Chapter 2

When Jacqueline offered her blessing, Hayden's expression darkened even more. He looked at her coldly. "So, you've sunk this low, huh?" "What did you expect, Mr. Gardner? How else did you think I survived during those three years I was gone?" Jacqueline retorted. Hayden's eyes became bloodshot upon hearing that. He yanked open a drawer, grabbed a stack of cash, and threw it at her head roughly. "Fine. You love money, don't you? Take that and wash the sheets yourself!" he barked. Jacqueline gathered the notes and stood up. When she stepped into the master bedroom, she found that Penelope was already awake. She was touching a small blood stain on the bedsheet, and the corners of her mouth curled upward into a shy, almost joyous smile. She only came back to her senses when she heard footsteps. "Jackie… I love him." Jacqueline's heart skipped a beat. She looked up in disbelief, only to meet Penelope's calm and certain eyes. Before she could speak, Penelope continued, "Ever since we were kids, I knew he loved you. Even when you broke up with him and when he was at his lowest, he still loved you. He started his business just to find you again. He worked himself sick, drinking until he vomited blood. "Once, an investor drugged him and tried to force a woman onto him. He jumped out of the window on the fifth floor and broke both legs just to avoid touching her. But the moment you came back, everything changed. He started sleeping around, like a man gone mad, just to hurt you." Penelope then revealed to Jacqueline the red marks scattered across her skin. She went on, "He wanted to know the reason you left, so he started investigating. Fortunately, you used my name to make the donation. When he came to me, I didn't deny it. Look—now, he's started to love me." The marks Hayden had left on Penelope's body looked especially glaring to Jacqueline. He had once done the same to her whenever they spent a passionate night in bed. Back then, whenever someone noticed the faint bite marks on her neck, Hayden's upturned eyes would gleam with pride. He used to say, "I want to leave marks on you so that everyone knows you're mine." Now, those same marks were all over another woman's body. Jacqueline drew in a deep breath and said, "It's good that you love him. He'll marry you." Penelope suddenly shot up from the bed and rushed toward her. The manic look in her eyes threatened to swallow Jacqueline whole. She screamed, "It's not enough! If he loves me, then why does he still call your name in bed? I want you gone! I want you completely gone from his heart!" In the next instant, she grabbed Jacqueline's hand and shoved it violently toward herself. Penelope then slammed into the headboard with a loud, sickening thud. The sound brought Hayden running. His pupils dilated when he saw the blood. He scooped Penelope into his arms, his eyes blazing with cold fury that stabbed at Jacqueline's heart. "You cold-blooded monster! How could you hurt your own sister?" He carried Penelope out and had Jacqueline dragged to the hospital, too. When the doctor appeared holding a very thick needle, Jacqueline instinctively hid her prosthetic right arm behind her back. Hayden's voice came from above, sharp with rage. "Stop hiding your arm! You dare hurt her, but you don't have the guts to make up for it? I want you to compensate for the exact amount of blood she lost!" So, Jacqueline extended her left arm toward the doctor. As the needle pierced her skin, she forced a cold, mocking smile. "Mr. Gardner, my blood's not cheap. You could sell it for a few thousand dollars at least. How much are you planning to pay me?" Hayden's fingers dug into his palms, and veins bulged at his temples. He stepped closer slowly and wrapped a hand around her slender neck, gradually tightening his grip. Just as Jacqueline was about to suffocate, he suddenly released her. "Throw her blood away. This heartless woman's blood is way too filthy! Keep drawing blood from her until Penelope wakes up." Jacqueline collapsed to the floor, doing her best to choke back the metallic taste rising in her throat. She tried to stand, holding on to the wall for balance, but her vision went black, and she passed out. When she was half-conscious, she heard the doctor's voice faintly. "She's in terrible shape. In fact, she's malnourished and hypoglycemic. She can't handle this much blood loss. Besides, she donated her bone marrow before. How could you—" Before the doctor could finish, Hayden's loud outburst cut him off. "Did you say she donated her bone marrow before?"