Love Wasted on a Convalescent Heart

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My fianc Hayden Holloway's legs had finally healed.

The first thing he did was have sex with his first love, Seraphina Vale, in our wedding suite.

I stood at the bedroom door. It wasn't fully shut.

Their moans drifted out. Their conversation too.

Now that I'm whole again, can we get married?

Seraphina panted, "What about Chloe?"

Hayden's voice was cold. "I never loved her. She was just a substitute for you."

Every word was a knife to my chest.

Three years. When he was paralyzed, I stayed by his side. I brought him through the darkest days.

Now he's back on his feet. And he's throwing me away like trash.

My eyes burned. I grabbed my phone. Sent a message to that man.

"I agree to marry you."

Chloe POV

In the VIP dressing room on the hotel's top floor, the lighting was dim and intimate.

Hayden stood behind me, his warm fingertips grazing my bare back deliberately, making me shiver.

He lowered his head, his thin lips against my ear, his breath hot.

"This dress suits you perfectly. At tonight's gala, just stay by my side."

I looked at our overlapping figures in the mirror, my cheeks flushing.

Three years.

When Hayden's accident left him paralyzed, when everyone else abandoned him, I stayed. Day and night. I was there through the brutal pain of rehab. I endured his rages, his coldness, every time his condition flared.

Now he had finally gotten back on his feet and reclaimed his power.

Tonight was his first public gala after retaking control of the family corporation, and he'd brought me along.

I thought I'd finally made it through the hard times, that I could finally stand by his side openly.

Just as Hayden's hand slowly slid down along my waistline, urgent knocking suddenly came from outside the door.

"Hayden, come out for a minute. We have a problem."

It was Hayden's best friend, Derek.

Hayden's movement paused, displeasure flashing across his features, but he still pulled up my zipper and coaxed me in a low voice.

"Wait here for me."

As the door opened and closed, a thread of cold air from the corridor slipped in.

I smoothed out my dress, about to follow him out to hand him the phone he'd left behind, when I heard Derek's voice through the door crack, suppressing angry fire.

"Have you lost your mind? The media outside already has their cameras set up. You're going to publicly announce your engagement to Seraphina tonight?! Then what did you bring Chloe here for? To watch you put an engagement ring on another woman's finger?"

My feet froze in place, the blood in my body seeming to flow backward in that moment.

Seraphina Vale.

The woman Hayden couldn't forget.

Three years ago, when Hayden had his accident and doctors declared he'd be paralyzed for life, Seraphina had fled abroad overnight, leaving without a trace.

Now that Hayden was wealthy again, she'd come back.

The hallway went quiet for two seconds.

Hayden's voice came through the door crack, cold, rational, without a ripple of emotion.

"Seraphina just returned to the country, and the Vale family is getting restless. I need to give her a title to stabilize the situation. I owe her this. As for bringing Chloe, it's to let her adapt in advance."

"Adapt to what? Adapt to being your mistress?"

Derek laughed coldly.

"All of us brothers know how she's treated you these past three years! Aren't you afraid she'll make a scene?"

"She won't."

Hayden's voice carried absolute confidence.

"I'll compensate her. That villa in the south district worth three hundred million, plus the jewelry brand under Holloway Corporation, I'll transfer them all to her name. As long as she behaves, I can give her anything she wants except the title of Mrs. Holloway. She's a smart woman. She knows how to choose."

Inside the door, I pressed my hand hard over my mouth to keep the sob from escaping.

So in his eyes, my three years of devoted companionship were nothing more than a transaction that could be settled with money and property.

He wanted to marry his beloved, but still wanted to keep me as a caged canary in the shadows.

How cruel. How arrogant.

I slowly retreated back into the dressing room, looking at my elaborately dressed self in the mirror, suddenly feeling like a complete joke.

I didn't cry.

Because my tears had dried up during those three years, accompanying him through countless desperate nights.

I took out my phone and found a number I'd barely ever called, pressing dial.

The call connected. Hayden's grandfather's authoritative, harsh voice came through.

"What, changed your mind?"

