Chapter 2
“Leonard…” Evelyn tried to speak, but blood gushed up her throat.
Past life or present, it was always the same-she was on the brink of death, and still, all he saw was Lillian
Snow.
Bleeding and broken, Evelyn slowly closed her eyes.
She felt herself drifting through darkness, voices buzzing faintly in her ears.
“Her bleeding’s out of control-blood bank is running low! Anyone here with Type A blood?” a doctor’s urgent
voice pierced through the noise.
“I am,” came Lillian’s soft but resolute reply. “I’ll donate.”
“No!” Leonard snapped. His voice was firm, cold. “You’re too weak. You can’t donate.”
“But she’s critical,” Lillian’s voice quivered, on the verge of tears. “If we wait for blood from another hospital,
she might not make it…”
“Then we wait,” Leonard said, leaving no room for argument. “I won’t let you risk yourself for her-not even a drop.”
Evelyn’s heart clenched so tightly she could barely breathe.
So that’s what she was worth in his eyes-not even a drop of Lillian Snow’s blood.
The pain engulfed her.
Then, everything went black.
When she opened her eyes again, blinding Lillian light made her squint.
“Thank God, you’re finally awake!” A nurse adjusting her IV let out a breath of relief.
Evelyn’s throat was dry and raw. Her voice was hoarse.
“…Who gave me blood?”
The nurse hesitated, then sighed.
“It was transferred in from another hospital. There was a woman here who matched your type and could’ve donated directly, but your husband insisted on waiting for the external supply.”
She lowered her voice.
“It was a close call. The blood got here just in time-you almost didn’t make it…”
Evelyn’s fingers curled slightly. Her chest felt icy cold.
“Oh, right.” The nurse hesitated for a moment. “You’re supposed to have a family member stay with you after surgery, but your husband insisted on going to take care of some woman who sprained her ankle. He refused to come. Do you have any other family we can call?”
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Evelyn shook her head. “No.”
The nurse gave her a sympathetic glance and quietly closed the door behind her.
The room fell silent.
Evelyn stared at the ceiling, her eyes dry and burning.
She should’ve known better by now.
To Leonard, even a twisted ankle from Lillian was more important than her life hanging by a thread.
The next few days, Evelyn changed her own dressings, ate her meals alone, and forced herself to walk to the
bathroom through gritted teeth.
A fellow military wife sharing the room couldn’t bear the sight anymore. She occasionally brought Evelyn a
glass of water, sighing as she did.
“Captain Grant really is something. His wife’s hurt this bad and he still hasn’t shown up once.”
Evelyn just smiled faintly and said nothing.
She was used to it.
In her last life, she once had a fever of F°104. Leonard was out leading drills and never even called to check
She lay in bed the entire day without a sip of water. It wasn’t until a neighbor grew suspicious, climbed over
the fence, and found her barely conscious that someone brought her medicine.
Back then, she had stupidly made excuses for him.
He was a soldier. Duty came first. He couldn’t be expected to juggle everything.
But now she realized-he just didn’t care.
On the day she was discharged, Evelyn packed her own things and slowly walked out the front doors of the
hospital.
Just as she stepped off the stairs, she saw Leonard coming from the other side, helping Lillian along.
Lillian’s ankle was wrapped in bandages. She walked slowly, and Leonard’s arm supported her steadily.
His eyes were gentle, patient-an expression Evelyn had never seen directed at her.
When he spotted Evelyn, Leonard frowned slightly. “Get in the car.”
The tone was flat. Like he was giving orders to a soldier.
Evelyn didn’t move.
Leonard helped Lillian into the Jeep first. Then, seeing Evelyn still standing there, his voice grew colder. “What are you waiting for?”
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With no choice, Evelyn got into the car without a word.
“Lillian twisted her ankle,” Leonard said as he started the engine. “No one’s home to take care of her. She’ll be
staying with us for a few days.”
He wasn’t asking.
He was informing her.
Evelyn stared out the window, the scenery blurring past. She answered with a quiet “Okay.”
It didn’t matter anymore.
That house would belong to Lillian soon anyway.
Evelyn was just a temporary guest. What right did she have to object?
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