Chapter 2

Audrey POV

His familiar warmth instantly made my skin prickle with dread.

Years ago, when my chronic cold hands and feet would act up, he'd press my icy hands and feet firmly against his warm stomach. If I tried to pull away even slightly, he'd press them back forcefully. "Why are you hiding? This spot, it's just for warming you up, isn't it?"

But that warmth I'd once craved to my very bones had also hurled me into the abyss!

I couldn't forget the helplessness of feeling life drain from my womb in my past life, couldn't forget his resolute back as he carried Cassandra away, and certainly couldn't forget the despair of being betrayed and abandoned just before death!

Thinking of all this, a bitter, mocking smile twisted my lips. "Not let her get away with it? What's your plan? Run her over with a car too?"

Just like in my previous life, Julian's so-called acts of revenge were always grand, dramatic displays. But had Cassandra ever truly suffered a single scratch?

Julian visibly flinched, clearly not expecting my sarcastic retort.

I watched his subtle tells.

His gaze flickered, and he quickly changed the subject. "Audrey, don't worry about it. I'll go pay your hospital bills first."

Watching his retreating back, my chest ached with an unbearable bitterness.

I curled deeper into the blankets. When I heard footsteps, I assumed it was a nurse and mumbled, my voice muffled, "I need to rest. No more check-ups..."

However, the next second, a sharp, searing pain shot through my arm!

My eyes snapped open, meeting a pair of crazed, smiling eyes.

Cassandra!

"I finally got rid of you," Cassandra hissed, pressing an acupuncture needle savagely into my shoulder blade. "This life, you still dare to marry him?!"

This life? Already?

My entire body jolted. She had been reborn too?!

Before I could think, an even more intense pain hit me.

I mustered all my strength to block her with my arm. I barely opened my mouth to scream, but Cassandra, quick as a flash, pulled out another needle and plunged it into a pressure point in my throat.

"Ugh!"

The excruciating pain was accompanied by an inability to speak. I horrifyingly realized I couldn't even open my mouth properly.

I could only watch, terrified, as long, thick needles repeatedly sank into my flesh, a searing, agonizing pain spreading like wildfire through my entire body.

I don't know how long it lasted before Julian finally pushed the door open.

"Cassandra! What are you doing!"

She calmly withdrew the needles, a light laugh on her lips. "What, scared I'd hurt her while you were gone?"

Julian immediately looked at me, his voice urgent. "Did she do anything to you?"

I instinctively shook my head, trying to signal that I couldn't speak, but only to manage a muffled "Mmmph."

Julian visibly relaxed, then turned to confront Cassandra. "Why are you here?"

She arched an eyebrow, slapping an invitation card onto his chest. "Welcome to my wedding."

"What did you say?!"

Julian's fists clenched so hard I saw his knuckles whiten, his hands were actually trembling.

But I was beyond processing what I felt. Cassandra had stabbed deeply and viciously. I was in excruciating pain.

"You're getting married, and I'm getting married too, you know..." Cassandra giggled, turning to leave.

"Don't you dare leave!"

It hurt... Julian... I was in so much pain...

I was so wracked with pain I could barely stand. I weakly reached out, trying to grab a piece of Julian's jacket.

But the enraged man simply shoved me aside without a second thought-

I slammed to the floor, the needles in my back plunging even deeper!

Pain, like a tidal wave, crashed over me, making my vision blur with stars. Yet, I watched in horror as Julian chased after Cassandra, not even bothering to glance back.

It seemed that whenever Cassandra was involved, his vaunted self-control crumbled to dust.

Hearing she was getting married, he didn't even bother to hide it anymore.

If that wasn't love, then what was it?

The bitter, stinging ache in my chest, though, made me feel more truly alive.

I gritted my teeth, gathering all my strength, and slammed my head against the bedside table.

The vase shattered with a crash. Watching the frantic nurses and doctors rush in, I finally closed my eyes weakly-

This life, I would never repeat my mistakes, never be a lamb to their slaughter!