Chapter 2

Adrian's pupils contracted sharply, as if he'd heard the most absurd joke in the world.

He leaned down, almost touching my bloodless face.

"You'd be that kind?"

I said nothing, only pushed the heart compatibility report forward another inch.

He straightened abruptly and barked toward the door:

"Mark!"

Assistant Mark pushed the door open in response.

"Go," Adrian's gaze remained fixed on my face, each word deliberate, "arrange a new heart compatibility test. Rush all the testing. Personally supervise it. No room for any errors."

"I want to see what kind of trick she's trying to pull."

Mark picked up the report, glanced at me with a complicated expression, and hurried away.

The air in the hospital room grew stagnant, leaving only my weak breathing, suppressed by pain.

Adrian walked to the window and lit a cigarette, but didn't smoke it. He just let the smoke curl around his fingers, blurring his sharp profile.

The wait wasn't long, yet every second stretched endlessly.

Two hours later, Mark returned.

"Mr. Whitmore, the results are in. Confirmed... highly compatible."

Adrian took the report, then let out a low laugh.

The laughter was full of karmic retribution and grim satisfaction.

"The best heart is actually yours. I guess Heaven really does punish those who do too much evil."

He suddenly reached out and gripped my chin, forcing me to raise my face.

"For money, you really can sell anything? Even your heart?"

I looked into his anger-filled eyes and forced out a disdainful smile.

"Yes."

"I've always been this kind of person. As long as the price is right, anything goes. Mr. Whitmore, this deal shouldn't be a loss for you. Want to cooperate?"

He seemed stung by my smile and released me abruptly, as if he'd touched something filthy.

"A cheap life indeed," his words dripped with disgust, each one like a knife, "even your heart is dirty. It's only fit to be a container for Flora."

He turned to Mark without any hesitation.

"Arrange the surgery immediately. The sooner the better."

Without waiting for me to recover from childbirth, Adrian arranged for the surgery as soon as possible.

As the anesthesia took effect, I slowly closed my heavy eyelids.

Suddenly, Mark's hesitant voice reached my ears.

"Mr. Whitmore, which implant device should we use for Miss Parker? The basic model our company is currently promoting, or... the 'Guardian' you specifically developed for Mrs. Whitmore?"

Adrian didn't even pause to think.

"Did you eat shit for brains to ask such a question! Does a bitch like her deserve the Guardian?"

His mockery was undisguised. "The 'Guardian' is Flora's fallback. Only my wife in the entire world can use it."

He deliberately emphasized the word "wife," and seeing my body tremble uncontrollably twice, he smiled with satisfaction.

The cold verdict followed.

"Use that batch of defective experimental products on her. It's a good chance to see what needs improvement! She owes me this."

Even though I'd long known how much Adrian hated me, hearing his cold, merciless words still made my heart twist.

As the doctor brought the artificial heart into the operating room, Mark glanced at it and immediately tried to stop them:

"You've got the wrong one. This isn't the one set aside for..."

"Shut up!"

Adrian's rebuke prevented me from hearing the last few words.

The next second, the cold scalpel cut across my chest, and my entire body suddenly convulsed violently.

The anesthesiologist panicked immediately:

"Something's wrong. Stop the surgery now! Her body seems to be allergic to the anesthetic. The surgery can't continue..."