Chapter 5

Matthew's entire expression changed, and he immediately turned and rushed out.

Just like that, he didn't even ask me another question.

I sat there alone, listening to his footsteps disappear down the hallway. I almost called after him.

Matthew, she did this.

Jennifer is lying to you.

But what was the point? Would he believe me?

He had already chosen her.

So I swallowed the truth and said nothing.

---

Matthew returned a while later with a complicated expression.

“Annika.”

I didn't answer.

He sat down beside my bed. “Jennifer's injuries are worse than we thought. The knife damaged her shoulder, and she lost a lot of blood. The doctors said she needs a blood transfusion.”

“Then give her your blood.”

Matthew hesitated. “Your blood type matches hers.”

My fingers slowly tightened around my cane.

“What?”

“You're one of the few compatible donors.”

“No.”

I refused immediately.

“Annika, listen to me. She needs blood.”

“Then find someone else.”

“She's your second in command, Annika. She's also a trained criminal investigator, your friend, and your employee.”

“She is the woman who tried to kill me,” I said, my voice finally breaking. “And now you want me to save her?”

Matthew's expression hardened. “She was stabbed while protecting you!”

“She was stabbed because she pushed me toward that woman!”

“You don't know that.”

“I saw it.”

The room went silent.

I almost said it.

I almost told him that I could see but I stopped myself.

Matthew reached for my arm, but I pulled away. “Annika, Jennifer needs your blood.”

“I said no.”

“She could die.”

I looked at him. “And what about me?”

He froze.

“What about me, Matthew? Did you ever care if I died? She was the one who got stabbed, but I was the one she pushed into the attack. She leaked the information that put a target on my back, she helped destroy my reputation, and you're still asking me to save her.”

Matthew's voice became harder. “Because she's dying.”

“So am I.”

My voice was barely a whisper.

“Just not in the way you care about.”

Matthew stared at me.

I looked away. “Get out.”

“Annika...”

“Get out.”

But he didn't. Instead, he called the doctor.

And because he was Matthew Brewster, the billionaire Mafia Don who controlled half the city, everyone listened to him.

I was taken away without anyone asking for my permission. No one cared that I had said no. Matthew signed the consent forms as my husband, and then he used his authority to force the blood donation.

I lay on the bed while the needle went into my arm and stared at the ceiling as my blood slowly flowed into the bag.

The same blood that could save the woman who had destroyed my life.

Matthew stood beside me, but I didn't look at him.

“Annika...”

“Don't.”

He stopped talking.

I closed my eyes.

I thought losing my eyesight had been the worst thing that ever happened to me.

I was wrong... At least when I was blind, I couldn't see who Matthew had become.

Now I could see everything.

---

Jennifer had a severe reaction to the blood, and her condition suddenly became critical. The doctors rushed her into emergency treatment while Matthew stayed outside the entire time.

When the doctors finally allowed him to see her, he immediately went inside.

I didn't want to follow, but Matthew came back for me.

“Come with me.”

“No.”

“Annika.”

“I don't want to see her. I gave her my blood, and that's enough.”

He grabbed my hand. “Just come.”

I pulled my hand away. “Matthew, I said no.”

His eyes turned cold. “She's dying.”

“And you think I care?”

He stared at me.

I laughed quietly. “I don't. I don't care anymore.”

But he still forced me to follow him.

I stood outside Jennifer's ICU room with Cora beside me, and I could see everything through my glasses. Jennifer was lying on the bed with tubes connected to her body, and her shoulder was heavily bandaged.

The moment she saw Matthew, tears filled her eyes.

“Matthew...” Her voice was weak. “I'm okay. Don't worry about me.”

Then she looked toward me.

“Annika, I'm sorry. I never wanted you to get hurt.”

I almost laughed.

She was still acting, even now.

“Please don't blame Matthew,” Jennifer whispered. “He only wanted to help me. I know I've caused you so much trouble, so please don't hate him because of me.”

Every word sounded innocent, but every word pushed Matthew closer to her.

Matthew held her hand.

“Don't talk. Save your strength.”

Jennifer's eyes filled with tears. “I just don't want you to blame yourself. I'm sorry I came back, and I'm sorry I caused so many problems between you and Annika.”

I watched her carefully.

She was still playing the victim, and Matthew was still falling for it. Suddenly, the heart monitor started beeping.

“Jennifer!”

Matthew immediately stood up as the doctors rushed into the room.

Jennifer grabbed Matthew's hand.

“Matthew...” Her voice was weak. “If I don't make it...”

“Don't say that.”

“I've always...” She started crying. “I've always loved you. If there's another life, I'll still... I'll still want to be with you.”

Matthew's eyes turned red.

“There won't be another life. You're going to live, and when you get better, I'll stay with you.”

Jennifer looked at him through her tears. “Really?”

Matthew held her hand tighter.

“Yes. I'll be here, and when you recover, we'll get married.”

I stood outside the ICU, completely still.

…

They called the Brewster Empire branch office right there in the ICU and told someone to prepare the divorce papers.

I heard every word.

Matthew had just promised Jennifer that they'd get married once she recovered, and now he was already arranging my divorce.

Jennifer immediately started crying.

“No, Matthew, please. I don't want to be the reason you and Annika get divorced. If she's still your wife, then you should stay with her. I don't want you to sacrifice your marriage because of me.”

I almost laughed.

She was still pretending to be kind, still pretending she didn't want my husband, but when Matthew wasn't looking, I caught the smug smile that briefly appeared on her face as she stared straight at me.

So this was what she wanted.

She wanted my husband, and now she was finally getting him.

One of the men from the Brewster Empire came toward me. He used to be my partner when I was still working as a crime investigator, and back then, he had been one of the people I trusted most. Now, he looked at me with nothing but anger.

“Annika, look at what happened to Jennifer because of you! She's lying in that bed because she tried to protect you, she's barely alive, and you're still holding on to this marriage?”

His voice became louder as he continued, “If you've got even a little conscience left, then let Matthew be with Jennifer!”