Chapter 1
I was just an ordinary person, an orphan with no degree.
Yet somehow, Marcus Vale promoted me to be the Chief Executive Assistant of Vale Group.
Everyone said Marcus must have been madly in love with me.
Only I knew the truth.
Every time his savior needed a blood transfusion, I had to be there.
Later, I gained another title—a gold digger who took advantage of his weakness and chased after luxury.
So he hated me, despised me, and looked down on me.
And still, I couldn't help it. I was hopelessly addicted to the man who handed me everything I had.
That was until I lay trembling on that cold operating table, begging him through my tears.
"Marcus, please, save our baby," I sobbed.
When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was his back, cold and unyielding, as his voice shattered every illusion I'd ever clung to.
"The baby's gone. This is the punishment you deserve," he said. "That's good. From now on, you can serve Lillian better."
At that moment, the blade lodged in my heart, one forged by love, was finally torn out completely.
I raised my hand and yanked the needle from my arm.
As he turned around, startled, I met his gaze and said firmly, "Marcus, from this day on, not a single drop of my blood will ever go to her again."
*****
"I'm pregnant," I said.
"Lillian had a nightmare. You need to come with me to the hospital first," Marcus said, his tone cold and commanding.
For once, when his eyes landed on the pregnancy test in my hand, he actually looked stunned.
But in the very next second, without another word, he seized my wrist and pulled me out.
In the car, I was adjusting the seatbelt that was pressing uncomfortably against my belly.
Suddenly, Marcus spoke up.
"Do you want this baby?" he asked.
"Yes," I said.
I was nervous inside, but I managed to say it anyway.
"You know I'm an orphan, Mr. Vale. This baby is the only blood relative I have in this world," I said, my voice trembling.
I stared hard at his face, desperate to see any reaction.
For a moment, his eyes seemed to soften, but in the end, he just stayed cold and silent.
We didn't say another word the whole ride.
When we got to the hospital, Marcus headed straight for Lillian's room.
I made my way to the blood lab.
Maybe it was because I was pregnant, but this time, the blood draw hit me harder than ever.
I sat on the bench for ages, trying to steady myself, before finally forcing my wobbly legs to carry me to that familiar room.
The door was slightly ajar, and Lillian's playful, teasing voice drifted out from inside.
"Marcus, that nightmare was so scary, but I woke up all by myself. Aren't I the best?" Lillian said, her voice sweet and playful.
Marcus's voice was gentle in a way I'd never heard before.
"You've always been the best, Lillian," he said.
"Then the best deserves a reward," Lillian teased.
Marcus reached out and softly patted Lillian on the top of her head.
Lillian gave Marcus a pouty little punch, but then shot me a quick look.
"Why did you take so long to get here, Ophelia? You always give me blood. Is it because of it that you hate me now? You don't want to see me anymore?" Lillian asked.
She instantly burst into tears.
"I don't want to survive on your blood," she whispered, her voice breaking.
I walked over to her bed, keeping my gaze down.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Cross. It's all my fault," I murmured, keeping my head down.
There was no use trying to explain.
Any explanation would just set Lillian off and make Marcus even angrier.
Marcus frowned, his gaze lingering on my pale lips.
"It's just 200cc. Why do you look so weak?" he said, his tone cold.
He turned to call for a nurse.
"It's all my fault," Lillian wailed, her sobs getting even louder.
"It's because I'm so weak. Ophelia always has to donate blood for me, and now she's suffering because of it. I can't go on like this," she cried.
Marcus immediately leaned down to comfort her.
When Lillian finally fell asleep, Marcus stepped out of the room.
He found me curled up by the wall, asleep.
"Why are you still here?" he asked.
"I don't have money for a cab," I mumbled.
I left in such a rush, just wearing a flimsy nightgown, and didn't even bring my phone.
Shivering uncontrollably in the chilly October night, I couldn't stop trembling.
Marcus sighed and draped his suit jacket over my shoulders.
"Come on," he said.
He walked ahead, then tossed out, like he was granting me a mercy.
"If you want to keep the baby, then keep it," he said.
The hope that had just flickered in my eyes was instantly snuffed out by his next words.
"But don't even think about using the baby to marry me," Marcus said coldly.
He stopped in his tracks, his gaze as cold and cutting as a blade.
"As long as you know your place, your blood will be your child's lifeline," Marcus said, his voice icy.
I lowered my head.
Fine, in his eyes, I was just another gold-digger chasing after money and status.
Being able to keep this baby, my only real family, was the only stroke of luck I had left.