"Yes."

My voice was quiet but steady.

"Mr. Holloway Senior, I accept your deal. I'll take the money and go. Leave Hayden forever."

He snorted.

"Finally you see reason. You're a broke has-been. Being there for his low point was your good luck. But as his wife? Not good enough. Seraphina is who we chose for him."

"I understand."

I interrupted him.

"I only want the money you promised, and also, help me erase all my exit records. I don't want him to find me."

"The money will be transferred to your account tonight. I'll give you two weeks to handle everything and leave without a trace."

"Fine."

After hanging up, I took a deep breath and removed the diamond necklace Hayden had just put on me himself, casually tossing it onto the vanity.

I pushed open the door, but instead of going to the gala, I left through the staff passage, walking away from the hotel without looking back.

Chloe POV

The autumn night was cold.

I walked alone through the streets. As I passed the city center's largest plaza, my steps halted.

The plaza's massive LED screen was live-broadcasting the Holloway Corporation gala.

On screen, Hayden wore a bespoke suit, his posture straight, his features composed and noble.

Standing beside him in a pure white gown was Seraphina, their fingers intertwined.

Under countless flashing lights, Hayden took the microphone, his voice low and pleasant, carrying across the entire plaza.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. I'd like to take this opportunity to announce some good news. Next month, I will officially become engaged to Miss Seraphina Vale."

The venue erupted in applause.

Seraphina nestled in his arms, smiling shyly, tears of emotion glistening in her eyes.

I stood in the cold wind, quietly watching the couple on screen who looked like a perfect match.

I noticed the sapphire necklace around Seraphina's neck called "Tears of the Deep."

That was a piece I'd designed myself. Hayden had bought it at auction at a high price recently. I'd always thought it was the three-year anniversary gift he was preparing for me.

Turns out, it was to win another woman's favor.

My phone buzzed.

It was a message from Hayden.

"Saw the broadcast? Don't overthink it. Wait for me in the dressing room, I'll take you home later."

Looking at this brazenly confident message, I smiled bitterly and replied with one word.

"Okay."

Then I hailed a taxi back to Mountainview Villa.

This was the place where Hayden and I had lived together for three years.

Opening the door, the whole house was filled with traces of our life together.

The couple's slippers by the entrance, his favorite cushion on the sofa, and the roses I'd planted myself on the balcony.

I didn't turn on the main lights, leaving only a wall lamp on.

I dragged an old suitcase out from storage and started packing.

Actually, there wasn't much to pack.

The designer bags, haute couture clothes, and expensive jewelry Hayden had bought me. I didn't touch any of it.

I only took a few of my old clothes and the one photo my mother had left behind.

After packing, I threw away the couple's mugs we'd used, the Polaroid photos we'd taken together, and the rehabilitation diary I'd stayed up late organizing for him, all into the trash.

If I was going to leave, I should leave cleanly.

At 2 AM, my phone notification chimed.

The fifty million Hayden's grandfather had promised had arrived.

Immediately after, a new post appeared on social media. From Seraphina.

A grid of nine photos.

The center was a close-up of the "Tears of the Deep," surrounded by photos of them together at the gala, and a candid shot of Hayden lowering his head to kiss the back of her hand.

The caption read:

"After all this time, it's still you. He said the position of Mrs. Holloway will always be reserved for me alone."

This post was set to be visible only to me.

I liked it, then opened my conversation with the immigration consultant.

"For my Australia visa expedited processing, how many days at minimum?"

They replied quickly.

"Miss Blake, expedited would take about ten days."

"Good. As fast as possible."

I put down my phone and lay on the cold bed, closing my eyes.

Ten more days.

In ten days, Hayden and I would have nothing to do with each other.

Chloe POV

The next morning, the sound of fingerprint unlocking came from the villa's front door.

Hayden walked in carrying a faint scent of alcohol and the morning chill.

I sat quietly in the dining room drinking milk, not even lifting an eyelid.

Hayden came over and sat across from me, his tone carrying a condescending gentleness.

"Why did you come back on your own last night?"

"I was tired."

