A Heart That Will Never Warm

Thanks to the 400 ml of blood donated by that kind stranger, Olivia's life was spared.

A wave of irony hit Danielle. Olivia's biological father controlled the hospital's entire blood bank, yet he refused to spare her even a single drop. Meanwhile, a complete stranger had donated blood and disappeared without leaving any contact information.

Color slowly returned to Olivia's cheeks, and she instinctively searched for milk.

Sandra looked at Olivia and voiced her lingering suspicions in a low whisper.

"Mrs. Gardner, something feels wrong. I've always been meticulous with Olivia and never let anything sharp near her. The doctor said her wound was caused by a blade, but she had been lying safely in her crib the entire time."

Danielle's chest tightened, and she immediately went home to investigate.

She then discovered several sharp utility blades hidden in the folds of the crib's velvet sheets, stained with Olivia's blood.

Her mind reeled from the shock. She had asked Matthew to buy this crib during her postpartum recovery.

Matthew never cared about domestic details, simply instructing his assistant to get the most expensive model available. Meghan had handled the purchase, and Danielle was certain that she had hidden the blades there.

A chill creeped up Danielle's spine.

She wondered if Matthew knew that Meghan had tried to kill Olivia, and whether he would seek justice for her if he found out. Yet her questions remained unanswered.

Danielle curled up in the corner of the couch, holding Olivia tightly. She closed her eyes and murmured, "Don't be scared, Olivia. Mommy won't let anyone hurt you again."

She felt relieved that in just two more days, she could leave with Olivia and start anew.

…

The moment Matthew returned from his business trip, he launched into a tirade at her.

"Danielle, you've been acting so spoiled lately! I was only away for a few days, and you caused a scene at the hospital. Did you even think about my reputation?"

Danielle felt a chill run through her body.

Matthew glanced at the sleeping Olivia in her arms and frowned deeper. "Using Olivia for your schemes is so disappoint—"

Danielle cut him off coldly. "Matthew, we're done."

He stiffened and gripped her arm tightly. "What do you mean, we're done? Danielle, we grew up together and have known each other for over a decade! How can you make such a big deal out of something so trivial?"

Danielle couldn't believe that he still had the nerve to bring up their history. Feeling a sharp sting in her chest, she raised her voice. "Didn't you say on the phone that Meghan was your wife and Taylor was your son?"

Matthew's eyes darted, and he looked away. Guilt flashed on his face. "That was an emergency! The staff at that hospital follow my wife's orders. What if I told the truth and they listened to you instead, refusing Taylor the transfusion?"

Danielle's heart throbbed with pain. Just as she was about to expose the fact that they weren't legally married, his next words left her speechless.

"I get it now. Are you jealous of Meghan?"

Matthew narrowed his eyes as he studied her, his tone full of certainty. "You know you're the only one I love, yet you use Olivia to compete for my attention out of jealousy. Is it because she has a son and you only have a daughter? Is that why you deliberately caused trouble?"

Before Danielle could respond, his phone suddenly rang.

Matthew glanced at the caller ID and said to Danielle, "Don't go to the office. Stay home and reflect on your behavior instead."

He then left in a hurry.

Danielle fought to suppress the hatred boiling in her chest. Her marriage certificate with Matthew was fake, so she didn't even have the right to sue Meghan to recover the marital assets.

Even so, she refused to let a single dollar of what belonged to her slip away. She carefully went over her shares once more, planning to contact the other shareholders to sell them at a low price.

Just as she arrived at the office, Sandra called. "Mrs. Gardner, you need to come back immediately!

"A woman claiming to be Mr. Gardner's assistant forced her way in with a child. She says Mr. Gardner personally gave her permission. I can't stop them!"