With that, he violently threw her hand back.

She fell backward onto the floor. Julian didn't look back as he slammed the door and left.

Sera curled up on the floor, clutching her chest. The intense pain made her vision go black. A copper taste rose in her throat, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.

A maid nearby heard the noise and rushed over. When she saw the blood, she turned pale with fright and scrambled to call for an ambulance.

As Sera was lifted into the ambulance, her consciousness began to fade. She stared at the ceiling, one final thought echoing in her mind:

Julian, in the end... I gave my heart to the wrong person.

Chapter 4

The sharp scent of disinfectant stung her nose. When Sera opened her eyes, her vision was blurred. It took a long time before she could clearly see Julian sitting by her bed.

The bloodshot veins in his eyes remained, and the dark circles beneath them were as heavy as ever. Seeing her awake, a flash of panic and guilt crossed his face. He spoke first: "Sera, I’m sorry. I was too impulsive yesterday. I shouldn't have put my hands on you."

Sera merely gave him a vacant glance before shifting her gaze to the ceiling. Her fingertips lightly brushed her wrist, which was red and swollen from his grip. She offered no response, not even a flicker of her brow.

Stung by her coldness, Julian explained in a low voice, "I didn't mean to. It’s just that Bianca has been running a low fever since she was attacked. The doctor said it might affect the surgery. I was just so worried that I..."

"And you went too far this time," he added, his tone shifting back to one of reproach. "No matter what, this is a matter of life and death. How could you be so reckless?"

He still believed, at the root of it all, she was the one at fault.

Sera finally reacted. She turned her head to look at him, her voice raspy but every word distinct as she cut him off: "I didn't do it."

"Julian, we’ve been together for over a decade. How can you still doubt me? You know my nature—if I have a grudge, I settle it then and there. I do things out in the open. I don't stoop to stabbing people in the back."

In the past, no matter how much trouble she caused, she never cared who knew. She had never done anything so underhanded.

He knew her temperament better than anyone, yet now, because of Bianca, he refused to give her even an ounce of trust.

Julian opened his mouth to say more, but the ward door was suddenly flung open. Arthur and Eleanor rushed in, suitcases still in hand, clearly having come straight from the airport.

Seeing their daughter on the bed—pale and gaunt beyond recognition—Eleanor’s eyes turned red instantly. She rushed over to grab Sera's hand, her voice choked with sobs: "Sweetie, how did you let yourself get like this? Why didn't you tell us something this big was happening!"

Arthur stood to the side, his face ashen with fury. The gaze he directed at Julian was filled with such intense rage that the surrounding air seemed to drop in temperature.

The precious daughter the Sterling family had held in the palm of their hands had been worn down to this state after marrying Julian. Even a life-threatening illness had been kept hidden from them.

"Julian," Arthur’s voice was as cold as ice. "You didn't tell us Sera was sick for so long—we can let that go for a moment. But her life-saving heart donor... what right did you have to hand it over to another woman? Do you still have any respect for the Sterling family? Do you still see Sera as your wife?"

The barrage of questions left Julian momentarily shamed. "Arthur, Eleanor, it’s not what you think. Bianca, she..."

"Dad, Mom, don't blame him."

Sera lightly patted Eleanor’s hand, interrupting Julian. "I gave it to her. Bianca’s condition was more serious than mine. She needed that heart more."

She didn't want her parents to argue for her sake anymore, and she certainly didn't want her final days to be filled with chaos.

Having said that, she looked at Julian and spoke calmly: "You should leave now. I want to talk to my parents alone."

Looking at the distant gaze she gave him after defending him, Julian felt as if his chest was blocked. He could only give her a deep look before turning to leave the ward, quietly closing the door behind him.

Secretly, he vowed to find a suitable donor as quickly as possible.

Once it was just the three of them, Eleanor could no longer hold back. She hugged Sera and wept: "Sweetie, how could you be so foolish! That was the heart meant to save your life! How could you give it to someone else?"

Sera leaned into her mother’s embrace. Her nose tingled, but she forced back the tears.

Arthur said solemnly, "We only found out after we received the organ donation documents from the hospital. We flew back through the night. If anything happens to you, how are we supposed to go on?"

A wave of guilt washed over Sera. She reached up to wipe away her mother’s tears.

"Mom, Dad, don't overthink it. I only signed that just in case. The doctor said my condition can be managed with rest. It’s not that serious."

She didn't want them to know she only had a few days left. She didn't want them to spend their final moments together in agonizing sorrow.

Arthur didn't believe her for a second. He gripped her hand tightly. "Don't worry, sweetie. I’ve already contacted the best cardiologists in the world. Even if I have to move heaven and earth, I will find a matching donor for you. You will get better."

Her parents' unconditional love acted like a warm current, breaking down the wall of strength Sera had been forcing herself to maintain.

She could no longer hold it in. Buried in her mother’s arms, she began to cry—weeping away all the grievance, exhaustion, and despair of these past months.

This was the first time since she transmigrated into this book that she had let herself cry so freely.

After two days in the hospital, Sera insisted on going home. Her parents couldn't win the argument and eventually agreed.

But the moment she pushed open the front door, Sera froze.

Bianca was sitting on the living room sofa, draped in Julian’s jacket, sipping warm water brought by a servant.

Chapter 5

Hearing the commotion, Julian walked over quickly and explained to Sera, "Sera, Bianca is having her surgery in two days and needs peace and quiet. The hospital is too noisy. Besides, she was afraid you were still angry and might send someone to threaten her again. She didn't feel safe there, so I brought her back here for a couple of days to look after her. She’ll leave as soon as the surgery is over."

Bianca also stood up hurriedly, looking pale and terrified. She walked to Sera and lowered her head, her voice fragile: "Miss Sterling, I’m sorry to intrude. I’ll only stay for two days. I’ll leave immediately after the surgery."

Sera was too exhausted to argue. She only gave her a flat look. "Stay if you want."

It was only a matter of days. she couldn't be bothered to care, nor did she want to waste her remaining energy on getting angry.

Julian was actually surprised. He expected Sera to make a scene or at least say something cruel. He hadn't expected her to agree so easily.

He turned to comfort Bianca: "Don't worry, Bianca. You stay here. With me around, no one will dare bully you."

Sera felt a stifling heaviness in her chest. She wanted to go upstairs to rest. Just as she turned to the staircase, she heard soft footsteps behind her.

Bianca followed her, deliberately slowing her pace to remain half a step behind.

As they reached the landing, Bianca suddenly leaned in. In a voice meant only for the two of them, she whispered sinisterly, "Miss Sterling, no matter how hard you fight, Julian will always choose me."

Sera already had anger suppressed in her heart. Ignited by Bianca's deliberate provocation, she turned sharply to snap back.

However, the other woman’s eyes suddenly went wide. Her body jerked backward, and without any warning, she tumbled down the stairs.

"Ah—!"

A piercing scream shattered the silence of the villa. Bianca crashed at the bottom of the steps, curling up and clutching her abdomen. Her face went deathly pale as tears gushed out.

Julian rushed over like a madman, scooping Bianca into his arms. His voice was trembling violently: "Bianca! Are you okay? Where does it hurt?"

Leaning in his arms with tear-filled eyes, Bianca looked up at Sera and pointed a trembling finger at her. Her voice was weak: "Julian... it was Miss Sterling... she pushed me... she said she hated me for taking everything... she said she wouldn't let me have the surgery..."