My tone was flat.

Hayden looked at my calm face and nodded.

"You saw last night's news. Seraphina's health isn't good, and the Vale family needs this ceremony. But don't worry, the engagement is just for show. My life won't change. You'll still live here. That villa in the south district will be transferred to your name tomorrow."

Making infidelity sound so refreshingly innocent. Hayden was truly one of a kind.

I swallowed the tasteless milk in my mouth and didn't argue, just said "Mm" lightly.

Hayden looked around, suddenly frowning.

"Why does the house feel so empty? Where's that pair of mugs from the table?"

"I accidentally broke them and threw them out."

I didn't even lift my eyelids.

Hayden didn't press further. After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke.

"Chloe, I need your help with something."

I put down my spoon and looked at him.

"Seraphina really likes your jewelry design style."

Hayden looked into my eyes, his tone carrying an undertone of non-refusal.

"She's having an engagement party next month. Design an engagement ring for us. You can decide on materials and budget."

The air seemed to freeze in that moment.

Having the current girlfriend design the engagement ring for his ex.

Hayden, how could you be this cruel?

My hands under the table clenched tight, nails digging deep into my palms, using pain to maintain surface calm.

I looked at this man I'd loved for three years, suddenly finding him terrifyingly unfamiliar.

"Sure."

I smiled.

"When Mr. Holloway asks, how could I refuse? But the design fee can't be skipped."

Hayden paused, then took out an unlimited black card and pushed it in front of me.

"Of course. The PIN is your birthday. Buy whatever you want. Don't shortchange yourself."

I took the black card without hesitation.

"Thank you, Mr. Holloway."

After breakfast, Hayden went to the office.

I took that black card and went straight to the city's largest stray animal shelter, donating every bit of the card's available limit.

Since it was compensation, he had no say in how I spent it.

Over the next few days, I went to the studio every day on time to "draw designs," but actually I was liquidating my domestic assets and canceling various memberships and bank accounts.

Seven days until departure.

That afternoon, I'd just finished confirming my visa progress at the immigration office when I got a call from Derek.

"Chloe, Hayden's got a gathering at 'Nightfall.' He wants you to come."

Derek's tone was somewhat stiff.

I wanted to refuse, but remembering that my current identity was still his obedient "canary," I took a cab to the club.

Pushing open the private room door, smoke filled the air inside, packed with the city's wealthy and socialites.

Hayden sat in the main seat with Seraphina leaning against him, the two chatting and laughing quietly.

Seeing me enter, the room instantly went quiet.

"Miss Blake is here."

Seraphina broke the silence first, standing up with a smile.

"Come sit quickly. Hayden said you brought the initial ring design today. I want to see it."

I walked over and took out a stack of random drafts from my bag, handing them to her.

Seraphina took the drawings and made a show of looking through them.

Suddenly, her hand slipped, and a cup of scalding hot coffee that had just been poured on the nearby table flew straight toward me.

Chloe POV

"Watch out!"

Along with Seraphina's startled cry, the cup of scalding coffee splashed entirely onto my right hand.

Searing pain instantly struck. I jerked my hand back, watching my pale skin visibly redden and rapidly blister.

For a jewelry designer, the right hand is everything.

The room instantly descended into chaos.

Hayden practically reflexively stood up, pulling Seraphina into his arms and frantically checking her over.

"Seraphina, are you okay? Did you get burned?"

Seraphina hid in his embrace, eyes red-rimmed, like a frightened rabbit.

"I'm fine... Hayden, I didn't mean to. I just didn't hold the drawings steady..."

"It's okay, it's not your fault."

Hayden softly comforted her, only then turning to look at me.

Seeing my severely swollen right hand, his brow furrowed tight, but his tone carried reproach.

"Chloe, how could you not even dodge a cup of coffee? Seraphina's timid. Don't scare her."

I trembled from the pain, my left hand gripping my injured right wrist tightly.

I looked at Hayden's face full of concern for Seraphina, hearing his victim-blaming accusations, suddenly feeling like even breathing tasted of blood.

