft, feminine voice rang out. "Oh? What are you doing here, Vivienne?" Vivienne glared at Melanie. "I doubt that's any of your business, Ms. Schafer." The soft, feminine voice belonged to none other than Sebastian's first love, Melanie. She wore a white dress that accentuated her slender, delicate frame, making her look all the more vulnerable. Sauntering up to Vivienne, Melanie smiled. "I cut my finger last week and lost a lot of blood. Sebastain was worried the blood loss would affect me in the long run and insisted I come to the hospital for a reassessment." Her hand fluttered to her lips as she let out a light chuckle. "Sebastian knows about my special condition—that I bleed more easily than others after getting injured. He was so worried the blood bank would run out of my blood type that he had the hospital order more in advance… "But he was being dramatic. It was only a cut on the finger. I didn't need a transfusion!" Every one of Melanie's sentences was like a blade that sawed at Vivienne's heart. The pain she felt made breathing difficult. Vivienne had nearly died when the blood bank did not have enough supply for her, yet Sebastian had ordered extra pints on standby for Melanie—and over a tiny cut on her finger, no less. Eyes flashing, Vivienne asked, "Does that mean you didn't get a blood transfusion in the end, Ms. Schafer?" A bashful giggle escaped Melanie, though her reply was like a thinly veiled taunt. "Of course I didn't. Sebastian was only worried about me, if not a little too paranoid." Vivienne's heart had already grown cold, but now it was covered in thick frost. Even if she'd given up any wishful thinking toward Sebastian, Melanie's words still made her heart twist. "You seem pleased, Ms. Schafer," Vivienne drawled icily. "It's my first time seeing a homewrecker be so proud of herself." Melanie stiffened. She couldn't believe such blunt, cutting words had come from the usually soft-spoken and timid Vivienne. At that moment, a low, male voice rang out behind them. "What are you doing here, Vivienne?" The next second, a towering figure slowly came into Vivienne's view. Sebastian's dark brows were furrowed, and he pressed his lips into a thin line when he saw Vivienne. A stormy look registered on his stunning face.