Brief Was the Love

The soldier Linus had sent was named Halle Ziegler. He was Linus' right-hand man and an army talent who specialized in photography, videography, and audio recording.

Halle had specifically brought along some valuable audio and video recording equipment with him.

"General Gurwick said that this equipment would definitely be of use to you, Ms. Sherwood," he explained.

Lilian stared at all the equipment she had never seen before, her heart pounding with excitement.

With the equipment around, she doubted Aurelie would still be able to lie her way through everything.

Later in the evening, Aurelie limped her way into Lilian's hospital room with a lunchbox full of food she'd brought from the cafeteria.

Lilian carefully tucked a voice recorder under the sheets and switched it on, just as Halle had taught her.

"You're really lucky to have survived a fall like that," Aurelie commented.

She placed the lunchbox on the drawer next to Lilian's bed, but made no move to open it for Lilian.

Lilian tightened her hand around the voice recorder and intentionally struck up a conversation. "It's because the heavens wanted to see justice served. They want me to personally witness a murderer like you get your just desserts."

Aurelie laughed smugly. "I think you're the one who's going to get that. The acceptance letter you worked so hard for is mine now, and I was also the one who killed your unborn baby with my own hands."

She stared manically at Lilian. "As for you… Do you know that you're going to be on the operating table with me tomorrow?

"Eugene is obviously well aware that you won't make it through alive. But he's still going to transfuse your blood to me for my sake, despite how weak you are.

"You should know very well why he's unwilling to divorce you. Because once you're dead, he won't have anything to worry about anymore."

Lilian gripped the sheets tightly, her voice tense as she asked, "So, is the surgery something you really want?"

"Of course, though my anemia isn't that serious. I just wanted you to donate blood to me. I'm actually only mildly anemic. I'd be fine with just taking supplements.

"I certainly didn't expect Eugene to force you into becoming my personal blood bag for three whole years just because I casually brought it up with him."

Lilian suppressed her anger and continued to probe Aurelie. "Aren't you afraid that Eugene will find out about all the things you've done?"

Aurelie laughed confidently. "So what if he does? All I have to do is cry, and he'll give in immediately. How else do you think I got your acceptance letter? A little pillow talk with him, and he promptly decided to help me."

Although Lilian already knew from her past life that Aurelie and Eugene had slept together, hearing such audacious words from Aurelie's own mouth still disgusted her greatly.

Even if Eugene refused to divorce her, as long as the news of his adultery was revealed to the world, it would still be enough to make his life difficult.

As she nervously touched the voice recorder, Aurelie narrowed her eyes and approached her. "What are you hiding under the sheets?"

She stared nervously at Aurelie. Fearing that the latter would step closer still, she grabbed the lunchbox and threw it at her.

Aurelie didn't expect Lilian to have the courage to do that. It took a while before she recovered from her shock.

Just as she was about to lift Lilian's sheets, the sound of Eugene's footsteps echoed outside the door.

Aurelie's expression changed instantly. She put a hand to her bleeding forehead, looking frightened, and cried out in pain. "I came to see you out of the goodness of my heart, Lilian! How could you do this to me?"

The next instant, Eugene walked into the room in a white coat. He lent the swaying Aurelie his shoulder and stared coldly at the mess on the floor. Then, his harsh gaze landed on Lilian.

"What on earth are you doing, Lilian?" he shouted. "Aurie is severely anemic, yet you hit her in the head and made her bleed! Will you only be satisfied if you see her die in front of you?"

Lilian didn't refute his words. In fact, she didn't even glance at him.

She didn't want to explain herself anymore. After all, he wouldn't believe her no matter what she said.

She was leaving soon anyway.

Eugene's expression shifted slightly at her lack of reaction, but he quickly returned to normal.

He bent down and picked Aurelie up, then warned Lilian fiercely, "You'd better reflect properly on yourself. Why do you always have to target Aurelie every time?"

Lilian tightened her grip on the voice recorder as she watched the two of them leave.

Very soon, Aurelie's lies would be exposed to the world.