I couldn't dodge? Seraphina deliberately pushed the cup toward me!

The surrounding wealthy people started chiming in too.

"Exactly, Chloe. Seraphina just got back to the country. Why are you pulling that face?"

"It's just a burn, not like your face is ruined. Do you have to be so dramatic?"

"I think she's just jealous that Seraphina gets to marry Hayden. She's deliberately playing the victim."

Every sentence a knife, every word condemning.

This was the man I'd loved wholeheartedly for three years. This was the circle I'd once tried so hard to please.

In front of Seraphina, even my breathing was wrong.

"Hayden, don't blame Miss Blake."

Seraphina peeked out from Hayden's arms, looking at me pitifully.

"Miss Blake, I'm sorry. Is your hand okay? Should I take you to the hospital?"

"No need."

I said.

I didn't look at Seraphina's fake face, nor did I look at Hayden.

I straightened my spine and, forcing myself through the agonizing pain in my hand, walked step by step toward the door.

"Chloe, stop right there!"

Hayden shouted sternly.

"Seraphina is apologizing to you. What's with that attitude?"

My steps halted.

I slowly turned around, my gaze calmly sweeping across Hayden's face. I smiled.

"What attitude does Mr. Holloway want from me? Should I kneel down and thank Miss Vale for gracing me with this cup of hot coffee?"

"You!"

Hayden's face turned iron.

"The ring design is ruined. Miss Vale should find someone else."

With that, I walked out of the room without looking back.

The moment the door closed, I heard Derek's voice from inside.

"Hayden, Chloe's hand looks pretty badly burned. She makes her living with her hands..."

"She won't die."

Hayden's cold, hard voice penetrated the door and struck my heart.

"Her temper's getting worse and worse. It's all because I've spoiled her. Let her cool off for a few days on her own."

I closed my eyes as tears finally fell.

I took a taxi to the hospital alone.

In the emergency room, the doctor treated my blisters while giving me stern instructions.

"Second-degree burns. This hand can't touch water for at least a month, and you definitely can't hold a pen to draw. If it gets infected, it could scar, or even affect the nerves."

"I understand. Thank you, doctor."

After treating the wound, I left the hospital.

The night wind cut through me, bone-chillingly cold. I took out my phone and looked at the countdown on my calendar.

Five more days.

Hayden, you'll never control me again.

Chloe POV

When I returned to Mountainview Villa, it was already late at night.

The living room lights were off. I felt my way to the sofa in the dark, about to sit down, when suddenly the sound of a lighter clicking came from the darkness.

A ghostly blue flame flared up, illuminating Hayden's grim face.

He sat in a single armchair, a cigarette between his fingers, his gaze fixed heavily on me.

"Where were you?"

He spoke, his voice hoarse.

I ignored him, walking straight to the bar to pour a glass of warm water.

Hayden suddenly stood up, striding over and grabbing my wrist.

"I asked you a question!"

He grabbed precisely my injured right hand.

I gasped in pain, and the water glass fell from my hand, shattering on the floor.

Only then did Hayden notice the thick bandages on my hand.

He froze, instinctively loosening his grip, a flash of panic in his eyes.

"Your hand... what did the doctor say?"

"Won't die."

I threw his words from earlier right back at him.

Hayden's face stiffened. He irritably loosened his tie, softening his tone.

"I was harsh earlier. But Seraphina didn't do it on purpose. You embarrassed her in front of all those people. I had to consider her feelings. I'll have my assistant send over some limited-edition jewelry tomorrow. Consider it an apology."

A slap, then a sweet treat.

This was his usual method for taming pets.

I looked at Hayden, suddenly feeling very tired.

I didn't even have the energy to be angry.

"No need. I'm tired. I want to rest."

I walked past him, heading upstairs.

Hayden followed, embracing me from behind, his chin resting in the hollow of my neck, his voice low and husky.

"Chloe, stop being difficult. After Seraphina's matter is handled, I'll take you to meet my grandfather and make our relationship official, okay?"

My body stiffened like stone.

Just then, Hayden's phone on the bedside table rang.

