Chapter 2

Mira POV

The next day, I discharged myself from the hospital alone.

As I walked out of the hospital building, I passed by Sophia's VIP room.

Through the half-open door, I saw Sophia leaning against the headboard. Though her face was pale, her smile was radiant and endearing.

My parents surrounded her bed, asking after her health with concern.

And Zane sat on the edge of the bed holding a bowl of herbal medicine, patiently feeding it to her spoonful by spoonful.

They looked like a complete, happy family.

I withdrew my gaze and turned to leave.

I returned to the house Zane had assigned to me.

This wasn't the main house, because he had never officially marked me, nor did he allow me to set foot in his true territory.

I walked into the bedroom and began packing my pitifully few belongings.

When I pulled open the bottom drawer of the nightstand, I discovered an old phone with a cracked screen.

As if possessed, I turned it on.

The phone had no password. I clicked on a memo titled "Secret."

Inside were densely written records of every detail from the past three years.

【Today was my mating ceremony with Zane, but he didn't kiss me or mark me. In the evening, Sophia suddenly coughed up blood. He left me alone in the bridal chamber and never returned all night.】

【Today they drew 400cc of blood. My head is so dizzy. Mom came to see Sophia and brought her favorite desserts. I asked Mom if I could have a piece too. She said it was specially made for Sophia and there was none for me.】

【Zane smiled at me today. Although it was only because I voluntarily offered to draw an extra vial of blood for Sophia as backup. As long as he's happy, I'm willing to give any amount of blood.】

【It hurts so much... Why won't they love me no matter how hard I try? What do I have to do for them to just look at me?】

...

Line after line, word after word—all evidence of how that girl named Mira had endured endless neglect and torment.

She had humbled herself into the dust, trying to please those who would never love her with her own blood.

Looking at those words, I couldn't stop my eyes from stinging. Tears fell onto the cracked screen.

I felt sorrow for that foolish version of myself.

I took a deep breath, raised my hand, and forcefully wiped the tears from my face.

I stood and walked to the full-length mirror.

The woman in the mirror was pale and thin, her wrists still wrapped in glaring bandages, like a withering rose.

I stared at myself in the mirror, my eyes gradually becoming clear and resolute.

I threw that old phone into the trash.

"It's okay if no one loves you, Mira."

I said softly but firmly to myself in the mirror.

"From now on, you need to love yourself."

To hell with being a walking blood bank. To hell with Zane.

I was no longer that pitiful creature begging humbly for love.

I was going to take back my own life.