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"I was deceived by a scumbag, and terminated it in a fit of anger. I planned to tell you later when you weren't busy, but since you heard it now, that's that."
I offered Sebastian a dry, emotionless explanation—whether he believed me or not was no longer my concern.
Since I'd already decided to leave, there was no need for him to know anything. If the nurse hadn't spoken, I wouldn't even have bothered with this lie.
Sebastian stood there motionless, not even glancing my way, as if he hadn't heard a word.
Of course.
As long as I was alive, he could consider his debt to my father repaid.
As I watched the blood slowly fill the bag, he remained unmoved.
Suddenly, I smiled at Sebastian, "After this bag of blood, any debt of gratitude or feeling between us will be settled."
Sebastian gave me a long, unreadable look before swiftly following the nurse carrying the blood bag down the hall.
Before consciousness faded, I gripped the nurse's arm, "Don't call him. I don't want to see him."
I lay in the hospital until late the next morning before waking.
The nurse who'd helped me had covered my bill. I found her and paid her double.
She looked at me strangely, so I asked,"Is something wrong?"
The nurse held up her phone to show me, "Is this you?"
I read the headline,
[EXCLUSIVE! Cole Group CEO Spends the Night with His Ward at Luxury Resort!]
I shook my head, "No. You've mistaken me for someone else."
Behind me, another nurse whispered to her, "Looks like she just can't accept being replaced and won't admit it. Remember how Sebastian searched for her before? That was huge! Who could handle such a fall from grace?"
I pretended not to hear, walking on. The name 'Sebastian Cole' no longer had the power to stop me.
I took a taxi back to the villa to collect my important documents.
Along the way, more news alerts popped up—headlines I had no desire to read.
[Sebastian Cole Denies Affair, Slams "Reckless Media"! Announces High-Profile Engagement Tomorrow! Says He’s Been Waiting for This!]
[CEO Cole Shares Love Story with Media, Radiates Tenderness!]
The taxi driver was clearly on top of the gossip. "Seems like this rich guy's real love is the second woman. He shut down the rumors about his ward in minutes!"
So, throughout the ride, I listened to the driver recount the love story between Sebastian and Amber.
Amber Smith was Sebastian's secretary, hired barely three months ago.
Sebastian had publicly confessed it was love at first sight, and his heart was captivated ever after.
I already knew Amber's background from the system, but I didn't interrupt the driver, wanting only to harden my resolve to leave.
"How —she managed in three months what you couldn’t in seven years, and now you’re reduced to fleeing in disgrace."
I mocked myself silently, not noticing several workmen pass me as I approached the house.
When I arrived, I found the door open.
Inside, a few workers repairing the damaged by yesterday’s storm.
I ignored them, heading straight to my room on the second floor. Pushing the door open, I saw a used condom lying on my bed.
What was Sebastian thinking? Bringing that woman into my bed?
Before I could react, someone shoved me hard from behind, sending me sprawling onto the bed.
"Hehe, little beauty, thinking about men in broad daylight already?"
I struggled to turn around—it was the workmen.
I secretly slipped my phone into my sleeve to call for help.
One of them spotted it instantly. He sneered, "Calling Mr. Cole? And just who do you think sent us here?"
"Impossible!"
Even though I instinctively denied it. I knew Sebastian’s character was reliable—otherwise, my father wouldn't have told me to rely on him otherwise.
But I also knew, who else could grant access to the house?
My mind raced as I fought desperately. Suddenly, the men froze. Someone grabbed my hair, forcing my head up to see the newcomer. "Miss Sophie, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Amber Smith."
Her polite words sounded like the hiss of a venomous snake to my ears.
"You brought these men here, didn't you?"
"Of course. I called them to fix the glass. I just never imagined Miss Sophie would be so... eager for male company in the daytime."
"Bullshit! Who would believe that?"
Amber dug her nails into my cheek,
"The truth doesn't matter. What matters is who people believe. Even if I admitted I hired them specifically to follow you, who would believe you?"
Then, she pulled a paper from her bag. "Is this yours? Someone found it in the office stairwell. Lucky I saw it first."
It was my prenatal report.
"So what if you were carrying his child? He doesn't know. All he knows is that I was the one with him that night."
"You ran away after. I just... took your place."