A special ringtone. Seraphina.

Hayden paused, releasing me and walking over to answer.

"Hayden..."

Seraphina's tearful voice came through.

"There's thunder outside. I'm so scared... Can you come keep me company?"

Thunder indeed rumbled outside.

Hayden frowned, glancing at my silent figure, but ultimately picked up his coat.

"Seraphina has claustrophobia. I'll go check on her. Go to bed early."

He hurried out of the bedroom.

The sound of a car engine starting came from downstairs, soon disappearing into the rainy night.

I walked to the window, watching that black car melt into the darkness. I smiled.

I turned and took out my phone, about to contact the consultant to confirm tomorrow's flight, but received an email from the airline about a cancelled ticket.

Immediately after, a text message popped up.

"Miss Blake, your passport status is abnormal. You have been restricted from leaving the country."

My whole body stiffened, blood running ice cold.

I quickly checked my bank account and discovered that after I donated the fifty million from the black card that afternoon, Hayden's assistant had checked my transaction history.

Though Hayden had gone to Seraphina's place, he'd canceled the card and even used his connections to lock down my exit permissions.

He was warning me that without his permission, I couldn't escape even with wings.

The airport route was completely blocked.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down.

I found Hayden's grandfather's number and called.

"Mr. Holloway Senior."

As soon as he answered, I said directly,

"Hayden has restricted my exit. If you still want me to disappear from your lives forever, I need your help."

The other end was silent for a moment, then his cold, hard voice came through.

"What do you want to do?"

"I need an absolutely safe private flight route, and also, a completely new identity."

I said,

"In exchange, I'll give you a Chloe Blake who's 'dead' and gone for good, guaranteed that Hayden will never find me again for the rest of his life."

Chloe POV

Two days later.

My right hand was severely burned, so I could only use my left hand to awkwardly sort through my mother's belongings.

The front door suddenly made the sound of a password unlock.

I thought it was the housekeeper and didn't turn around.

Until the sound of high heels clicking against the floor stopped behind me, and a saccharine, affected voice rang out.

"Miss Blake, long time no see."

I turned around to see Seraphina.

Seraphina wore designer haute couture, surveying the villa like a victor, her gaze finally landing on my face as she covered her mouth and giggled.

"Hayden said you've been in a bad mood lately, recuperating at home. I came specifically to see you."

"Seen enough? You can leave now."

My tone was cold.

Seraphina wasn't bothered. She leisurely walked to the table and picked up a photo frame.

It was a photo of my mother from when she was alive.

"Tsk, this is your bankrupt dad who jumped off a building and your mom who died of illness?"

A flash of malice crossed Seraphina's eyes.

"A whole family of short-lived ghosts. No wonder you can only cling to Hayden like a dog."

"Shut your mouth!"

I suddenly stood up, rushing over to snatch back the frame.

But Seraphina simply let go.

With a crisp sound, the frame fell to the floor, glass shattering everywhere.

My heart clenched violently. I crouched down to pick up the photo.

But Seraphina suddenly crouched beside me, grabbing my hand and lowering her voice.

"Chloe, you can't fight me. As long as I shed one tear, Hayden would give me his life. What are you?"

With that, she picked up a sharp piece of broken glass and without hesitation drew a long gash across her own pale arm.

Blood immediately gushed out.

"Ah! It hurts! Miss Blake, why would you do this to me!"

Seraphina suddenly screamed, collapsing to the floor, crying with tears streaming down her face.

The door banged open.

Hayden strode in.

I watched him stare at the blood on Seraphina's arm, then rush forward and shove me aside.

Already weak, I staggered backward from his forceful push, my waist slamming hard into the sharp table corner before my whole body fell into the glass-strewn floor.

Sharp fragments instantly pierced my left palm and legs. Searing pain struck, my vision went dark, and cold sweat instantly soaked my back.

"Hayden, it hurts... I just wanted to see Miss Blake, and she suddenly went crazy..."

Seraphina trembled in Hayden's arms.

Hayden covered Seraphina's wound, turning to look at me with eyes so cold they could kill.

