Luciana leaned against the airplane window, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the fading horizon. Dusk had settled, and the deep blue sky was brushed with a soft band of gold along its edge.

Blake had already arranged a brand new SIM card and a place to stay for her. The Humanitarian Outreach Program was set to begin soon, and everything was falling into place.

Luciana's shoulders relaxed, her frown eased, and her breathing evened out. Slowly, she drifted into a light sleep.

Suddenly, the cabin jolted violently. Gasps and startled cries erupted all around her.

A flight attendant hurried down the aisle, shouting in two languages. "Is there a doctor or medical professional on board? A passenger up front has gone into labor. We need immediate assistance!"

Luciana's heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, she stood up and volunteered, though she knew she would need assistance.

She 

Back in Northton, Stephen removed his sterile gown and signed his name on the reports the nurse handed him. The surgery had gone smoothly, and both the fetus and mother were safe from harm.

Rubbing his temples tiredly, he instinctively searched for Luciana, then broke into an understanding smile. Of course, she wasn't around. She was busy at home making comfort food for Josephine.

Stephen stood with his back to the hospital room , his expression dark and elusive. He rested one hand on the windowsill, the other holding a cigarette that glowed with tiny red embers.

In truth, he originally disliked Josephine. But she was persistent—reporting to him every day, trailing him cautiously and carefully, which just happened to fill the loneliness that gnawed at him when Luciana was busy with surgeries.

Over time, he grew accustomed to it.

Then came that night. He had been soaked from the rain

Luciana collapsed among the pile of bodies. When she came to, she found herself buried beneath the rotting corpses, the strong foul smell attacking all her senses.

Her phone buzzed with a notification. "Your divorce application is approved."

From this moment on, she was finally free.

Luciana wiped the blood from the corner of her eye. A sharp pain split through her scalp, and warm blood trickled down her neck.

Covered in dirt and blood, she limped forward one step at a time, the smell of iron thick in the air. Every moment felt like walking through a nightmare.

Back at the villa, she washed the blood from her skin, her gaze cold, empty, and deathly calm. She couldn't wait to get out of this hellhole.

Before she could even finish packing, two bodyguards burst through the door. She was so startled that she instinctively curled into a ball.

"Sorry, but Mr. Cooper has asked that you come with us."

Luciana didn't resist. She simply lowered her head and pressed a trembling hand over her wounded wrist.

On the drive over, the bodyguards told her that Stephen and Josephine had gone drinking at the bar. One thing led to another—things got intense, and Josephine had started bleeding.

Thus, she was being rushed into the hospital for an emergency to save the baby.

Luciana could've helped in the past, but now, she couldn't even hold a scalpel.

Led by the bodyguards, she eventually made her way to the hospital. Her eyes were devoid of even a hint of sympathy as she looked at the pale Josephine on the bed.

"Lucy, you're finally here!" Stephen exclaimed, pushing through the people in the hallway.

He grabbed her arm and urged, "Only you can save her and the baby! Hurry, get ready for surgery!"

Without thinking, Luciana yanked her arm out of his grasp. Only then did he notice her injuries—her fair skin mottled with bruises, a deep cut along her arm, blood still seeping from her wrist.

"W-What happened—"

"You could've saved me, Stephen," she interjected coldly, eyes snapping up at him. She lifted her right hand with a self-deprecating smile. "I can't hold a scalpel anymore. Remember?"

The pride and strength she once had were gone.

Stephen's face turned ashen, his throat tightening as if the words were choking him. How could he have forgotten?

He instinctively reached out, wanting to check her wounds, but Josephine clutched weakly at his sleeve. Her breath was shallow, voice trembling as she whispered what sounded like her dying plea.

"If I die… you must raise our child well…"

Stephen's gaze wavered, lips pursed. His hands trembled, and his palms were slick with sweat. In the end, he chose the barely conscious Josephine.

As if Luciana were invisible, he turned away and bent down to press a gentle kiss on Josephine's forehead, murmuring, "Save the baby. If you do, I'll give you whatever you want."

Josephine's pale lips curved faintly as she whispered weakly, "Stephen, if I die… this will be the last time I see you. Please… stay with me."

His fingers twitched. After a brief hesitation, he said, "Alright. Whatever you say."

Luciana's body trembled violently. She still remembered begging Stephen to stay by her side during surgery back when she had been in that car accident.

At that time, the ever-considerate man had refused her for the first time. He had said he couldn't handle the sight of blood, yet here he was, making an exception for Josephine.

Soon, Stephen slipped into a sterile gown. As he glanced toward Luciana, he looked somewhat remorseful.

"Lucy, go home and cook something comforting for her. She's weak and needs to recover quickly. Once the baby's stable, I'll come home and spend time with you." He added softly, "Be good, okay? I'm only doing this for the baby."

Luciana nodded slightly, a cold smile hanging on her lips. Little did he know, this would be their last time seeing each other. 

Once he entered the operating room, Luciana headed to the courthouse. The divorce certificate lay quietly in her palm.

Three years of marriage had turned out to be nothing more than an extravagant, fleeting dream of wealth and love. She had paid the price for marrying into a powerful family, and it was time to wake up.

Her right hand could no longer bear any weight. It trembled so uncontrollably that every movement was a sharp reminder of pain. Even the thin slip of paper in her hand felt as heavy as lead.

After that was done, she dropped by the villa to grab her suitcase. Clenching her jaw, she forced herself to pick it up with her left hand and drag it step by step into the cab.

At the airport, before boarding, she snapped her SIM card in half and tossed it into a trash can. She didn't look back. Why would she?

From now on, Luciana would have nothing to do with Stephen ever again.

Luciana leaned against the airplane window, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the fading horizon. Dusk had settled, and the deep blue sky was brushed with a soft band of gold along its edge.

Blake had already arranged a brand new SIM card and a place to stay for her. The Humanitarian Outreach Program was set to begin soon, and everything was falling into place.

Luciana's shoulders relaxed, her frown eased, and her breathing evened out. Slowly, she drifted into a light sleep.

Suddenly, the cabin jolted violently. Gasps and startled cries erupted all around her.

A flight attendant hurried down the aisle, shouting in two languages. "Is there a doctor or medical professional on board? A passenger up front has gone into labor. We need immediate assistance!"

Luciana's heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, she stood up and volunteered, though she knew she would need assistance.

She and the flight attendant rushed toward first class, where a woman in labor was seen trembling and cl

Chapter 8