Chapter 3 Is She Determined This Time

Erin lay on a bed in a ward of a hospital in Hedsall, her face pale and her body frail.

She occupied a VIP ward, perched at the very top of the building.

Beside her, on the edge of the bed, sat a tall man. His presence was cold, his mind seemingly elsewhere.

A flicker of resentment crossed Erin's eyes. Lucian had ignored her for a considerable time. This distance between them was a new experience, all brought on by a simple divorce proposed by Giselle. Had Lucian fallen for Giselle?

Erin couldn't stand the thought of Lucian being preoccupied with someone else.

She coughed in an attempt to draw Lucian's attention, her body trembling slightly.

At her sound, Lucian snapped back to reality. He turned to Erin, his voice gentle. "Are you in pain because of the blood transfusion from a different donor?"

Erin shook her head, her voice tinged with guilt. "I'm sorry, Lucian. If not for my illness, Giselle wouldn't have divorced you driven by disappointment. It's my fault."

Lucian's brow creased in confusion. "What nonsense are you talking about? My marriage with her was a matter of convenience for her to donate blood for you. Otherwise, how could she deserve to be my wife?"

Erin's denial was swift, her hands flying to her forehead in despair. "But it's all my fault. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so depressed today. Please, Lucian, forget about me. Go back to her. I can't bear to be the reason for your divorce..."

Lucian gently took her hands down and spoke in a soothing voice. "This isn't your fault. If she hadn't manipulated my grandfather into forcing me to marry her, how could I marry her? I only despise her."

He continued, visibly troubled. "I am not in a good mood today because she refused to donate blood for you. I must find an alternate source for you. The blood you're currently using is not suitable for long-term use."

There was a glimmer of light in Erin's eyes. Had she misunderstood him? It seemed Lucian's displeasure stemmed from the blood transfusion issue, not a personal matter.

With a soft smile, Erin replied, "I'm relieved you aren't upset because of the divorce. Lucian, I'm grateful for your years of care. But please, don't overextend yourself for my sake. I don't want to be a burden to you."

"You almost died when you saved me back then. How could I not care for you?" Noticing Erin's urge to say something more, Lucian reassured her gently, "Now, rest. I'll stay right here with you."

After comforting Erin, Lucian retrieved his phone, signaling his desire for silence.

Upon powering it on, his screen remained empty. No messages and not a single missed call.

He had muted it earlier to avoid any interruptions from Giselle, but now, its quietness unsettled him. He frowned, a wave of irritation washing over him.

Could Giselle be resolved to divorce him for real?

However, almost immediately, his expression shifted to one of scorn. He assumed she was playing a game of cat and mouse. He was curious to see how long Giselle could maintain this charade.

As he placed his phone down, it sprang to life. Instinctively, he snatched it up to see who was reaching out to him.