"Chloe, you're getting more vicious by the day! Seraphina came in good faith to see you, and you dared to hurt her?"

I lay on the floor, looking at my own blood-soaked hands, then at Hayden's furious face.

I didn't defend myself. I just smiled, a smile uglier than crying.

"Yes, I'm vicious."

My voice was weak but every word clear.

"Hayden, why don't you just kill me."

Hayden picked up Seraphina and strode outside.

"You stay here and reflect! Without my permission, no one is allowed to treat her wounds!"

The door slammed shut.

I lay on the cold floor, looking at the blood everywhere, and took out my phone to call emergency services.

At the hospital, the ER nurse was shocked to see my injuries.

"Chloe?!"

I looked up to see Derek's sister, Stella.

Stella picked out glass shards while crying.

"That bastard Hayden, how could he do this to you!"

I trembled from the pain but gripped Stella's hand in return.

"Stella, do me a favor. Help me... die cleanly."

Chloe POV

Seraphina was also sent to this hospital.

I lay in a regular ward, both hands wrapped in bandages, my body so weak I could barely turn over.

Stella suddenly burst into the room in a panic. She told me.

To thoroughly torment me, Seraphina had secretly taken excessive blood-thinning medication, then quietly reopened the wound on her arm.

Now she was hemorrhaging badly, chaos in her room.

The doctor told Hayden she had a clotting disorder to begin with, and now with excessive blood loss and the hospital's RH-negative blood bank running low, she needed an immediate transfusion!

I immediately understood. Seraphina wanted my life!

A few minutes later, Hayden kicked open my hospital room door with a doctor.

"Mr. Holloway, Miss Blake is injured and extremely weak. Drawing blood now could endanger her life..."

Stella spread her arms in front of my bed, shouting angrily.

"I don't care! As long as she's still breathing, draw it! Seraphina absolutely cannot die!"

Hayden roared with red-rimmed eyes, shoving Stella aside.

The cold needle pierced my bruised vein.

Scarlet blood flowed along the tube, continuously filling the blood bag.

I didn't struggle. I didn't cry.

I just quietly looked at Hayden.

"Hayden."

I spoke, my voice as light as wind.

Hayden met my gaze.

"This 800cc of blood. Consider it my repayment for your three years of shelter."

I looked into his eyes and smiled.

"From now on, we're even. I wish you and Miss Vale happiness."

Hayden's breathing caught sharply.

The nurse withdrew the needle.

"Mr. Holloway, that's enough blood."

Hayden looked at me and coldly dropped a sentence.

"You'd better mean what you say. Don't pull any more tricks."

With that, he took the blood bag and left the room without looking back.

The moment the door closed, I shut my eyes.

Countdown: final day.

The next evening, the hotel blazed with lights.

Hayden and Seraphina's engagement party was being held there in grand ceremony.

Meanwhile, at the downtown hospital, night fell.

Stella pushed a medical gurney into my room.

On the gurney was a corpse from the morgue. An unidentified female body with a build extremely similar to mine.

This was arranged by Hayden's grandfather using his connections.

I changed into an inconspicuous nurse's uniform, putting on a mask and cap.

I walked to the bed and removed the cross necklace I'd worn for three years.

Hayden had put it on me himself when he successfully completed rehabilitation.

Now, I didn't need it anymore.

I placed the cross on the corpse's pillow and turned to leave the room.

At the end of the corridor, the bodyguard arranged by Hayden's grandfather was already waiting.

"Miss Blake, the car is in the underground garage. The helicopter is standing by on the roof."

"Let's go."

I didn't look back.

Ten minutes later, piercing fire alarms suddenly erupted from the top floor of the hospital's inpatient building.

"Fire! The VIP ward is on fire!"

The flames spread with the wind. Thick smoke billowed. Firelight shot into the sky.

Ten thousand meters above, a private jet cut through the clouds toward the Southern Hemisphere.

I leaned against the window, watching the city lights below shrink into tiny dots. I let out a soft sigh of relief.

The night sky was deep. Stars glittered.

Finally, I was free.