Chapter 2

Silence fell over the ward. Tacitly, Elliot and Rosie wore a look of shock. Elliot snapped out of it first, frowning deeply. "Angelica, stop with your nonsense. Are you doing this just because I didn't spend our second wedding anniversary with you?" Angelica shook her head. She felt as though there was a hole in her chest, and chilling, cold air was rustling in. "No." "Then, is it because I didn't visit you earlier?" Elliot said as he gave her a once-over. "You're fine, aren't you? Only 27 ounces of blood was drawn from you. It's not that serious." His tone was breezy, as though he was speaking about the weather today. Only 13.5 ounces of blood should be drawn from an adult every time, and until the next time it happened again was six months later. However, the nurse drew 27 ounces of blood from Angelica just because of an order from Elliot. He didn't care about her life at all, and Angelica thought that he was a total stranger. As she stared at him in disappointment, Elliot felt an inexplicable sense of frustration. Sticking his hands into his pockets, he groaned and said, "That's enough. Use the card to buy anything you want after this." His tone was condescending, as if he was handing out alms. A sarcastic smile lifted Angelica's lips. Growing up in an orphanage, she was an orphan who had the worst food and clothing, often ridiculed and bullied by her classmates. During her first year of high school, a group of guys surrounded and bullied her because she turned down a guy's confession. At her most desperate moment, Elliot showed up like a knight in shining armor saved her. After that, he stayed by her side and protected her like he was her guardian angel. The delinquent in other people's eyes only revealed his true self to her. He publicly took her side when he found out that she was an orphan. Anyone who bullied Angelica made themselves an enemy of the Quigley family. Elliot's favoritism was a ray of light to Angelica in her innocent teenage years. She selfishly wanted to keep him for herself, but she was deeply aware of the difference between them. So, she could only keep her feelings to herself. However, Elliot went on one knee and asked her to be his girlfriend on the day they graduated from high school, in the presence of all teachers and students. He earnestly promised that he'd love her wholeheartedly and be her haven. But now, everything had changed. To better provide blood for Rosie, Elliot had coaxed Angelica into taking hormone drugs. Within a year, Angelica's weight exploded from 90 pounds to 160 pounds, and she became the person whom everyone made fun of. Not only that, she even had to tolerate endless sarcasm from the Quigley family. And now, Elliot and Rosie's forbidden affair was akin to a dagger in her heart, killing her slowly. "Angie, it's my fault. Elliot would have visited you a long time ago, but he was by my side because he was worried about me. I'm sorry." Rosie's voice jerked Angelica out of her reminiscences. Angelica had always been a submissive person, and years of oppression had made her forget how she used to be. Rosie was sure that Angelica would do as she was told. However, to her surprise, Angelica said, "Yeah, your pricked finger is a more serious injury than the 27 ounces of blood I lost." The muscles on Rosie's face froze, and a shard of disbelief flickered in her eyes. Elliot lost his temper first. He hissed, "Apologize to Rosie, Angelica! Don't attack her like you're a rabid animal." Angelica was acting weird. In the past, she'd had to even take care of Rosie after giving her blood. Furthermore, this wasn't the first time she had 27 ounces of blood drawn from her, so Elliot thought she had no need to overreact like this. He had a feeling that the situation was spiraling out of his control, and it unsettled him deeply. Tears welled up in Angelica's eyes, but she fought them back. "I'm telling the truth." "Angelica—" "That's enough, Elliot. Angelica is only a little mad, and you were wrong, to begin with. "It's my fault for making a mountain out of a molehill and ruining your second wedding anniversary," Rosie said. When Rosie brought up this matter, Angelica was reminded that she had also spent her first wedding anniversary in the hospital. At that time, only 10 ounces of blood was drawn from her, and she had to take care of Rosie's daily necessities with her fatigued body. Angelica's nails dug into her palms, but the pain was nothing compared to the piercing pain from her chest. Alas, tears flowed down her cheeks, adding a touch of pity to her chubby and pale face. Elliot's fury was stuck in his chest, but an unfamiliar emotion washed over him in a split second, so fast that he didn't even notice it. Angelica wiped away her tears forcefully, looking even more determined. "Elliot, I'll prepare the divorce papers and send them to you." … It started to drizzle outside, and Lydia Jenkins was shocked when she found Angelica in a rugged state. Hurriedly, she pulled Angelica into her house and rushed off to make her a cup of hot tea. "Angie, why are you looking like this? Didn't you spend your second wedding anniversary with Elliot?" Angelica's hands were frozen red from the cold, but she slowly regained her senses under the warm water. With her dry throat, Angelica croaked, sounding exhausted, "Lydia, will you draft a divorce agreement for me?" It had been almost seven years since she befriended Lydia during college, and Lydia was the only person she contacted frequently after marriage. Stunned, Lydia thought that she was hearing things. "What did you say? What do you want me to draft?" "A divorce agreement," Angelica repeated calmly. Seeing that Angelica was serious, Lydia put on a straight face and asked tentatively, "Were Elliot and his stepsister up to something again?" Lydia was Angelica's only close friend, and she would speak to Lydia whenever she felt troubled. During those times, Rosie's name kept popping up, and Lydia subconsciously became worked up when she heard the name. Furthermore, she always thought that there was something amiss with Rosie. Two minutes of silence passed by, and the plastic cup in Angelica's hand was almost deformed from her grip. She raised her swollen eyes and said, "Elliot loves Rosie." Her words shocked Lydia the second time. "He kissed her." Lydia was shocked for the third time. "He's Rosie's lapdog." For the fourth time, Lydia was in stunned silence. A long moment passed before she finally found her voice again. "That's inhumane!" Then, she added angrily, "They're step-siblings! How can they do something like that? It's disgusting! "Wait right there, Angie. I'll draft the document for you right now. I'll ensure that this divorce happens!" Lydia stormed into her study in a huff. About 20 minutes later, she emerged with two bound copies of the divorce agreement and passed them to Angelica. "Take a look at it, Angie. Let me know if any point needs to be amended." Angelica read the document page by page. There were many lawyers in the city of Mubathro, but Lydia was the only one who could contend with the Quigley family. As the beloved child of the influential Jenkins family, Lydia could always get her way. After Angelica had calmed down, she knew that Elliot would never divorce her. After all, she was Rosie's mobile blood bank, and the marriage was her shackles, restraining her every move. On the other hand, Angelica was unwilling to continue being silenced and submissive. She was a person with flesh and blood, not a cold object. Deftly, Angelica signed her name on the agreement. When she thought about the cooling period of 30 days, she reminded Lydia in a worried tone, "Lydia, I hope you'll keep this matter a secret for me." As long as she could divorce smoothly, it didn't matter even if she had to fool and coax Elliot into the divorce.