A Second Chance After Divorce

Click! The door swung open abruptly.

Giselle Murphy, who had been seated on the couch in a state of listlessness, was jolted back to alertness.

Just half an hour earlier, she had received a distressing call from her husband, Lucian Clifford. He informed her that his darling, Erin Brooks, required another blood transfusion and urged her to prepare herself.

Erin had once saved Lucian's life, a fact she never let Lucian forget. She exploited her supposed anemia to evoke his sympathy.

Back then, Giselle's love for Lucian was profound, almost to the point of self-loss. Aware that both she and Erin shared the rare same blood type, Giselle made a vow. She promised Lucian that in exchange for his hand in marriage, she would be Erin's lifelong donor.

Having been wanting to marry Lucian, Erin was infuriated by this term, yet she couldn't reveal her deceit. Declining the deal by admitting she didn't need the blood from Giselle would raise Lucian's suspicions. More of her schemes and lies would be exposed. So, Erin resorted to a cruel tactic. She demanded blood from Giselle incessantly, effectively sentencing Giselle to a slow demise.

Giselle sensed something was amiss over time. Eventually, Giselle uncovered the bitter truth. Erin's anemia was a fabrication!

Giselle tried to tell Lucian about her discovery, but he refused to listen. Instead, he accused her of malicious intent, believing she wished to see Erin die.

With Lucian's unwavering faith, Erin was confident Lucian would force Giselle into donating blood for her forever.

For three long years, Giselle complied, all out of her love for Lucian.

Seeing Giselle was impeccably dressed, Lucian announced indifferently, "Let's go."

Giselle lifted her gaze to see Lucian. Lucian was clad in a black suit, his features sharp and defined.

For three long years, she had given him her heart. Yet, he saw her only as a means for the blood transfusions for Erin.

However, she was anemic, a fact he knew well. He was also aware that she couldn't afford to lose any more blood.

Feeling as if her heart were bleeding, Giselle managed to remark in a calm tone, "Normally speaking, people can't donate blood more than once a month. Yet, you demand it from me every two weeks. Do you understand the toll it takes on my health? Lucian, do you wish to see me dead?"

Lucian's response came with a sneer, his eyes filled with blatant scorn. "So what? Didn't you agree to give blood whenever needed, as long as we stay married? Can't you endure this anymore?"

Giselle's hands clenched tightly, her fingers whitening with the strain.

He only noticed her reluctance to donate blood this time, completely blind to the pain she endured after each session.

She had hoped repeated sacrifices might earn his sympathy. But what was the reality?

Lucian's patience wore thin upon seeing Giselle's defiance. His voice was sharp. "Giselle, I see right through you. Had you not been the very donor for Erin, you would never have become my wife. I always know your greedy side!"

His words pierced Giselle's heart, each one a deep, painful stab.

"Greedy, am I?" Giselle's laughter rang out, tinged with irony.

The Murphy Group was on par with the Clifford Group. As a Murphy and leader of the Murphy Group, personal gains after being Lucian's wife were never a necessity for Giselle.

For three years, Giselle concealed her true identity and sacrificed everything just to be with Lucian. She never exploited the identity of Lucian's wife for any personal gain. And the outcome? How did he treat and see her?

Pathetically, Lucian had always seen her as jealous and petty, believing she never wanted to save Erin's life, even after she donated blood for Erin numerous times. What about her well-being? Did that ever cross his mind?

"If you're not going to donate blood for Erin, then our marriage is over," Lucian stated coldly, snapping Giselle back to reality.

Hearing his words, a sad smile crossed Giselle's face. This moment was inevitable, wasn't it?

Giselle sighed silently. Indeed, their marriage should have come to an end a long time ago. He never loved her and always despised her for forcing him to tie the knot with her with that deal. She shouldn't have fallen in love with him. Besides, why should she abandon a promising future ahead of her just to be the unappreciated wife of a man who harmed her in every way?

Drawing a deep breath, Giselle retrieved a document from the drawer.

Emblazoned at the top were the words: Divorce Agreement.

Her signature was already there, at the bottom right.

Lucian's reaction was immediate, his pupils constricting. But before he could speak, Giselle stated calmly, "As you wish, we'll get a divorce. I don't want anything from you. All I want is to divorce you. For years, I've allowed you to harm my well-being just to be with you. Time to stop it. Lucian, sign this paper and you'll be free. We'll have no obligations to each other after the divorce."

An hour later, Giselle left the Clifford residence after packing her belongings up.

When seeing Giselle packed things up, Lucian stood aside. Amid her packing, he offered her a second chance, saying he could overlook everything if she agreed to donate blood for Erin.

Giselle met his offer with a sneer. How could she remain naive and foolish after everything he had done to her?

Disillusioned, she resolved to let go of things she had once clung to.

Her phone's sudden vibration jolted her from her thoughts. Recognizing the caller, she answered.

"Are those guys causing problems again?"

"Yes, they're claiming you've neglected the company for three years, warning that the Murphy Group might fall behind the Clifford Group. But it's all lies. You've been handling difficult matters all this time, even out of sight," Nellie Knight said, clearly upset.

Giselle gazed at the blue sky, shielding her eyes with her hand, casting a shadow. She narrowed her eyes and admitted, "They're right. It is my fault. I haven't shown up as the president of the Murphy Group for a long time, and being a woman adds to their skepticism."

Nellie was quick to respond, "Miss Murphy, you mustn't underestimate yourself. They're just using this as an excuse to drag you down!"

She sighed, a hint of resignation in her voice. "Also, Miss Murphy, there's another issue. The Clifford Group has snatched a business deal from us. The Clifford Group had been getting on well with us for years by keeping distance. However, they suddenly snatched business from us... I'm afraid it's a troubling development."

"Is it ordered by Lucian?" Giselle's voice sharpened, a glint appearing in her eyes.

"Yes," Nellie responded, sounding defeated. "The deal for the land in the western suburb was nearly sealed. But then Mr. Stark's assistant called, saying the Clifford Group offered them a better deal. They're meeting for lunch today to finalize the contract."

"Interesting..." Lucian's actions seemed like a parting shot, a bitter gift following their divorce.

Giselle's expression darkened. "Find out where they're meeting for lunch. And arrange a shareholders' meeting at the company tomorrow at nine. Anyone who's been stirring trouble and fails to show up will lose their shares."

Nellie sounded surprised. "Are you planning to..." Her voice grew excited. "Miss Murphy, are you really returning?"

Giselle sensed Nellie's excitement through the phone. She glanced back at the house where she had spent three regrettable years.

From now on, her focus would be solely on her career.

Giselle coldly replied, "With so many doubts cast on me, it's time I set things straight. Arrange a car for me and have it sent to my old residence."

"Okay!" Nellie replied, thrilled.

After ending the call, Giselle stepped outside to hail a taxi. She headed back to the villa where she had previously lived. The place, regularly cleaned, remained in pristine condition. Giselle did a quick tidy-up and settled on the couch. Looking around the familiar space, she felt a comforting warmth, despite it being empty for so long.

Giselle resolved to show up as the president of the Murphy Group frequently in the days to come.

The next day at the Murphy Group, a palpable tension filled the air.

All of the employees arrived early, no one daring to slack off.

According to the notifications from the management, the mysterious CEO of the Murphy Group came back today!

From now on, she would be actively involved in running the company again.

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.