Chapter 1 Still Serving Sentence

"It's been ages since we've had a moment like this..." Shane Brooks' lips brushed lightly against Yvonne Burton's ear, his voice as smooth as velvet.

"Shane, I need to go to the hospital now..." Yvonne turned her head away, avoiding the kiss Shane tried to steal.

"Just this once!" Shane insisted.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly, like a taut string ready to snap.

It wasn't until Yvonne felt the world around her spinning, faintness threatening to take over, that Shane finally let her go.

"Did I hurt you?" His voice, rich and deep, carried a blend of concern and teasing. "How about I make it up to you with the latest designer bag?"

Yvonne's eyelids fluttered open, her gaze locking onto him.

The man before her was breathtakingly handsome, with features so refined they could have been sculpted by an artist. His usual cool and distant demeanor was still there, though now tinged with a faint, lingering passion-proof of their recent intimacy.

After three years of marriage, Yvonne had come to recognize this look. It was his tell, a sign that he was satisfied.

That was why he was being so generous to her.

Yvonne's lips curved into a bitter smile. "Did you forget? I haven't completed my sentence."

"Then you can use the bag when you're out," Shane replied casually as if discussing the weather.

Yvonne's chest tightened painfully.

Shane had said it so nonchalantly, as though serving time was just a mundane inconvenience.

"You will be released from prison soon, right?" His fingers trailed along her cheek with practiced ease. "I told you before, one year would fly by in the blink of an eye."

Yvonne swallowed the lump in her throat, her hand clutching his as desperation seeped into her voice. "The hospital called me... They said my grandmother wasn't doing well. Could you come with me to the hospital to visit her?"

Since she was still serving her sentence, she couldn't leave here freely.

But she had earned a day of temporary release due to her good behavior in prison.

Initially, her plan had been to go straight to the hospital. Yet, she had hesitated, worried her frail grandmother, Maggie Thomas, might be unsettled by her disheveled appearance. Returning home to freshen up had seemed like the right choice, but unexpectedly, she had run into Shane at home, who had just gotten back from a business trip overseas.

She had really wanted to rush to the hospital, yet Shane had stopped her. He had been adamant, demanding his needs be met first, leaving her spending the entire morning here.

Still, she thought, maybe this was good. If Shane accompanied her to the hospital, it would make her grandmother happy.

But the next second, Shane pulled his hand away.

Yvonne's heart sank like a stone tossed into deep water.

"I've got something to do this afternoon. You can go on your own." Shane's words came out without hesitation. Standing up, he retrieved a card from the bedside drawer and held it out. "Use this to buy something nice for your grandmother."

This wasn't unexpected for Yvonne-she had seen this play out before. Shane's preferred method of problem-solving always involved money.

But she knew Maggie didn't need fancy gifts. What Maggie needed, what she longed for, was to see Shane and her being happy together as a family.

Shane showered, got dressed, and left without so much as a goodbye.

Yvonne rose slowly, her legs still weak and trembling as she got out of bed.

She then busied herself with packing some homemade food to bring to the hospital-something Maggie would appreciate more than any store-bought gift.

When she entered Maggie's hospital room, the sight before her made her blood run cold. The bag with the food slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor as she cried out, "Grandma!"

Though Maggie had endured numerous hospital stays throughout her illness, she had never needed to use a ventilator. This really shocked Yvonne.

Yvonne rushed to Maggie's bedside, her voice quavering with worry. "Grandma, I'm here! Open your eyes and look at me, Grandma!"

Maggie's weathered eyelids fluttered open, a dim spark of recognition lighting her aged eyes. "Yvonne, you're here..."

"Grandma, what happened?" Yvonne's words tumbled out in a panic. "The nurse said you were just feeling a bit unwell and missed me. Why does your condition look so severe?"

"I asked the nurse not to worry you too much. Yvonne, I think I don't have much time left," Maggie replied.

"No! That's not true!" Yvonne's trembling hand flew to Maggie's face. She then assessed Maggie's condition.

Soon, her fears were confirmed-Maggie indeed had not much time left.

Tears carved burning paths down Yvonne's cheeks as sadness threatened to tear her heart asunder.

"Yvonne, life and death walk hand in hand. Don't cry." Maggie's papery fingers brushed Yvonne's wet cheek. "Having such a great granddaughter, I am satisfied with my life. I am just concerned about how you will live your life after I am gone."

"Grandma, please stay with me!" Yvonne hastily scrubbed away her tears, forcing brightness into her voice. "I'll be out of prison in a month. Then I'll never leave your side. Remember how you longed to return to our hometown? Once you recover, we'll go back together."

"That would be lovely." Maggie's gaze held infinite tenderness. "Bring Shane along, too."

Though her heart knew otherwise, Yvonne nodded fervently. "Of course. Shane wanted to be here today, but urgent business matters demanded his attention."

"Work always comes first." Maggie withdrew a half-moon pendant from beneath her pillow, pressing it into Yvonne's palm.

The pendant was made of high-quality jade and was carved with a bird.

"Yvonne, keep this safe. It's your-" The door's sudden opening cut short Maggie's words.

Shane's commanding presence filled the doorway, his dark suit emphasizing his statuesque frame. He looked elegant with every move.

Joy illuminated Yvonne's tear-stained face. "Grandma, look! Shane came to see you!"

But as Shane approached, there was something amiss about his expression.

His customary mask of cool detachment had cracked; he looked uncharacteristically anxious and worried. "Yvonne, Jayde needs an immediate blood transfusion."

The words stabbed through Yvonne's momentary happiness. She had thought Shane was looking worried because of her grandmother, but it turned out he was just concerned for Jayde Davis.

Of course. In Shane's world, no one could eclipse his childhood sweetheart, his eternal flame, Jayde. All others paled in comparison.

Yvonne fought to suppress the familiar ache in her chest. "My grandmother lies here, critically ill. I must stay by her side. Can't Jayde use blood bank supplies?" she said.

"The rare blood type isn't available here, and the nearest bank is an hour away. Jayde can't wait that long." Shane's fingers closed around Yvonne's wrist like steel bands. "Yvonne, her life hangs in the balance. You need to come with me now."

"I won't leave my grandmother! Let go of me!" Yvonne's struggles proved futile against Shane's strength.

"Yvonne..." Maggie's frail voice called out, her hand reaching toward her granddaughter. "I never told you about your parents. The truth is, you..."

"Grandma!" Yvonne cried out, but Shane had already dragged her out of the room before she could hear the rest of her grandmother's words.

Though protocol limited blood donations to 400 milliliters, Shane demanded double that amount from Yvonne.

This left Yvonne ghost-white and trembling after the donation.

Despite her weakness, she forced herself upright, using the wall for support as she stumbled back to Maggie's hospital room. The sight that greeted her sent her world spinning-the silent ventilator, Maggie's still form covered by a white cloth...

Yvonne's legs betrayed her, sending her collapsing to the floor.

Grief had stolen even her tears. She crawled forward on trembling limbs until she reached the bedside.

"No... Grandma... Don't leave me..." She clutched Maggie's lifeless hand, drowning in waves of desolation.

"My condolences, Yvonne." Shane's deep voice cut through her anguish with detachment. "Jayde is stable now. Thank you for your help... By the way, the prison requires your immediate return."