Brief Was the Love

Eventually, Lilian drifted back to consciousness at the sound of Aurelie's crying voice.

"I really didn't do it on purpose. Lilian insisted I turn myself in to Chief Merrick and take the blame for her. I just fought back a little. I didn't expect her to go so far as to take advantage of her baby to frame me. I feel terribly wronged, Eugene."

Lilian opened her eyes with difficulty. The first thing she saw was Eugene's indifferent expression.

Her hands trembled as she reached for her stomach.

Was the baby gone?

In her past life, she had failed to protect her unborn baby. And in this life, she and her baby still seemed destined to be torn apart.

Fortunately, the heavens had shown mercy and spared her life this time.

She struggled to move. She was going to make a phone call and leave Eugene right this instant.

"Did you frame Aurelie, Lilian?" Eugene demanded. "You didn't hesitate to use your baby to force her to take the blame for you! Is there any shred of humanity in you?"

Lilian looked at him in astonishment.

He was asking her if she had humanity?

He and Aurelie were the inhumane ones here. In both her lives, they had caused the death of her baby!

She tore the IV needle from her hand and climbed out of bed with difficulty. She then feebly made her way out of the hospital room, ignoring Eugene's attempts to stop her.

At the nursing station, she clutched at the landline for dear life as she dialed the number that her parents had traded their lives for.

"I was wrong, General Gurwick!" she cried. "I'm begging you to please take me away from here!"

Eugene's face paled upon hearing her words. He quickly snatched the receiver from Lilian's hand and hung up the call.

"You've lost your mind, Lilian!"

Lilian glared at him. "That's right. I did lose my mind. You and Aurelie were the ones who drove me insane. Aurelie's obviously your fiancee, yet you tricked me into believing she was your cousin.

"You brought her into our home and even pulled strings to let her, someone who never even graduated from nursing school, work as a nurse in the hospital. Then, you allowed her to steal my acceptance letter and go to college in my place.

"Even now that she pushed me down the stairs and killed our baby, you're only listening to her side of the story. If you care so much about her, then why won't you just divorce me, Eugene Shaw?"

Eugene felt the weight of the surrounding people's gazes on him and clenched his fists tightly.

"Lilian!" he barked.

She laughed wildly. "Did I strike a nerve? There's more where that came from. After all, the only reason you could become a military doctor is because—"

Eugene slapped her across the face. "You crossed the line, Lilian!"

Lilian wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and smiled bitterly. If she had known his true colors earlier, she wouldn't have pledged herself to him in order to repay his kindness back then.

Eugene's hand trembled upon seeing the blood oozing from the corner of her mouth and her swollen cheek.

He carefully wrapped Lilian in his arms before saying, "I know that you're emotional after losing our baby, but you still can't slander Aurelie like this. She's just my cousin, and I won't divorce you. We can have another baby in the future, so please be good and listen, okay?"

The people around them nodded in understanding, attributing Lilian's previous words to her having an emotional breakdown from losing her baby.

Seeing that the crowd was about to disperse, Lilian anxiously shoved Eugene away. She pointed an accusing finger at Aurelie, ready to continue with her rant.

Aurelie stared resentfully at her and snorted mockingly, then rolled her eyes back and pretended to faint.

When Eugene saw this, he pushed Lilian aside and quickly caught Aurelie in his arms.

At the sight of Aurelie's pale face, he hurriedly shouted at the nurse behind him, "Take Lilian and get her ready to donate blood to Aurelie! Hurry!"