My eyes fluttered open to a sterile white ceiling.
The steady beeping of medical equipment surrounded me.
Chloe's voice cut through the haze first. "You've got some nerve surviving. I'm shocked those fishermen pulled you from the water alive."
I turned my head slowly to see her standing beside my bed.
Her usual sweet facade had completely vanished.
She reached out suddenly, her fingers closing around my throat.
Her grip tightened painfully. "Why won't you just die, Alayna? If you were gone, I could finally become Mrs. Harrington."
"Can't you see the truth? Sebastian doesn't love you. You're just a stray dog clinging to a stolen marriage. It's pathetic."
"All it took was one word from me for him to abandon you on that island. He knows how terrified you are of water. Do you still not understand who really matters to him?"
Her fingers pressed harder against my windpipe.
This wasn't an empty threat—she genuinely meant to end me.
I couldn't draw breath. Panic surged through me as I fought against her hold.
Suddenly, she released me, stumbling backward.
Her body collided with a metal medical tray.
Instruments clattered to the floor.
A pair of sharp scissors sliced across her hand, blood immediately welling from the cut.
Chloe let out a piercing scream. "Alayna, why did you push me?!"
Before I could form a response, Sebastian entered the room.
Tears instantly pooled in Chloe's eyes. "Sebastian... I was just checking on Alayna and she—"
She didn't need to finish her sentence.
The accusation hung thick in the air.
Sebastian didn't even glance my way for explanation.
His mouth opened, ready to unleash his anger.
But when his eyes landed on my pale face, he hesitated.
Instead, he swept Chloe into his arms and carried her from the room, blood dripping from her hand.
Ten minutes later, he stormed back in, fury radiating from him.
He grabbed me roughly and yanked me from the hospital bed.
I stumbled, my legs weak. "Let go of me! What are you doing?!"
"Chloe's condition has worsened because of you. She's bleeding heavily. You share her blood type—you're giving her a transfusion." His voice was cold, devoid of emotion.
I froze. I'd never heard about any chronic condition she suffered from.
After barely surviving the nightmare on Santorini Island, my body couldn't handle more trauma.
I struggled against his grip. "I refuse! Let me go!"
Sebastian tightened his hold on my wrist. "You don't have a choice."
He shoved me toward the waiting medical team.
One doctor hesitated. "But she's severely weakened from her ordeal. Forcing a transfusion now could cause permanent damage."
Sebastian's expression turned to ice. "Chloe's life comes first. Proceed."
The needle pierced my skin.
I felt my blood draining rapidly from my body.
Every part of me ached, particularly my lower abdomen.
Something warm and sticky began trickling down my legs.
This wasn't my monthly cycle.
Cold sweat broke out across my forehead.
I clutched my stomach as waves of pain overwhelmed me.
Then everything went dark.
When consciousness returned, a doctor sat beside my bed, his expression grave.
"Miss Prescott... I'm sorry. After everything your body has endured... you've lost the baby."
I stared blankly. "Baby?"
He nodded slowly. "You were approximately one month pregnant. Between your anemia and the significant blood loss... the fetus couldn't survive."
My hand moved to my stomach, words failing me.
The tiny life I hadn't even known existed—gone forever.
Perhaps this was destiny's cruel design.
Suddenly, loud explosions echoed from outside.
A series of bursts followed, filling the air with noise.
Fireworks. Massive displays painting the daytime sky with vibrant colors.
They shone brilliantly even against the afternoon sun.
Young nurses clustered by the window, voices buzzing with excitement.
"Did you hear? The CEO of Harrington Corporation arranged this fireworks show to celebrate his wife's pregnancy. So romantic."
"If I had a husband like that, I could die happy."
"He's planning an enormous party next week too. Mrs. Harrington is the luckiest woman alive."
If I weren't Mrs. Harrington myself, I might have found such a grand romantic gesture breathtaking.
But unfortunately, that title belonged to me.
My thoughts drifted back to one year ago.