"Stage II heart cancer. Less than three months to live."

Bellatrix walked out of the hospital, the doctor’s words echoing in her mind.

She sat weakly on the steps. For the past week, she had been suffering from nausea. She thought she was pregnant—that’s why she had taken time off to come to the hospital.

Tears fell without warning.

Why was fate so cruel to her?

She wanted to call her husband, but in the end, she held back. She wasn’t ready to face that cold, indifferent look on his face.

Undoubtedly, the person who hated her most in this world was her husband—Cillian Alexander Laurente.

Twenty-four-year-old Bellatrix Laurente had secretly loved Cillian since childhood. He had always been mysterious, impossible to read. After the death of his parents, he suffered from recurring fevers, and she stayed by his side, caring for him until he recovered. Bellatrix believed that one day, he would fall in love with her for her kindness.

But everything took an incomprehensible turn. After he recovered, Cillian suddenly announced that Regina was the one he wanted to marry—the love of his life.

Soon after, Regina disappeared. And for the sake of a merger between two powerful families, Bellatrix was forced to take her place and marry Cillian. He didn’t object.

She was confident that his heart had finally turned toward her. She believed that one day, he would return her love—that their marriage would be like the beautiful romances she saw in her favorite dramas.

But in the past four years, except for when he was drunk and slept with her, they had almost no interaction. He wouldn’t even share a dinner table with her. Their marital home was like an ice cellar where she lived alone.

To him, she was just a tool for exchanging benefits. That was all. His heart had never once forgotten Regina.

And now, she had heart cancer. Less than three months left to live.

Without a doubt, if Cillian heard the news, he would probably be the happiest man alive.

"The surgery must be signed off by your husband." The doctor's words came back to her again. She had to contact him.

She made the call. No answer after three tries.

Maybe he was in a meeting, she told herself. After all, she was just one of his assistants. She only knew part of his schedule.

She wanted to go home and rest. She staggered to her feet, her whole body weak and exhausted, ready to collapse at any moment. As she prepared to descend the stairs, she noticed a commotion near the entrance.

She looked up—and froze.

From a luxury car parked in front of the hospital, a tall, powerfully built man stepped out.

Dressed in his usual flawlessly tailored designer suit, he looked every bit like nobility. It was her husband—Cillian.

What... what was he doing here?

Did he know she was sick? Was he here to see her?

She took a step forward, but Cillian turned around immediately and bent down—to lift a woman out of the car.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Her eyes slowly locked onto the woman in Cillian’s arms. The more she looked, the wider her eyes grew. A cold chill crept through her veins as she stared at that familiar face.

Warm brown hair. Delicate features. Honey-colored eyes. And that unique air of innocence that disguised how she always got exactly what she wanted.

Regina Lancaster. Her stepsister.

How could she ever forget her? The persistent shadow looming over her marriage. The woman who haunted her life.

Cillian’s ex-girlfriend.

She shouldn’t feel pain. She always knew Regina was deeply rooted in her husband’s heart. But when the reality unfolded before her, she couldn’t stop trembling.

No. This was fury.

He was her husband. This marriage wasn’t something she had begged for. So why did he get to trample her dignity like this?

She had every right to defend her legal identity. She walked up to them without hesitation.

“Bella?” Regina called out first, but Bellatrix didn’t miss the triumphant glint in her eyes. On Regina’s delicate face, it was blinding.

At that moment, Cillian’s gaze finally left Regina and turned to her.

The tenderness he showed just seconds ago vanished, replaced by the cold, emotionless stare Bellatrix had long become familiar with.

“Bellatrix,” he said, frowning. “What are you doing here?”

“I—” Bella tried to explain her condition, but Regina cut her off.

Turning to Cillian, tears welled up in Regina’s eyes. “Her kidney is a match for mine. That’s why I had to come back. But I can’t selfishly ask her to help me, even if she married you in my place.”

“What?! No, absolutely not—” Bella refused. She had cancer. How could she possibly undergo another surgery?

But Cillian cut her off coldly. “You have to.”

She glared at him. “Why should I? To you two, I’m just a snake. I refuse!”

She turned to leave, before her tears could betray her.

But her wrist was seized.

“It’s because of you that Gina ended up like this. You’re responsible for saving her,” Cillian snapped.

“Because of me?” She stared at him in disbelief. “What... what are you talking about?”

“Stop pretending to be innocent. You drove Regina away. You forced her to leave Miami, severed her from me, and pushed her into a life of suffering. You owe her. You’re going to repay everything you did—or I’ll destroy your father’s company.”

His voice was full of undeniable anger and resentment.

None of it was true.

But right now, there was only one answer she wanted.

She slowly opened her mouth, carefully choosing her words. “Then... what if I’m sick? What if I’m dying?”

It was a question with a doomed answer, yet she stubbornly needed to hear it.

Cillian’s silence was like the chill of winter wind, and she feared her heart might freeze along with it.

When he finally spoke, his voice was as cold and final as a dagger piercing through her chest.

“I don’t care,” he said flatly. “Sick, dying—it doesn’t matter. You’re going to give Gina that kidney.” He paused, then added, “Even if I have to cut it out of your corpse.”

The answer was expected, but still left a painful hollow inside her.

She opened her mouth again, as if to say something—but nothing came. Instead, she began coughing violently, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Regina gasped and jumped into Cillian’s arms.

“Oh my god! I can’t get sick right now!” she cried. “Cillian, please take me away. I can’t breathe in this disgusting air.”

Damn it. They were leaving.

Even though she was sick, Bellatrix was sure she still had enough strength to throw a rock at their faces.

But before Cillian turned to go, he spoke again. “Take care of yourself.”

Bellatrix and Regina both looked at him. Cillian cleared his throat and said coldly, “After all, only if you stay healthy can your kidney serve Regina better.”

Bellatrix felt her breath leave her.

Regina gave her a fake look of guilt. “Cillian, that was too cruel. She’s still your wife.”

“I only care about you, Regina,” Cillian replied softly as they walked away.

Bellatrix stared at their backs. Her fists clenched tight. The tears she had held in finally spilled down her cheeks.

Even now, Cillian didn’t care.

He never did.

But for some reason—maybe because death was near—she had hoped today would be different.

As her husband, he should’ve shown at least a shred of concern.

But in the end, he chose his mistress over his wife.

Pain racked her body. Each cough grew more violent.

She couldn’t let her dignity be trampled any longer.

She would file for divorce.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit her. She didn’t even have time to steady herself. Her knees gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.

Her vision blurred—

Until everything went dark.

Pain wracked her body, each cough growing more violent. A sudden wave of dizziness hit her, and before she could steady herself, her knees buckled, giving out beneath her.

She collapsed to the ground, her vision darkening as she lost consciousness.